Which lenses to buy for filming

[Salah Yousef]

Hey everyone. This is my second thread in this amazing forum. I am a newbie to the world of films and I just bought me a Canon 600D/T3i camera which came with 18-55mm lens which are pretty blind for filming. I asked people around here and they suggested to buy Tiffen 77mm Variable ND-Filter http://www.amazon.com/Tiffen-77VND-VARIABLE-FILTER-Camera/dp/B004Z55VP0/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1376463889&sr=1-1&keywords=Tiffen+77mm+Variable+ND-Filter is this it ?

Plus, what lenses do you guys recommend me to buy. My budget for the lenses is 100-150 USD. I will also buy an external microphone.

EDIT: My budget is 350 USD.

 

[BrandonKing96]

The only reason you'd buy a 77mm Variable ND-Filter is if you have a lens which has a 77mm filter thread, and the 18-55 does not have that (the 18-55 has a 58mm filter thread).
For filming on such a small budget (microphone not included in the budget), I'd suggest getting a 40mm f/2.8 lens (meaning it does not zoom). If you want a mix of 2 focal lengths, I might suggest that you buy an FD mount to EF mount, and try using the 50mm f/1.8 FD and 28 f/2.8 FD (the crop factor of the camera and adapter would increase the focal length though. Bare in mind that these lenses are only manual focus.
However, if you wanted something that is cheap for a 100% new and 100% sharp lens- the 40mm f/2.8 is your best bet.
It's hard to really improve upon the 18-55 with such a small budget. And check the filter thread of the lenses to see which sized filter you should buy.

 

[Salah Yousef]

I edited my budget. I meant 150 KWD which is about 350 USD. Thank's for your reply.

 

[sandymandy]

http://www.samyang-lens.co.uk/samyang-lenses.html

Scroll to the bottom. Fixed aperture thought, but the 35mm 1.5 is really nice. And i dont think u can find any other lenses made for videos in the Samyang price range. Otherwise the photography lenses sure work too from Samyang and are a bit cheaper. Cinema 35mm 1.5 is like 550$ and photography 35mm 1.4 is about 430. A bit over your budget but its really cheap for what u get in quality.

Also in making movies u rarely zoom or pan the scene. It requires some experience to make these actions look good and not amateurish.

Cheapest way for a good lens is get the EF 50mm 1.8II. Its about 100$. But on ur APS-C camera its a bit close...not so versatile. Next option would be EF 35mm f2.0 about 250$. its kinda like 50mm on FF sensor and somewhat like the normal field of view we humans have.

And if u really need wide angle sometimes, just use the 18mm of your kit lens.

The last reaaalllyy cheap way is to get an m42 Adapter on ebay and a lens (or more lenses) with m42 mount.
They work like normal on ur DSLR only problem is there is no autofocus. But in filming u dont use autofocus anyway and always manual focus So there really is not disavantage. Ok..apertures are mostly 1.8 - 2.8 and not wider.

Lenses just cost like ~50 bucks often. Not too rare there are way cheaper lenses. Good brands are Yashica, Takumar, vivitar, zeiss etc.

FD lenses work too but then u can just get an adapter. u need to really modify the lens mount with screws n stuff til u can use it.

m42---- add adapter = ready for shooting ^^ adpater like..10$. make sure u get one made of metal. with chip not needed unless u also wanna manual focus using the optical viewfinder sometimes.


For example with flektogon 35mm 2.4 and 600D:

Zeiss Flektogon 35mm 2.4

I got the 35mm flektogon 2.8 and two other lenses for 100$ from some guy in my town But the flektogon is usually more expensive than other lenses cuz its just....a Zeiss lens.


But the ability to macro with it is really cool too as u can see in the video.
After all i think u dont need super modern ultra sharp lenses since 1080 HD is not even 3 megapixels. And even old lenses sure can perform that resolution well You will never reach the point even closely where ur sensor outperforms the lens in DSLR filming

 

[verysimplejason]

The only reason you'd buy a 77mm Variable ND-Filter is if you have a lens which has a 77mm filter thread, and the 18-55 does not have that (the 18-55 has a 58mm filter thread).
For filming on such a small budget (microphone not included in the budget), I'd suggest getting a 40mm f/2.8 lens (meaning it does not zoom). If you want a mix of 2 focal lengths, I might suggest that you buy an FD mount to EF mount, and try using the 50mm f/1.8 FD and 28 f/2.8 FD (the crop factor of the camera and adapter would increase the focal length though. Bare in mind that these lenses are only manual focus.
However, if you wanted something that is cheap for a 100% new and 100% sharp lens- the 40mm f/2.8 is your best bet.
It's hard to really improve upon the 18-55 with such a small budget. And check the filter thread of the lenses to see which sized filter you should buy.

You can put a step ring to your 77mm filter. One reason you'll buy a large filter even if you're using a lens with small filter is so that you'll never have to change filter even you get a lens with larger filter.

For the OP, +1 to some Samyang lens (full manual) if you're on budget. They're something like this:

http://shashinki.com/shop/samyang-14mm-cine-vdslr-lens-canon-p-11323.html

 

[thgmuffin]

I'd say get a 50mm F1.8 and get yourself a tripod and high speed SD cards. Also spend some of your time learning how exposure and how manual video works.

 

[Salah Yousef]

http://www.amazon.com/Rode-Videomic-Shotgun-Microphone-Rycote/dp/B00CAE8PM4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1376488069&sr=8-3&keywords=dslr+external+microphone

Am getting these. What do you think ?

Plus, could you post Amazon links to the lenses please ?

 

[dgatwood]

You can put a step ring to your 77mm filter. One reason you'll buy a large filter even if you're using a lens with small filter is so that you'll never have to change filter even you get a lens with larger filter.

Disadvantage: Your lens cap won't fit.

 

[Salah Yousef]

Guys which lenses should I pick ? These are the lenses that you guys recommended. Remember am a newbie in the world of photography and films.

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-50mm-Standard-AutoFocus-Lens/dp/B00005K47X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376567139&sr=8-1&keywords=Canon+50+1. for 100 Bucks

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-50mm-1-8-Camera-Lens/dp/B00007E7JU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376567139&sr=8-2&keywords=Canon+50+1. for 130 Bucks

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011NVMO8/sr=8-1/qid=1376376976/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1376376976&seller=&sr=8-1 300 bucks though it's expensive

 

[dgatwood]

For TV/movie work, unless you're trying to shoot sport footage from a press box, you're probably not going to have much call for a long zoom.

Most of the time, you're going to want either:

• Medium shots and/or close-ups, which are doable with a portrait-length lens (50–100 mm on full frame, 30-60 on a crop body like yours)
• Long shots, for which (unless you have a very large room) you're going to want something closer to 24–28mm on a full frame or 15–18 on a crop body

I don't have a strong opinion on any particular lenses—when I do video work, I typically use dedicated video gear (e.g. my XH-A1), so I haven't used any Canon photo lenses for any significant amount of video recording yet. Ideally, you'd look for a lens that doesn't breathe too much when you change the focus. You'd also probably want something with IS because a little bit of vibration is hard to avoid if you're focusing manually. Finally, you'll want something with a manageable level of distortion and vignetting, because you're not going to be able to usefully fix it in post.

For example, if you shoot with a shorty forty, you're going to need to have enough light that you can stop the lens way down to avoid vignetting at wide apertures (though the vignetting isn't nearly as bad on crop bodies like yours).

You can typically find lens reviews that provide all of that information. In particular, read the reviews on Ken Rockwell's site.

Beyond that, my only advice would be this: Be sure to budget for a good tripod and decent lighting. Nothing screams amateur like a shaky, poorly lit image with lots of noise.

 

[verysimplejason]

You can put a step ring to your 77mm filter. One reason you'll buy a large filter even if you're using a lens with small filter is so that you'll never have to change filter even you get a lens with larger filter.

Disadvantage: Your lens cap won't fit.

You can remove the step ring together with your filter? Now, lens cap will fit or you can use the appropriate lens cap with the same filter size.

 

[gferdinandsen]

You can put a step ring to your 77mm filter. One reason you'll buy a large filter even if you're using a lens with small filter is so that you'll never have to change filter even you get a lens with larger filter.

Disadvantage: Your lens cap won't fit.

You can remove the step ring together with your filter? Now, lens cap will fit or you can use the appropriate lens cap with the same filter size.

Or you just buy a new lens cap of that diameter. I have a step up ring (72 --> 77) on my 50, I purchased an extra 77mm lens cap for the fifty.

 

[Salah Yousef]

Is this the filter that some people recommended ? http://www.amazon.com/Tiffen-77VND-VARIABLE-FILTER-Camera/dp/B004Z55VP0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376375073&sr=8-1&keywords=Tiffen+77mm+variable+ND+filter

Plus, will it fit on these ? http://www.amazon.com/Canon-50mm-1-8-Camera-Lens/dp/B00007E7JU?tag=crf-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011NVMO8/sr=8-1/qid=1376376976/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1376376976&seller=&sr=8-1&tag=crf-20

 

[BrandonKing96]

Is this the filter that some people recommended ? http://www.amazon.com/Tiffen-77VND-VARIABLE-FILTER-Camera/dp/B004Z55VP0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376375073&sr=8-1&keywords=Tiffen+77mm+variable+ND+filter

Plus, will it fit on these ? http://www.amazon.com/Canon-50mm-1-8-Camera-Lens/dp/B00007E7JU?tag=crf-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011NVMO8/sr=8-1/qid=1376376976/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1376376976&seller=&sr=8-1&tag=crf-20

I think you are misunderstanding some of what has already been posted.

i) no one has even recommended the 55-250mm f/4-5.6, and no one in their right mind would. There are many more lenses that will perform better.

ii) it's not hard to notice that a 55-250 for $300 US is such a rip off. That is way too expensive for a lens with such a limited capacity.

iii) the 50mm f/1.8 prime lens is decent for low light, and a lot of bokeh (out of focus area), but if you want good quality for around the same price (just a little more), then the 40mm f/2.8 pancake lens is the better.

iv) Unless you plan to buy a step-up ring. The filter you are constantly saying people have suggested is a 77mm filter thread. Both the (rather terrible) 55-250 f/4-5.6 and the 50mm f/1.8 II do not fit that. the 55-250mm f/4-5.6 is a 58mm filter thread, and the 50mm f/1.8 II is a 52mm filter thread. If you do want to buy a 77mm variable ND filter (which you appear so persistent on for some reason), you will need to buy a 52-77mm step-up ring and a 58-77mm step up ring, both which you can get for 5-6 USD each.

v) I'd suggest actually taking Sandymandy's comment into account. It's a good suggestion.

So overall, my suggestion:
Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 - 180 USD
A decent tripod worth at least 90
You could get a decent filter for around 90

Good luck.

 

[leGreve]

You can put a step ring to your 77mm filter. One reason you'll buy a large filter even if you're using a lens with small filter is so that you'll never have to change filter even you get a lens with larger filter.

Disadvantage: Your lens cap won't fit.

Then you buy the right size lens cap......


The lowdown on lenses:

Still lenses, while in great quality ( I have the 16-35 2.8L II, the 24-70 2.8L II, the 70-200 2.8L IS USM II and the 100mm 2.8L macro IS USM ), are no where near being adequate for filming.

Yes, the quality is great, maybe even a bit too sharp for many people's taste, but they can deliver a great image.

However once we get past this small part of filming we are down to handling while in action. This is why people will turn to lenses like the Cinema Samyangs.

You get:

- Stepless aperture
- A bit more rotation on the focus (pretty damn important if you want to make decent focus pulls.
- Hard focal stops... once you get to infinity, the focus stops, on Canons you can keep going forever in both directions.
- T-stops instead of F-stops. Yes, there's a difference. While you can't be sure to get the exact same exposure with, say F4 on a long zoom as a wide prime, you can be pretty sure to get the same exposure when going from one t-stop lens to another. That's been a big deal for a long time and one of the reasons why cinematographers are using Arri primes and not Canon Ls.

The samyangs are very very good for their price. You can get a whole set for the price of one Canon zoom lens.

To be honest, my next purchase will be a complete Samyang set to use instead of my Ls for filming.

But yes, money always comes into play, and for that price range OP has listed, the choices are few.
I would almost say that I would rather have the Samyang 35mm only than any Canon / Sigma / Nikon zoom at that price range. Quality and functionality is simply not on par.....


LENS CAPS AND STEP RINGS....

Don't make this a bigger issue than it has to be.

My biggest lens is 82mm.... so I bought a 82mm variable ND filter from Genus (the Eclipse), then I bought step rings for all the other lenses not 82mm from Ebay and I bought lens caps for all those lenses... on Ebay.

Don't throw money after Canon caps.

 

[Salah Yousef]

Thank's for your replies everyone. I really appreciate it. You really are helpful.

I guess I will buy the EF 40mm f/2.8 for my 600D/T3i for 200 USD. http://www.amazon.com/Canon-40mm-2-8-STM-Lens/dp/B00894YP00/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376672979&sr=8-1&keywords=EF+40mm+f%2F2.8

Used for 160 USD.

Now for filters which ones will fit the EF 40mm f/2.8 ?

So sorry for asking too many questions, am a newbie in the world of cameras.

 

[thgmuffin]

Thank's for your replies everyone. I really appreciate it. You really are helpful.

I guess I will buy the EF 40mm f/2.8 for my 600D/T3i for 200 USD. http://www.amazon.com/Canon-40mm-2-8-STM-Lens/dp/B00894YP00/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376672979&sr=8-1&keywords=EF+40mm+f%2F2.8

Used for 160 USD.

Now for filters which ones will fit the EF 40mm f/2.8 ?

So sorry for asking too many questions, am a newbie in the world of cameras.

Don't even bother sticking a filter on the 40mm. It is one of those lenses that deserves to be shot without any obstructions. Plus you'd be getting rid of the compact design.

 

[Salah Yousef]

Thank's for your replies everyone. I really appreciate it. You really are helpful.

I guess I will buy the EF 40mm f/2.8 for my 600D/T3i for 200 USD. http://www.amazon.com/Canon-40mm-2-8-STM-Lens/dp/B00894YP00/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376672979&sr=8-1&keywords=EF+40mm+f%2F2.8

Used for 160 USD.

Now for filters which ones will fit the EF 40mm f/2.8 ?

So sorry for asking too many questions, am a newbie in the world of cameras.

Don't even bother sticking a filter on the 40mm. It is one of those lenses that deserves to be shot without any obstructions. Plus you'd be getting rid of the compact design.

Thank's for your fast reply thgmuffin.

My gear will be:
Canon 600D/T3i
Canon EF40mm f/2.8 STM Pancake Lens Kit
Rode Videomic Shotgun Microphone with Rycote Lyre Mount
Tripod
Manfrotto 595B Fig Rig
Bigger bag 8)

 

[Drizzt321]

++ to what leGreve has said, some of the Samyang lenses are a very good value for the money and aren't super expensive either.

I will also second the suggestion of getting an m42 or FD adapter. There are some pretty decent vintage lenses (do some research) and they tend not to be too expensive. Plus there are some wacky ones, like I just have a MD screw-on fisheye adapter to a 28mm MD lens on my EOS-M that I shot one little bit for a short film I just was doing. Great affect for that little bit, and cost very little. I wouldn't recommend it for everything, but those niche uses you can find some older equipment that will perform just fine on a limited budget.

And if you are doing anything where you are recording sound, definitely get a decent mic. Nearly anything is better than the built-in, and even going for a $50-60 one will prove to be a major boost in quality. Sound is one of the most overlooked parts of film making.

 

[Vossie]

Thank's for your replies everyone. I really appreciate it. You really are helpful.

I guess I will buy the EF 40mm f/2.8 for my 600D/T3i for 200 USD. http://www.amazon.com/Canon-40mm-2-8-STM-Lens/dp/B00894YP00/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376672979&sr=8-1&keywords=EF+40mm+f%2F2.8

Used for 160 USD.

Now for filters which ones will fit the EF 40mm f/2.8 ?

So sorry for asking too many questions, am a newbie in the world of cameras.

Don't even bother sticking a filter on the 40mm. It is one of those lenses that deserves to be shot without any obstructions. Plus you'd be getting rid of the compact design.

I agree for not sticking a UV or clear filter on; However, for video, you may want to use a vari-ND filter (to be able to work wide open without going into very fast shutter speeds. I am not sure if I would recommend a step-up/down filter on this lense as the 600 will be manual focus only during video and the focus ring of the 40 will probably be very difficult to access with a larger filter on a step-ring atteched.