Need advice on the lens for 900SonyHD Camera

Kirill Nersesyan · March 17, 2006

Hi all. I need an advice. I am planning a TV drama soon as a DOP. On the last work I had trouble with the lens my producers provided (it was a Broadcast TV Fujinon Zoom Lens). It had a horrible zoom effect (sorry if I am using a wrong term - I am Russian). Anyway anyt ime I would change the focus the lens would have a visible zoom effect. Which looked horrible of course. Could you advise on a lens ? Have you had an experience like mine ? I am planning to use 900 Sony HD CineAlta camera.

Frank Barrera · March 19, 2006

When doing dramatic work you should trade in the ENG for a Cine Style to start. It's just better all around.

The Fujinon HA 20x7.8 Cine Style has minimal "breathing". I shot a feature with it on a Varicam and didn't find the breathing to be horrible. And that's an older lens. The newer version is even better. If you want to spend a little more money you could go with the Zeiss Digi Zooms which are very fast and the breathing is virtually non existent. Of course you would need to get a few of them because each one only covers short ranges of focal legnths ie: 6MM-24MM, 28MM-70MM etc. I've never tried the cine style Canon HJ 20x7.8 but you could try that as well.

The answer is to test all the zoom lenses you can get your hands on.

Good luck

FB

Kirill Nersesyan · March 20, 2006

When doing dramatic work you should trade in the ENG for a Cine Style to start. It's just better all around.
The Fujinon HA 20x7.8 Cine Style has minimal "breathing". I shot a feature with it on a Varicam and didn't find the breathing to be horrible. And that's an older lens. The newer version is even better. If you want to spend a little more money you could go with the Zeiss Digi Zooms which are very fast and the breathing is virtually non existent. Of course you would need to get a few of them because each one only covers short ranges of focal legnths ie: 6MM-24MM, 28MM-70MM etc. I've never tried the cine style Canon HJ 20x7.8 but you could try that as well.

The answer is to test all the zoom lenses you can get your hands on.

Good luck

FB

Thanks for the reply. I will test as many as I can. I have to go with a zoom lens, because the director I work with hates not being able to zoom on the spot. I know it is wrong, but he is the chief here :)