Best Lens for NY Aerials

[Phil Bates]

I will be shooting 5K aerials in New York in a few weeks with Epic in a Pictorvision Eclipse gimbal. Still trying to decide on a lens. We own the RED 18-85 which I love and seems like it will be adequate. But wondering if I am missing something. For this application will one of the other brands be sharper, cover the Epic sensor better? Do I need a lower F/stop for night aerials?

I don't mind cropping in a little on the wide end of the lens to lose the vignette, but is that the best option? Is it better to set a mechanical stop on the lens to limit the wide end of the zoom? I don't HAVE to have the full 5K 16:9, but would like at least 4.5K. What would you do?

Would appreciate any feedback or opinions, thanks.

Phil

 

[Jacek Zakowicz]

I heard from many clients that Nikons work great- for night time you can use the 24 f1.4- the best fast wide lens in the world..

 

[Dave Blackham]

I think Jarek may well be right. We shoot on Leica mostly but Nikon are wining much respect here for this sort of work, if you can cope with focusing them that is.

 

[Larry Gebhardt]

Hi Phil

Having shot a lot of day and night aerials, it's great to have a zoom, especially when the cameras is in a gimbal mount..too much hoopla to change lenses. The 18-85 is a good range, I think, for most day time aerial work, and stopped down to daytime stops, I wouldn't worry about sharpness. At night, I have found it to be a bit of a different story...especially night aerials over a city where you need the stop, and that usually means a prime. Re: the 24mm Nikon...I think wider is better and since you do need the stop, I would suggest something like the 16 MP. 24mm, I think is a bit too narrow to get in those wide sweeping night vistas. Also, ask the Pictorvision tech if it works well with the short focus throw of the Nikon.

Size of the 18-85 shouldn't be a problem as I saw where you used that lens before in the gimbal housing (S3D no less).

Good Luck,

Larry

 

[Ron Goodman]

I would vote for the Angenieux 17 to 80 T2.2 ...we have found it superior to any other 4X or so out there. Let us know if you reconsider the gimbal choice though!!

 

[Tom Lowe]

For night shooting, as Larry mentions, a Master Prime 16mm or Leica Summulix-C 18mm might work well. The Leica is so sharp and free of distortion that you could really punch in to the image in post if needed. Also, the Leica is sharp even wide open. It only loses 10% of its peak resolution (say, from T4) when it's wide open at T1.4.

 

[Phil Bates]

Thanks guys for your responses. Although a prime sounds good, I do need a zoom for the night shots. So, it probably comes down to the Optimo 17-80 (f2.2). vs the 18-85 (F2.9). Will the Optimo vignette more? If so, I could lose resolution while gaining the extra light.

Phil

 

[Mike Prevette]

The Optimo vignettes more (at t2.2) and distorts more than the Red 18-85mm In my experience. I've shot a fair bit with both, and own the 18-85. On a greenscreen you really notice the vignetting of the Optimo, and shooting architecture I really noticed the distortion. I'm not sure you'd notice the vignetting at night though.

Most people I know consider it the worst of the Optimo lineup. The 18-85 seems like it would be a fine lens to start with, it's pretty thin as far as other options go, assuming you can't land and swap lenses (DONT TRY TO DO IT IN THE AIR) Possibly the fuji 18-80?

 

[Gary Jones]

Although I have no experience with any of this I thought I would throw a couple of other lenses out there...

What about the Cooke 15-40mm T2 or the Fujinon 18-85mm T2 zooms?

One gives you a wider angle but less zoom but both gives you the extra light you are likely to crave.

I must admit I have no idea if they vignette or distort at the wide, I very much doubt the Fujinon does either.

Just a thought.