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Good wide zooms for Gemini?

BrandonChristensen

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I'm a big fan of the Sigma 18-35, but with it vignetting at 5K at the wide end - is there any EF zooms that don't?
 
I'm a big fan of the Sigma 18-35, but with it vignetting at 5K at the wide end - is there any EF zooms that don't?

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM
Tamron SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD (Model A012) Canon
Tokina AT-X 16-28 F2.8 PRO FX Canon
 
The full frame wides cover thoughout their focal ranges. Also consider Canon 11-24, Sigma 14-24, Sigma 12-24 and Laowa 12mm. Just shot with the Canon 16-35 f4 and it looked great at 16mm. Watch out for super wides because it is hard to use front filtration.
 
I hear your desire. However, it's hard to beat the Sigma at 1.8. I've found that playing just inside the vignette or even shooting at 4.5k is going to give you a better result with something you already have than getting into FF glass and shooting 5k at 2.8. Don't get me wrong, I have all the FF glass but there's nothing that really touches or surpasses that 18-35 but some primes. Sigma makes a 24-35mm f2 but I don't think it's worth it due to it's limited reach. There isn't any vignetting on the 18-35 in 5k ws. The Canon 24-70 or 24-105 would be the next FF most useful step up in my opinion. I just shot a thing in Kenya and I used the 18-35 for wide (24mm) wide open portrait style interviews and the 24-105 did most everything else handheld.
 
I hear your desire. However, it's hard to beat the Sigma at 1.8. I've found that playing just inside the vignette or even shooting at 4.5k is going to give you a better result with something you already have than getting into FF glass and shooting 5k at 2.8. Don't get me wrong, I have all the FF glass but there's nothing that really touches or surpasses that 18-35 but some primes. Sigma makes a 24-35mm f2 but I don't think it's worth it due to it's limited reach. There isn't any vignetting on the 18-35 in 5k ws. The Canon 24-70 or 24-105 would be the next FF most useful step up in my opinion. I just shot a thing in Kenya and I used the 18-35 for wide (24mm) wide open portrait style interviews and the 24-105 did most everything else handheld.

If im not mistaken the Sigma 18-35 Art is designed for APS-C-format Canon EF-mount cameras
Whereas the Sigma 18-35 Cine is designed for Super 35mm-sized sensors. Wouldn't that mean vignetting on the Art and no vignetting on the Cine?
 
If you can live without f1,8 have a closer look at the Sigma 14-24 2.8
It has very little distortion and excellent sharpness. Only the fixed petal shaped hood is restricting mattebox use.
 
Anyone tried the coverage of the RED 17-50mm ? I have one but haven't put it on a Gemini yet
 
Happy I found this thread. I just rented the sigma 18-35 art and was bummed about the vignetting but man is the image great. I put it through a bunch of situations, indoor, low light, outdoor, etc and it was really nice. I was wondering if there were other options out there but besides the canon 16-35 which is out of my budget I think I’m going to roll with the sigma
 
The Sigma ART 14-24 f2.8 is a very nice wide lens, and covers full frame so you can use at 5K on Gemini without any issues. It just is a pain if you need to add filters... Love it otherwise.
 
We've been using the 18-35 a lot. It does not cover at 18, punching in does the trick (22mm ish)
Fantastic lens.
 
I shoot on Leica-R mostly on my Gemini and love them but my entire kit is made up of primes right now so I would like to know a good WA zoom that could pair with them nicely color wise and match without tons of fiddling in post? Par-Focal is a must as I want to use it primarily for push-in / pull-outs. I was thinking Tokina Cinema line but they don't excite me for the price and are pretty clinical and some are very large/heavy despite such a small range. Also was looking at the new DZO Pictor zooms but have no experience with them personally and they are pretty new on the market but they have a nicer range (20-55) and are par focal. Ultimately I would prefer something vintage / cine-moded or at least something small that isn't super large like most cinema zooms as I really like to keep my kit mobile/light. Was really interested in the vintage cine-modded Angenieux 45-90 for a while but just wish it was wider. Anyone else have any unique ideas as to what else is out there. Really looking to avoid the Sigma 18-35 even though I know its a good lens and would prefer something with gears for follow focus rather than photography zoom lenses.
 
Par-Focal is a must as I want to use it primarily for push-in / pull-outs.

Unfortunately, most of the older s35mm cinema zooms I know of that are truly parfocal and go wide are large and heavy (e.g. Cooke 20-100, Angenieux 17-102, etc.). And I suspect that not all of them will completely cover the Gemini sensor at the wide end, either.

For small and vintage and covers Gemini, I'll just mention that I like the Contax 28-85, which can be combined with a speedbooster to get the equivalent of something 18-20mm on s35. It's almost parfocal (but not), and it doesn't work with a follow focus (it's a push-pull zoom), but it has a great vintage look without being too soft or funky. That's as good as I know for a cine-modded lens. Maybe people have reports on old Tokina/Angenieux photo zooms.

For new stuff: I also like the look of the DZO Pictor zooms. The Laowa 25-100 is similarly going for a pleasingly "unclinical" look, and the footage from their anamorphic adapter looks pretty cool if you like a vintage feel. These are all quite compact and relatively affordable.

If you're uncomfortable taking a gamble on these new Chinese lens companies, I'd suggest spending some time and a little cash experimenting with filters. A Sigma or Tokina or Fujinon zoom can really be transformed by the many different types and strengths of diffusion available. But it truly takes experience to learn when to use them and what conditions might dictate that you don't (e.g. maybe that promist looks great-- until a window appears in frame and the halation becomes very pronounced). As I type this, I'm also recalling that Sigma and Tokina used to be the new kids on the block-- now they almost seem like the old guard!

One last note-- check out some footage Bob Gundu posted that he shot with Tokina zooms (maybe on Epic Dragon?). As Bob used them, they don't look "vintage," but they also don't feel clinical.
 
Unfortunately, most of the older s35mm cinema zooms I know of that are truly parfocal and go wide are large and heavy (e.g. Cooke 20-100, Angenieux 17-102, etc.). And I suspect that not all of them will completely cover the Gemini sensor at the wide end, either.

For small and vintage and covers Gemini, I'll just mention that I like the Contax 28-85, which can be combined with a speedbooster to get the equivalent of something 18-20mm on s35. It's almost parfocal (but not), and it doesn't work with a follow focus (it's a push-pull zoom), but it has a great vintage look without being too soft or funky. That's as good as I know for a cine-modded lens. Maybe people have reports on old Tokina/Angenieux photo zooms.

For new stuff: I also like the look of the DZO Pictor zooms. The Laowa 25-100 is similarly going for a pleasingly "unclinical" look, and the footage from their anamorphic adapter looks pretty cool if you like a vintage feel. These are all quite compact and relatively affordable.

If you're uncomfortable taking a gamble on these new Chinese lens companies, I'd suggest spending some time and a little cash experimenting with filters. A Sigma or Tokina or Fujinon zoom can really be transformed by the many different types and strengths of diffusion available. But it truly takes experience to learn when to use them and what conditions might dictate that you don't (e.g. maybe that promist looks great-- until a window appears in frame and the halation becomes very pronounced). As I type this, I'm also recalling that Sigma and Tokina used to be the new kids on the block-- now they almost seem like the old guard!

One last note-- check out some footage Bob Gundu posted that he shot with Tokina zooms (maybe on Epic Dragon?). As Bob used them, they don't look "vintage," but they also don't feel clinical.

I've been mixing my Leica Rs and Tokina 11-20 since it came out (especially with a light glimmerglass filter). It's not much larger than my R's... that have been rehoused by GL Optics. Sure they don't match perfectly and isn't quite parfocal, but when I need a wide angle and instead of grabbing my 15 or 19mm Leicas I grab the Tokina
 
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