Your Favourite Zoom

[Jonas Nyström]

Hi all!

Give me a suggestion of which you like most; standard zoom (17-50), covers 6K, works with motion mount, with reasonable price!

Thanks


Jonas Nystrom;
director & photographer

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cell +46 702 604 210
jonasfilm@icloud.com
www.jonyphoto.com
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[Christopher Barrett]

I have been thrilled with my GL Optics rehoused Sigma 18 - 35 1.8. Fast, tack sharp, fairly compact and lightweight. Everyone with one seems to be singing praises. Not sure how well it will cover Dragon but no issues FF on Epic. My old RED 17 - 50 was a great lens but didn't pull zoom well... more of a variable prime.

 

[Marcos Montenegro]

+1 on the GL Optics 18-35mm f/1.8 Sigma. Great lens.

 

[Jeremy Torrie]

I really like what the 18-85 Red Zoom looks like with my 2x Extender...yes that means 4 stop loss but it allows me to shoot wide when using our motion mounts. The 18-85 is really sharp, but this extender is a bit older and just softens the edges enough to give it a different look.

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

I love the Angenieux 16-42 and 30-80. Unfortunately, the 16-42 does not fully cover Dragon 6K when full wide. Close, but not quite.

The Focus Optics Ruby converted Nikon 14-24 is awesome for a wide zoom. I believe GL Optics has one of these too. Also hearing a lot of good things about the GL Optics converted Sigma 18-35.

The RPZ 17-50 is also a wonderful lens and under-appreciated. Unfortunately it vignettes on 6K more than the Angie 16-42 does. People complain about the breathing, and it does breathe a lot, but no more so than most any SLR zoom, including the Sigma 18-35.

The Nikon and Canon 14-24, 24-70 and 70-200 zoom trios are exceptional. IMO, the Nikon versions have the slight edge, but more people shoot Canon gear in the moving picture business these days. The 24-70 zooms are the most practical, but also the weakest performers in both camps. Not that they're bad, still exceptional zooms, but both companies could offer ups some improvements in that focal range.

One under-appreciated lens that is a real gem that I see almost no one else use is the Canon 15-85 F3:5-5.6. The iris doesn't begin to ramp until well past 50mm, closer to 65mm, IIRC. That lens has been a life-saver on so many family vacations and assorted small jobs. It's a very sharp lens with only some distortion on the wide end and that distortion is rather pleasing in wide shots. It's compact, but somewhat heavy and vignettes a bit (but still covers) APS-C frame wider than 16mm. Will cover APS-H (Dragon) at longer than 19mm and 35FF at 40mm onward. Of course, I'd take the Sigma Art or one of these other faster zooms for most serious projects. It's just hard to ignore the overall utility of this lens.

"reasonable price" is in the eye of the beholder. The two Angenieux DP zooms will run you almost $50K together, but if you work them, they will pay off in spades.

The Fujinon Cabrio zooms are excellent as well. The compact 19-90 is awesome and the servo grip is included.

 

[Mark Pedersen]

If you're not talking PL, then Leica R 70-180 f2.8 is spectacular. It has become our work horse among our Leica set. As for cost, they've gone from $4500 when I bought my first one 3 years ago, to around $7K now (for good copies).

Covers 6K, great contrast, and micro contrast, sharp, wonderful bokah and that special leica look. Great paired with a dragon.

Ours is par focal, modded by Duclos with both zoom and focus rings and a 15mm LW support bracket.

M

 

[Kaspar Hornikel]

+1 on the GL 18-35 f1.8 for a Wide Zoom. Covers full Dragon at around 21-22mm, pretty sharp and cuts well with Schneider Xenons.

 

[Timur Civan]

Maybe not too cheap, but Cabrio covers 6k hd, 6kWS and 5.5k all formats

 

[Phil Holland]

Zeiss Compact Zoom 28-80mm T2.9. Designed from the ground up to cover 6K FF and a bit more.

Also, shockingly, the Arri Fujinon Alura 30-80 T2.8 is worth looking at. I've seen them go for $15K twice. usually in the $18-$20k used category.

If those are too expensive you're next bet is to buy a rehoused still zoom like the ones listed above and/or wait for Tokina's mid range zoom, which is being made right this second. They should have a release date soon.

 

[Isaac Marchionna]

Agenieux 25-250 is my favorite mainly for the general creaminess of the image.

 

[Erich Roland]

zooms

zooms

Angenieux Optimo's. Pick your focal length.... lenses don't get any better. I'm partial to the small ones.

 

[Chad Lancaster]

Focus Optics Ruby 14-24 is pretty damn amazing, and focuses down to inches in front of the lens

 

[Jonas Nyström]

Thanks for your input guys! Has anyone used the GL 18-35 f1.8 with Motion Mount?

 

[Nick Morrison]

Thanks for your input guys! Has anyone used the GL 18-35 f1.8 with Motion Mount?

We used an un-rehoused Sigma 18-35 + MM at a Nascar shoot last month. Worked out fine!