Zoom lens on Canon mount

[emil tanem]

One option is to go for a PL mount and the 18-85mm from Red.

The other option is a canon mount and (in my case) zeiss prime lenses (25,50,85).
What would be a complimentary zoom to cover documentary work? This lens would need to be able to
zoom in the middle of action.

 

[John Sedlack]

Have you considered the Canon 24-70 f/2.8L?

Doesn't go to an 85 like your Zeiss prime, but its a pretty decent lens and is pretty affordable.

 

[stefan nutz]

middle of the action?

18-55 IS f2.8 Canon
17-50 IS f2.8 Tamron
24-70 IS f4 Canon
70-200 IS f2.8 Canon

 

[emil tanem]

It doesn't need to cover the entire 18-85 range. I just need to find a zoom that can handle documentary situations and not have obtrusive sideeffects while zooming

 

[Nathan VanderByl]

Canon 24-70L is a great general purpose lens but depends on how far you want it to reach on the long end.

 

[James Drake]

A new version of the 24-70 is rumored to be coming, but for quick doco work, great lens to work with. Lots of kits I know run with a 16-35, 24-70, and 70-200. Great set of L zooms.

 

[stefan nutz]

if you plan to shoot in 3K, then a 70-200mm won't make that much big sense.
I'd go for a IS lens that covers wide and portrait. Depends on the doc but in most cases you don't need such a long one as the 70-200.

 

[Yuval Shrem]

How about the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM ?

It covers a very nice range for documentary film making, and very small and light, so you can keep your setup very handheld friendly, and can get your shots quickly, be it tight shots or wide.
The only downside is the F/4 vs. the other slightly faster lenses that were mentioned, but with the MX sensor, I'm not sure this is such a big issue anymore.

Anybody has some experience with that lens on an Epic?
Any thoughts? Sample footage?

Cheers,

Yuval

 

[stefan nutz]

I haven't shot with it but the focal lenght is the best you can get for a doc, I'd say.
As you said, f4 is not fast, but still very very useable for doc work. At 3k you'll end up with a 50-200... with IS.

 

[AJ Aguirre]

Also it should be noted that the 18-85 is almost twice the weight of the scarlet coming in at 9.9 pounds! Very big and heavy lens, I would recommend going the canon route, great lenses!