Best zoom lens for BMCC MFT?

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tomyoung

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Best zoom lens for BMCC MFT?

PostMon Aug 12, 2013 7:57 pm

I'm upgrading to the BMCC from a Sony V1 - I never entered the DSLR revolution so have no pre-existing glass, and very little experience of working with anything other than video cameras except for a couple of projects with a DoP friend who has a 7D with Canon lenses.

My primary interest is in directing and writing, but I have to wearily concede after a few experiences at film festivals recently that, no matter how much people say it, and no matter how right they are, in the real world it isn't just storytelling sadly. Everyone, even an experienced judge, is swayed by a bit of eye-candy and so I reckon it's about time I stepped up and learnt how to make even my smaller projects have a cinematic look.

(By the way I'm not against cameras, gorgeous cinematography etc, and I'm excited to learn, I just worry that all this latest-technical-chasing stuff and obsession with pixels can be distracting for someone primarily interested in writer-directing - but I don't mean any disrespect to people for whom that's their main interest, just to make that clear).

I'm one guy, not a production company or anything, so I have a limited budget.

After a LOT of agonising and reading through forums until I feel my eyes are watering, I've decided on balance the best option for me is going to be the BMCC MFT mount. I'm trying to price up a realistic package and I figured I needed one wide prime, for which I'd go for the SLR magic 12mm (can't afford Voigtlander, it's just too much, but yes I have figured in SSD cards, batteries, rig, post-production etc - even within that envelope, that expense for a single lens just doesn't add up for me).

So my question is: what's the best zoom lens in people's opinion to then cover the mid-to-tele range?
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IANDUNN

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Re: Best zoom lens for BMCC MFT?

PostMon Aug 12, 2013 8:20 pm

Hello,

Check out my thread. http://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11024 I am in pretty much the same boat, and I have read the forums until my eyes have turned red. I think, if it works on manual mode, the best bang for you buck would be the Sigma 18-35 1.8f @ 799.99 NIKON Mount. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/967344-REG/sigma_18_35mm_f1_8_dc_hsm.html
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tomyoung

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Re: Best zoom lens for BMCC MFT?

PostMon Aug 12, 2013 8:50 pm

IANDUNN wrote:Hello,

Check out my thread. http://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11024 I am in pretty much the same boat, and I have read the forums until my eyes have turned red. I think, if it works on manual mode, the best bang for you buck would be the Sigma 18-35 1.8f @ 799.99 NIKON Mount. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/967344-REG/sigma_18_35mm_f1_8_dc_hsm.html


Cool thanks - actually that goes wide enough, and is fast enough, that it might be worth getting that to start with and then seeing how I get on before getting more specialised primes.

That said, your link appears to be to a Canon EF mount version? Is that the right one and if so what do you mean by "Nikon mount"? Would I need an adapter?...
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IANDUNN

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Re: Best zoom lens for BMCC MFT?

PostMon Aug 12, 2013 9:16 pm

Sorry about the post, but there is a Nikon mount and that is the one to get for MFT version. You would need a mount and I recommend the speedbooster metabones MFT to Nikon, but there are cheaper ones on Amazon.
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tomyoung

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Re: Best zoom lens for BMCC MFT?

PostMon Aug 12, 2013 9:48 pm

IANDUNN wrote:Sorry about the post, but there is a Nikon mount and that is the one to get for MFT version. You would need a mount and I recommend the speedbooster metabones MFT to Nikon, but there are cheaper ones on Amazon.


No worries. The thing is that's then another expense (with the adapter). I suppose looked at one way, if this was my go-to lens, it'd probably make more sense to get the EF version! Aaagh...
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tomyoung

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Re: Best zoom lens for BMCC MFT?

PostMon Aug 12, 2013 9:50 pm

IANDUNN wrote:Sorry about the post, but there is a Nikon mount and that is the one to get for MFT version. You would need a mount and I recommend the speedbooster metabones MFT to Nikon, but there are cheaper ones on Amazon.


Oh and by the way there's a decent test of that lens on an EF mount here in case you haven't seen it:

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IANDUNN

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Re: Best zoom lens for BMCC MFT?

PostMon Aug 12, 2013 10:59 pm

tomyoung wrote:
IANDUNN wrote:No worries. The thing is that's then another expense (with the adapter). I suppose looked at one way, if this was my go-to lens, it'd probably make more sense to get the EF version! Aaagh...


Aaagh! Is exactly right MFT or EF has been one of the hardest decisions for me ... I am not even sure why. But after racking my brain through countless forums and footage this is my thought ... If you just want one work horse lens and are not really looking to expand your kit the safe bet would be the EF version, and EF lenses are not going anywhere soon, so that mean you can use them on the next "big camera" that drops probably 10 minutes after you or I make our minds up and buy the damn thing.

However, if you're looking to expand your kit and are looking to possibly increase your arsenal with the BMPCC to accompany your BMCC then I think the best choice will be the MTF is you best bet.

What do you think?
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tomyoung

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Re: Best zoom lens for BMCC MFT?

PostTue Aug 13, 2013 12:17 am

IANDUNN wrote:
tomyoung wrote:
IANDUNN wrote:No worries. The thing is that's then another expense (with the adapter). I suppose looked at one way, if this was my go-to lens, it'd probably make more sense to get the EF version! Aaagh...


Aaagh! Is exactly right MFT or EF has been one of the hardest decisions for me ... I am not even sure why. But after racking my brain through countless forums and footage this is my thought ... If you just want one work horse lens and are not really looking to expand your kit the safe bet would be the EF version, and EF lenses are not going anywhere soon, so that mean you can use them on the next "big camera" that drops probably 10 minutes after you or I make our minds up and buy the damn thing.

However, if you're looking to expand your kit and are looking to possibly increase your arsenal with the BMPCC to accompany your BMCC then I think the best choice will be the MTF is you best bet.

What do you think?


I think for the kind of shooting/use I'm going to make of it (i.e. as a tool to help me make short films that look stunning) I don't really need to worry so much about the more refined end of the MFT mount lenses. I mean honestly, people are talking about the fact you can use high-end cine lenses, but by the point I can afford to even hire one of those for a film I'm gonna be able to afford to hire an Arri Alexa too I imagine.

As for the subtle nuances of the lenses everyone seems to love, like the Voigtlander...again, I've no doubt it's all there and is highly relevant, but is it really going to make enough of a difference to whether my film looks good enough to get into a festival or not? Plus you can expand your kit a reasonable amount on the EF mount too, but I do see it's less flexible.

That said, there's always the chance a camera like this might lead me more down the DP route I guess.

As for the BMPCC - I really don't get the fuss about that. I guess the fact it's $1k cheaper is not to be sniffed at, but to accompany? For my kind of shooting I'm definitely looking to do controlled, narrative fiction type shoots, so I just don't need a second camera.

With the price drop of the original BMCC, I'm willing to put out an extra grand for the full Resolve plus higher resolution personally. I do find it interesting they've gone for MFT on this camera though - like they've realised most people aren't going to want/care about an EF mount. As a noob, that's food for thought.

My final point is...these adapters aren't exactly cheap. It almost seems the Metabones Speed Booster is pretty much a must once you have the MFT mount - so that's another few hundred, before you even start adding the lenses. And then the recommended lenses themselves are pushing a grand! There comes a point an "average joe" just can't honestly afford the spiralling prices.
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Francesco Bollorino

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Re: Best zoom lens for BMCC MFT?

PostTue Aug 13, 2013 2:41 am

Takea look at B4 mont end lenses with the right adpter and the right stuff you can also have electic zoom....
http://www.ebay.it/itm/C-MOUNT-FUJI-PHO ... 19e053e60c
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Mark de Jeu

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Re: Best zoom lens for BMCC MFT?

PostTue Aug 13, 2013 2:55 am

tomyoung wrote:My final point is...these adapters aren't exactly cheap. It almost seems the Metabones Speed Booster is pretty much a must once you have the MFT mount - so that's another few hundred, before you even start adding the lenses.

Tom, the Speed Booster is not a must. Most people seem to use Nikon-F or Nikon-G to MFT adapters that run closer to $30 each (you can get more expensive adapters if you're so inclined). I believe very few BMCC MFT owners currently use the Speed Booster, but it is a very appealing option that you would have with the MFT mount. Put another way, if the Speed Booster is a must, then the BMCC EF mount is off the table.

EDIT: And if you did get that Speed Booster, combined with the Sigma recommended by Ian, the coverage might make the SLR Magic 12mm purchase unnecessary.
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eyeiaye

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Re: Best zoom lens for BMCC MFT?

PostTue Aug 13, 2013 5:07 am

Mark de Jeu wrote:
tomyoung wrote:My final point is...these adapters aren't exactly cheap. It almost seems the Metabones Speed Booster is pretty much a must once you have the MFT mount - so that's another few hundred, before you even start adding the lenses.

Tom, the Speed Booster is not a must. Most people seem to use Nikon-F or Nikon-G to MFT adapters that run closer to $30 each (you can get more expensive adapters if you're so inclined). I believe very few BMCC MFT owners currently use the Speed Booster, but it is a very appealing option that you would have with the MFT mount. Put another way, if the Speed Booster is a must, then the BMCC EF mount is off the table.

EDIT: And if you did get that Speed Booster, combined with the Sigma recommended by Ian, the coverage might make the SLR Magic 12mm purchase unnecessary.

What would the focal length and the aperture be with the speed booster and with the sigma zoom?

What would it be in full frame equivalent?
-eyeiaye
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tomyoung

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Re: Best zoom lens for BMCC MFT?

PostTue Aug 13, 2013 4:15 pm

Mark de Jeu wrote:
tomyoung wrote:My final point is...these adapters aren't exactly cheap. It almost seems the Metabones Speed Booster is pretty much a must once you have the MFT mount - so that's another few hundred, before you even start adding the lenses.

Tom, the Speed Booster is not a must. Most people seem to use Nikon-F or Nikon-G to MFT adapters that run closer to $30 each (you can get more expensive adapters if you're so inclined). I believe very few BMCC MFT owners currently use the Speed Booster, but it is a very appealing option that you would have with the MFT mount. Put another way, if the Speed Booster is a must, then the BMCC EF mount is off the table.

EDIT: And if you did get that Speed Booster, combined with the Sigma recommended by Ian, the coverage might make the SLR Magic 12mm purchase unnecessary.


Thanks for your input - I suppose it's not a must but people almost seem to talk about it like it is. Does it lessen the crop factor too then? I understood it mainly as a way of making the lens faster.

Any chance you could clarify something else for me: people talk about "powered adaptors" being an option to add powered lenses even to the passive MFT mount. I've only seen it mentioned in passing - is this a real thing, how much are they, and would they potentially mean you could even use Lumix glass and the like?
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TorontoShawn

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Re: Best zoom lens for BMCC MFT?

PostTue Aug 13, 2013 5:33 pm

Just want to confirm: with the Sigma ART 18-35MM F1.8 DC HSM Lens For Nikon all one would need is a cheap G or F mount adapter to use it with a Black Magic MFT? No Speed Booster or anything else?
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eyeiaye

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Re: Best zoom lens for BMCC MFT?

PostFri Sep 06, 2013 5:48 am

Nope
-eyeiaye

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