Blackmagic Forum

Hello. I'm not very versed on lens throw distance with black magic studio camera. We are trying to get a shot of waist to top of head from a throat distance of 50 feet can someone help me with which lens would work best for that?

The Lens Toolkit f8 app can likely answer your question as it will give you the dimensions of the field of view at a distance you define with the camera you have and a lens you select to generate the FOV for the camera sensor.

For example on the Studio Camera 4K Pro and the 6’ height of your subject, you’ll likely need a 135mm lens.

Camera: BMD Studio 4K Pro
Lens: Panasonic G 45-150 f/4 Zoom
Set Up: 50’ distance, 6’ subject vertical FOV

Ellory, remember the OP only wants to cover the upper body, waist to above the head.

rick.lang wrote:Ellory, remember the OP only wants to cover the upper body, waist to above the head.

Rick, So how are you approximating the waist to height of the subject? Vertical FOV = ~half the height or close to it? If so, then your focal length choice is correct. Otherwise can you explain?

Here is with a 135mm lens, vertical FOV = 3’8”.

Yes, I assumed a vertical height of about 3 ½ feet would be desired. So a 135mm prime would be the closest to that use case. That 135mm is quite tight to the subject so practically speaking the 85mm lens you suggested would be a more comfortable height to work with. The OP could take both focal lengths to see which they preferred. I’d do the fine tuning of the height in post.

This thread is timely as I have a stills shoot of the cast of a theatrical performance on Monday.

rick.lang wrote:Yes, I assumed a vertical height of about 3 ½ feet would be desired. So a 135mm prime would be the closest to that use case. That 135mm is quite tight to the subject so practically speaking the 85mm lens you suggested would be a more comfortable height to work with. The OP could take both focal lengths to see which they preferred. I’d do the fine tuning of the height in post.

This thread is timely as I have a stills shoot of the cast of a theatrical performance on Monday.

Perfect! Thanks Rick.