Blackmagic Forum

So, I'm purchasing, and I want an auto focus zoom lens that will fit the best with my BMCC camera. This is the one I'm thinking about: Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS EF USM AF. I want the zoom, IS and I like the auto focus.

But I'm relatively new to this, mostly working with camcorders, and this is different. Any opinions out there?

That lens is fast enough for working outdoors or with additional lighting indoors but may not be fast enough if you are shooting with available or practical light in most indoor situations.

You might want to peruse some of the lens discussion threads. Here is one recent thread that may be helpful:
viewtopic.php?t=3464

Rick Lang
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Sigmas EX DC HSM lens are very good for the price. They feature constant aperture which is a must for video work.

Michael Sandiford wrote:They feature constant aperture which is a must for video work.

Let's say I'm trying to use a 1:4-5.6 lens so I can get a 300mm zoom. If I set my iris to 5.6, will that negate and iris pumping as I zoom in?

Are we talking the 75-300mm Sigma (the macro?) which isn't in the EX DC HSM range? Then you would probably still get iris pumping throughout the zoom regardless, I would have thought. I could be wrong though as I've never used the lens, but similar experiences with canons at around the same specs and that light change occurs. Compare that though to the Sigma EX (i'm just going to call them the Sigma EX from now on) 70-200 worked perfectly throughout the zoom. Canon do a 70 -300 f/4-5.6L IS USM UD which although pricey also has constant aperture. With the BMCC crop factor the 50 -150 sigma ex etc should be perfect.

I kind of realized that one Lens will not do all I wanted. This is the one I ended up with: Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8. Good reviews, fast focus, good in low light, but doesn't cover everything I wanted.

It will be a good start, I think. But it will only be my starter Lens. Others will have to be purchased, I'm sure.

Just a note. There is NO auto focus on the BMCC. No matter what lens you use.

28mm lens on the BMCC would give you a similar view to shooting at 65mm on a 5D or shooting at 42mm on a 550D / 7D.

It's not very wide on the BMCC. That may be what you are after tho...

So, for a starter lens, I'm down to thinking one of these two:

TAMRON SP 17-50MM F2.8 Di II VC Lens

Or

Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM Lens

Thoughts, anyone?

mhood wrote:

Michael Sandiford wrote:They feature constant aperture which is a must for video work.

Let's say I'm trying to use a 1:4-5.6 lens so I can get a 300mm zoom. If I set my iris to 5.6, will that negate and iris pumping as I zoom in?

No...because it's not a constant aperture lens. You can't zoom and maintain focus or aperture on a variable aperture zoom lens.

meaganmargaret wrote:So, I'm purchasing, and I want an auto focus zoom lens that will fit the best with my BMCC camera. This is the one I'm thinking about: Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS EF USM AF. I want the zoom, IS and I like the auto focus.

But I'm relatively new to this, mostly working with camcorders, and this is different. Any opinions out there?

To say it again...you will get NO auto focus with any lens on the BMCC...so how fast a lens can focus makes no difference in your decision.

I have used and been impressed with the Tamron 28-75...that was 8 years ago, but it's still the same design. Although that might be a little long...

I would recommend the Canon 17-55 2.8 IS.

my 2 cents

I think I got your hint......sounds like the Tamron's the best choice

If you read some reviews, I think you'll find that the Tamron 17-50 2.8 non-IS is very well regarded. From a "bang for the buck" perspective, it's a real gem.

meaganmargaret wrote:So, for a starter lens, I'm down to thinking one of these two:

TAMRON SP 17-50MM F2.8 Di II VC Lens

Or

Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM Lens

The VC version has image stabilization but if I recall correctly, reviews have indicated the non-VC version is sharper and preferable as Marc Hood mentioned.

Rick Lang
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Sorry, I'll offer one thing to this discussion and go away, something that applies to all glass choice at this point:

Find out who's using the lens you're interested in on a 4/3 sensor or similar. That's the best way to know if it'll perform well on this camera. an APS-C sized sensor may show soft corners more readily, and seem much better at the center. It's relative to the entire frame of that camera, and the tolerance threshold of that design.

Basically, it may be good on APS-C but check to see how it is on 4/3. Center performance or softness will be slightly exaggerated on a smaller sensor.

If you look at the examples of the Rokinon Cinema lenses wide open, crops, on M4/3 sensors you start to see more softness than you do when they're strapped to APS-C cameras.

Similar, if you try to shoot through a Voigt 25/0.95 in ETC mode on the GH2, it's likely some of the softest photography you've ever seen.

That's it from me! Happy hunting!

adamroberts wrote:28mm lens on the BMCC would give you a similar view to shooting at 65mm on a 5D or shooting at 42mm on a 550D / 7D.

It's not very wide on the BMCC. That may be what you are after tho...

That doesn't sound very well... I was planning on a BMC camera with 17-35mm lens to get the wide shots i need on my Crane. It seems the BMCC has a bigger crop factor than i expected...

Now i shoot with a 550D with the 17-35mm
(or even better 16-35 on a 5D (super wide)) Check 0:58
But that 5D is a rental.

I wanted to buy the BMCC for this purpose because the 5D mk3 is not really well suited for remote control for recording and stuff.. Also the lack of full HD ooutput for focussing and live is a big issue on all DSLR's as far as i know it. At least at canon DSLRs.

Look at the Tokina 11-16mm or the Sigma 8-16mm for your wide shots.

Xtreemtec wrote:I was planning on a BMC camera with 17-35mm lens to get the wide shots i need on my Crane. It seems the BMCC has a bigger crop factor than i expected...

Now i shoot with a 550D with the 17-35mm
(or even better 16-35 on a 5D (super wide)) Check 0:58

There may be one positive aspect to that crop factor though as it should pretty much eliminate that pronounced softness toward the edges of the full-frame camera on those very wide shots. On a 8mm Sigma, you'll get very comparable FOV to the 17-35mm with sharper overall image I suspect.

Rick Lang
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adamroberts wrote:Look at the Tokina 11-16mm or the Sigma 8-16mm for your wide shots.

There is another thread in this forum that talks about the tokina not being able to focus to infinity on the BMCC...

Frankly, if you're interest is really wide angle more than anything, I don't think the BMCC is the best camera for you....The 5D (which you say is a rental) is cheaper and with a full 35mm sensor, will give you those wide angle shots.