This page will introduce you to the different prime lenses we have available
Why Use Primes Lenses Instead of a Zoom?
Reasons Not to Use Primes
Typical Uses for Primes Lenses
Not Recommended For
The Case
The Lenses
What Do the Images Look Like
Typical Lens Choices
Keeping the Primes Clean
Often sharper than a zoom as there are less moving parts
Often “faster” (let in more light)
Full manual control over Iris and focus
Focus pulls are more accurate and repeatable
Less “breathing” than stills photo lenses during a focus pull
T stops instead of F stops so exposure matches from lens to lens
Extra time needed to change
More camera crew needed for efficiency.
More kit to carry around (and lose and break)
Cheaper prime lenses may not look exactly the same so will need matching in colour correction afterwards
May end up not using best lens for the shot
Drama
Music videos
Studio based productions
Documentary
Small crews
Inexperienced film makers
'Guerilla' or 'run & gun' style film making
The Lenses
(using a super 35 sensor camera : C100 mk2)
14mm Extreme wide angle
24 mm Wide angle
35mm Standard
50mm Standard/Long
85mm Long/Telephoto
Tight spaces
Moving shots, steadicam, gimbals, handheld
To create drama menace.
Movement is smoother yet more extreme on a wide lens, also focus easier as a wide lens has a
deeper depth of field.
Can create distortion on close ups of people.
Backgrounds appear further away.
14mm
24mm
This lens has a similar filed of view to the human eye so is often used for shots of all sizes like two shots or groups. Often the go to lens if you don’t know what what you want.
35mm
50mm
As you go with the longer lens (narrow angle of view) your background appears closer, and often (but not always) more out of focus. This is good for close ups (single shots) on people in conversation, where they can be isolated A very long lens can feel “observational” like spying.
85mm
135mm
In the C100 bag you will find an air blower and a lens cloth. Use the blower to remove as much dust as possible, then the cloth for finger prints and stubborn dust.
ALWAYS KEEP THE CASE FASTENED WHEN YOU HAVE SELECTED A LENS !!!
Leave one catch closed when there is a lens out, and two closed when you are finished.
Written by FR