

Though zoom lenses usually cannot achieve f/stop numbers as low as prime lenses, professional grade zoom lenses can usually go as low as f/2.8, which means quite a lot of light is hitting the sensor, giving you a great amount of control over depth of field. These zoom lenses are sometimes referred to as “Variable Focal Length” lenses, which is a more descriptive title for what these lenses do-they allow the focal length to “vary” as you zoom in. For example, a lens that has a 24-70mm focal length range means that it can zoom from 24mm up to 70mm. Zooms: zoom lenses are lenses that allow for zooming from one focal length to another.“Prime” lenses are often referred to as “Fixed Focal Length” lenses-this is due to the “fixed” or static nature of their optics. In addition, prime lenses typically have lower f/stop numbers or maximum apertures, which means that they can allow more light to hit the sensor, which ultimately allows for more creative control over your video that can mean better control over the light in the scene as well as control over the depth of field for that dreamy shallow depth of field (bokeh) look. This may seem like a disadvantage, but in fact what it allows is for optics that are perfectly crafted for that one focal length, and therefore it is well understood that Prime lenses typically have superior performance because of that. In simple terms, this means when you use a prime, you can’t zoom in or out-you’re stuck with one view. Primes: lenses that are called “prime” are lenses with fixed focal lengths.Advanced users may wish to skip ahead, but for those who are getting started and/or want a refresher, read on as we cover these two types of lenses: This is a question every filmmaker should first answer before going into the lens selection process. However, we are able to give you a head start in solving this challenge by telling you what the most popular Nikon lenses for video are.īefore we get into exact models, let’s first solve for one important factor: Primes or Zooms? So, what we are trying to say is that there is no “best” when it comes to matching a look to your vision-you own that part of the equation, and should solve accordingly. This is a very common question among beginners and pros-basically anyone looking to finely hone the craft of constructing a scene will pay extra care to the lens selection to ensure what the camera sees matches their vision. Each lens has its own unique set of qualities and characteristics that makes it perfect for a certain scene, and this inevitably prompts users to ask-which lenses are the best for shooting video?

One of the biggest advantages of shooting video with a DSLR camera is the great lens selection available to shoot with.
