Video lens

Texas

Senior Member
Yes, but mainly, before purchase you want to figure out the focal length as appropriate (may be different for Full Frame vs. DX cameras)
A 35mm lens, or a zoom that includes that focal length would be my choice. A 50mm will be fine on Full Frame but not DX for video.

I'm assuming hand held indoor video, relatively close range, with these suggestions. Long focal length for video needs a tripod and more, don't try that at home !
 
What is the best lens, in your opinion, for videos?

It would help if we knew what camera you have and what you plan to do with it.
If you fill out your profile and add the camera gear we can better answer any questions that you might have.
You can do that at http://nikonites.com/profile.php?do=editprofile

Under camera just put the model number like D7100; Once you put the first letter like D you will see a list of all the cameras in the database pop up. The more numbers you put in the smaller the list becomes. When you see your camera just click on it, Be sure to click on "Save Changes" in the lower right corner.

Thanks
 

Chase_

Senior Member
It would help if we knew what camera you have and what you plan to do with it.
If you fill out your profile and add the camera gear we can better answer any questions that you might have.
You can do that at http://nikonites.com/profile.php?do=editprofile

Under camera just put the model number like D7100; Once you put the first letter like D you will see a list of all the cameras in the database pop up. The more numbers you put in the smaller the list becomes. When you see your camera just click on it, Be sure to click on "Save Changes" in the lower right corner.

Thanks

It’s not letting me login, but I have the D500 as well as the D7200 but I mainly use the 500
 
I’ve not tried them very extensively. I’ve tried the 50 and 35. The focus just seems to be slow or not work at all for some reason. Idk if it’s a setting or something but I don’t know what it is

Buying a new lens is not going to solve your problem. DSLRs are not the best video cameras especially if you are wanting to have it auto focus while you are videoing. They tend to get noisy also.
 

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
I’ve not tried them very extensively. I’ve tried the 50 and 35. The focus just seems to be slow or not work at all for some reason. Idk if it’s a setting or something but I don’t know what it is

Disclaimer: All of my video projects have been shot on the D810. I have not shot video extensively with the D500 yet.

I tend to shoot video in manual focus mode. That said, the video I shoot is more interview style, so I can pre-focus and lock that in, without needing to change on the fly. That does two things for me: it keeps the AF servo sound from interfering with the recorded audio (although I typically also use wireless lapel mics), it also eliminates focus hunting if the camera goes searching for focus again. I keep an eye on the live view display and may make subtle changes to focus during the shoot, but I'd rather have that control in this setting.

I bought prime lenses because I thought they would work better with video (I mean hey, Nikons film maker kit includes the 35, 50, and 85mm f/1.8 primes for a reason, right?), but I find myself using the 24-120mm f/4 or 24-70mm f/2.8 more often. I want the ability to zoom into or out from a subject during the shoot, without having to move the camera.
 
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