Any video shooter’s wishlist of requirements for their kit of lenses can really be boiled down to three things: they create high-quality footage, they cover the focal range you need, and they don’t weigh you down. It can seem difficult to put together a kit filled with lenses that don’t sacrifice at least one of these requirements, but you can have it all in each of these Sony lenses built with video creation in mind. Sony isn’t messing around with these compact masterpieces – they’re built well, they perform well and they won’t overwhelm your kit – especially paired with cameras like the Sony ZV-E10 and Sony Alpha 7C. Video shooters and vloggers check out the list of lenses below for a closer look at why they each check the boxes for evolved video quality, complete versatility and unmatched mobility.
Whether you’re creating cinematic films or vlogs on YouTube, or video posts for Instagram and TikTok, here's a slate of zoom & prime lenses to get the job done:
What do you get when you combine Sony lens technology with a wide-angle power zoom? The Sony 16-35mm f/4 G PZ, a new lens in Sony’s lineup and a very ideal match for video production and vlogging. The zoom works with your camera to smoothly and silently track fast-moving objects while maintaining focus. Alpha Collective member and filmmaker Braedin Toth has put the video features of the new lens to work, shooting various scenes to show its power zoom feature which he says gives him more creative control. “The lens has two XD linear focus motors and four more XD motors to control the zoom,” he says. “If I want to zoom while filming I no longer need a lens motor, I can just set the zoom speed in camera to the speed needed and get the effect I’m looking for. Being able to remotely adjust the focal length depending on the scene's composition is so convenient for car mounts and remote rigs where you don’t have access to the camera.”
If keeping your kit light and small is important to your work, you won’t have an issue with using the Sony 16-35mm f/4 G PZ. Toth says its compactness combined with the change of perspective it provides makes it a must-include lens for video shooters. “Generally I pack a pretty small kit,” he says. “This new lens is so incredibly light and compact, I have no issue including it in my day-to-day kit. A lot of creators love to use digital zoom but nothing replaces true optical zoom. The change of perspective and depth makes it something special.” See more of his work with the new lens in 16-35mm F4 PZ At Work: How A Power Zoom Can Level Up Your Videos.
Creative and Alpha Collective member Stan Moniz has also used the lens, taking it underwater to record oceanic whitetip sharks. He says the video footage was insane and where the lens really comes into play. Being able to power zoom in and out allowed him to create a type of underwater dolly movement that would otherwise be much more difficult to achieve. “Underwater I was zoomed up at 35mm as the sharks would come close to me and literally kiss the dome of the port, because that’s where all of their sensors are,” he says. “I would zoom out, so it looks like this parallax video clip of the shark, like a dolly effect underwater.” Read more of his experience using the lens underwater in Getting Up Close With Oceanic Whitetip Sharks.
Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II
Why the new Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II for video and vlogging? Not only was the newest iteration of the beloved G Master designed for all types of video applications, it’s as mobile as it comes in this class of zooms. When you use this lens you will find it to be smaller, lighter and faster, so it won’t bog you down on a long day of shooting. It’s also packed with a number of features for advanced video creation like its Linear Response Manual Focus and extremely quiet AF operation. All-in-all, it’s one of the most versatile lenses in the lineup and one any content creator will find useful for video.
For Sony Artisan and adventure filmmaker Chris Burkard, the f/2.8 aperture is very important to reach his level of professional work while in difficult shooting scenarios. “I feel like for professionals f/2.8 is the standard and something I truly require to hit the desired bokeh and falloff as well as the wide open aperture for low light shooting. For me, shooting in harsh conditions, I always need that extra bit of light capability.” The Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II, being both versatile and high-performing, has fulfilled those requirements for him. “It's lighter, faster, easier to use and honestly something that I will absolutely be adding to my kit,” he says. “The lens is noticeably lighter and overall fits into my bag better. I couldn't ask for something better than that honestly. That fact that the optics are better is just a bonus to me.”
Sony Artisan and YouTube content creator Miguel Quiles has also used the new Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II and notes how it, combined with your Sony camera, makes an unstoppable combination. “What stands out to me about this lens is the overall package and how they play off of one another,” he says. “For a lens to be small and fast is fine, but if it’s not sharp and the AF performance doesn’t keep up then it doesn’t matter. In this case, this lens really gives you the best blend of ergonomics, IQ, AF performance, bokeh and everything else!” Watch the video below as Quiles goes through more of the improved features for the new lens:
Sony 10-20mm f/4 G PZ
With the new Sony 10-20mm f/4 G PZ lens, you can expect a clean and clear image from corner to corner at all zoom settings. The lens is the smallest and lightest in its class, making it nice and mobile for those long video shoots. While filming you’ll be amazed by how well the autofocus smoothly tracks your subjects in the frame. The electronic power zoom is also a game changer – it gives excellent responsive control and an adjustable zoom speed so you can set it for the specific shot you’re taking.
Sony 15mm f/1.4 G
The f/1.4 aperture and lightweight form factor of the new Sony 15mm f/1.4 G lens makes it a fast and sharp prime that’s excellent for video shooters. The fast and quiet autofocus maximizes the potential of your camera so while shooting video you can ensure that you’ll maintain accurate focus, even on fast-moving objects.
Sony E 11mm F1.8
The new Sony 11mm f/1.8 lens is the perfect lens for vlogging. Its compact size and ultra-wide angle of view lets you record selfie-style video at arm’s length. With its f/1.8 aperture, you can get that nice background bokeh to make yourself stand out in your vlogs.
Sony Artisan Bob Krist has used all three of the above new lenses and says,“These three lenses have breathed new life into the APS-C format. They are precisely what serious APS-C shooters have needed. And the usefulness of these lenses to video shooters with full frame cameras cannot be underestimated because the APS-C crop on full frame video looks so great. This will make the zoom, especially useful for outdoor work where you usually have plenty of light and don’t need the super low light capabilities of Sony full-frame.” Learn more about the lenses in the video below.
Sony 24mm f/2.8 G
The Sony 24mm f/2.8 G compact prime lens is so small and lightweight it gives creatives the chance to work in a nimble, quick and quiet way while producing incredible footage. The 24mm focal length is a favorite among many video shooters because you can include more of the environment in your shots, allowing you to tell a broader story in scenes while keeping all of that sweet sharpness. The sheer size and weight of the lens makes it a versatile option and when paired with a small camera like the Sony ZV-E10 or Sony Alpha 7C, you have a travel-friendly content creation machine ready to crank out impressively clear video results.
YouTubers Jason Vong and Vivienne Lee like to use the Sony 24mm f/2.8 G lens while traveling and vlogging. They combine the 24mm as well as other compact primes, like the Sony 40mm f/2.5 G and Sony 50mm f/2.5 G, with their Sony Alpha 7C to get a variety of perspectives while still carrying a small kit. “The 24mm and the 50mm offer us a bit of a duality perspective,” Vong explains. “The 24mm gives us a wider perspective on things and really helps us capture the landscape and the environment that we’re in. And for the 50mm, that’s when we start to home in on a specific subject in the environment.”
Sony FE 40mm F2.5 G
Wider than the standard “nifty fifty,” the Sony 40mm f/2.5 G lens is an intriguing focal length that creatives say hits the sweet spot. It’s not too tight, not too wide, but just perfect for a variety of situations when you’re looking for something in between the 24mm and 50mm. "The 40mm is not uncommon for me at all,” says creative Oveck Reyes of the Alpha Collective. “I've shot on my film camera with a 40mm before and loved the focal length. It's the perfect in-between lens. The size, weight and overall performance of the 40mm f/2.5 G lens definitely stand out. This will absolutely have a regular place in my kit moving forward."
Commercial videographer Phil Nguyen specializes in travel, lifestyle and brand narrative, and the Alpha Collective member says the size and versatility of the lens makes it perfect for his work. "I love the 40mm as a walkaround lens,” says Nguyen. “I find that it’s perfect for nearly all situations. Not too tight, not too wide, but just perfect. 40mm is becoming one of my favorite focal lengths because it’s so versatile. The size and weight of this 40mm f/2.5 G lens makes it the perfect everyday lens. I can see this lens staying on my camera for an extended amount of time. Along with its size, the versatility of the 40mm would make this one of my most-used lenses."
Sony 50mm f/2.5 G
If you took the popular 50mm focal length, added higher video quality and easier mobility, plus that amazing resolution that the Sony G series is known for, you would have an absolute winner of a lens for video shooters. Enter the Sony 50mm f/2.5 G. This lens has all of that and has become a top choice for video shooters and vloggers in a wide range of shooting scenarios. It’s also easy to use with a gimbal and great for traveling, just like the other compact primes. If you’re a video shooter looking to capture an authentic perspective, this 50mm is a must-have in your kit.
You can watch two aspiring YouTubers put the Sony 50mm f/2.5 G along with the other G-series compact primes to the test during a cinematic royale in the video below posted on the Moment YouTube Channel. The video is shot using the compact G-series primes and in it YouTuber Caleb Babcock says, “These little lenses are like miniature versions of the G Master lenses,” explains Caleb. “They’re $600 a pop. Insanely good image quality – we shot this whole video on them. And they’re lightweight and compact, so a super good option if you’re looking for some lenses for your Sony camera. They work on full-frame, they work on APS-C. And honestly, it’s like Sony heard our cries for people who want G Master and can’t afford it.”
Sony 14mm f/1.8 G Master
The Sony 14mm f/1.8 G Master lens allows video shooters to capture a perspective that tighter lenses just can't offer. Travel vlogger and YouTuber Pierre T. Lambert says it's a wide lens that he's really come to love. "At first I thought I didn’t know how I would really use it outside of architectural shots and city shots. I actually started loving that 14mm f/1.8 GM. It’s really something that allows me to capture different angles. We are really used to the same frames, you know 35mm, 24mm and even the 16-35mm is a very known classic. 14mm gives you that extra range which can make it very interesting.” See more of the gear he uses for vlogging in the video below:
Sony 10-18mm f/4
The Sony 10-18mm f/4 ultra wide zoom is a unique lens that’s been in the Sony lineup for years and still holds firm as a favorite for video shooters today. It’s lightweight, it’s sharp and it adds that ultra-wide perspective video shooters often need to tell the whole story. Videographer and content creator Chris Brockhurst creates videos for his YouTube Channel where he explains how he uses different gear in real-world situations. He likes to shoot wide-angle and finds it especially useful when creating real estate videos, and he relies on the Sony 10-18mm f/4 lens to get the framing he needs. In his video below he shows the wider field of view provided by the Sony 10-18mm f/4 as he takes you on a real estate shoot with his video rig.
Original Article by Sony, please visit here for full post.