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Creative Technology, Brown Arts Institute
  • Creative Technology
  • Page
  • Wayfinding
    • Ableton Push
    • Animation station
    • Electronics workstation
    • Flatbed scanner
    • MIDI keyboards
    • Projectors
    • Recording Studio microphones
    • Recording Studio patch bay
    • Recording Studio preamps
    • Tablet displays
    • Title
  • Cheatsheets
    • 🖨️Printing to the Epson Stylus P9000
  • Check-Out Equipment
    • Mobile Recording Kit
    • Camera Kit
      • Basic Operations
      • Video Setup for Recording Humans
        • Audio Set Up
        • Custom Mode 1 Settings: A Reference
    • Lens Choices for Lumix Camera
    • Shoulder Mount for Camera
    • Manfrotto Befree Tripod
    • Neewer 3 Point Light Kit
    • Mini LED 3 Point Light Kits
    • Audio Kit
      • Set up and Recording Operation
      • Transferring Files + Audio Interface Setup
    • Shotgun Mic Kit
      • Booming with a Shotgun Mic
    • Basic Recorder Kit
    • Field Recorder
    • 4 Channel Surround Sound Field Recorder
    • GoPro Kit
    • Multi-Cam GoPro Kit
    • Podcasting Kit
  • Guides
    • Virtual reality
      • Unity 3D: Overview
        • Setting up Unity
        • Building 3D objects
        • Using Unity
      • Virtual Reality with Unity: Getting Started
        • Setting up your project
        • Enable Controller Movement + Teleportation
        • Basic Interactable Objects
        • Prototyping VR via Oculus Link
    • 🎙️Podcasting
      • 🎤Beginner Podcasting: Granoff Studio
        • 🖥️STEP 1: Setting up Ableton for Recording
        • 🎙️STEP 2: Microphone Set Up
        • 🎧STEP 3: Headphones Set Up
        • 🎚️STEP 4: Setting Level and Recording
        • 🎛️3 Person Podcasting / Using the Tracking Room
        • 📕Glossary
      • 📱iPhone/Smartphone Podcasting Cheat Sheet
        • 🗣️Basic tips for interviewing
        • 🤳Using Your Phone to Record
    • 3D design and modeling
      • Finding 3D models and materials
  • ✖️Logic Pro X Basics
    • 🔊Creating and using sampler instruments from audio
    • 📊EQ Basics
    • 📂Filter Basics
    • 📈Compressor Basics
    • 🥁Drum programming with Ultrabeat
    • 💪Using Flex Time
  • Camera Kit Set Up for Video Recording Humans
    • The Camera + Basic Operations
      • Initial Setup for Recording Monologues
      • Custom Mode 1 Settings: A Reference
      • Audio Set Up
      • Manfrotto Befree Tripod
      • Neewer Light Kit
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On this page
  • Why different lenses?
  • So, why different lenses?
  • The lenses in detail
  • Lenses available for Checkout
  • IN CONCLUSION
  • LENS CARE
  1. Check-Out Equipment

Lens Choices for Lumix Camera

3 Canon Lenses, 1 Sigma & 1 Lumix for shooting in adaptable focal lengths

Last updated 3 months ago

Why different lenses?

We'll tell you, but first...a few points:

  • Lenses are defined as either Zoom or Prime Lenses. Zoom or "Variable" lenses have adjustable focal lengths while Prime lenses have a fixed length.

  • Measured in millimeters (mm) a focal length is the magnification capability of the lens which determines how much of the scene is visible.

  • The focal length also affects, as a result of perspective, the perceived distance of the background relative to the subject. The longer the focal length, the closer the background will appear. A shallower depth of field (a more narrow field of focus) can be achieved by using a wider aperture (a lower number f-stop) or a longer focal length (a higher number like 200mm seen below)

So, why different lenses?

Using different lenses achieves vastly different effects of perspective that imply different moods, different intensity and different focus for the viewer. It also allows you to shoot from the distance you wish so that you are neither too far or too close to the actor or the subject.

As you can see, the aperture range, or the maximum (which is a lower number) varies depending on the focal length used in the zoom lenses i.e. f/3.5 to f/22 for the 20mm to 60mm kit lens described below. Whereas the prime lens has a fixed maximum, hence the one number such as f/1.8. Keep this in mind when choosing a lens when deciding to shoot in low-light conditions. The lower the number the larger the aperture, the more light is let in, making it better for low-light or nighttime shooting.

The lenses in detail

The photos below were all taken from the same distance, unzoomed in the case of the zoom lenses, so at the first focal length.

Additional note: The ones requiring an adaptor are available for check-out along with the lens.

The first lens, that comes with the Lumix (the kit lens) is a

Panasonic Lumix 20mm-60mm

Aperture Range: f/3.5 to f/22

This is a zoom lens covering a wide range of focal lengths, from ultra wide to short portrait length fields of view. Unique in its focal length range.

Lenses available for Checkout

Canon EF-S 10-18mm (adapter required)

Aperture Range: f/4.5 to f/29

Flexible wide-angle zoom lens

Canon EF-S 18-55mm (adapter required)

Aperture Range: f/4 to f/32 Versatile and standard, this lens covers wide-angle to portrait-length perspectives.

Canon EF-S 55-250mm (adapter required)

Aperture Range: f/4 to f/32

This is a telephoto zoom lens suitable for distant subject matter.

Panasonic Lumix S 50mm F/1.8 (native L-mount)

Prime (fixed focal length) lens, suited for both portraits and landscape. With a F/1.8, this lens provides a bright, shallow depth of field that’s good for low light photography. This is a popular lens for filmmakers.

*an action pan is available in cheqout but the lumix also has built in digital stabilization features. Still, a good factor to consider.

Sigma 24mm F/2 (native L-mount)

Prime (fixed focal length) lens, this is a wide angle lens ideal for landscape and architectural photography. At F/2, this lens provides a bright, shallow depth of field that’s good for low light photography.

IN CONCLUSION

Consider your lens choice based on the requirements of your shoot. A zoom lens allows you great flexibility to shoot both close-ups and wide shots without having to change lenses, which is already provided with the Lumix Camera Kit, but consider your shot-list* ahead of time to see if you wouldn't benefit from the other available lenses, even for a single shot. The difference in effect can be worth it.

*a list of shots, storyboarded** or not, to keep track of your film shoot.

**a visual comic of the shots required in a shoot, often roughly drawn and indicating motion, framing, and other factors.

LENS CARE

Make sure to cap your lenses when not in use. Be extra careful of any surfaces or objects which may come into contact to scratch the lens. When not immediately changing a lens over, take care to cover the lens mount as well. Place them in their protective pouches when not in use, and store them carefully in a protective bag or in a safe place.

"The is ideal for fitting a large object into the frame or drawing attention to an object in the image’s foreground. Wide-angle lenses can show greater movement and scope within a scene and exaggerate and distort the foreground image. Certain lenses can produce an ultrawide-angle or even fish-eye effect if their focal length is larger than the camera’s sensor size." - from Masterclass

"Known as the “nifty 50,” the 50mm lens is a prime lens that can represent how the human eye sees objects and people in a natural setting. They are both affordable and lightweight, making them ideal for handheld filmmaking. However, first-time users should consider using stabilizers* or gimbals (pivoting support for ) for greater image stabilization. A 50mm lens can also create the bokeh effect, a soft, attractive, out-of-focus background image, with maximum aperture." - from Masterclass

wide-angle lens
camera operators
Left: 200mm f/4 | Middle: 70mm f/4 | Right: 24mm f/4. - the "F" is the f-stop adjustable to a varying degree on different lenses also known as the aperture or what light is let in. Reminder: The Focal length is the 200mm, 70mm etc
un-zoomed Lumix 20mm-60mm
Canon 10-18mm
Canon 18-55mm
Canon 55-250mm (compare to the previous lens which ends at 55 instead of starting)
Lumix 50mm
a little dark however...this is the operator and not the lenses fault, unless that's what we were going for? Maybe...