The New King of Cinema Zoom Lenses?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 พ.ค. 2024
- What makes the perfect cinema zoom lens for documentaries or run and gun productions? Well, lots of things, and the Laowa Ranger Lites make an interesting case for being some of the very best on the market. But how do they compare to my current workhorse lenses, the Fujinon MK Cine Zooms?
#filmmaking #gear #lens #laowa #venusoptics
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Laowa Ranger Lite 28-75 (Pre-order): tinyurl.com/44s2tywr
Laowa Ranger Lite 75-180 (Pre-order): tinyurl.com/3xtssm68
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CHAPTERS
0:00 - Intro
0:58 - Full disclosure, not sponsored video
2:12 - What these lenses are
3:30 - Real world use of the Laowa lenses
4:30 - In the field thoughts
6:19 - Focus
8:01 - How they handle challenging lighting conditions
10:13 - Who are these lenses for?
11:25 - What about the price?
12:05 - Who shouldn’t buy these?
12:50 - Final thoughts
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Not a cinema zoom, but I’ve been using the tamron 35-150 lately, and it’s even better than I thought it might be. Definitely not the same thing, but it really looks nice, has a superb zoom range, shallow DOF, and can focus linearly. Oh and it’s functionally parfocal. I keep using it..
I have the same lense and it really is as good as everyone says. 😄
I am on the fence. Any footage to share? 🎉
Man, i've been thinking about buying that lens for so long!
@@DynamicLearning4u sorry, nothing i could easily share here, but there's a plethora of footage on youtube.
The Tamron 35-150 lives on my videocam, superb AF too.
Every single time I watch one of your videos, I learn something new. Thanks, Luc for taking the time from your busy schedule to help guide us through this journey.
I use these for work paired with an FX6 and an FX9 and they are fantastic lenses. It's really striking how big of an upgrade they seem coming from high end photo lenses like the G Masters. You lose autofocus, but gain a bit of character and the weight/ form factor feels much more natural on cinema cameras.
your call on the focus throw feel after using in the field is invaluable, thanks Luc
Thank you for your HONEST, and TO-THE-POINT review. Your videos are UNIQUE because you ONLY review things that you are USING in your fulltime work and you also point out THEIR LIMITATIONS. The majority of TH-camrs sound like I should buy the products they are reviewing because they are so good and most of the time they don't even mention their limitations! In reality, NO THING is perfect. Obviously it’s because they get those merchandises for free. We need MORE REVIEWERS LIKE YOU.
Glad you like them!
Commenting for the algorithm. Keep killing it Luc!
Thank you!
This is a well-documented overview. What I like about your video style is not so much the gear as the no-nonsense approach to not buying on credit and promoting reasonable purchases for professional work!
Firstly, I liked your comment, and totally agree. Now, while many are right to say never buy gear on credit, I've seen examples (and lived a couple) where buying on credit was timed well and managed appropriately. There are certainly caveats to this (timing being one of the biggest), because I can also think of plenty of bad examples (including my first time). That said, I do think there's a discussion worth having there, maybe Luc can make a video on it!
@@craigwynnphoto9559 I can agree with that as well. Especially when you start getting into really high-end gear and the costs are quite a bit higher. What I really liked about Luke's sentiment though is that I think he was more referring to starting off videographers who in some cases, feel that they need to have gear that's out of their budget when they currently do not have the workload to maintain it. I can definitely see some circumstances where it makes sense and I think that it certainly on a case by case basis.
He got the lense in free in exchange for making the video. It's sponsored. Look at the actions, not the words.
@@meanmarine24 putting the time and effort into into sharing specific information, and getting sponsored to get some great gear that you use professionally is a benefit. Luc has been careful to be very selective in the gear he shares or partners up with. Nothing in the world is free. Why not create something you believe in and get sponsored along with the way? The lens to make this video doesn’t pay the bills and I assure you the time he invested into this video to get a lens doesn’t equate to a an hourly rate that many would work for.
@@MindfulGrinds You're on the wrong track. Someone deleted their comment after i replied...they realized they were wrong :)
Great overview of these lenses. They have been on my radar for a little while and I think they have made it to my short list. I love the fact you always say not to buy gear on Credit, I wish more reviewers on YT did this.
An excellent, well balanced review Luc. I recently got the Fujinon 18-55, having lusted after it for several years , and very happy I did and given I don't have FF I have nothing to regret.
A TRUE full frame cine 28-75 being in even remotely the same size and weight class as a Super 35 18-55 is incredible.
What are your thoughts about the Sony 24-70 f2.0 that is supposed to be announced this year? It's only a rumor for now, but Sony Alpha Rumors is certain that it will happen. An f2 aperture throughout that zoom range would be pretty interesting for documentaries aswell, don't you think? But yeah, it will most likely be focus-by-wire. And probably around 1.5kg and $3,500. Would you even use f2.0 with manual focus all that much?
canon 24-105mm 2.8 is Z, that is the docu zoom we want on sony!
Luc thanks so much for covering these lenses. There is so little practical content in the outdoor doc space (at least with high standards). I’ve been drooling on these lenses for quite some time and really appreciate your honest take on them. Other videos on these lenses are nothing but praise which isn’t the most helpful for those of us trying to make smart investments.
Happy to help!
indeed
I recently used this lens on my chase car, chasing a drift car around. Had it setup on fx6 with Focus and Zoom motor. It has an awesome lens for getting close wides and some nice tracking zooms, slowly pushing in. Awesome lens with great character!
Canon RF 24-105mm F2.8L IS USM Z
The FUJINON Duvo is a game changer for sure!
Interesting thanks for the overview. I was hoping we might get to see some images side by side with the Fujinons but I think you are right that it is about the functionality over anything else when it comes to doc. I see Laowa are releasing a 17-50 for S35 so I'm interested to see that in use as well as it is smaller and lighter. Might be a good shout for a super35 mirrorless body
Definitely an exciting lens, I really enjoy my Tokina ATX II cine zoom lenses, my only complaint is the weight. My Tokina 25-75 is almost 6lbs so these are extremely interesting. Great review I'm going to keep my eye on these.
Great review, great advice.
Glad it was helpful!
informative content Thanks Luc
Thank you for watching John!
For those who have never thought about follow focus like Titla. Having manual lens with zoom and new Tilta Nucleus Nano 2 - this setup will blown my mind. Smooth focus and zoom in incredible 😊
ever thought of useing/trying the Sony FE PZ 28-135mm f/4 G OSS?
supposed to cover full frame but the f4 aperture might be a hindrance in some scenarios....
It’s quite soft especially when cutting between regular Sony glass
Right what I'm looking for!!
Man I thought my new S Pro 24-70 was a killer but this thing....I really appreciate all the time and effort you put into your videos. You consistently provide awesome insights that have actually really helped me along my journey.
Really glad they've helped!
I'm on Home Reno show and I just use my Canon 24-105 F4. I'm just a Cam Op, and truly I'm just getting B-Roll. If I was DPing I'd definitely want to get something better, but I'm not really making enough to upgrade my gear on the show. I am looking at the new 24-105 F2.8, and kitting it out with a servo.
thanks for your good video as every time! if someone is shooting on a budget but still wants full frame zoom - take a look on the vintage Contax Zeiss 28-85mm. I shot a few projects on it, it has its downsides (push - pull zoom) but besides that, its a lovely zoom
I've been warching Luke because of his beautiful work, super 35, and Fujinons. Glad he is sticking to it. I like his aporoach best among videographers and cinematographers. I follow his principles, -- Classic look, using lighter gears. More power Luke.
Full frame PL mount is exactly what the new Blackmagic Pìxys is... Would be my perfect use case. Interesting review of this superb pair of lenses, thanks!
Thanks for watching!
I have seen these lenses for a while now, and I think they are also one of the top budget fine zooms
@12:40 I guess a Pocket Cinema 6K camera is "a mirrorless" camera ish that has a PL Mount.
Commenting for the algorithm. Awesome vid!
Awesome! Thank you!
Would it be possible to film a brief side by side comparison of these lenses (with similar framing)? I'm interested to see how the image of this Laowa 28-75 compares to the Fujinon MK 18-55. I've been planning to pick up the MK 18-55, but if the Laowa performs nearly as well I may aim for a full frame setup instead. I'm most curious about the color and micro-contrast three dimensionality of the Laowa Ranger lens compared to the Fujinon MK.
The basketball footage looks quite compressed so it's hard to judge the sharpness and contrast of the lenses. Is there somewhere to see the footage with a better codec? They certainly feel more flarey than the Fuji as I remember it. Thoughts?
Hello Luc.
In regards of camera lens combination. What is the reason to pick this type of lens when you lose autofocus capabilities? Are you sacrificing one of the best qualities of your camera?
This review was great! I LOVE seeing an actual film maker review lenses rather than a professional review do filmmaking. There are a lot of the latter out there.
Thank you!
We wouldn't have a business without the purchases we made on credit in our first year. I was on a teacher's salary and having to rent every time I went out. We weren't at the level where the clients were paying for rental so we put 2K on the credit card and had it paid off in two months. It was the straightest line to stop losing money on rentals and allowed us to start making money off of kit fees instead of losing money.
What are your thoughts on the super35 version of these lenses?
there is apsc shooting mode on the fx3....BUT you have to shoot in HD. i own the MK as well and it's not that bad of a tradeoff
What lens adapter did you use?
ive looked into these an the Catta Zooms for a while
Lol, I love it when the disclaimer goes, there is no money involved,...but I can keep a lens worth several thousand $. It's no biggie for me, but you could save the time of the disclaimer as it's irrelevant, I'll still listen to your opinion and test ;).
For the Fuginon MKs 18mm is 29mm in Super35 so the Rangers still give a smidge wider at 28mm on full frame for the win.
What are you thoughts on the DZO zooms?
I think it is totally fine that a filmmaker prefers manual focus. The best tool is the one you master and are comfortable with. But I always find it so cringe when anyone is trying to make autofocus look inferior or not good enough. Now you had me checking the focus on these clips and…. Idk…. If smooth transition is all you’re looking for then maybe…
Yea the focus was off in most of the clips I saw. At least to my eye. But one thing I hate about auto-focus is the micro movements. I record a lot of vocals at microphones, and the microphone grill has a lot of fine contrast. I’m always noticing the tiny focus adjustments off of the microphone grill when shooting shallow DOF. not something I would consider acceptable for film making.
What do tou think about sony 28-135 g?
Just can't pull the trigger on anything made by a Chinese owned company. If that means I will have to pay way more for something like a Fujinon lens, I am willing to do that.
I admire Luc’s use of the shoulder mount. I’ve tried and it just doesn’t work for me. 😢
Lots of practice. I started out as a field one man shop for news gathering. It is definitely a learned skill. I am happy I don't really have access to my work 20 years ago and how bad it was.
@@meatbyproductsI’m sure it’s not that bad. lol
Sadly I think I’m stuck with a gimbal.
@justoneperson oh I bet it is lol.
Wait, there’s no sponsorship here, there’s no money involved, except keeping a lense worth more than 4,000 USD? ;)
Hehe. Anyway, glad he at least mentions it.
It’s like Media Division made DJI vids without getting paid, heck they loose money making these video. But indeed they are good stuff and worth spreading about.
@manilamartin1001 he is legally required to mention it.
Yeah I agree this is less a non-sponsored review plus a caveat, and moreso a sponsored video with a caveat…
Luc offers a ton of free value in his videos, no need to call him out on something so small
Hi - curious if you think these are worth owning in regards to getting a rental rate/kit fee? Like will these pay themselves off eventually, or are these still "affordable" enough that they basically would just go out included with your camera package?
I’d guess that they probably wouldn’t make much in terms of rental honestly, but they should bring up the total rental budget of your camera package. In my experience I’ll get a rate for the camera package, which for better or worse is sort of expected to have a lens with it. Better lens should equal a better rate, but it would take a while to make back the cash I think. The lenses I do make money on are often the specialty ones, like a 60-600, but my main lenses seem to just go with the camera most of the time. The reason I invested in cinema zooms was mostly for the ability to shoot more fluidly and get better coverage, which trans’s not really an image quality thing so much as an ease of use and precision thing, which for me has translated into better footage and coverage. So as a rental investment I’and coverage. So I’d think of these as an operator investment rather than a rental investment. Hope that helps!
@@LucForsyth That totally makes sense! I'm still transitioning from jobs that just expect camera package included to jobs that specifically need a quote for gear, and so am figuring out what adds value and doesn't to my own rental. Appreciate your time Luc!
Lawoa: Can you make a video about using these two cine zoom lenses. Now we can’t pay you but you can keep one of the lenses.
Luc: Say less
are they parfocal?
DJI Lidar solves that AF problem haha. I've noticed you put these big heavy lenses on your camera without any lens support. Aren't you afraid the mount damages?
I’ve used heavy lenses on the fx6, no issues. If I was having it on constantly, as in every day I’d personally use support. Fx9 has the better mount so even sturdier
these lenses are super light and you just can't complain about weight. try the more popular fuji 20-120 or canon 17-120 and get back to us about what a modestly heavy lens is and haven't even gotten into the 25-250/300 size lenses. yes people shoot HH with them.
Autofocus zooms should still be most people's first choice because of their price, convenience, and versatility.
75 - 180 mm on a fast paced sports shoot 😰 even with a full frame cam and an easyrig that must have been tough for stability and avoiding jitter.
i am a big fan of yours but the best thing to do to show you really do believe in the product is to buy one with your own money, that way there is no conflict of interest. if i liked a product and i fully stand behind it i would purchase it myself and refuse anything that might cause a conflict of interest. Obviously it is not a sponsored video but still. but that is just me, and i really love these videos so keep doing your good work!!!
Or you can simply not talk about it and send it back because you didn’t like it. He had a chose to test and send back or give it away because he didn’t like it. He loved it and shared his experience with us. That’s the “best thing” that he could do for the community he is building…..”in my opinion”
@@MarcusRFilms I see your point, but I think both statement can be true, it is overall a positive video for the community and there is a conflict of interest of him making a video about it and getting a free lens. I am not saying he had bad intention, but there is a conflict of interest there regardless of his intention.
@@user-kc7gd7ux6r to take free gear to just do a video yeah I see that. But he has shown in tons of previous videos that he doesn’t do that. He actually uses the lens for production work and is actually recommending it. He has also used gear that he wouldn’t recommend and turned down many offers of free gear. I mean the reality is he doesn’t have to do these videos. He has a career. He actually didn’t have to even share that he got one of the lenses for free.
I wouldn’t have bought them because I already had good lenses that I was happy with! If I didn’t have lenses already, then that would be a different story, but I wanted to try the test and share what I found for people who don’t already own lenses
@@MarcusRFilms yes, you make a good point😇
Manually focusing after DJI changed the game a week ago is wild.
I remember when they "changed the game" with ronin 4d and now almost nobody uses it
@@unn4medfeel1ng ronin 4D is a very specific unique tool though, the new DJI lidar setup is pretty damn cool. You can still manually take over and pull focus if need be.
An audio observation, here in this video your "S" sounds weird. What did you do wrong here? in recording or in edit?
"Never buy gear on credit." Words to live by, especially us just starting out.
“Never ever buy gear with credit” why? Most of the gear I need isn’t at hand where I live. I could buy used, but returning things is so expensive that I prefer not taking that risk. I also have to pay the price + taxes and import fees x the currency change that goes arround $1 x 8. So… it’s expensive
Why should one never buy gear on credit?
Sorry but their coating is just really bad in heavy contrast scenes u end up with ghosting in these lenses. And they are pretty soft except if u stop down.
I shoot with the ZCam E2M4 in M43s format so I bought the DZO Film 20-70mm T2.9 a couple years ago. It is now my go-to lens for doc work. I can relate to all your pros of working with a good cine zoom lens. Great work, Luc!
PS. I picked up a couple film festival selections for my latest series: th-cam.com/video/__6NH8q8R48/w-d-xo.html
"There's no sponsorship" vs "I get to keep the xxxx $ lens if I do the review". Loving the channel so far and nothing against (openly) sponsored content, but this is just bullshit logic.
¡Bendito! 3500 dolares... :(
There is no sponsorship. But you got to keep a lens...
Disclaimer: I love your channel, but that sentence is just a contradiction in itself
giving you a $3500 lens to make a video is sponsorship dude, learn some ethics.
There are no such thing as "russian vintage lens" USSR is a group of countries and nationalities, and stop this cultural appropriation by russia, neglecting impact of other nations.
It is disrespectful at least and arrogant coming from "documentary cinematographer".