What's your ideal minimum lens kit?

[Stokestack]

So I'm just wondering what the minimal collection of lenses is that'd cover most shooting situations. I'm mostly considering primes at the moment.

I wonder, for example, how often I'd use a 135mm. Seems pretty long.

And is 20mm wide enough for most situations?

Anyway, I thought I'd see what the prevailing thoughts are on a four- or five-piece kit.

[Finner]

I have found in shooting most naratives a set of primes:

20-25(some where in that range), 35, 50, 85, 135

A set like that will work in most situations. Sometimes you may need wider (in a car for example) or tighter for other situations but you can usually plan for those days ahead of time. Also you may be suprisied how often the 135 will get you just the shot you need.

[Tonaci Tran]

I'll quote Mark Lyon, a director who is a friend of mine,

"Choice of primes is a bit project-dependent, especially on the long
end of the range. Here's the order I'm getting bid for an upcoming
commercial project where I'd like a pretty good range:

Option A:
Zeiss standard T2.1 primes: 16mm, 24mm, 32mm, 50mm, 85mm, 100mm, 135mm
Zeiss 8mm (8R) or 12mm

Option B:
Cooke 15-40 T2 zoom with zoom control and mattebox
Cooke S4 12mm, 50mm, 75mm, 100mm

But I would think that a 16 (wide), 32 (normal), and 85 or 100 (long)
would handle a lot of situations. You could always augment with
rentals when needed. I use my 50mm on Super16 all the time, so I'd
really like to have an 85 or 100 for 35mm format close-ups."

[Jason Francois]

I'm starting with Nikons to play with.

I have a 24, 35, 50 and 85. I'll start with that for now and rent when things get more specific. However, this is enough to do just about anything within reason.

[Greg M]

I would consider a 16-24-32-50-85 and 135 as a basic set.
Then would add a 14mm and 100mm and finally a 8mm or 10mm.

Additionally a zoom is useful for most shoots.

[Emanuel A.]

I had already asked before and Stephen gave me this helpful tip from his own experience and preferences:

«With 3 lenses I would take 24,35 & 85 & with 5 lenses 18, 24, 35, 50 & 85»

http://www.cinematography.com/forum2004/index.php?s=&showtopic=17651&view=findpost&p=131845

[Greg M]

The Red 18-85 should be considered a must have at under 10k. If you didnt order during original pre-order, dont forget to add it on Monday.

[Jeff Kilgroe]

While not my ideal kit, it's the best I can hope for under initial purchase constraints:

Nikkor: 16mm f2.8, 24mm f2, 35mm f2, 50mm f1.2, 105mm, ~135mm

I own a few now, but the 16mm and 100+mm units are on my shopping list. I also have a 50-300mm Nikkor zoom. Nice lens, but will be incredibly hard to pull a focus with. It's a PITA on the D2Xs even mounted on a tripod.

I will probably reserve both the RED zoom and the RED 300mm come monday, but I don't know if I'll bite when the time comes. I'd rather see a nice set of primes from RED in a good price range that I can eventually buy to replace my Nikkor "starter set".

[Mark B.]

I might do the same, order the lens reservation and then chicken out come purchase time.

[Stephen Williams]

I had already asked before and Stephen gave me this helpful tip from his own experience and preferences:

«With 3 lenses I would take 24,35 & 85 & with 5 lenses 18, 24, 35, 50 & 85»

http://www.cinematography.com/forum2004/index.php?s=&showtopic=17651&view=findpost&p=131845

Hi Emanuel,

2 lenses would be 24 & 85

1 lens only 24

Stephen

[paulpope]

what f numbers does the Red 18-85 have?

[Nick Shaw]

It is intended to be F2.8, same as the 300mm.

[donatello b]

i'm hoping the RED zoom come in with T2.8 not f2.8 ..

[Evin Grant]

My Nikkor set will be...
17-35mm 2.8 (Better than the equivelent primes)
28mm 1.4
35-70mm 3.5 (Manual version's not bad)
50mm 1.4
85mm 1.4
105mm 2.8 Macro
135mm f2
200mm f2

If I had to pick 5
17-35
28 1.4
50 1.4
85 1.4
135 2

[Stephen Webb]

If I could only have one lens, practicality would demand it be a Zoom. I'd like a Cooke 18-100, but budget suggests most likely a Red 18-85.

[Sanjin Jukic]

That's all what I have now

+ Attractive set of Nikkor F, Leica M , Haselblad/Zeiss and Zeiss ZF 35mm Lenses:

++Primes:
** Nikkor-N 24 mm f/1:2.8
** Nikkor-AI-S 28 mm f/1:2.8
** Nikkor-AI 35 mm f/1:1.4
** Zeiss Planar T* 50 mm ZF f/1.4
** Nikkor AF 50 mm f/1:1.8 D
** Leica Summicron 50 mm f/2 with Nikon F adapter
** Hasselblad - Carl Zeiss Planar T* 80mm f/2.8
is attached on the Hasselblad to EOS adapter than to the Redrock EOS mount
** Nikkor AF 85 mm f/1:1.8 D
** Nikkor AI-S 105 mm f/1:2.5
** Zeiss Sonnar Olympia 180 mm f/2.8

++Zooms:
** Nikkor AF 35-80 mm f/1:4.0-5.6 D
** Nikkor AF 70-210 mm f/1:4.0-5.6
** Soligor Nikon/F 100mm-300mm f/1:5.0

[Zakaree Sandberg]

i just want a zeiss superspeed 35mm t 1.3 ? or is it 1.2? i forgot.. but its an amazing lens

my set of nikons will be.. 18, 28, 35, 85 (1.4), 135, 300

[Zakaree Sandberg]

That's all what I have now

++Primes:
** Nikkor-N 24 mm f/1:2.8
** Nikkor-AI 35 mm f/1:1.4
** Zeiss Planar T* 50 mm ZF f/1.4
** Nikkor 50 mm f/1:1.8 D
** Nikkor 105 mm f/1:2.5
** Zeiss Sonnar Olympia 180 mm f/2.8

++Zooms:
** Nikkor AF 35-80 mm f/1:4.0-5.6 D
** Nikkor AF 70-210 mm f/1:4.0-5.6
** Soligor Nikon f Mount 100mm-300mm 1:5

and will add 85 mm, 135 mm, 300 mm and 55 mm Macro later.

on your green screen demo reel you state the background is RED footage?!?! if this is so i have never seen that footage

[Sanjin Jukic]

on your green screen demo reel you state the background is RED footage?!?! if this is so i have never seen that footage

I know my English is far from perfect but on that page is written:

"Compositing in Apple Shake 4/ Primatte ChromaKey
with the Red One 4K digital cine camera
Matrix greenscreen test (foreground scaled from 4K)
and HDV Sony's HDR X1E "Formentera Sunset" footage
in a full HD 1080p (background)."

Maybe it is a bit complicated for you to get it but it means >> forground is greescreen red one footage 4k from the RED>>background is from 1080p shot in Formentera...

http://www.sanjinjukic.com/page1/index.html

If somebody can write better I will change it...

[Sanjin Jukic]

I will owe Nikkors and other Nikon F mount lenses, than maybe some Canon FD, Zeiss Contax and Leica. Cookes, Zeiss Super Speeds, Master Primes etc.,... I will rent only.

[Stokestack]

Thanks for the feedback. Pretty similar to what I've been planning.

[Júlio Taubkin]

I already have some Nikkors: 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8 and the 135mm 2. I'll add the 17-35mm 2.8 zoom and will be ready to go. I'll rent PL lenses as needed and will get a RED Zoom as soon as I can afford it.