Lens dilemma - which way would you go for documentary work?

[Rob Castiglione]

So here is my dilemma.

I have some nice super sixteen lenses including an Arri zoom. I dont have any comparable 35mm cinema lenses (and wont be able to get some for a while after I cough up for the camera and accessories) and would have to use my Nikons for 35 mm work with the Nikon adapter.

For doco work should I shoot at 2k with the excellent super sixteen lenses or should I go full sensor and shoot at 4k and use my nikons? Could I use a nikon zoom for documentary work and if so which one?

Is there anyone using super sixteen lenses on a regular basis for their doco work?

Thanks

Rob

[Adam Levins]

Do you have a focus puller? It will be easier to focus with the S16 lenses.

[Rob Castiglione]

No, I dont have a focus puller for my doco work. Just little ole me - http://www.reduser.net/forum/images/...arcasm.gifbeen doing it for like this for some time.

Yes, I have considered whether the Super Sixteen Lenses wouldn't be better suited for doco work. Would another benefit be faster transcoding of the smaller files?

Rob

[Stephen Williams]

Hi,

I think you will benefit from the added DOF using 2K with your S16 lenses, it's far easier to pull ones own focus on S16 than 35.

Stephen

[Manuel Wenger]

I´d go for the S16 Lenses for Docu style. Nikons are a bitch to focus for a Focus Pulller, and even worse if you do it on your own on 4k, so I´d go with 2k , this also brings about 15-20min of Recording time to 8GB CF Cards at 24p, and a lot faster transcoding than 4K files.

Manuel

[Hans von Sonntag]

I use on a regular base my trusty Canon S16 8-64 with Red. It does not cover 3K but something half way between 3K and 2K, say 2.5K. Thus, I shoot 3K 2:1 and crop later to roughly 2.5K RAW that again gets scaled down to 1080p. If you consider a debayer-factor of 0.8, 2.5K RAW will give you enough resolution for 1080p RGB/YUV. 2K RAW on the other hand won't deliver full 1080p after debayering.

This is the reason why I asked for a 2.5K sensor crop in 16:9. The answer was that somehow only cropping by full numers (4K, 3K, 2K, 1K, etc...) is possible with a reasonable effort.

Hans

[hunterrichards]

Here is an idea for Cinéma vérité,

Shoot most of the grunt work in 2k with your s16 zooms- you will get longer recording times and easier handling than using 35mm lenses.

but then for your staged shots and beauty shots, go with the full sensor at 4K with 35mm lenses.

[Ed Watkins]

What kind of docs? Is it spur of the moment story based work, or prepared Nature style docs?

I use Nikons for all my nature doc work. The lenses are lighter for the field, and more varied (macro, super tele etc.).

But, I'd use a 16mm or ENG style HD lens if I were doing more 'on the fly' work. Pulling focus on 35mm is hard, but no harder than doing it on a DSLR.

I agree with hunterrichards 2K for verite work 4K for beauty.

[Darren Orange]

I would say go S16 glass that you have and shoot 3K and crop in post to do what you need when needed.

[Rob Castiglione]

Thanks for the very helpful replies. People who are waiting on their cameras can only rely on those who have had real world experience.

The docs I shoot are more "spur of the moment story based work" (nicely put) and involve a lot of waiting for stuff to happen.

I have an aversion to swapping mounts myself. Is anyone doing this on a regular basis without difficulties?

It would not have had occurred to me to shoot in 3k and crop later which seems like an excellent suggestion. It makes me feel better about shooting with the 16mm lenses. Other plusses are the longer record times (though I will be recording to Red Drive) and also the faster render times.

Rob