what lens is best for videoing

i'm upgrading my camera tonight to the 70d body only. i will be using it to video a kickboxing charity event on saturday. the lenses i have are 18-35 kit lens. 30mm. 50mm and a sigma 17-50. the event will be in a pub so lighting wont be great. which lens would be best to use?

thanks in advance

I myself don't have a camera with video, but while you're waiting for folks that know stuff, you might want to check into our Digital Video section:

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdis​play.php?f=131

There's also a section dedicated to lenses:

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdis​play.php?f=33

tjs42 wrote in post #17053147
i'm upgrading my camera tonight to the 70d body only. i will be using it to video a kickboxing charity event on saturday. the lenses i have are 18-35 kit lens. 30mm. 50mm and a sigma 17-50. the event will be in a pub so lighting wont be great. which lens would be best to use?

thanks in advance

I recently started doing video. A lens with image stabilization helps during video, but drains the batteries. A video monopod really helps (manfrotto or benro). I'd use the 17-50mm and turn OS off when you don't need it.

I like the EF-24-105L a lot for video, great range and IS.

Out of the lenses you listed, I'd probably go with the 17-50.

Set your shutter speed manually (generally, 1/50 if you're shooting 24fps and 1/60 if you're shooting 30fps). Set aperture for creative needs (or, as wide as it'll go if you're in a dimly lit pub), then set the correct exposure with ISO.

Get the white balance as close as you can get it in the camera. Probably tungsten, maybe fluorescent if you're unlucky. Since the video file is encoded and compressed, you have less information to do corrections in post, compared to a raw photo file.

I believe in order to take best advantage of the 70D's video autofocus you need a new STM type lens. Other lenses, from what I hear, will focus slower and noisier. So if you got the 70D for video you should get STM lenses for it.

It always depends on what you will shoot. Scene, location, time, manner, available light sources, etc.

HappySnapper90 wrote in post #17054446
I believe in order to take best advantage of the 70D's video autofocus you need a new STM type lens. Other lenses, from what I hear, will focus slower and noisier. So if you got the 70D for video you should get STM lenses for it.

OK, trying to be helpful here but without the knowledge!

Can you tell us about the "new STM type" lenses and how they will benefit video? That to me could/would be very meaningful!

tonylong wrote in post #17057631
OK, trying to be helpful here but without the knowledge!

Can you tell us about the "new STM type" lenses and how they will benefit video? That to me could/would be very meaningful!

Um, look Canon STM lenses, Canon has info about them, more info than I can provide. Try www.google.com

Of the lenses you have, the 17-50 on your crop-sensor is probably going to be your best option. However, depending on the distance, the 50 could also be useful. If you are hand holding the camera without a stabilizer or support you will want to leave OS turned on.

Most of the time we use manual focus, so focusing noise isn't a problem. However, even with autofocus, an inexpensive shotgun mic will eliminate lens noise (and reduce background noise) with your existing lenses.

The STM lenses are supposed to be nice but they loose 1-2 stops of aperture to the 17-50/2.8.

You might also want to consider an inexpensive LED light such as the CN-160. They cost under $40 on Amazon and will run for around an hour on AA rechargeable batteries. Put a CTO gel (included with the CN-160) on the light and manual light balance for best results indoors.

i used my 17-50 with the os turned off camera set to 24fps (pal) iso set to auto. was put on a stage with a tripod supplied. during the warm up session i used my 30 and 50mm to see what would be best. with it being kickboxing had to keep the whole person in the frame and, with the whole of the fighting area being used meant i couldnt use the 50 as i would lose some body parts as they moved closer. 30 couldnt stretch as far as needed so, it seemed the 17-50 was made for that situation. i used auto focus and zoomed in and out as was needed. i had worries about the cameras microphone picking the motor on the lens as i was zooming. i need not have worried as the clapping and cheering was so loud

You know, shallow DOF isn't often useful in vidro, unless the DOF is calculated for use on a tripod, otherwise you may end up not getting enough of your subject in focus.

tonylong wrote in post #17057631
OK, trying to be helpful here but without the knowledge!

Can you tell us about the "new STM type" lenses and how they will benefit video? That to me could/would be very meaningful!

Smoother, quieter focusing is the one big advantage.

hollis_f wrote in post #17060865
Smoother, quieter focusing is the one big advantage.

that sounds good

The best lens for video has...

• Large rotational throw and external focus scale, so that you can mark preset focus points for a scene, allowing you to go from Focus A to Focus B very rapidly and consistently
  
• No focus noise that is picked up by adjacent microphones
  
• fixed max aperture
  
• parfocal (stays in focus regardless of FL)