The best lenses for a videographer
London is a huge creative hub and offers a variety of work for a videographer and filmmaker. Video production covers a huge range of fields and can be broken down into sub fields within videography. These coudl include corporate video, documentary filmmaking, animation, drone videography and fashion film. With such a huge range of video projects on offer to a videographer, which lenses are best suited to take on this diverse work load in London.
The lens that creates the film look
Every lens creates a different look for the videographer using it. One look many filmmakers particularly love, is the film look. So what is the film look? It's what videographers call depth of field that really creates filmic visuals. This is when the background becomes blurry. Most lenses will do this to a certain extent. However it's only when you get a lens that has a lower f-stop that you really start pushing this depth into a different look. Lenses with f-stop of 1.2 or 1.4 will get you there. If I could choose one lens to achieve this loko it would be the 50mm F1.2. This offers the ability to move back and get a wide enough frame but also to get close enough to cover those close up shots. This is a great go to lens for a film look.
The lens that's an all rounder
In an ideal world we would have a 20-200mm F1.4 lens that could do it all. However this lens cant be created, at least not yet and even if it was it would be ridiculously heavy. So what is the best all rounder? For many years, the go to all rounder for filming events and documentary would be the 24-105 F4. This lens was a workhorse's covered a huge range from wides to close ups and it great for adapting in fast moving situations. Move on to 2025 and we now have the 24-105 F2.8. That extra bit of light the lens lets in is incredibly useful in many ways. Firstly is that it means your lens is better in low light. It also enables you to get more depth in your images and get closer to that film look. It's also worth mentioning this lens has image stabilisation build in. For handheld work this is a game changer and I wouldn't be without it as it will make your films better. If I could have one zoom lens, this would be it!
A lens for a unique look
Filming architecture or buildings, then a wide angle could be a great lens choice for you as a videographer. What this lens offers is a unique perspective that our eyes don't see. This super wide view enhances any movement and offers a surreal vision. The 14mm lens is a great choice especially when paired with a gimbal that makes the movement feel special. Whatever the videography project this lens will help establish your scene well.