d3100 lens query for video

[monkeytennis]

Hi all,quick question.was looking for.some advice on what was thought to be a good lens for HD video using the Nikon d3100.my wife is wanting to use it for YouTube videos of.makeup blogging.cheers Ed

 

[oldnick]

For general purposes the standard 18-55mm is fine. If you want to do arty, pretentious limited DOf shots the 1.8 35mm is great, but difficult to use. Be aware though that the continuous auto focus boasted by Nikon is not actually very useful, no where near as effective as a cheap cam corder. Also the lens motor is quite loud meaning the sound is useless if auto focus is used.

 

[monkeytennis]

That's what we've been finding but we were wondering if there was an amazing lens that might help it!

 

[farrance]

Me personally, I hate having to zoom on DSLR video. I like having wide prime lenses with very quiet focus.

Go for any F/1.8/f.0/2.8 lens you can find, 28mm on your DSLR will make it a (near) perfect 35mm lens. Stick with primes, you'll thank me later

The lowest widest aperture you should use for video is f/3.5. I filmed on a massive ZX1 panasonic (I think it was a ZX1) and it was generally ****. It was a 1080p camera but it always looked stretched and you couldn't control the aperture in increments of DSLR. It was done with effectively a digital ND filter.