Lens selection: Find out how to choose the right one!

Choosing the right lens is essential to the success of your project. Whether you're a filmmaker, photographer or creative soul, choosing the right lens can make a world of difference. In this blog, we'll discuss the different types of lenses and their applications so you can make an informed choice.

General Lenses

Prime Lenses

Prime lenses, also known as fixed focal length lenses, are known for their sharpness and brightness. They have a single fixed focal length, which means you cannot zoom. So movement is required to change your composition. They are ideal for situations where maximum image quality is required, and they also tend to be lighter and more compact than zoom lenses. They are widely used for interviews, portraits and low-light situations.

The most commonly rented prime lenses are the 24mm, 50mm and 85mm prime lenses.

View the full range of prime lenses here.

Zoom Lenses

Zoom lenses offer variable focal length, which makes them versatile for different shooting situations. They are useful when you need to quickly switch between different compositions without changing lenses. This makes them suitable for dynamic film environments such as documentaries or live events.

The most commonly used zoom lenses are generally the 16-35, the 24-70 and the 70-200 lens. We offer these lenses in a variety of mounts for Sony, Canon and Nikon, among others.

View the full range of zoom lenses here.

Cine Lenses

Cine lenses are distinguished from standard photographic lenses by their precision and consistency, with features such as smooth focus rings, t-stops for accurate light metering, no focus shift, fixed front diameters for compatibility with film equipment, parfocal properties for zoom lenses, and clear markings for focus pullers. These features are essential for professional film production.

Like photographic lenses, we also offer Cine lenses in both prime and zoom varieties. Number often rented Cine Zoom lenses are the Sigma 18-35mm T2 Cine High-Speed Zoom and the ARRI Fujinon Alura 18-80mm, and in terms of Cine prime lenses, people often rent the DZOFILM Vespid Retro set or the Zeiss CP.3 set.

See our full range of Cine lenses here.

Special Lenses

Macro Lenses

Macro lenses are designed to capture small subjects at full size. They are perfect for close-up shots of details, such as the texture of an object or the fine nuances in a product shot. They can also be used for portraits with a very shallow depth of field.

Some frequently rented macro lenses from our range include the Sony FE 90mm F/2.8G Macro OSS and the Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM.

View our full range of Macro lenses here.

Probe Lens

Probe lenses are specialized macro lenses that offer unique perspectives, such as filming from small spaces or capturing details at very close range. They are ideal for creative and artistic shots where you want to achieve an unusual perspective.

We offer a number of variants of the Probe lens with different mounts. The two variants we offer are the Laowa 24mm f/14 2X Macro Probe Lens and the Laowa Cine 24mm f/14 2X Peri Probe lens.

Fish Eye

These ultra wide-angle lenses capture an extremely wide field of view, often up to 180 degrees, and create a distinctive spherical distortion. They are ideal for capturing action sports, unique perspectives on landscapes, and artistic effects in movies and music videos. Their unique distortion can add a dynamic and abstract visual style to your project.

Tilt-Shift Lens

Tilt-shift lenses change the orientation and position of the lens mechanism relative to the image sensor. They are often used for architectural shots or to create the "miniature effect," where large scenes look like small scale models.

View our full range of Tilt-Shift lenses here.

Anamorphic Lenses

Anamorphic lenses are specially designed to capture a wider field of view than standard lenses by compressing the image horizontally. This results in a wide aspect ratio, often used in films for a cinematic "widescreen" effect with distinctive lens flares and oval bokeh. They are ideal for filmmakers who want to create a visually striking style.

Frequently rented Anamorphic lenses include Laowa Nanomorph 1.5X Anamorphic Silver S35 Set and the Sirui 35mm f/1.8 1.33x Anamorphic Lens.

View our full range of anamorphic lenses here.

Conclusion

Dive into the world of cinematography with our lenses and discover how they can bring your stories to life like never before. Your vision, our gear - together we create masterpieces.

At Budgetcam, we are happy to help you with professional advice and a wide range of lenses to choose from. Book your order today or contact us for more information to find the perfect lens for your project.