What is the best all-around zoom for the S5II that actually works for video? Im honestly so fed up with this Sigma 24-70mm its just way too heavy for my gimbal and the autofocus keeps hunting during my wedding shoots in Seattle. Need something lighter before my next gig in three weeks, budget is around $1200.
I went through the same thing last year and my wrist is still recovering lol. You might want to consider the Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f/4 Macro O.I.S. since the native AF is way more reliable for weddings. I found mine used for a steal, which saved me tons. Just make sure to watch your ISO since it's f/4, but the weight difference is huge.
Building on the earlier suggestion, honestly, I remember my cousin trying to film his buddy's wedding in these exact conditions years back. He had this massive rig setup, and mid-vows, his tripod just tipped over because the wind caught his reflector. It was this whole dramatic ordeal where he chased a piece of foam board across the grass while the groom was trying to say his vows. Everyone just stared. He ended up getting so flustered he dropped his primary memory card right into a puddle. Spent the next three hours literally blow-drying his gear in the kitchen while the reception was going on in the other room. Never seen someone look so defeated in my life, and honestly, the photos were just a total wash. I guess some days the gear just wins, you know? Dealing with all that weight and the stress of a wedding gig really takes it out of you. I've tried many different setups over the years and there is always something that manages to go sideways when you least expect it. Its wild how much gear we haul around for these things.
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Great info, saved!
@Reply #1 - good point! Honestly, I am totally on the side of staying native with your glass after what I went through. I had a nightmare shoot last summer where my gimbal motors just gave up halfway through the ceremony because my setup was too front-heavy. It was so embarrassing walking around with a dead gimbal. Quick question tho before you spend the cash... what gimbal are you actually using? Some of those smaller travel gimbals just cant handle the balance of those big f/2.8 lenses even if the weight is technically under the limit. I would suggest:
- Stick with any of the newer Panasonic zooms because the handshake with the S5II is just better.
- Go with the lighter f/4 stuff instead of the heavy f/2.8 glass.
- Just get any of the native options from Panasonic. You might want to be careful with third-party brands for weddings. I've noticed the autofocus is way more reliable when the brands match up. The native stuff just feels way more locked in for video tracking, whereas others tend to jitter right when you need it most.
Interested in this too
