Hey kids, recently Vincent Laforet and Vimeo released some instructional videos for DSLR videographers. Though basic they are quite well made. As an example we are re-posting their look at lenses. Enjoy!
Various lenses are suited for specific applications. Lets have a look at some common lenses and what they do.
16mm– An ultra wide lens, this bad boy distorts heavily, emphasizing objects in the foreground by making them look a lot larger than the background. Dynamic, but use with caution!
28mm– Standard for documentary and photojournalism to shoot cowboy shots, otherwise known as medium shots.
35mm– Another standard for documentary filming, also tight enough to shoot portraits.
50mm– Standard for cinema/video, it approximates the human eye’s typical focal length.
85mm– A popular portrait, or “beauty” lens. Capable of making everyone look lovely!
200mm– The top of the scale for most people, this is a telephoto lens. Their inherent shallow depth of field makes them useful in eliminating unwanted foreground and background objects by simply throwing them out of focus. Great for sports photography!
See the full series here: http://vimeo.com/videoschool/lesson/114/behind-the-glass-part-1-an-introduction-to-lenses