Is it easiest to use M lenses on Sigma or Black Magic movie cameras?

[MEC]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I am interested in making movies using my M lenses. Am considering Black Magic or Sigma. Which of those movie cameras is easiest to use my lenses on? 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you may have. 

 

Michael 

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[frame-it]

gotta de-click the lens first

 

[Chris W]

^^ I never bothered with that ^^

The Sigma FP shoots great video and works perfectly both with native Sigma lenses or M. I'm sure BM cameras are a lot more advanced. In the early days I shot with Blackmagic using my M lenses, it was easy and fun. I always shoot with manual focus and separate audio, so I'm not sure how important fast auto-focus is to you.

Trying to use the latest Sigma BF, for me the screen wouldn't be the best way to monitor my settings or focussing.

[LocalHero1953]

I have owned a Sigma fp, and now own a BM CC6K. I use them for recording theatre productions, and for short publicity videos for drama, dance and music.

I have used M lenses (35mm) but I’m as likely to use a SL prime or zoom (24-90) for AF convenience (for initial setting, not continuous AF). I would choose the BM every time but not because of the practicalities or otherwise of M lenses, but because the BM is geared entirely to video, while the Sigma is a hybrid. There is a real benefit to the large touch screen on the BM (you can get away without an external monitor), its CFExpress memory is better for internal recording, and the menu system, operated by touchscreen, is focussed on video. 

By all means get declicked lenses if you’re going to make broadcast standard films with a team of operators and focus pullers, but for one person operation recording short, high quality clips they add nothing. Neither the Sigma nor the BM were designed for that setup (other than B-roll). 
 

Edit. I should add that if you are going to use one of the low-end gimbals then the Sigma and M lens is the way to go. I have used the BM on a Zhiyun gimbal with Leica SEM 18mm but I wouldn’t do it again - too large, heavy and difficult to balance. 

Edited August 11 by LocalHero1953

[Carlos cruz]

9 hours ago, MEC said:

I am interested in making movies using my M lenses. Am considering Black Magic or Sigma. Which of those movie cameras is easiest to use my lenses on? 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you may have. 

 

Michael 

You won’t like short focus throw and 0.7 mfd. I haven’t used black magic or sigma in my work so really can’t tell which is better. I’d run camera  tests first to find out which behaves better. 

[BernardC]

14 hours ago, MEC said:

I am interested in making movies using my M lenses. Am considering Black Magic or Sigma. Which of those movie cameras is easiest to use my lenses on? 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you may have. 

Either of these cameras will be just as "easy" to use you lenses on. Their sensors aren't optimized for M lenses (unlike the SL2-S and SL3-S, which you should also consider), so you might find that the corners are sometimes soft with some M wides, especially older ones.

Answering your question fully would require more information. What type of movies will you be filming? Are they personal projects with minimal crew, or larger projects with a more traditional workflow (more people on set, files are sent to editors, colourists, etc.)? If it's the second then the Blackmagic cameras are a better option, because they are built for that type of work. They have bigger batteries, more solid sound inputs, standard file formats, on-board storage, timecode, etc.

That's not to say that the fp  won't work for a smaller project (not the BF, they removed some video functionality from that one). You'll need to get lots of batteries, and swap them often, and you'll also want an external SSD to save your files. Sigma offers a power adapter that replaces the battery and allows you to connect to a V-mount/Gold Mount battery. I've used that for timelapse projects.

The other issue you'll run into is that M lenses aren't optimized for video. I don't care so much about de-clicking the apertures, it's not a major issue in most projects. The problem is focusing. I don't think that you will find any lens gears for M lenses. Pre-made gears are usually too big, and focus tabs get in the way of mounting any gears. You could probably 3-D print something if it becomes a show-stopper. Again, that's more of an issue with larger-scale projects. You get used to it if it's just you operating the camera and focusing.

[J S H]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

If the OP is asking this question, he's probably just trying to get started with video. Focusing will fall into place as he becomes more proficient...also, the need for a de-clicked aperture is not that important in the big picture. I would add that the original SL performs well with most M lenses and also has respectable video capabilities. It might make sense to add AF capabilities with one of the affordable L mount lenses which weren't even conceived when the camera was released, but are widely available now.

For best results down the line and all of the expected professional video controls (variety of frame rates, audio integration, etc), I would recommend a Blackmagic camera with L mount. This will provide a great platform to use a wide variety of lenses - everything from native L mount, to M mount and also Canon EF, Nikon, M42, PL, etc, etc. 

Edited August 11 by J S H
Additional info

[MEC]

Thank you all for your comments. I really appreciate it.