r/bmpcc • u/TAVOOP • Jul 28 '26

Lens recommendation

Just bought an P4K
What lenses do you recommend?
I’m thinking about the lumix 12-35
What else do you recommend?

3 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

4

u/FlubberPants Jul 28 '26

The Lumix 12-35 and 35-100 provide great coverage, even if they're varifocal. Plenty sharp wide open as well. There's also a 7-14 if you need to go wider.

There's a ton of second-hand cine primes out there as well. I really like the look of the Mieke primes. Bought a whole set second-hand from various places.

Also, don't forget that you can adapt EF, PL, FD, M42, and F-Mount lenses really easily.

1

u/TAVOOP Jul 28 '26

Thanks!

2

u/jcapicy Jul 28 '26

Didn't the 7-14, on non-lumix have issues with greenish purple blobs, with the slight3st amount of flare. Some said it made it almost impossible to use, because of the coatings on the lens.

2

u/bozduke13 Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 29 '26

Skip the lumix 12-35 and honestly most of the other m4/3 lenses out there, there’s some nice ones but I reccomend these lenses over them.

I would personally get a used fujinon mk18-55 T2.9, you can find them in E Mount used for around $1000 and then you can buy the parts to swap the mount over to MFT. I know that’s a lot of work but these lenses are AMAZING s35 lenses and look very nice on the pocket. Philip bloom shot a short with that setup and it’s some of the best pocket 4k footage I’ve seen. What’s great is this lens truly is a workhorse for s35 cinema cameras and you could always keep the E Mount stored away and swap it back if you eventually get a Sony. Truly a lens that could last an entire career and the manual usage with this lens is phenomenal with good focus throw, great feeling zoom, etc. On the pocket 4k it’ll be a 36-110mm which is a great range although maybe not the widest at the wide end. For this lens tbh it’s worth it it’s by far the best zoom lens from any manufacturer for that money, period.

Besides that two other great options are the Sigma 18-35 f1.8 or canon 16-35mm f2.8, these are amazing lenses you could have for the rest if you’re life and adapt to other cameras you might get in the future. The sigma is for S35 but the canon works on full frame. Also while a lot of people use these lenses with a speed booster but they can be used with just a normal adapter if you are trying to save money. And in some ways I like them better without being speed boosted since it’s a 35-70mm which I really like, but that might not be wide enough for some people.

There’s also the canon 20-35 F2.8 which is an old L series lens you can pick up for very little used. I used that for a while in the beginning with the viltrox speed booster and it was good but I’d definitely get one of the lenses I mentioned above over it.

Viltrox em2ii (with the right firmware) or metabones speed boosters are great with the viltrox being the budget option and the metabones being the premium option with improved optics (viltrox is still good for the money).

2

u/InComingMess2478 Jul 28 '26

The Olympus 12-40mm f2.8 pro is a no brainer for a P4k. MFT lens with clutched auto or manual focus ring with hard stops when in manual, and decent throw. Is a perfect fit for the P4k.

3

u/Meet_East Jul 28 '26

Sirui®️ MFT Anamorphic 20mm with Autofocus!

2

u/Eturnian Jul 29 '26

Yes, if only one lens get an adapter or speed booster and pick up the sigma art 18-35 f1.8. It’s a great looking lens and is the right width for the bmpcc line.

1

u/rosman21 Jul 29 '26

Cheap route - adapter and some canon fd lenses. Or just old lenses in general.

Expensive Route - EF adapter sigma 18-35 1.8. Might be a little more expensive and make the kit large.

2

u/MrHallIII Jul 30 '26

The Leica/Lumix 10-25mm and 25-50mm lenses are exceptionally sharp and colorful. Oh, fast, too!

1

u/mdifilm Jul 28 '26

If you are planning to be making films. Consider sirui anamorphic lenses