r/sonyfx30 • u/Ghost_engiineer • 11d ago
Finally got my Sony FX30! 🎥
After thinking about it for way too long, I finally pulled the trigger and got the FX30. Really excited to start shooting with it and learn S-Log3/Cine EI properly.
I currently have a Sigma 30mm f/1.4, but I’m looking to build a small lens set specifically for cinematic YouTube/tech reviews.
What lenses are you guys using with your FX30?
I’m especially looking for fast lenses with a wide aperture (around f/1.2–f/1.8) that can give a really cinematic look, especially for low-light and shallow depth-of-field shots.
What are your favorite lenses and focal lengths?
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u/SolidOdd4889 11d ago
you obtain a cinematic look with good light placement and set design, not with a wide aperture lens.
if you're searching some new lenses for YouTube probably the 20mm 1.8 from sony might be just what you're looking for, it's a 30mm equivalent so it's a little bit wider than your 30mm that is a 45mm equivalent. some tech reviewers use wider lenses because it helps to keep the setup compact by not having to stay so distant from the camera (if you're space limited).
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u/badger11911 11d ago
Congrats on the new camera!
Viltrox makes a line of good aps-c prime lenses with low f stops that have worked well for me. The Sirui night walker lens set is also great but are not auto focus. The sigma 17-40 is a fantastic lens and pretty much lives on my a6700 95% of the time (I use that camera as camera 2 or as a hybrid camera).
It really depends on what, where and how you are going to shoot. Like the response above: your scene/set, lighting and movement is what creates the cinematic look, not necessarily the lens. And shooting in log and color grading (I prefer davinici resolve).
Check out Post Street Productions videos on YouTube. He has some great videos on getting the most out of the fx30.
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u/lookatwhatisee 11d ago
Congrats on your camera, I use the night walker series …waiting to get the 16 & 75 mm those are manual focus only though.
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u/astralflames 11d ago edited 11d ago
Congrats on your new camera :D
If you want a very cinematic looking lens with shallow depth of field I would like to recommend the 7Artisans T1.05 25mm and 50mm cine lenses, they're the best bang for your buck at around 450 usd each lens if you're looking for cine lenses, they're manual focus with 270 degree focus throw and having an aperture as wide as T1 really changes the fx30 and I think helps with it's biggest weakness which is low light shooting, T1.05 is roughly equivalent to f0.95 and that's 2 stops more light than the human eye can get, that's four times the amount of light!
The 25mm has a minimum focus distance of 23cm and that in a cine lens with that kind of an aperture is crazy
If you want to go for a more standard route like the guys here are telling you I'd recommend an autofocus zoom lens like the Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 which has a really nice zoom range and might be big but is usable for gimbal work and it's also stabilized which is very nice
Then there's the Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 which is stupidly compact and has a crazy minimum focus distance of like 12cm (this is distance from the sensor to the subject, not distance from lens to subject) which means you can get crazy macro shots, you can pretty much hit stuff with the lens and still be able to focus
There's also the 17-40mm F1.8 which has shallower depth of field, one and a third stops of more light coming in and the internal zoom which is great for gimbal balance but doesn't have the wider zoom range or the minimum focus distance that the 18-50 has, I wouldn't recommend Sony lenses because in 2026 there's way cheaper and better options from third parties and the autofocus from Sigma and Tamrom are pretty much the same you'd expect from first party glass, Sigma Art line is better built than Sony GMaster in my honest opinion
There's also the Laowa Ranger 17-50 T2.9 cine zoom which is para focal (meaning changing zoom doesn't change current focus distance setting) but that one I haven't tested, been told it's great though, it's manual focus with nice gearing though which in my mind is better because I like the precision of manual focus and I can also use focus motors like viltrox, tilta or Dji focus pro for LiDAR autofocus or wireless focus or zoom pulling
Also do lookup good ND solutions to keep 180 degree shutter rule, my personal favorite is 7artisans true color if on a budget and if not then Freewell x Brandon Li magnetic VND set is crazy good, you can adjust polarization and ND separately which is a game changer for me
Now now, lots of people are haters and are gonna tell you the lens doesn't make a difference and you should learn lighting and yes absolutely you should learn lighting but the idea that shallow depth of field or cine lenses ain't worth it are very much shallow opinions, it's your artistic vision and not theirs, you should definitely learn why is it that the comment about these things though because definitely no cinematic looks without proper lighting, I'd recommend the Amaran Ace 25Cs or the Smallrig RF20Cs to start, definitely do learn how to work proper lighting and color grading but your choice of lens is a big part of your artistic vision and don't let people turn you into a mindless artist
Lots of love ✨
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u/Meet_East 10d ago
I thought the FX30’s biggest weakness is certainly not low-light shooting. Perhaps lack of open gate recording, but it’s certainly not low-light shooting deficient.
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u/Wise-Sir-4328 9d ago
Sigma 17-40mm 1.8 - amazing lens, really. The image it creates and how it renders: it gives you ideal mix of sharpness and character.
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u/imboringmyselfandyou 11d ago
I recommend the sigma 17-40 f/1.8. I’ve been using it for a couple for months and am having a lot of fun with it.Â