A good "hack lens" for shooting video

<p>I've been shooting a lot of video with my 5D MkII, and although I have a variety of specialised lenses I really need a kind of all-purpose lazy zoom. Something like a 28-200mm, for those occasions when I'm not shooting with a narrow depth of field or with an extremely wide field of view; a boring normal everyday lens that I will probably use for 90% of all shots.</p>

<p>Now, I know Canon makes or made an apparently unimpressive 28-200mm, but I have a few other requirements. I almost always use manual focus, so I would love a lens with a good manual focus control. Autofocus is in fact completely superfluous. A one-touch zoom with a manual focus ring that doubles as a zoom control would be absolutely idea. Absolute optical quality is not a huge priority on account of the relatively low resolution. A wide aperture is not a huge priority either. This is going to be my stopped-down-to-f/8 lens.</p>

<p>Ideally it would be analogous to my Nikon 75-150mm f/3.5 Series E, which has a loose and sloppy zoom ring that is ideal for quick focus when shooting video, or my similar Vivitar 70-210mm f/3.5, but with a wider range. There is an enormous world of old general-purpose zoom lenses from the past on eBay, but which stand out in particular? The old Vivitar Series 1 28-105mm f/2.8-3.8 sounds interesting; the same company's non-Series 1 28-200mm f/3.5-5.3 seems to have a very minor cult following, the Series 1 35-85mm f/2.8 is similarly fascinating - I'm going through a phase of reading about the old Series 1 range - and there are loads of old Tamron Adaptalls and Tokina AT-X lenses out there.</p>

<p>Usually, discussions of this nature revolve around sharpness, but for video I'm more interested in general utility. Can I hold the lens? Does it easily mount filters? Does it zoom and focus smoothly? The more I think about the more I conclude that a vintage one-touch manual focus zoom from the 1970s or 1980s would be a super all-purpose video lens, but which one? It's complicated for me by the fact I live in the UK, and eBay.co.uk has a tiny selection of overpriced junk, which is a metaphor for Britain in general but I'm straying from the topic.</p>

<p>As I was reading through the O. Post I was thinking that: <em><strong>"I'm more interested in general utility." . . .</strong></em> does NOT necessarily mean an older manual focus Tamron with a special mount to fit the 5DMkII and all the etc . . . maybe specialist utility for the job, but then t it becomes a specialist lens – and not much use for anything else . . .</p>

<p>I used the 35 350 once for an assignment - it is indeed: <strong><em>an everything reportage lens for daylight in mud up to your ears and I can't change the lens because it it too windy wet and dusty</em></strong> . . .</p>

<p>I reckon John's answer is a great suggestion AND the 35 to 350 forms part of you Canon kit of lenses with all the Canon's lens features to use, IF you need to use those features.</p>

<p>WW</p>

<p>PS: Nigel, Jeff, Mac, Englishman -<br>

I like your work and your (movie) style.<br>

The 10DIR is a swish tool and you use it well.<br>

WW</p>

<p>Check out a Kiron 28-210 zoom in Nikon mount (via EOS adpater).</p>

<p><br />The good: Not bad for for a 7X+ Zoom, Take easy to find 72mm filter , One touch zoom and focus. Not that had to find for under $50 and most of the time for less.</p>

<p>The bad: A tad heavy. Aperture not constant, f4 to f5.6. Minimum focus distant not a constant, worst at 28mm, best at 210mm. It is a 7X super zoom after all.</p>