Having started in the automotive videography space, we had to deal with a lot of trial and error to find out which lenses were the best for automotive content. They always say the best camera is the one you have, or in this case the best lens is the one you have, but that can be tricky.
What lens is the best for automotive content?
There are hundreds if not thousands of different lenses out there, but if you had to choose one specifically for automotive content, we would recommend a wider lens in the 15mm to 24mm range. This range is versatile enough to get close to the car to show details but wide enough to show the entire car itself as well without having to be to far from it.
Which specific wide angle lens is the best for automotive content?
If you want a lens with auto focus then the Canon 16-35mm or Sony 16-36mm would be great all around lenses that would cover this focal range and even a little more. If you want a cine lens with gears on it, a Sigma 18-35mm, DZOFilm VESPID 16mm T2.8 Cine Lens, or even the Venus Optics Laowa 12mm T2.9 Zero-D Cine Lens (PL Mount) would be good candidates.
Is it worth buying lenses for automotive content?
It depends on what you’re shooting but if you’re shooting social content and want to always have a lens on you then I would say buying is the answer. But if you’re shooting high budget commercials and need the best glass on the market, then I would rent as a top of the line cine lens could range anywhere from $5,000 to $100,000.
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