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Top wide-angle lens recommendations for Sony FX30 cinematography?

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Hey everyone! I recently made the jump to the Sony FX30 for my freelance video work, and while I absolutely love the colors and the body design, I am struggling a bit to find the perfect wide-angle lens. Since it is a Super 35 sensor, I am really feeling that 1.5x crop factor, especially when I need to capture tight interior shots for real estate or some sweeping landscape b-roll.

The biggest issue I am running into is when I switch to 4K 60p. The extra crop there makes my current 16mm feel way too tight. I have been looking at a few options like the Sony E 10-20mm f/4 PZ G because of the power zoom and the compact size, but I am also curious about the Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 for that extra stop of light.

  • How is the focus breathing on these lenses?
  • Is the f/4 on the Sony G lens too slow for dimly lit indoor shoots?
  • Does the Sigma 10-18mm balance well on a small gimbal?

I am mostly worried about lens distortion and how well the autofocus holds up during fast gimbal moves. If you have any other favorites that offer a really wide field of view without looking like a fisheye, I would love to hear your thoughts. What would you say is the absolute best wide-angle lens for the FX30 that stays sharp even with that additional 4K 60p crop?


5 Answers
11

Honestly, that 4K 60p crop on the FX30 is no joke, it really pushes you into needing something ultra-wide. I've spent a lot of time with the Sony E 10-20mm f/4 PZ G and while the power zoom is great for smooth transitions, that f/4 aperture can be a bit of a pain for indoor real estate shoots if you dont have a lighting kit. If you want the best balance, I'd go with the Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary. It is incredibly light, so it balances perfectly on small gimbals, and that f/2.8 really helps when you're losing light. Focus breathing is pretty well controlled too. Another sleeper hit is the Sony E 11mm f/1.8. It's a prime, which might feel limiting, but it's super sharp and helps negate that extra crop factor while staying bright. Distortion on these is mostly handled by the camera's profiles anyway, so dont sweat it too much.


3

The math for that 4k 60p crop is kinda brutal because it hits a 1.6x multiplier on top of the S35 sensor, so you end up with a 2.4x total crop factor. Basically turns an ultra-wide into a standard focal length. Just a heads up though, you gotta be careful with third-party glass because it often wont support the FX30s internal focus breathing compensation. If you do a lot of rack focusing, the image might pulse and look unprofessional without that software fix. Native glass is usually better for that and for the active stabilization metadata. Also, definitely check if the lens is internal zoom... if the barrel extends, itll definitely mess with your gimbal balance mid-shot. TL;DR: Native glass gives you better software perks like breathing comp, but third-party brands usually offer faster apertures for cheaper. Just keep that 2.4x crop in mind for your FOV calculations.





1

Jumping in here because that 4k60 crop is definitely a pain. Quick question tho, are you mostly shooting handheld or using a gimbal for those interior shots? If you need the f2.8 for low light, the Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary is a beast and super light for gimbal work. The Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD is another solid alternative that handles the crop well while staying sharp.


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This ^


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Building on the earlier suggestion, I've dealt with that exact 4k60 crop headache more times than I can count. Over the years, I've tried many setups to keep things wide enough for tight interiors on the FX30. Honestly, if you can live with a prime, the Viltrox AF 13mm f/1.4 STM Sony E is a beast. In my experience, the autofocus is surprisingly snappy for video, and that f/1.4 aperture is basically cheating in low light compared to the f/4 Sony G lens. If you really need a zoom tho, the Tokina atx-m 11-18mm f/2.8 E is a solid alternative that people usually sleep on. Compared to the Sigma, it feels a bit more robust in the hand, and having that constant f/2.8 is way more reliable for interior work than the Sony PZ. The main downside with the Viltrox is the weight—it's a bit of a chunk on a small gimbal—whereas the Tokina balances like a dream. Both stay remarkably sharp even with the extra crop, but I'd grab the Viltrox if you do a lot of night or moodier shoots. If you're mostly on a gimbal doing fast moves, the Tokina might be the safer bet for your motor calibration. Happy to chat more if you're curious about the distortion on either!





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