19/06/2026 9:37 am
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What is the best wide angle lens I should get for shooting video on a Sony FX3? Sorry if this is a super basic question but I am completely new to all of this and honestly have no idea where to start. I just started a small video business here in Chicago and my first gig is next month filming some indoor promo clips for a local fitness studio and some coffee shops. I saved up and bought the FX3 because everyone said it was amazing for video, but now I realize I dont have a lens and I am staring at all these numbers like 16-35mm and f/2.8 or f/4 and my head is spinning.
My budget is around $1000, maybe I could stretch to $1200 if it makes a huge difference but cheaper is definitely better because I am almost broke after buying the camera body. Since I will be shooting in tight indoor spaces like small workout rooms and behind coffee counters, I need something that can capture a wide view. Someone at the local camera store mentioned that if I use the active stabilization on the FX3 it crops the image, meaning it zooms in a bit? So I guess I need something even wider to make up for that crop but I dont know how much wider.
Also I need autofocus to be really good and easy because I dont know how to pull focus manually yet. Is it better to get a zoom lens or a prime lens (I think that means it doesnt zoom?). I saw a Sony 20mm f1.8 and a Tamron 17-28mm online but I dont know if those are good for video or if they will work with the camera's autofocus features. Any advice on what to buy would be amazing, I just want something that works easily without me having to tweak a million settings...
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19/06/2026 9:37 am
I ran into this exact cropping issue last year when shooting a promo for a climbing gym here in the city. The FX3 active stabilization crops the sensor by about 1.1x, so a 20mm lens behaves like a 22mm. If youre in tight spaces, that difference is pretty noticeable. Here is how the two lenses you mentioned stack up based on my testing.
The f/1.8 aperture is a lifesaver for dark coffee shops. It lets in more than double the light of an f/2.8 lens. Autofocus is incredibly fast and reliable because it uses dual XD linear motors. The main downside is the fixed focal length, meaning you have to physically move to change your framing.
This zoom gives you more flexibility. At 17mm, even with the active stabilization crop, you still get a very wide field of view. It weighs only 420g, which is great for gimbal work. The downside is the f/2.8 limit, which might force you to bump up the camera ISO in dim gym lighting. For your specific projects, the Sony 20mm is probably the safer bet for low light autofocus tracking, but the Tamron offers better framing options in tight corners.
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19/06/2026 9:47 am
Yeah, that crop is real. I shot in a tiny cafe last month and struggled until I swapped to the Sony FE PZ 16-35mm f/4 G. The autofocus is native and spot on. Since you need to counter that crop, starting at 16mm is a lifesaver. If you need low light, the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD is the cheaper, faster alternative that fits your budget.
