Best wide angle zoom lens for video on the Sony FX3?

Question

What is the absolute best wide angle zoom for video on the FX3 if I am mostly doing run and gun? I have been obsessing over the Sony 16-35mm PZ because of the internal zoom and power zoom which would be amazing for my gimbal work but I keep reading that f4 is a total nightmare for low light and now I am panicking.

I have a huge wedding shoot in Tuscany in three weeks and those indoor villas are always so dark. I saw people mention the Tamron 17-28 too but I am worried about the autofocus speed. My budget is strictly $1400. Is the f4 PZ actually okay with the FX3 high ISO or am I gonna regret not having f2.8?

LegendOrder_007 · Accepted Answer

Honestly, f4 on the FX3 isnt a dealbreaker because of that 12800 base ISO. The Sony FE PZ 16-35mm f/4 G is definitely the safer choice for gimbal work since it wont mess with your balance. I have used it in dim venues and it holds up. If you are really worried about light, the Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary is a decent f2.8 alternative that fits your budget.

KeithWeice · Answer

Look, I've spent years hunting for the perfect wide zoom and that $1400 budget actually gives you some killer room. Since you're worried about those dark villas—they're basically caves, let's be real—I'd probably skip the f/4. Even with the FX3's high ISO, you want that extra stop of light to keep the image clean and give you some breathing room.

Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary is a total beast for the price. It's internal zoom, so your gimbal won't freak out, and it's way under your budget.

Don't sleep on the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD either. The AF is plenty fast for weddings, trust me, I've used it for dozens.

Use the leftover cash to buy a decent on-camera light like the Aputure MC RGBWW LED just in case things get really dark during the reception. The PZ is cool for the tech, but f/2.8 is just safer when you're shooting weddings solo and can't control the lighting.

istochniki_fcKt · Answer

Just saw this and had to jump in because I went through something similar. Be careful relying too much on that secondary base ISO when youre shooting f4 in those really dim spaces. I did a shoot in a basement jazz club last winter and thought the high ISO would carry my f4 zoom through the whole night. Honestly, it was a struggle. Even though the noise was manageable, the dynamic range felt squeezed and I lost like two stops of usable detail in the deep shadows. Dealing with those nasty color shifts and the lower signal-to-noise ratio in post-production was a total headache. It wouldnt have happened if Id just had more physical light hitting the sensor. Definitely suggest pushing your current setup in a dark room at home before you fly out. You might find that f4 starts to feel a bit muddy when there is zero ambient light to work with.