My Favorite Lenses for Beginner Filmmakers and Photographers

If college students know anything, it is how to find products that give you a bang for your buck. Everything is an investment that takes serious consideration, and when it comes to cameras, you don’t want to take any chances. In my case, this comes in the form of finding lenses that are high-performing, versatile, and reliable.

A little background

I am a film production undergrad student at Chapman University, on track to pursue cinematography as my major emphasis. I didn’t always know I wanted to pursue film, but photography was a central part of my upbringing, and once I hit high school, I naturally became “the camera friend”.

Outside of photography, I’ve directed and DP’d a handful of shorts and video projects, but some of the ones I’m proudest of are fan projects. Specifically, two films inspired by songs from Taylor Swift’s album Folklore – August (2024), and Betty (2023). Much of my work is inspired by books, music, and films I love, and I think my obsessions and phases add a personal touch to my work!

As a film student, your creative possibilities can feel limitless, but they can also feel intimidating. There are so many new things to learn, and it can be overwhelming. Thankfully, the safety net and supportive culture of my school program have offered a lot, and my Sigma lenses have been dependable additions to my kit and frequent topics of conversation on my sets.

My go-to gear

Student films and fan projects often operate on strict and fast schedules, which leads me to reach for my zoom lenses more often in order to optimize time. My favorite lenses (at the moment) are the Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary and the 28-105mm F2.8 DG DN | Art.

28-70mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary

The 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary has been perfect for photography and video shoots on location. As one of most compact full-frame zoom lenses available, the small size makes it perfect to travel with, and the light weight allows for fast setups and efficient shot execution. I feel confident with my close-ups and my portraits. I put a Pro Mist diffusion filter on the end, and love the freedom to construct the look of my images off Sigma’s clean lens builds.

28-105mm F2.8 DG DN | Art

The addition of the 28-105mm F2.8 DG DN | Art to my kit has been game-changing. I recently shot a short film for one of my director friends on the Sony FX6. We shot a simple dialogue scene in an small bedroom. It was a tight fit and I needed a solid range to cover all the shots we needed. The 28mm focal length was ideal for the establishing shot, and as we get closer to the characters in the scene, the 80-105mm range was ideal for capturing their emotions and progressing dynamics. I threw in a few handheld shots when both characters started stressing about their parents coming home. One of them dives under the bed and hides, and this lens could capture all of it!

When I show the lens to my peers, an unexpected part that stands out is the aperture ring. The satisfying manual addition to the lens makes the relationship between the user to the camera more personal, which is something I’m finding to be important to me when operating cameras.

Recommendations

Both lenses quickly became essential for me. As a student photographer and filmmaker, my visual style continues to evolve, and I’ve found these lenses can keep up with my pace. My love for the 28-70mm was part of how I became an ambassador, even before I got the invitation to join the Sigma team.

Whether you’re a starting photographer or an experienced camera user, I can’t recommend these two lenses enough, and I’m excited to use them in my projects next semester!