Canon 24-105mm with Speedbooster (Video)

Focal Length comparison between the Speedbooster and ‘Normal’ EF-E mount adaptor on Canon 24-105mm lens.

Shooting video on large sensor cameras have many advantages that, in my mind outweigh the disadvantages. The ability to utilise the size of the sensor into giving you great pictures in low light as well as the popular large depth of field “DSLR” look are invaluable in todays online video world.

One of the disadvantages however to using larger sensor camera’s is the availability (and price) of a good multi-purpose zoom lens. In my lens bag I have had the kit lens which came with the FS700 for occasions where run and gun / ENG type shoots called for a wide range of focal lengths where I wouldn’t have the time to keep switching lens’. At 18-200mm it’s a great range that will get you many different shots in quick succession.

The problem however is at F3.5-6.3 the lens’ is not that good in low light, even when coupled with the super35mm sensor size of the FS700 / FS100, and the ‘focus by wire’ style of focusing on the lens does not lend itself very well to smooth focus pulls / throws.

For the last 6 months when i’m not shooting with prime lens’ I have been mainly using my F2.8 16-50mm lens for multi-purpose shooting. At f2.8 it’s fast enough to use in low-ish light and the focus has a more conventional (photographic – not cinematic) throw on it. The only thing is at 50mm on the long end it’s not exactly telephoto and I have found myself a few times wishing I just had another 30 odd mm on the long end to get a tighter shot.

The lens to get if your pockets are a little too heavy at the moment is the Fujinon 19-90 T2.8 super 35mm zoom. This solves a lot of super35mm zoom limitations but at $38k I can’t imagine seeing too many of these out on the road! I had one on my shoulder at SMPTE Sydney last month attached to the F5 and I can tell you it was heavy!!

In comes the speedbooster adaptor for E-mount… For those who aren’t entirely sure what the speedbooster does you can read my other post here or watch a Canon 5D & FS700 with Speedbooster comparison video.

I’ve had this little adaptor for almost 6 months now and it’s comes on every shoot with me, it’s a fantastic little bit of kit. Paired with the very popular canon 24-105mm f4 lens, the speedbooster achieves an effective F stop of 2.8 and a Super35mm Focal range from between around 17-75mm!  Just what I need!

canon 24-105mm and metabone speedbooster

Although, at 17-75mm it doesn’t have the same reach as the sony 18-200mm kit lens, it does provide an (almost) steady aperture all the way through the lens at F4 and the focus setup on the lens makes it a lot easier to pull and throw focus.

I say ‘almost’ steady aperture as i’m pretty sure I loose a bit of light at the long end even though the camera is telling me i’m still on f4.

This new setup has become my go to solution for shoots where I don’t have time to switch lens’ or use primes. At 17-75 at F2.8 it provides great coverage from wide to semi-telephoto in a small, light and quite sharp little setup and if for some reason I need an extra 20mm on the long end I just put on the normal EF-E-mount adaptor which extends the reach up to 105mm (It does take the F stop back down to F4 though). This adaptor is small, light and can fit in my pocket which is great for many reasons.

Below is a focal length video showing the range you can achieve using this one lens on a super 35mm sensor ranging from F2.8 – F4. At the end I have also put a few shots from my first shoot with the lens. Hope you enjoy!