11 Best Lenses for Videography in 2024

Choosing the best lenses for videography is the key to capturing breathtaking video footage. Whether you’re a filmmaker, documentarian, or music video producer, you need a lens that’s up to the job. 

This article has 11 of the best lenses for videography, featuring brands like Canon, Sony, Nikon, and Panasonic. We’ve made it easy to find a lens to match your videography style.

Our top pick is the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM, which stands out for its flexibility, low-light performance, and stabilization. This lens is also praised for its versatile zoom range and sharp image quality. But if that’s not the lens for you, keep reading to see all the best lenses for videography. 

What Is the Best Lens for Videography?

When looking for the best lens for videography, you need to consider key factors like aperture, focal length, and image stabilization.

Our list includes the best videography lenses from Canon, Sony, Nikon, Fujifilm, and Panasonic. These lenses excel in low light, offer consistently sharp footage, and provide smooth focus for pro-level video recording. 

Our Favorite Lenses for Videography

Let’s take a closer look at our favorite lenses for videography. From wide-angle zooms to razor-sharp primes, this selection covers a broad spectrum of lenses for videography, all of which suit the demands of modern video production.

With options from leading brands, these lenses are guaranteed to take your videography to a new level of professionalism. 

The Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM is the best videography lens for Canon users. Offering sharp optics, a versatile zoom, and consistent exposure control, you can explore your creativity and produce pro-level results. 

The zoom range gives you flexibility with composition and allows for quick framing adjustments if you’re recording live. From broad landscapes to tighter portrait-style shots, this lens has it covered. 

Superb optical quality gives your footage a classy finish, using aspherical and Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) elements to suppress distortion and chromatic aberration. An Air Sphere Coating (ASC) also reduces lens flare, ghosting, and vignetting. 

A fast f/2.8 aperture gives you excellent exposure control, helping you shoot bright, clear videos in low light. It’s also constant, so you get the same max aperture from 24mm to 70mm. 

Built-in image stabilization gives you extra support in low light, and it gives you shake-free footage when shooting from hand. That means you’re less reliant on video tripods and camera gimbals. 

It isn’t the most lightweight lens at 2 lb (900 g), which is something to bear in mind when shooting from hand or with a gimbal.

The USM autofocus drive delivers fast focusing, with the 12-pin connection system improving response times between camera and lens. 

Compared to the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS, the 24-70mm offers more flexibility in framing without sacrificing image quality. While the 85mm might provide superior subject isolation with its f/1.2 aperture, the 24-70mm’s range and stabilization make it more versatile.

The Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM is a classy piece of equipment videographers will love.

If you want more options for Canon cameras, check out our full list of the best Canon lenses for videography. We also have a full article on the best 24-70mm lenses for Canon cameras. 

The Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS is another beautiful videography lens for Canon mirrorless cameras. The optical quality is exquisite, and the telephoto focal length is ideal for portrait-style shots and close-ups. 

Its f/1.2 offers exceptional light intake, making it a great lens for low-light scenes. This also helps create a shallow depth of field, blurring the background and making the subject stand out.

The bokeh background is enhanced by the rounded aperture diaphragm and a Defocus Smoothing (DS) coating, giving you a smoother blur and better defined shapes. 

A 2.8 ft (85 cm) minimum focus distance is great for detail close-ups, helping you show your subject’s finest details. This is ideal for commercial product videography and artistic movie-making. 

The USM AF drive and the 12-pin communication system give you super-fast focusing. The lens also has a custom control ring, giving you more hands-on control over settings. 

While not as versatile as the previous zoom lens, you can’t fault the quality of the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS. It’s a superb lens that produces breathtaking footage. 

The Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G is a lovely wide-angle prime lens for Sony cameras. The 20mm focal length gives you a wide field of view, perfect for shooting expensive outdoor scenes. It also allows you to capture more in tighter spaces, making it a versatile prime lens. 

Its f/1.8 aperture is perfect for creating a shallow depth of field, making it a good choice for videographers who want to isolate their subjects from the background. It also gives you excellent low-light performance, helping you capture clear footage in any environment.

A combination of Extra-low Dispersion (ED) and Advanced Aspherical (AA) elements delivers pristine image quality. A Nano AR coating also reduces glare, which is helpful when using artificial lighting. 

Weighing in at just 13.2oz (373g), this lens is light enough for handheld shooting, reducing fatigue during long video shoots. Its autofocus is quick and silent, ensuring that your subjects are always in sharp focus without any distracting noise.

The closest focusing distance of 7.5 inches (0.19 m) allows for some creative close-up shots, adding versatility to your videography toolkit.

The Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G is a top-quality prime lens for videorgraphy.

If you want more Sony lenses, our article on the best Sony lenses for videography is a must-read. 

The Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G offers more versatility than the previous Sony lens. Its standard-angle zoom range allows you to shoot anything from wide scenes to facial close-ups. And as a member of Sony’s G series, you can expect the same exquisite picture quality.

A constant f/4 max aperture gives you excellent control over your exposure settings. You don’t lose any stops when zooming in, so you have the same creative control from 20mm to 70mm. 

Weighing just over 1lb (488g), this lens is relatively light, which eases the strain during handheld shooting.

Its autofocus is both fast and silent, ensuring sharp focus on moving subjects without distracting noises. The lack of built-in image stabilization is a drawback, but many Sony cameras offer in-body stabilization, which provides some compensation.

For videographers looking for a single-lens solution, the Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G is a compelling option. It covers a wide range of shooting scenarios, from expansive landscapes to detailed close-ups. 

The Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN | C offers a versatile zoom range with a constant f/2.8 aperture, making it a solid choice for videographers. Its ability to handle various shooting scenarios without needing to switch lenses is a big plus.

The fast aperture aids in low-light conditions and allows for a shallow depth of field, helping subjects stand out. However, its lack of built-in image stabilization means relying on camera stabilization or external supports for smooth footage.

Weighing around 1 lb (470 g), this lens is relatively lightweight, making it a good option for long-form video recording. Its autofocus is quick and reliable, ensuring that subjects remain in sharp focus throughout the shoot.

The lens’s optical performance is commendable. Thanks to its high-quality glass elements, you’ll experience minimal distortion and chromatic aberration. A Nano Porous coating also reduces glare and ghosting. 

The Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN | C is a fantastic alternative to Sony lenses. It’s reasonably priced and compatible with their APS-C cameras, making it a worthwhile videography lens for Sony users. 

The Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S is the best zoom lens if you’re a videographer with a Nikon mirrorless camera. Its ultra-wide zoom range is perfect for capturing expansive landscapes or tight interior spaces, making it a versatile tool for various videography projects.

The constant f/2.8 aperture ensures consistent light intake across the zoom range, which is crucial for maintaining exposure in changing light conditions. It also helps you achieve a shallow depth of field for better subject isolation. 

Fast and silent autofocus keeps subjects in sharp focus, which is essential for dynamic scenes. However, the lack of built-in image stabilization means relying on camera stabilization or external supports for smooth footage.

Its robust build, weather sealing, and excellent image quality make it a top lens for outdoor filmmaking. 

Delivering sharp optics and a wide field of view, the Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S is a superb lens for videography. It’s versatile, allowing you to flex your creative muscles to produce cinema-quality footage. 

Nikon users need to see our full post on the best Nikon lenses for videography for more options. 

The Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S is a prime lens that excels in videography. You have a versatile 50mm focal length that giving you plenty of shot options, and the fast aperture gives you exceptional exposure control.

Its super-fast f/1.2 is brilliant for low-light shooting. It also gives you an ultra-shallow depth of field, creating a beautiful bokeh effect. It looks fantastic when shooting individual characters or close-ups of specific details. 

Its fast and accurate autofocus ensures that subjects remain in sharp focus, even if they move. Optimized for video production, the lens also suppresses focus breathing, allowing you to refocus during a take without having to recompose your shot.  

Weighing 2.4 lb (1.09 kg), there’s no denying it’s heavy for a 50mm lens. There are lighter 50mm Z lenses you could use, but you won’t be getting the exceptional image quality and aperture control.

A brilliant prime lens from Nikon’s superior S series, the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S is a videographer’s dream. The weight and price are the only downsides, and you can appreciate both of those when you see the quality. 

The Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR is perfect for creating visually compelling videography with your Fujifilm camera. This prime lens, equivalent to an 85mm lens on a full-frame camera, is ideal for portrait-style videography, offering a flattering perspective and the ability to isolate subjects from their background beautifully.

Its wide f/1.2 aperture is perfect for low-light conditions and achieving a cinematic shallow depth of field. Its fast aperture not only enhances its performance in dim settings but also contributes to the lens’s ability to produce smooth, out-of-focus areas.

This lens is relatively lightweight, making it a good companion for handheld shooting. The build quality is excellent, and weather-sealing allows you to work outdoors in all conditions. 

However, its autofocus, while accurate in good lighting, may be slower in lower light. Despite lacking built-in image stabilization, when paired with Fujifilm’s X-series cameras with in-body stabilization, it offers a stable shooting experience.

The Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR is the perfect partner for your Fujifilm camera, helping you reach your creative ceiling.

The Panasonic LUMIX S Pro 24-70mm f/2.8 is the best zoom lens for videography with a Panasonic Lumix camera. 

The zoom range is especially useful when you need to quickly adapt to changing scenes without swapping lenses, making it a popular choice for event videography and documentary filmmaking. But the excellent optical quality means you can also use it for more artistic filmmaking. 

Its constant f/2.8 aperture is particularly beneficial in low-light conditions, enabling the capture of sharp, clear footage with a pleasing depth of field.

The autofocus is fast and silent, which is crucial for maintaining the flow of your video without distracting sounds. Although it lacks built-in image stabilization, pairing it with a stabilized camera body or external supports can effectively counteract camera shake.

For videographers looking for a reliable, high-quality zoom lens, the Panasonic LUMIX S Pro 24-70mm f/2.8 is a very good option. It offers both flexibility and exceptional image quality.

The Panasonic LUMIX S 35mm f/1.8 is a lovely prime lens for videography, offering a wide f/1.8 aperture for excellent low-light performance and shallow depth of field.

Its 35mm focal length is versatile, perfect for capturing both expansive scenes and detailed close-ups. This lens is particularly valued by videographers for its ability to produce sharp, edge-to-edge footage with minimal distortion, enhancing the visual storytelling process.

It’s lightweight and well-suited for handheld shooting with or without a camera gimbal. The autofocus is quick and reliable, ensuring subjects remain in focus during dynamic shoots.

For filmmakers and videographers looking for a high-quality, versatile lens, the Panasonic LUMIX S 35mm f/1.8 offers a blend of performance and portability that’s hard to match. 

The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | C offers a versatile zoom range, a fast max aperture, and sharp optics, making it another top lens for videography. 

With a constant aperture of f/2.8, you get strong exposure control throughout the zoom range. It also makes it easy to employ a shallow depth of field of an artistic bokeh effect. 

Weighing just over 10 oz (290 g), this lens is notably lightweight and compact, reducing fatigue and allowing you to carry it anywhere. 

Despite its small size, it delivers sharp, edge-to-edge footage with minimal distortion, a crucial factor for creating enthralling video footage.  

For videographers seeking a versatile, high-quality lens that consistently performs well, the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | C is a fantastic choice. 

Conclusion: The Best Lenses for Videography

If you’re serious about improving your video footage, you need to find the best lens for videography. No matter what type of videography you’re into, be that documentaries, commercials, or movies, finding the right lens is key to success. 

The article reviewed 11 lenses, highlighting their strengths in various shooting scenarios. From wide-angle lenses perfect for landscapes to prime lenses ideal for portraits, each has its unique advantages.

The top pick is the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM, which stands out for its versatility, quick autofocus, and image stabilization. But as we’ve seen, all the top camera brands have excellent lenses for videography.