Why I Love the Cheap Kit Lens

[@HardStickman]

This channel and DSLR Guide = cheap stuff for good filmmaking

[@Bumper210]

Don't forget about Film Riot and Indy Mogul ;)

[@HardStickman]

I agree with Film Riot, I don't know Indy mogul though, i'll check it out.

[@ashtonscott412]

HardStickman Indy mogul is for the OG's lol. Their best videos are YEARS old and they just started making content again.

[@jazzylev]

HardStickman check out Dylan Delaney. he's a small KZbinr, but his video quality makes you question people that don't subscribe.

[@D4Darious]

It's all about using what you have. There will always be something better ;)

[@ishbanyadav]

Darius you are the man! Lucky to have an honest and informative guy like you on KZbin💎

[@D4Darious]

I'm glad you dig the vids IY!

[@ishbanyadav]

D4Darious My pleasure mate☺ Keep up the good work

[@MaryaHoelzer]

can you upload the full video that you showed i wanna see more it was cool

[@billmohr9989]

Darious, as always you're engaging and insightful. It's sooo easy to get wrapped up in gear instead of honing skills. One website I like for lens reviews is www.photozone.de It shows empirically how the kit lens stack up especially for the money. I like your channel because as a semi-geezer trying revive my creative side, it's easy to focus (no pun intended) on gear. Your energy, enthusiasm, and creativity help me remember what's important. Who knows... I might even make something :)

[@jazzylev]

Bill Mohr I couldn't have said that better myself.

[@BrandonDKirkwood]

Content is king always, equipment is second

[@D4Darious]

You can say that again!

[@Dinhner]

Content is king always, equipment is second

[@JudiChristopher]

... I have had some of my lens for decades... before you were born... I started out with a Cannon A-E 1... in the 70s... I still have all my lens... ... I used to work in the oil field (Chemical Engineer ) down hole drilling.. I did special photos of all the Oil Rigs and Sold the Pictures... I almost got my bag with all my camera gear in it stolen ... So I switched out to my "Girly Girly" make-up case, and put my make-up in my camera bag... the next week... someone stoled that bag... can you imagine the look on their face when they thought they had stollen my camera case and all they got was my make-up... :) Point being... I still LOVE all my old (now valuable) lens... 80-200 mm etc.... Thank you for sharing another great video...

[@robstammers7149]

I loved my Canon AE1, toying with buying one, it's still a great camera.

[@Yoyoman835]

Quickly becoming one of my favorite filmmaking KZbinrs...

[@D4Darious]

Glad you dig the content ELF and thanks for commenting ;)

[@Yoyoman835]

D4Darious - Eye yam nawt en Ehlf!

[@LissyShortall]

Darious can I just say I love your videos so much?? Like I'm subscribed to a handful of film related youtubers but you make everything so clear and not overwhelming like some other youtube channels who use thousands upon thousands of dollars worth of film gear and act like it's a necessity to have. As someone who is young and wants to make films but needs extra guidance and has about $5 to my name, you are the man!! Keep it up :)

[@TheFilmLook]

A beginner filmmaker is going to get massive diminishing returns from a fancy lens. That 18-135mm is just a total beast! Question, what was your first lens purchase after the kit lens?

[@mfreeman313]

My first lens purchase after the kit wasn't a purchase. I went to my closet and got my old Nikon 50mm Series E from the film days and put it on my D70. I expected shallower DOF but what surprised me was how the colors popped. So saturated, zowie, I loved it. Now I'm a vintage lens junkie.

[@dominicsevilla1189]

A pancake 40mm canon f 2.8 and i got it used for $70 and it is one of my favorite lenses ive used

[@NicholasSilva1380]

When I filmed some interviews last year I used the kit lens, makes reframing shots easier. Otherwise if you are using primes you have to pick up the camera and move it to reframe the shot.

[@nm541]

DigitalRev is probably having a heart attack over this video

[@RubenHicking]

This should be top comment.

[@D4Darious]

They probably are lol

[@Awesomepedia]

Their reviews are good but it's always annoying when they look at something cheaper and go "sure this one does surprisingly well - for being a trash lens for trash people" and I'm like that's all I can afford :-|

[@Dailylilyful]

Kit lens is better than no lens

[@Thatkaguruguy]

Hhahaha you made my day!!

[@OlivertheJoyboy]

Hey Darious, this was an awesome vid bro. And I gotta say, you've really changed my perspective on kit lenses. From all the other filmmaking channels out there (besides DSLR guide lol) they've all said , oh you need a Better lens the kit lenses suck. So I always thought that I need a fancier expensive lens. And I'm 14 yrs old , so I'm not loaded in dough so that's not a good mindset to have. And I'm also kind of on the beginner side so I don't need fancy lenses. Thanks so much for this video Darious , it really opened my mind and made me think differently about kit lenses. Thank you , keep being a baller 😎

[@D4Darious]

I glad to hear it Oliver. Better tools will come in time but it's all about building the skill with the tools we have first ;) Keep hustling little Bro!

[@bezoris2g]

This reminded me of something Mark Duplasse said at SXSW (I think) about shooting short 3-minute films on a phone... as in, worry more about plot, pace, edits, framing, etc, first... and that everyone has a phone: just get out there and do it. The most important thing is to simply 'put time in the seat' using whatever tools you have at hand.

[@trojan3896]

I use the kit lens cause I like giving a sense of originality to my filming style... oh and I'm broke AF too.

[@D4Darious]

Hahaha love the tag at the end there Tro. Thanks for commenting Brutha!

[@MarekKosaty]

Great one..this make me focus on more important things like lightning

[@alexabesadubitrusbyanyiko6742]

Darious, I just love your videos. You take a simple argument in a brilliant way. It's so enjoyable and informative to watch your videos. The one you did on framing is another mind-blowing educator!

[@orlandovelez1012]

Love your channel man, while others focus on negative criticism, you focus on the positive aspect if things, I have learned a tremendous amount on your channel!

[@shelbycherie6726]

This was right on time! I'm going to hold my horses a bit and get come more experience with my kit lenses before I buy another one. You made some very valid points ..!

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

yeah I def think a lot of people get so caught up in the newest gear and have no idea how to even use it. I'm with you- Use what you have get better then worry about toys to add to your gear list.

[@Sinn3r1337]

people should get the whole line of canon budget lenses 10-18mm STM $280, 55-250mm STM $300, 24mm prime $150, 50mm prime $125. all together would be $855 plus tax that’s under a single expensive lens, and you the whole focal range to play with when you include the kit lens. The two primes will show you the difference of prime vs zoom

[@fostej99]

We need a D4 and DSLRguide collab at some point ;)

[@laurent4122]

I totally agree!

[@DALEX_TV12]

Completely different weight cats! D4 is way better! No offense to Guide...

[@sebastiangriffin-keane2583]

I am surprised at how you only have 130,000 subscribers, you should have way more for the content you put out.

[@mangajedi7695]

He isn't white

[@simon_patterson]

Great advice and top example video, too! Using a cheap midrange zoom kit lens for a few years taught me heaps. Including that I don't need a midrange zoom lens in my kit! I've never had one since...

[@ryans6191]

I gotta say that you and DSLRguide are the filmmaking how-to heavyweights on YT! Keep it up!

[@skinnersweet1263]

Congrats on the cool episode!!! The most expensive one is the most reliable, is very old consumer mind. Like people once thought the bigger is badass Y'know? Knowing what you need for your specific project, is very important.

[@mdturnerinoz]

Also, kit lenses are one heck of a lot lighter and easier to handle than "L" lenses (I shoot Canon)! I often regret selling my kit lenses on eBay just because I got "better glass". The kit lenses are easier to deal with when I don't necessary "need" L glass quality. Oh well, live and learn ...

[@TommyStarssonfilm]

haha.. I also reacted the same when I upgraded my kit lens, and discovered that the difference wasn't as big as I thought (because of the bashing of kitlenses).

[@robstammers7149]

Absolutely right...

[@RimaNisMcQueen]

3:00 This was also my story. Glad to know I'm not alone. I went and immediately bought a 50mm, thinking this would be all I'd need for every scenario til I soon realized I prefer shooting with wide angle.... These days, I still throw my kit lens on more times than often to ensure I get the best shot...

[@Lauren_C]

The first serious camera I bought was a Canon G7x MKII, which I learned the technicals with for a couple years. For my Sony A7C, I kind of skipped the Kit lens and went straight to a 50mm F1.4, as I like to make portraits, shooting in low light, and limitations on my old camera directed my landscapes away from super wide.

[@Reboot8000]

let me tell you that you are awesome, i notice perfectly that your channel is about us learning what you share, and you teach very well, you are one of the very veryyyy few honests persons on youtube and that makes your videos so great.

[@andy-mirrorfilms3193]

Been loving the videos lately! Keep grinding dude! Really glad you've been uploading more. We appreciate them ;)

[@lightsabersamurai1040]

I always keep coming back to this video such a good message I'm really starting to impress myself with my KZbin videos just using a T5i and kit lense

[@themamajuju8575]

Your videos are gold! I watched your other lens video and ive been shopping around for lenses based on it. This video couldn't come at better time. I know what conditions I'll be filming in. But in reality don't know which focal length I prefer. Thank you

[@Jawmsie]

I was on a shoot for a production company recently, and they wanted a wider shot, but didn't have any lenses that would allow it. Never thought I'd see the 18-55 kit lens on a C500, but I had one with me and it worked.

[@kjcamron2072]

ehhhhh I'm still on the fence about my kit lens. At this point I only use it for establishing shots and i use my 50mm for everything else. Though i might need to use it for vlogging soon...

[@janetgarciaphotography]

Love and agree with the pros and cons of the kit lenses. But over all, I think the kit lenses are best for beginners. They are great to practice and continue learning photography with.

[@MrYankee853]

just found you for the first time..great video..the part about paying attention to what focal length you prefer before buying a more expensive lens was great advice...i dont know how many times I changed my mind about upgrading a lens because I wasnt sure what focal length that I preferred..found out that I too, love wide angles...well done Darious !

[@shredmaster2009]

Glad I stumbled upon this. The kit lens is all I have at the moment, and I'm broke right now, so a new one isn't happening anytime soon, so these are inspiring words for sure. Thanks D.

[@72chrisashley]

Yo bro! I totally agree with you, I had a 7D and now a 70D, both came with the 18-135mm, I find that it is my go to lens and does everything you stated. Besides, the composition, light, set-up, etc is all you! I have done various projects almost 90% with the kit lens!

[@thomashughes_teh]

I've been binge watching your channel. This means I will soon need to balance this with binge shooting and binge editing.

[@Purp1eP3nguinZ]

Completely agree. A kit lens and a standard prime is all you really need to learn and experiment. Both can be had cheaply and give 80-90% of what you could really need at that level.

[@MitchMetivier]

I loved this video so much! I am a somewhat new filmmaker and I own a Canon t3i with an 18-55mm lens. I actually really love that lens and I have been using it on many of my recent short films and projects!

[@1001Hobbies]

Darious, you listed everything I got out of my kit lens too. What a great tool to learn about focal length and how it affects each shot. My Nikon came with the usual 18-55mm and I think that is a great range for general filming. After using the kit lens for so long I got a great idea of the focal lengths I needed for prime lenses in order to get sharper images. If I am just taking BTS photos it can't be beat.

[@Tennisfiles]

Thanks bro, I really like your presentation style and good humor. You convinced me to get my first camera with the kit lens to learn how to shoot and track what focal lengths I use the most. Maybe after that I'll get a prime in that particular focal length. Cheers Boss!

[@DidiMuseri]

Thanks for making me feel better about my Kit Lens, I was Low key depressed about not having a pricey Lens, Great Video!

[@Makkster]

So tempted to go make the banana crunch on a stick thing !

[@whatkindofblue17]

I shoot all of my stuff with my kit lens and although there's so many limitations, I use those limitations as a strength because they challenge me think out of the box! Great vid as always D x

[@NordikCreative]

Since when is the 17-40mm a 1.4 lens lol? 2:29

[@websitesthatneedanem]

Informative, entertaining, not condescending & humorous, thanks Brit! - Awesome!

[@elkenbuild5996]

LOVED THIS SO MUCH! THANK YOU, DARIOUS!

[@StarnetsolutionsNet]

You are so fun! I love watching you and your advice is sage-like. This as with all of you videos is very much appreciated, plus as an added bonus, I now know what I'm having for dinner. Crispy taquitos, yum!

[@meanpicker]

Love my 60D and 18-135mm lens. I completely agree that it is a very capable lens once you learn how to use it and the camera (and lighting) properly.

[@user-qt6ud3sp6w]

Got pretty much the same as you just the 2016 version last year! The 80D wit the 18-135mm

[@emilgaliev9366]

Hey Darius, So true. I bought my Panasonic FZ 1000 a year ago and for this year I just learned a lot. Now I understand the weakness of this camera, but I also see the strength and features.Plus, I noticed that my friend's DSLRs that cost twice as much as mine camera doesn't perform that better for the price. In the near future I think to but GH4, what do you think?

[@Trakinasnove]

Great video man, tottaly agree with you. I shot a whole year with only the same kit lens as you and I learned a lot. Keep up the great work man, love your videos.

[@D4Darious]

I'm glad you dug it Marcelo!

[@lottespek774]

Came here to learn more about kit lenses. Suddenly also know how to make good smoothies. Win-Win. Darious for president!! Booyah!

[@andrewjoseffcovers]

I didn't even know people were "trashing" their kit lens (That's a bit shocking! Because I think it's really good all around lens to have as a backup in capturing particular footage). I still use mine a lot for spontaneous events. Great video Darious!

[@thirteenzerofourproduction6440]

Man you're Tutorials and videos are so dope and informative! Have learnt so much from them!

[@isaachedges1270]

d4 various, u r a great filmmaker. I'm an aspiring filmmaker and u have taught me sooo much

[@emilwestgaardhenriksen1715]

I run a canon EOS M (first gen) with kot lens, still don't have much to say about the kit lens for filming (yet!) but for the years I've had it, it still holds up really good. love the build quality of the lens too since it came in all metal (weighs a ton) compared to most of my friends kit lenses (and lenses in particular) who are mostly made up of plastic. Love your channel and as I said before it is a huge inspirational source of information and ideas so keep it up! ^_^

[@DouginaBoxster]

But...but...what about French Bread Pizza?!?!??!?!?

[@D4Darious]

It was good!

[@zuzzlepro]

D4Darious But how do you make it?!?!?

[@HazyBluex]

I really needed a video like this one right now. So good, as always!

[@Chimpdecheese]

I love kit lenses. I still have the 50mm f1.8 that came with the Nikon FE2 that I got for college (in 1982). and it's still great. I also really like the KL that came with the Alpha 6000 and the kit lens that came with my Nikon D5300... You figure out how to get the best out of things... I like to do that, Save your money untill you have an understood need then go for it..Erm.. which I think is what you were saying.. anyway.. Great video, Thanks.

[@friesfilms6478]

This is channel and DSLR is like free ultimate guide's to filmmaking!

[@arthaven3402]

Thank you for confirming what I've experienced as an aspiring amateur!

[@HDbrothers95]

Awesome that you used a Chuki beat dude! Hope you will do a video on the cinematography of Moonlight!

[@MrsDravs]

Hi Darious, thanks for the advices you give in all your videos, it really helps, I m new on your channel and I like to hear your thought about Magic Lantern, maybe you could tell us if you use it , if you like some particular setting... and so on. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@DalenVisuals]

YES YES AND YES!!! I freaking LOVE my kit lens. It's been there through everything with me. Thank you for sharing this, Darious. We all needed to hear this.

[@robstammers7149]

Great vid, like your style, I only use the kit lens on my Canon (it came with it), and it gives me great results, by the way, there's a lot of snob focus in photography (scuse the pun), learn to use what you've got, you'll be surprised. It's what's in your head not what's stuck on the front of your camera, that counts.

[@JoshuaKoerner]

Love the video, love the perspective. I think that I have a lot to learn from that perspective. Also, I need to work on my gear acquisition syndrome ;). I see a number of people talking about you and Simon Cade, and I think that the thing that you both offer in your own ways is so key-the encouragement to not need the super high end stuff in order to make something. You guys both laid the foundation for me to start making videos, and while I know I have a long way to go and a lot to learn, I've started, and I think that I have you in part to thank for that. So thank you :). You have a positive impact. Also, I love your breakdown videos. Killer. Been a viewer for years. But I can't help but wonder which lens you're using with the comparisons, because the Canon EF 17-40L f/4 USM is not an f/1.4 lens. Nor am I aware of a 17-40 that goes as bright and fast as f/1.4.

[@Hrothmeir]

I started with the T3i kit lens, and eventually worked up to some primes and a nicer zoom. Then on my last project, I shot almost exclusively with the kit. Image wasn't the greatest (exacerbated by poor lighting), but it allowed for a quick shoot with limited-availability actors. Plus it gave me an 18mm to shoot in a cramped condo :) P.S. Yoghurt and frozen spinach makes for a good smoothie as well.

[@KTSAdventures]

All good points D. No one cares if the story is there. The audience will forgive bad angles, horrible movement. Camera doesn't matter. Of course if you CAN do what you can with everything. Love the channel.

[@JackStolz]

This is an awesome video. Killer results can be had with really minimal gear! Thanks for sharing

[@eliottguilmet825]

Fujinon MK 18-55 T 2.9 is gonna be my boy soon ♥

[@apriloaks4890]

That's great to know. will have to tell my mom about this! what kind of photos do you take?

[@weightlessfilms5651]

I would agree with you if it weren't for discovering the magic of the Sigma 17-50 2.8. It's sharp as hell, has an incredible build quality, the aperture stays at a constant 2.8, AND IT HAS IMAGE STABILIZATION. I got mine new on Ebay for $260. Dollar for dollar, it is seriously my most valuable lens. Not my best lens, but my most valuable lens. I HIGHLY recommend checking it out and suggesting it to beginners and experts everywhere. I can rave enough about it.

[@AnickYT]

I stick with a prime lense for most my shoot but I'll use the kit lense for the warp effect sometimes. But for me, If I want to shoot wide, I just use the fisheye lense and edit in post to dewarp it later. (options) I carry 3 lenses usually. My 55 to 200 zoom lense, my fisheye lense, and my 35mm f1.8 prime lense. Honestly, these are the only lenses i will ever need I think. I've done almost all photography up untill then with a kit lense although. My kit lense had a slow autofocus and being a kit lense, very slow, so I learned to manual focus using it. My manual focus is comparable to many autofocus the older lenses provide.

[@flatulent-1]

Okay, that was genuinely funny. You've got a new sub here, at least until i find out what kind of content you have.

[@arneadamaelterman8850]

Another benefit of the kit lens is the IS. If you film little projects or generally film out of hand, it is al lot more forgiving to just use the kit lens, instead of going for a faster prime without IS which might result in promising, but unusable shots due to camera shake.

[@joequiruga405]

I use the 18-55 kit lens with a 58mm macro lens so you can focus it - does me fine

[@gdrriley420]

18-135 is an amazing lens. I love it on my SL2 but does just as well on my GF 60D

[@Heroes_legend]

great video D4darious love your work and opinions on things such as this I tend to work with these same lens and this is something I really want to get use to for my future films and videos thanks ! PS like your hair cut

[@AdamViklund]

Great video! I love my 18-135mm and actually want to buy a new one as I was shooting in a nasty dust storm one day without a protective filter... d'oh!

[@RandomRobot463]

You are back! Keep the vids up man!

[@D4Darious]

Thank you Brutha ;)

[@RyanHansinger]

Awesome video! What do you use for your post it note transitions?? It's a cool touch!

[@sleaponit21]

thank you, so true, I got myself a new D3200 with kit lens 18-55, cos thats what my money limited me too, I make vidios on lots of subects, love it to bits, thanks again darious.

[@bryanalcantarfilms]

D4 thank you for posting such great content! Keep up the good work!

[@juliaprokopova7197]

Just for information, i got my first lens 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 for just 55€ here in Slovakia and it is really great lens for beggining :)

[@Sondercreative]

wait... french bread pizza... I need to know!

[@alejandrofuentes5692]

Im precisely in that moment myself... Own a 50mm canon and 18-55 kit from canon as well. Untill today all i i shot was with those two. Im Thinking about spending 500 or 600 euros on some quality lens, but of course , i expect like quite a radical improvement. Some time ago i tried a friends expensive lens on my 700d ( tamron arround 750 euros cant remember the model) and the difference was quite amazing... colours so much more intense on the files straight from the cam with zero correction or anything at all. Still saving up but soon i think ill go for it... any sugestions on an all terrain quality glass ?? 500-600 euro range ?? Thanks for your channel... youre awesome .

[@photocinema5470]

Great content, subscribed!! Also, would you mind doing a tips for editing fighting sound effect and dialogue's sound in adobe audition -> ? It will be great and very helpful if you do 👍

[@alexhawksteel6]

Do you wear frames without lenses in your studio? I've been trying to figure out how you stopped light from reflecting on the glass and I'm pretty sure you just dont use actual glasses in the studio.

[@BlaqcRain]

dope ... thank you for your input on lens and such

[@yummiedingding_photo3498]

I also own a 60d and a 18mm-55 lens I was pretty about it, I used it a lot for still photographs for events and rock concerts and then I guess I broke it when I first had my video assignment haha.

[@GlayingSA]

Hey dude. Your videos. Love it as per usual. Don't mean to sound presumptuous but when can your fans, like myself, be expecting another cinematography video. I purely love them. I dream of the next one coming out. :D

[@Viresmon]

Good intake on this discussion.

[@GabrielFowler]

The Panasonic GH4 and G7 have great kit lenses

[@D4Darious]

Thanks for commenting FW!

[@GabrielFowler]

Agreed!

[@jazzylev]

Ryan Jardine ya! I have the 14-42 with the g7, and it is perfection...

[@EntropyAcolyte]

Can confirm. 14-42 is fantastic

[@JStieloSoloPhysique1987]

YEPPERZ.. G7

[@LTRLtrend]

Hi Darius! Can you give me some quick advise. I am going to shoot my first music video. I heard the best camera settings for music video are anything between 80 to 125 for the shutter speed. Is that correct? The video would be a choreography, would you use a wide angle lens? I have a sigma 20mm, would this be ok? I have a jimbal Ronin-m and I am planning to do pul in and pul out mouvement, I am just worried about the focusing part. Do you thing if I keep my aperture at 16F, would this allow me to not worried about the focus??? Thank you for your help!!!!

[@zachanzpersonal8623]

my kit lens on my Sony a3000 is and 18-55mm made of all metal and glass I really enjoy it

[@zeeshansiddiqui8408]

hi dude so I am pretty sure you haven't noticed but I am one of your​ oldest subscribers​ and your​ where an inspection to me and I began a channel my self it has been a month now thanks a lot for being there bro ✓

[@anselmoreal]

Good video, I'm still rocking my kit lens on my g7

[@dangonzalez1420]

Thanks for this...you hit home when you said "...last time I checked none of us have won an oscar for best cinematography any time soon"