# Lens Selection Guide

> How to pick the right lens for any shot type and creative intent.

## Selection by shot type

### Wide / Establishing
- 16-24mm prime
- f/4 or higher for environmental detail
- Cinema: ARRI Master Prime 25mm, Cooke S4 25mm
- Photo: Sony G Master 24mm, Canon RF 24mm

### Medium shot
- 35-50mm prime
- f/2.0 - f/2.8 cinematic
- Cinema: Cooke S4 50mm, ARRI Signature 50mm
- Photo: Sony G Master 50mm, Canon RF 50mm

### Close-up portrait
- 85-100mm prime
- f/1.2 - f/2.0 for shallow DOF
- Cinema: Cooke S4 85mm
- Photo: Sony G Master 85mm, Canon RF 85mm

### Extreme close-up
- 100-135mm prime, or macro
- f/2.8 - f/4 for sharpness
- Cinema: Cooke S4 100mm
- Photo: 100mm macro

### POV / Action
- 8-24mm wide / fisheye
- Variable aperture
- GoPro Hero (built-in)
- iPhone wide

## Selection by mood

### Warm / Romantic
- Cooke S4 series (warm bokeh)
- Helios 44-2 (swirly vintage)
- 50-85mm portrait range
- f/1.4 - f/2.0

### Cold / Clinical
- Zeiss Master Prime (sharp, neutral)
- ARRI Signature Prime
- 35-50mm range
- f/2.8 - f/4

### Epic / Cinematic
- Cooke Anamorphic 32-50mm
- Horizontal flares + 2.39:1 aspect
- T2.3

### Documentary
- Sony G Master 35mm or Canon RF 35mm
- f/2.8 - f/4 for environment + subject
- Natural perspective

### Music video stylized
- Kowa Anamorphic (heavy flares)
- Vintage primes
- Wide-open aperture

## Selection by budget

### High-end (>$10K per lens)
- Cooke S4 set, Anamorphic
- ARRI Signature Primes
- Zeiss Master Primes

### Mid ($2-10K)
- Cooke Mini S4, Sigma Cine
- Zeiss CP.3
- Canon CN-E

### Prosumer ($500-2K)
- Sony G Master, Canon RF
- Sigma Art series
- Tamron primes

### Consumer (<$500)
- Vintage Helios, Pentax M42
- Used Nikon AI-S
- Mobile phone lenses

## DON'T mix incompatible

- Cinema lens on consumer body — works but overkill
- Consumer lens on cinema body — quality loss
- Anamorphic on small sensor — squeeze ratio off
- Photo lens on cinema body — no smooth focus pull

## Quick recommendation algorithm

```
1. Identify shot type → narrow to focal range
2. Identify budget tier → narrow to lens tier
3. Identify mood/style → pick brand character
4. Pick aperture based on:
   - Subject isolation needed → wide open
   - Environment important → stop down
   - Sharpness priority → f/4-f/5.6
```
