In the ever-evolving landscape of stand-up comedy, the ability to self-record quality footage is a crucial skill for aspiring comedians.
Whether you're fine-tuning your delivery or showcasing your talent online, having the right equipment is paramount. Among the various tools at your disposal, the choice of lenses can significantly impact the outcome of your filmed performances.
In this blog post, we'll delve into the importance of self-recording, explore some top-notch cameras, and highlight the best lenses for capturing stand-up comedy videos, including the Tamron 35-150 and the Sony 70-200.
Additionally, we'll explore five lenses each from Canon and Sony to provide you with a comprehensive range of options.
The Importance of Self-Recording
Self-recording has become a game-changer for stand-up comedians, offering a unique opportunity to analyze and improve their performances.
Aspiring comedians can review their material, analyze audience reactions, and identify areas for improvement. Moreover, with the rise of digital platforms and social media, self-recorded content has become a powerful tool for building an online presence and connecting with a broader audience.
If you ever wondered why some comics do well with less than subpar comedy on social media, part of that might simply be the hook, which lenses can definitely impact.
A viewer quickly scrolling on a phone had their attention grabbed with a closeup shot and engaging topic, while your grainy cell phone clip from 50 feet away didn't even get a half second look.
Sorry but that's the world we live in.
The average person with a day job and family doesn't care that you've been doing it for 12 years and that beginner with the snazzy clip has done it for one...you might be 100x better but the marketing still plays a part if selling seats. So get to filming and leave the show with new fans who are impressed you were as good live as your clips promised
Choosing the Right Camera
Before delving into the world of lenses, it's crucial to select the right camera to complement your comedic prowess.
We have dedicated articles for those already:
A good lens will sometimes cost the same (or more) than a good camera, however it opens up the possibilities of what you can do at any particular show.
What Kind of Lens Do You Need to Record Stand Up Comedy?
I have filmed over 1,000 (yes that's right) stand up comedy sets and I can tell you the good news is this part is pretty straight forward.
To properly film stand up comedy shows you want a lens that can:
Zoom between 50mm and 200mm.
An apereture that go as low/fast as 1.8, but usually shooting between 2.8 and 5.0 is fine.
Works on Sony or Canon mirrorless cameras.
Has great auto focus capabilities.
If you are starting as someone new to video and only focused on recording comedy sets, I would recommend a 20-70mm or the Tamron 35-150mm which comes in Sony and Canon variants.
This gives you good range to film from the back of a comedy show yet still get wide enough to grab audience shots from behind the comedian/stage if you need to later.
The Best Lens for Recording Stand Up Comedy Sets
When this lens came out, it was the one size fits all lens.
This lens offers a wide focal range, allowing comedians to capture both close-up facial expressions and broader stage shots seamlessly.
With a fast aperture of f/2.8-4, it excels in low-light conditions, making it an excellent choice for dimly lit comedy clubs. The built-in Vibration Compensation (VC) ensures stabilized footage, even when shooting handheld, adding to the lens's appeal for stand-up comedy filming.
It is a pretty big lens, so you will need a good tripod as well for shooting video as you're hand will get tired if you're holding for a 15 minute performance.
However you can use it to zoom in tight facial expressions, while also zooming out and facing the crowd to get some b-roll laughter shots. If you could only choose one lens in this list and you only want to use your camera for stand-up, this is probalby the best comedy lens on the market for the buck.
For Sony users, the FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS is a powerhouse lens. Most of the pictures on this site are shot with that.
With a telephoto reach, it's perfect for filming from a distance, allowing comedians to maintain a discreet presence while not impeding the audience or the performer.
The large f/2.8 aperture ensures exceptional low-light performance, making it an ideal companion for nighttime performances.
The Optical SteadyShot (OSS) further enhances stability, crucial for obtaining shake-free footage in dynamic stand-up comedy settings.
This lens is not cheap but will easily pay for itself after 5-10 clips are posted online, if used properly.
Best Canon Lenses for Recording Stand Up Comedy
The Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM is a workhorse lens that shines in various situations. Its versatile focal range makes it suitable for capturing both wide shots and close-ups.
The fast f/2.8 aperture ensures excellent low-light performance, and the USM (Ultrasonic Motor) enables quick and silent autofocus – a valuable feature when recording live performances.
This is one of the most popular focal ranges for performers of all kinds.
For comedians who prefer a more intimate setting or want to focus on facial expressions and reactions, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM is an excellent choice.
The wide aperture of f/1.4 allows for beautiful background blur (bokeh), emphasizing the comedian while minimizing distractions. This prime lens is also known for its sharpness, making it a favorite for portrait-style shots.
You won't be able to zoom in or out with a prime lens, so you will have to run around the venue to get the shots you need, so that is something to think about.
However the footage will be gorgeous.
When performing in smaller venues or capturing a broader view of the stage, the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM is a compact and lightweight option.
With its ultra-wide-angle capabilities, this lens excels at capturing the entire scene, providing a unique perspective for comedians who want to showcase their interactions with the audience and the ambiance of the venue.
I personally think the lens is too wide and the aperture isn't fast enough (I'd want 2.8 myself) to excel in low light capabilities, however if you crank the ISO up to 10,000 on most modern mirrorless cameras you will still get excellent and usable crowd angles or master shots of the comedian in case the lighting wasn't great.
The Best Sony Lenses for Recording Stand Up Comedy Sets
Sony users looking for a high-performance standard zoom lens need not look further than the FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM.
With its versatile focal range and large aperture, this lens delivers exceptional image quality and is well-suited for capturing the energy and nuances of stand-up comedy performances.
The advanced optics and fast autofocus make it a reliable choice for dynamic
shooting environments.
For stand-up comedians who want to emphasize facial expressions and connect with their audience on a more personal level, the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is an excellent portrait lens.
The wide f/1.8 aperture allows for stunning background blur, drawing attention to the comedian while maintaining sharpness. Its lightweight design makes it easy to handle during extended performances.
Capturing the atmosphere of a larger comedy venue or showcasing the entire stage becomes effortless with the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM.
This wide-angle zoom lens is perfect for creating impactful shots, and its fast f/2.8 aperture ensures top-notch performance in low-light conditions.
Comedians can use this lens to convey the grandeur of their performances and engage viewers with the overall ambiance.
This lens is great for wide angle shots in low light, or in other words, getting the dimly lit crowd for audience reactions!
The Tamron 20-40mm lens can be an excellent choice for stand-up comedy videos and photography due to its versatility, image quality, and low-light performance.
For Stand-up Comedy Videos
1. Versatile Focal Length: The 20-40mm zoom range allows for both wide shots that capture the entire stage and the audience's reactions, as well as closer shots of the comedian. This versatility is great for creating dynamic videos that convey the atmosphere of the live performance.
2. Fast Aperture: With a fast aperture, this lens can handle low-light conditions typically found in comedy clubs and theaters, allowing for clear and sharp video recordings without the need for excessive artificial lighting, which can be intrusive.
3. Good Depth of Field Control: The ability to control the depth of field with its wider aperture settings allows for a focus on the comedian while softly blurring the background, helping to keep the viewer's attention on the performer and reducing distractions.
For Stand-up Comedy Photography
1. Sharpness and Detail: Tamron lenses are known for their excellent sharpness and detail, which is crucial for capturing the expressions and emotions of the comedian during a performance. This level of detail helps in conveying the energy and nuances of the moment.
2. Low-light Capability: Just like in videos, the fast aperture of the 20-40mm lens aids in low-light photography, allowing for higher shutter speeds to freeze motion without having to rely heavily on high ISO settings, thus reducing noise in the final images.
3. Flexibility in Composition: The zoom range of 20-40mm is ideal for both capturing the entire stage or setting and zooming in for close-up shots of the comedian. This flexibility is beneficial in live event photography where the distance to the subject can change rapidly.
Conclusion
In the world of stand-up comedy, self-recording has become a valuable tool for growth and exposure.
Choosing the right lenses is essential to ensure that your performances are captured with precision and style. The Tamron 35-150mm and Sony 70-200mm lenses stand out for their versatility and low-light capabilities.
Meanwhile, Canon and Sony offer a range of lenses catering to different preferences and shooting scenarios.
Whether you opt for the Canon EF 24-70mm, the Sony FE 85mm, or any other lens mentioned in this guide, finding the perfect combination of camera and lenses will undoubtedly elevate your stand-up comedy recordings to new heights.
Remember, this is an art form that relies heavily on facial expressions, audience reactions, clear audio and of innovative social media distribution.
So make sure you have the right tools to success in an increasingly crowded digital world.