Which lenses brand for HDSLR

[trez]

I've been using nice collection of excellent Canon FD lenses with my DOF adapters. Now, that I'm moving to HDSLR, I need to buy some lenses (Canon FD cannot be easily used with modern bodies due to its flange focal distance).
What's the best strategy for buying lenses these days? At the moment I'm using 7d, but this might change in the future, once 1d4 or some nice Nikon competitor is out.
Current options are:

1. Canon EF autofocus lenses:
+ will work fine on all Canon EOS bodies (of course) and Scarlet (if the ever release it), including touch-focus feature
+ will be great for stills, too (autofocus, focus confirmation, electronic aperture)
- no way to use them with Nikon bodies
- short focus ring throw
- high price of Canon L lenses

2. Canon EF-S autofocus lenses:
+ just like Canon EF, but cheaper
- will work with neither full frame nor APS-H (1d4) bodies

3. Nikon manual glass
+ ability to use it with Nikon as well as Canon EOS bodies (mechanical adapter) and Scarlet
+ long focus ring throw
+ cheap
- reversed focus ring rotation direction
- not very useful for shooting stills

4. Zeiss lenses with Contax/Yashica mount (or Canon EF mount)
+ can be used with Canon EOS bodies
+ long focus ring throw
+ (usually) little breathing
+ moderate price
+ quality and wow factor ;)
- no way to use them with Nikon bodies (unless some kind of optical is used)

Stills are not very important for me. At the moment I'm thinking about Zeiss, but I'm really afraid I might want to switch to Nikon at some point (guess they're preparing an answer to 7d and 1d4).
Another wise option is Nikon manual glass... I love Zeiss, but this sounds like the most flexible solution.
What do you think?

[weixiang623]

heard of the Zeiss ZF nikon mount lenses? That sounds like your solution

[raymondluo]

I would bet on Panasonic and Sony more than Nikon if i wanted to switch off Canon. The old hope that since Nikon doesn't have anything legacy video camera to protect they are in the best position to wow us is just an almost lost cause right about now.

Every brand is throwing out some kind fire, and if not fire- smoke- except Nikon. I do believe Nikon will have a tough time even if it wanted to play catch up with no previous professional level video R&D department, unlike Pan Can & Son.

Maybe Nikon is among the few dvxusers here sharing the sentiments that video is made for a different form factor. Even so, consumers love it- and evidently pro photographers too. Not really ideal making narrative features, but exceptional for everything else.

It stands though true that Nikon lenses kick ass, especially their wide angle lenses. Namely 14-24mm f/2.8 and 24mm/f1.4. If you do go Contax however, consider mine at the signature. :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)

Meanwhile I'm just hanging to a 5D Mark II wishing for an 'EVIL' 5D Mark II.

[trez]

heard of the Zeiss ZF nikon mount lenses? That sounds like your solution

Good point. How could I forget about them? Guess it's because I can get Zeiss C/Y much cheaper here in Poland.
Those Zeiss ZF cost a lot for manual SLR lenses, but still this might prove to be the ultimate solution...

[Wendt]

I've been using nice collection of excellent Canon FD lenses with my DOF adapters. Now, that I'm moving to HDSLR, I need to buy some lenses (Canon FD cannot be easily used with modern bodies due to its flange focal distance).
What's the best strategy for buying lenses these days? At the moment I'm using 7d, but this might change in the future, once 1d4 or some nice Nikon competitor is out.
Current options are:

1. Canon EF autofocus lenses:
+ will work fine on all Canon EOS bodies (of course) and Scarlet (if the ever release it), including touch-focus feature
+ will be great for stills, too (autofocus, focus confirmation, electronic aperture)
- no way to use them with Nikon bodies
- short focus ring throw
- high price of Canon L lenses

2. Canon EF-S autofocus lenses:
+ just like Canon EF, but cheaper
- will work with neither full frame nor APS-H (1d4) bodies

3. Nikon manual glass
+ ability to use it with Nikon as well as Canon EOS bodies (mechanical adapter) and Scarlet
+ long focus ring throw
+ cheap
- reversed focus ring rotation direction
- not very useful for shooting stills

4. Zeiss lenses with Contax/Yashica mount (or Canon EF mount)
+ can be used with Canon EOS bodies
+ long focus ring throw
+ (usually) little breathing
+ moderate price
+ quality and wow factor ;)
- no way to use them with Nikon bodies (unless some kind of optical is used)

Stills are not very important for me. At the moment I'm thinking about Zeiss, but I'm really afraid I might want to switch to Nikon at some point (guess they're preparing an answer to 7d and 1d4).
Another wise option is Nikon manual glass... I love Zeiss, but this sounds like the most flexible solution.
What do you think?

I would just like to say thank you for thinking out loud with your pros and cons of each lens type- it has helped me. I hope you get the feedback you need to make your decision-- I am to new to all of this to offer you any.