35mm Still Lenses - Good enough for HD???

[baquajim]

There has been talk about RED having still lens mount(s). Are these lenses going to be good enough for all of the formats RED shoots or just some of them?

Also, what about older Nikkor lenses? Or are we talking about the new Zeiss F mounts or Hassleblads? (As far as: what kind of quality is going to be needed?)

Opinions????

[Anders Holck]

The size of the Mysterium sensor is pretty close that of the Nikon D200 although the aspect ratio is different:
Mysterium is 24.4mm x 13.7mm with 11,5 mpixels.
D200 is 23.6 x 15.8 mm with 10.2 mpixels.

So depending on how strong the antialias filter is in the Red One I would expect it to be pretty close in sharpness. (D200 is a CCD, Mysterium is a CMOS.)

Some things with SLR lenses that might affect motion picture use are:
- They tend to breathe a lot when you focus.
- The travel of the focus ring is pretty short compared to a cinema lens.
- No threads on focus ring for follow focus.
- The barrel diameter is not standardized, so you might need to change the mattebox adapter ring as you change lens.

Cinema lenses are usually made in a matched series (Ultraprimes, Primos, s4), so the cinematographer will get the same image qualities from all the focal lenght's he uses. SLR lenses are mostly designed with the price in mind and are made one lens at a time.

[dan]

The problems with SLR lenses are:.

>>- They tend to breathe a lot when you focus.<<

Not necessarily (http://dandiaconu.com/gallery/albums/Work-samples/drop_in_frame.wmv)and not all of them.
Some later generation cine lenses breathe just as much.

>>-The travel of the focus ring is pretty short compared to a cinema lens<<
True for most, but then again, is only a ratio matter. How much one focus knob needs to turn for a lens. Nothing "major" (imo)

>>>- No focus scale markings on the barrel.<<<

Unless I understand your post right, I don't think I have ever seen any SLR lenses without distance marks. (http://dandiaconu.com/gallery/UNIVERSAL-SLR-FOCUS-GEAR-AND-FOLLOW-FOCUS/100_1685)

>>- No threads on focus ring for follow focus.<<<

That is a minor issue very easy to address (http://dandiaconu.com/gallery/UNIVERSAL-SLR-FOCUS-GEAR-AND-FOLLOW-FOCUS/100_1677).

>>- The barrel diameter is not standardized, so you need to change the mattebox adapter ring when you change lens<<

True, they are not standard, but.... is it such a big deal a variation of 5-6mm?
Any foam donut will streach that much (and it does on standard primes too) while flopping against the MB.

<<Cinemalenses are usually made in a matched series (Ultraprimes, Primos, s4), so the cinematographer will get the same image qualities from all the focal lenght's he uses. SLR lenses are mostly designed with the price in mind and are made one lens at a time.>>

True, but in this case, the “cinematographer” is not locked with a certain film stock that will show the difference between unmatched lenses.
Even so, timing each shoot can't be skipped, regardless how good the primes match (imo)
White balance (to compensate the lens coatings) is just a push button away. The whole “video” and now high definition evolution is nothing but cost and price related. Make it cheaper make it faster (imo)

Your whole post spells (to me) "don't use SLR lenses, they are nothing but trouble" (unless I got the wrong meaning and if so, my apologies and please explain). I humbly disagree. I have used them for quite some time and I found them a viable alternative to cine lenses, nevertheless I respect your POV.

[dan]

I think I should add: I know the difference between cine and SLR lenses and I know the first ones are more suitable for videotaping (for the above mentiuned reasons). However, when $ comes to play and the budgets are shrinking (as they tend to do) most of us turn to less expensive options (video vs film, etc) and everything else that goes with it. Is nothing but a $ game.

[Anders Holck]

Hi Dan.
Didn't mean to sound like an "Panavision representative" :-)
I just tried to point out some of the differences. If it really matters to anyone, especially when you compare the price difference, I guess not.

"- No focus scale markings on the barrel."
Yes, too vague I agree. All manual lenses has them. I corrected the post.

Btv. I have a friend that is getting your adapter. Looking forward to trying it on my HVX-200.

[dan]

Hi Dan.
Didn't mean to sound like an "Panavision representative" :-)

But you did!!!!!!:love4: rotf :love4:

>>I have a friend that is getting your adapter. Looking forward to trying it on my HVX-200<<

Copy that.
I'll make sure you love it and get into a fight with your friend over it:nads: :kali: :violent5: , cuz I may stop making them.:furious3:

[liquidigital]

cuz I may stop making them.


Dan,

I really hope that's not the case. You've got the best one out there. :)

[dan]

Thank you, but.... I was supposed to make one and then go out and play with it, and I ended up locked inside to make more while all the other kids are out playing....:crybaby:

[donatello]

yes you can use 35mm lens. there are 3rd party that make adaptors so you can use older nikons, canon , screw mt that fit in a PL mount.. so if your red has PL then you use this PL adaptor to F mount for nikons older still lens ...

cine lens are better built..over the years many still lens have been rebuilt into cine lens ..
the same make model still lens still usually match each other very good ..

[roxics]

Here is one of those adapters
http://www.xl1solutions.com/arri%20nikon.htm