Optar Illumina Primes or Zeiss Zoom?

Mars United

Mars United

Well-known member
I'm ordering a Silicon Imaging SI-2K Mini (2/3" CMOS) and am in the market for a lens or prime lens set.

I was pretty much set on a Zeiss 12-120mm T2.4 Zoom w/ macro switch.

Another possibility turns out to be a set of 6 Optar Illumina primes at 8mm, 9.5, 12, 16, 25, and 50mm.

I like the idea of a zoom for convenience (this cam will have multiple purposes, including a low budget feature), and the macro function with the Zeiss.

However, primes should be sharper.

Anyone have any opinions on these two options. Would the primes really be all that much sharper than the Zeiss zoom. Oh, the primes are pretty fast at max T1.3.

Also, isn't the set of Optars a little heavy on the variety on wide lenses and only one choice for telephoto?

Thanks!
 
Also ...

Also ...

I should add that to cover super wide I'd get an additional lens to add to the Zeiss, say, a 5.7mm.

Thoughts, comments, suggestions? My main concern is the difference in sharpness when resolving to 2K.
 
arent the optars super 16 lenses, i am pretty sure you have to use 35mm lenses, i could be wrong.
i would go with the primes, there are canon zooms that i think are sharper than the zeiss, thats just my opinion.
 
The SI-2K takes super 16 lenses. The Optars are super 16s, in fact, not conversions, but specifically made for super 16. The Zeiss zoom is a conversion.

Thanks for the reply!

Anyone vote for the Zeiss? If so, why?
 
Mars United said:
The SI-2K takes super 16 lenses. The Optars are super 16s, in fact, not conversions, but specifically made for super 16. The Zeiss zoom is a conversion.

Thanks for the reply!

Anyone vote for the Zeiss? If so, why?
Click to expand...

Because you can send a 50 year old Zeiss lens back to them and if there is any way they can fix it they will.
 
Thanks crs127 and chuck coburn for the replies. :beer:

I've decided to go with the Zeiss zoom.

Wicked.
 
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