5-6k on set of primes for 7D?
- Thread starter tabacula
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You can get some really good Nikon Nikkor primes for much less, but it really boils down to both the look you want and how much you're willing to pay for it.
Each type of lens has its own, unique characteristics. Canon has one look, Nikkors have another, Zeiss yet another. And there's even a vintage, Russian lens that has lots of fans. You need to watch samples of what these different lenses do, decide which one(s) you like and see if they fit your budget.
Each type of lens has its own, unique characteristics. Canon has one look, Nikkors have another, Zeiss yet another. And there's even a vintage, Russian lens that has lots of fans. You need to watch samples of what these different lenses do, decide which one(s) you like and see if they fit your budget.
Yeah, we've got $5K/6K for lenses and adapters. I was thinking Zeiss because of the barrel throw length, I've read the action is really smooth. I've used Nikkors loads and love the look, maybe the zeiss's offer a better package, in terms of building a set for future camera bodies?
twocik23
Veteran
The L series Canons are very nice, and well within your range. I've shot Nikons, Minolta/ Konica, Canons lower end and high. The look I was after was the Canon look, but love the way Nikons look too. Until I used a L series lens and saw Canons last interview with one of the executive R&D lens specialist I was all about Nikon. Canon really put so much time into these lenses and the coatings especially, that every penny on the L series lens are worth it.
Chris Watson
Well-known member
If you have a budget like that, then get Zeiss lenses. They are the only lenses I've seen where I look at the price and then the imagery and say "I get it". Plus the focussing should be super smooth on those since I don't think Zeiss even has any AF lenses in their lineup. This should be more useful to you as a film maker because most AF lenses have inferior manual focusing than native manual focus lenses do.
I'm one of those folks who will sing the praises of Russian Glass day in and day out. They have a certain mojo going for them that's distinctly Russian and usually have very unique bokeh going on especially with the Helios 40 and 44 and the Jupiter-9. As C2V said, it comes down to the look you want to achieve. If it were me and I had that kind of money to throw around on just glass, I'd pick up nothing but Zeiss ZE lenses. They have that Zeiss look and they won't go down in value. In fact, they will only go up. Best of luck!
I'm one of those folks who will sing the praises of Russian Glass day in and day out. They have a certain mojo going for them that's distinctly Russian and usually have very unique bokeh going on especially with the Helios 40 and 44 and the Jupiter-9. As C2V said, it comes down to the look you want to achieve. If it were me and I had that kind of money to throw around on just glass, I'd pick up nothing but Zeiss ZE lenses. They have that Zeiss look and they won't go down in value. In fact, they will only go up. Best of luck!
Chris Watson
Well-known member
The ZE glass doesn't have manual iris? I didn't know that. Yeah I would go with the one that's the most portable between camera systems and not be locked into Canon. Useful info if I ever get the scratch to go to Zeiss.
Matt Gottshalk
Resident Preditor
You'll want the ZF glass with manual iris when shooting video. Get the fotodiox Nikon to Canon adaptors for them.
And instead of doing the aftermarket gears, think about buying them already installed fromt he like of RPlens.com
And instead of doing the aftermarket gears, think about buying them already installed fromt he like of RPlens.com
Chris Watson
Well-known member
I'll be damned. I didn't know the iris wasn't manual on the ZE lenses. I thought it might have been like my Rokinon. Having worked with manual focus lenses for a few months, one gets used to the convenience of a manual iris. Glad I have that info. It's the ZF's for me (when I win the lottery).
Chris W
Chris W
Barry_Green
Moderator
If you're serious about the glass and can spring for the dough, the CP.2 lenses are true cinema lenses, with interchangeable mounts so they can be used on PL, or Nikon, or Canon. But are about $4,000 each.
If going with the ZF/ZE etc., the only compelling reason I can think of to go with the ZE is if you're only ever going to use it on Canon cameras. Because there's no manual iris, and because the Canon mount can't be adapted back up to Nikon. You can put Nikon-mount lenses on Canon bodies, but not the other way around (without involving a quality-impairing optical element in the adapter, that is).
So when I bought, I went ZF, even though I pretty much don't ever plan on using a Nikon body. It just seemed to me to be the most adaptable.
As for gears, RPlens uses, I believe, Duclos to do the modifications for their ZF lenses. So you can go straight to DuclosLenses.com and get their cinema-izing service, which is about $250/lens, and involves de-clicking the iris ring to get true cinema-style smooth iris operation, plus getting standardized lens fronts so they all take the same filters/accessories, and getting standardized diameter and gear pitch follow focus rings attached.
If going with the ZF/ZE etc., the only compelling reason I can think of to go with the ZE is if you're only ever going to use it on Canon cameras. Because there's no manual iris, and because the Canon mount can't be adapted back up to Nikon. You can put Nikon-mount lenses on Canon bodies, but not the other way around (without involving a quality-impairing optical element in the adapter, that is).
So when I bought, I went ZF, even though I pretty much don't ever plan on using a Nikon body. It just seemed to me to be the most adaptable.
As for gears, RPlens uses, I believe, Duclos to do the modifications for their ZF lenses. So you can go straight to DuclosLenses.com and get their cinema-izing service, which is about $250/lens, and involves de-clicking the iris ring to get true cinema-style smooth iris operation, plus getting standardized lens fronts so they all take the same filters/accessories, and getting standardized diameter and gear pitch follow focus rings attached.
I would love to get the compact primes, but it took all my powers to talk the producers into buying instead of renting. At a push I could talk them up to 8K, but I reckon that would cost me some of my fee, and still leave me a few lenses shy of a set. Thanks for the feedback though, loads of food for thought.