About to embark on buying serious (for me) glass . Suggestions?

Searcher

Searcher

Well-known member
I currently only have a Voigtlander .95 which I use with a GH2. I find the results stunning. But I would like to expand my collection of glass. Looking into the future I might move over to the FS100 at some stage and so would like to start building a glass collection that worked both on the GH2 and FS100. I'm looking at building a prime set. I'm a minimalist so probably only want about four lenses. Something like a 14mm, 25mm 35mm and 85mm. What glass would be roughly equal to the Voigtlander but would cover the FS100 chip and even 'full frame' like the 5D? Is Nikkor good enough or should I be looking at Zeiss? I'd be happy to spend up to $2000 per lens if it makes sense from a quality and investment perspective.

I wish i could use the Voigt on the FS100. What makes the Voigt so good? Obviously the glass is top quality but has it got something special that other lenses don't have? I see so much Voigt footage that blows me away. Am I just salivating over it's low light capacity?

I make my own narrative films but would like to make a living as cameraman for hire eventually so I want as good a kit as I can put together.

I want to start buying glass that will last a lifetime and I can slowly build and will fit different cameras. I've realised that cameras don't maintain value but that glass is a lifelong investment.

Thanks for any thoughts! I have done lots of research on glass but sometimes you get lost in the sea of info.
 
Voigtlander makes other lenses that will fit on different mounts. The 25mm is a specific Micro Four Thirds lens and can't be adapted to the FS100 (successfully, without vignetting) but the other Voigtlanders probably would work.

I've got the Zeiss ZF's and they're certainly as superb as the Voigtlander (optically and mechanically), but they cost more than it does and aren't as fast.

When buying lenses for potential future cameras, the two most common mounts would be Nikon and PL. Nikon can be adapted to practically anything, including Canons (Canon lenses can't be put on Nikon cameras). And most of the interchangeable lens cameras out there (except the Canon DSLRs) can easily take PL adapters too. If you want PL lenses that could be used on a DSLR as well, then the CP.2's are about the only game in town.
 
"except the Canon DSLRs"

PL mount wont work on any still cameras that have a mirror - not just canon - but any future models

The lens needs to sit close to the film plane

S
 
Thanks Barry. The ZF's are definitely on my radar. I'm not a total whore for shallow focus so I'm sure they're fast enough. The FS100 is so good in low light as well and I'm leaning towards getting one as I type.

BTW thanks for the work you put into the lighting and sound DVDs. Totally fantastic. Watching those DVDs inspired me to change my focus from trying to master everything and mastering none to just putting maximum effort into the camera side of things and hiring sound and lighting people where possible.
 
morgan_moore said:
"except the Canon DSLRs"

PL mount wont work on any still cameras that have a mirror - not just canon - but any future models
Click to expand...
Yes, this is a better way to say it. The presence of the mirror is what prevents most PL lenses from being compatible; a mirrorless camera can work with PL lenses.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top