All Isco's "Easy Focus"?

T

tommygdawg

Well-known member
Hey all,

This is something I've googled the death out of and I just can't find a concrete answer. Are ALL Iscorama projector lenses "easy focus"? That is, can you set the camera lens to infinity then focus only on the Isco? I've heard of lenses like the Isco 36 and 42 being really popular, but they're also really expensive and rare. Could I get an Isco in the cheaper range, such as this one, and still focus "easily"? http://www.ebay.com/itm/ISCO-ULTRA-...72089779?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item43a77239b3

I'm also under the impression that to make real use of this I'd probably have to use a diopter? Really, I want to get one of these to test out and play around with. I love the look of anamorphic lenses but it's just not worth $2k and up to me.

Thanks!
- Tommy
 
Iscorama lenses cost that much for a reason.
The one you are looking at is a nice scope projection lens that has been designed for projection, not filming. It is large and heavy, minimum focus distance is 17ft, it has a 2x anamorphic ratio and you should focus both lenses. If you cannot afford an Iscorama (36, 42, 54, or Iscorama), there are much better options than these large gold projector lenses for filming anamorphic with a dslr. Although the Iscorama focusing system is a well kept secret in Gottingen...
 
kostas said:
Iscorama lenses cost that much for a reason.
The one you are looking at is a nice scope projection lens that has been designed for projection, not filming. It is large and heavy, minimum focus distance is 17ft, it has a 2x anamorphic ratio and you should focus both lenses. If you cannot afford an Iscorama (36, 42, 54, or Iscorama), there are much better options than these large gold projector lenses for filming anamorphic with a dslr. Although the Iscorama focusing system is a well kept secret in Gottingen...
Click to expand...

Thanks for the quick reply! :) So this lens doesn't have that focusing system? Aside from a filter such as the cinemorph filter, what are the much better options?
 
Check the long and extensive "anamorphic shootout" thread. Check also my anamorphic comparison clip http://vimeo.com/22498245.
For 1.33x (2.39:1 aspect ratio) available options are the focus through anamorphots like Panasonic LA7200, Century Optics, Soligor, Optex. These work nicely for CinemaScope wide landscape filming with deep focus. If you manage to mount diopters you can do close ups and shallow dof too.
For 1.5x (2.65:1 aspect ratio) apart from the Iscoramas the best alternatives are the 1.5x 8mm and 16mm anamorphots, Moller, Proskar, Kowa, Agfa. All require double focusing mechanism (both taking lens and anamorphic) and are better on crop sensor cameras. There are also some focus through anamorphots like the Vistascope 16mm which also works on the 5d mark II.
For 2x (3.56:1 aspect ratio starting from 16:9) there are the Kowa Prominar 16c, Sankor 16c 16f, 16d, Proskar, Singer etc that work on crop sensor and with long lenses on the 5dII. All require double focusing but are sharp enough. For the 5d mark II options are a bit restricted with the Kowa8z or 16h, or Kowa for Bell Howell.
The Kowa is very sharp and also works with double focusing.
 
kostas said:
Check the long and extensive "anamorphic shootout" thread. Check also my anamorphic comparison clip http://vimeo.com/22498245.
For 1.33x (2.39:1 aspect ratio) available options are the focus through anamorphots like Panasonic LA7200, Century Optics, Soligor, Optex. These work nicely for CinemaScope wide landscape filming with deep focus. If you manage to mount diopters you can do close ups and shallow dof too.
For 1.5x (2.65:1 aspect ratio) apart from the Iscoramas the best alternatives are the 1.5x 8mm and 16mm anamorphots, Moller, Proskar, Kowa, Agfa. All require double focusing mechanism (both taking lens and anamorphic) and are better on crop sensor cameras. There are also some focus through anamorphots like the Vistascope 16mm which also works on the 5d mark II.
For 2x (3.56:1 aspect ratio starting from 16:9) there are the Kowa Prominar 16c, Sankor 16c 16f, 16d, Proskar, Singer etc that work on crop sensor and with long lenses on the 5dII. All require double focusing but are sharp enough. For the 5d mark II options are a bit restricted with the Kowa8z or 16h, or Kowa for Bell Howell.
The Kowa is very sharp and also works with double focusing.
Click to expand...

Kostas, did you receive my PM's? I don't see them in my sent box, let me know if you did.
 
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