Digital or Film Lenses

Chamber005

Chamber005

Carbonite Member
Hi all,

I'm going to be purchasing either an EX1 or an EX3. Obviously the EX3 has better ergonomics, but overall the EX1 is cheaper, even and including potentially an SG Blade or Letus...

Long term, though, what is the opinion here regarding lenses? I know they rely on different specs, but are digital and film lenses identical in terms of picture and DOF?

Am I going to get the same picture out of an EX3 (depending on the lens) that I would get from an EX1 with SG Blade or Letus?

And last, long term, what is going to be more affordable? I'd think that since film lenses have been around for so long, I'd be able to find them at discounted prices via private owners; whereas digital lenses for something like the EX3 won't be getting a reduction in price anytime soon.

(Heck, I don't even know what lenses are really available for the EX3 yet! It seems like I've only seen one additional lens made by Sony so far).

THANKS!

(and if anyone knows anything about viewfinders, I have a thread on here asking about my DSR 200. I like to use this camera for faux news footage! Any help there would be appreciated!!!)
 
can't say with complete confidence, but the ex3 is not set up to attach prime lenses to it... so if you are going to get a dof adapter, i would almost go with the ex1 and then use the saved money to get your letus or redrock or whichever you choose...
now, if i am wrong and the ex3 has the ability for prime or even dslr lenses to attach directly to it without any sort of adapter then of course go with it, but that means it is further ahead of its time then i knew...
 
you can't attach non 1/2" lenses directly to the EX3. if you want to bypass the stock lens then you'd need a relay like the one made by Letus and then connect to an adapter. i just watched a demo of this setup by Philip Bloom. he used an EX3 with the Letus Relay and the Letus Ultimate. do a search and you should find it. What do you mean by digital lenses? do you mean lens made for digital SLRs? i wouldn't use those with an adapter. you won't be able to adjust your iris. plus i think they're cheaply made. glass might be good but the barrells are plasticy. as for my advice on purchasing: buy the EX1, Letus Extreme/Elite, and find some nice Nikon, Canon, Minolta still manual focus lenses. just be aware of the short focus throw with still lenses.
 
Most of the used Nikon 35mm lenses have adjustment rings for focus and more importantly, aperture. Canon ditched the aperture ring a while back, but Nikon hung on to it a lot longer.

The good news is, if you buy the right Nikon lens, you can adjust the focus and aperture manually when mounted on your Letus 35mm ground glass adaptor, or you can mount it on to a Nikon DSLR and those functions will be controlled automatically by the camera. Check out this website to find out all the details on the different Nikon lenses. http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/nikkor.htm

If you want to use Canon lenses a new option is the Red Rock Micro M2 adaptor. It comes with an electronic mount so you can twist a knob and adjust the aperture of Canon lenses that don't have an aperture ring.

There's much more to using an adaptor than what I've discussed here. Check out Philp Blooms Blog, the Letus Website and the 35mm Adaptor section of this web forum.
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/forumdisplay.php?f=113

EDIT: I forgot to mention that you CAN attach a 35mm camera lens directly to the EX3, but there will be a huge multiplier added to the lens. A 100mm will become something like a 800mm (I can't remember the exact numbers). This wasn't a usuful solution for me, but some wildlife photographers love this option. Plus, the "adaptor" is much cheaper than a ground glass adaptor for obvious reasons.
 
Canon FD lenses are pretty darn good and they also focus in the same direction as the standard fujinon lens...
 
There are several nikon lens mounts available for the EX-3, the mag ratio is 5.5X.

There are 2 B-4 mounts for the EX-3 for use with 2/3" lenses. One by Fuji has a connector to get full servo control of zoom & iris.

There is an adapter to use other 1/2" lenses that were not specifically made for the EX-3.

That's all I know of so far. Once you have a B-4 mount, you can get many of the "35" adapters to work along with 35mm film camera lenses.

Lots of choices.
 
You can attach a Nikon lens directly onto the EX3 with the use of my Adaptimax.

You do get 5.4x magnifiction but it means you get great telephoto or macro shots which are impossible with the standard Sony lens. Best news is that it is very inexpensive and opens up whole new shooting possiblities with the EX3.
 
The Adaptmax is perfect

The Adaptmax is perfect

We have been using ours for a week with various Nikon lens and may never put Fujinon back on EX3 (but it is a great lens!). Not just for the long stuff either. Numerous WA Nikons give a very pleasing composition for interviews.:)
 
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