HELP: Lens Terminology

Z

zagga

Member
Okay. I am not a DP and the DPs around me are not familiar with 35mm adapters, but i MUST select 4 lenses to fit a Redrock M2 with Nikon Mounts. I am using a HVX200 mostly to shoot music videos.

Can someone explain what specs i should be looking for in a lens? Should they be autofocus or manual? I have selected a few lenses at B&Hphotovideo. Could you comment on thier suitability? Recommend alternatives?

Zeiss ZF Macro 50mm (Mfr # 1424664) - $984
Zeiss ZF 25mm (mfr# 1424663) - $790
Nikon Zoom Wide Angle Telephoto 35–105 (mfr. 1477) - $350
Nikon 135mm (mfr#1236) - $170

Also what do the terms 'macro' and 'prime' mean in the context of lenses?
 
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1. manual (autofocus dose not work on a 35mm adapter)
2.instead of a zeiss 50mm macro get the normal one (like half as much)
3. I would start with 3 lenses a 35, 50, 85. Zeiss makes arguably the best glass that isn't over 3000$
4. macro means close up, a prime is a lens that doesn't zoom.
 
Zagga, spend some time if you can over at www.kenrockwell.com and read over his 50mm lens reviews. You'll learn a lot there.

Really, what you want are the older, manual everything lenses if you can find them usually from ebay or a local camera/pawn shop. Try for f2.8 or better at the 28, 50, 85, and 135mm ranges.

We're currently reviewing the Nikon 17-35 f2.8 (constant aperture) zoom, as well as the Nikon f2.8 80-200. Although a bit slower than primes, both are very, very well respected as being on par with primes in they're price range.
 
If you could afford this complete kit, you'll be set for whatever you wish to shoot!

Zeiss Wide Angle 25mm f/2.8 ZF Distagon T* Manual Focus Lens >>>$826.00

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/472571-REG/Zeiss_1424663_25mm_f_2_8_ZF_Lens.html

Zeiss Wide Angle 35mm f/2 ZF Distagon T* Manual Focus Lens >>>$826.00

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/472572-REG/Zeiss_1424661_35mm_f_2_ZF_Distagon.html

Zeiss Normal 50mm f/1.4 ZF Planar T* Manual Focus Lens >>>$517.00

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/441695-REG/Zeiss_1405174_50mm_f_1_4_ZF_Manual.html

Zeiss Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 ZF Planar T* Manual Focus Lens >>>$1,033.00

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/441700-REG/Zeiss_1405176_85mm_f_1_4_Planar_T_.html

...and/or

Nikon Zoom Telephoto Zoom-Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8 ED AF-D Autofocus Lens >>>$820.00

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/124669-GREY/Nikon_1986_80_200mm_f_2_8_ED_AF_D.html

I hardly recommend you to add the RedRock microX.

You might also take a look at these links:

http://www.ppmag.com/web-exclusives/2007/04/pro-review-zeiss-zf-lenses.html

http://www.shutterbug.net/equipmentreviews/lenses/0507zeiss/index.html

Cheers!
 
hungrych said:
1. manual (autofocus dose not work on a 35mm adapter)
2.instead of a zeiss 50mm macro get the normal one (like half as much)
3. I would start with 3 lenses a 35, 50, 85. Zeiss makes arguably the best glass that isn't over 3000$
4. macro means close up, a prime is a lens that doesn't zoom.
Click to expand...


1. Should put the Nikons noted above 'on hold' for now?

2. Also, is this 85mm sensible? Zeiss - Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 - Mfr # 1405176
Its kind of pricey, but are the specs appropriate?

3. I read on this site that a 150mm or 200mm 'long telephoto' is a must have. What would you recommend? I have identified one (assuming my budget cna handle it:

Nikon Telephoto 200mm f/4.0 Micro - Mfr # 1468

Does this lens make sense?
 
I've never seen anyone needing a 200mm lens for a narrative. The DOF will be extremely short and the FOV is really narrow. F4 is a really slow lens. A 135mm will more than sufficed for closeup, the lower the f-stop the better. Zeiss makes the best glass for Nikon mount if you can afford it.
 
CinemaElectronika said:
If you could afford this complete kit, you'll be set for whatever you wish to shoot!

Zeiss Wide Angle 25mm f/2.8 ZF Distagon T* Manual Focus Lens >>>$826.00

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/472571-REG/Zeiss_1424663_25mm_f_2_8_ZF_Lens.html

Zeiss Wide Angle 35mm f/2 ZF Distagon T* Manual Focus Lens >>>$826.00

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/472572-REG/Zeiss_1424661_35mm_f_2_ZF_Distagon.html

Zeiss Normal 50mm f/1.4 ZF Planar T* Manual Focus Lens >>>$517.00

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/441695-REG/Zeiss_1405174_50mm_f_1_4_ZF_Manual.html

Zeiss Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 ZF Planar T* Manual Focus Lens >>>$1,033.00

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/441700-REG/Zeiss_1405176_85mm_f_1_4_Planar_T_.html

...and/or

Nikon Zoom Telephoto Zoom-Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8 ED AF-D Autofocus Lens >>>$820.00

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/124669-GREY/Nikon_1986_80_200mm_f_2_8_ED_AF_D.html

I hardly recommend you to add the RedRock microX.

You might also take a look at these links:

http://www.ppmag.com/web-exclusives/2007/04/pro-review-zeiss-zf-lenses.html

http://www.shutterbug.net/equipmentreviews/lenses/0507zeiss/index.html

Cheers!
Click to expand...

Thanks much. Its good to see i already selected some good ones. Not sure is i can afford the last one on the budget, but i WILL try eventually.

Thanks!
 
There is a thread somwhere here with alink to a company that refurbishes the older manual-everything lenses and revamp them with gear rings and all.

They sell complete matched sets.

Frank
 
Zagga,
Forgive for looking at this from the other side, but why are you buying lenses you know nothing about for DP's who know nothing about them? This sounds like a prescription for disaster.
Are you shooting these things yourself?
If not, why don't you find someone who knows what they're doing to help you.
Its not just about buying a 35mm adapter and some lenses. Its what you do with it that counts.
To some extent your just increasing the number of things that can go wrong.

Sorry that's my 2 cents.

- Lenny Levy
 
Dennis Wood said:
We're currently reviewing the Nikon 17-35 f2.8 (constant aperture) zoom, as well as the Nikon f2.8 80-200. Although a bit slower than primes, both are very, very well respected as being on par with primes in they're price range.
Click to expand...

1 stop or 2 isn't that much slower considering 1 stop isn't actually 1 stop light loss on an adapter for video (eg: cinevate uni), right dennis :thumbsup:
 
Charles Lowthian said:
1 stop or 2 isn't that much slower considering 1 stop isn't actually 1 stop light loss on an adapter for video (eg: cinevate uni), right dennis :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

For the 17-35, f2.8 is actually quite slow. Remember that f-stop isn't normalized across lenses, so a 17mm f2.8 doesn't let in the same amount of light as a 135mm f2.8 for example. It lets in much less because the diameter of the iris must necessarily be smaller in order to accommodate a shorter focal length.
 
Lenilenapi said:
Zagga,
Forgive for looking at this from the other side, but why are you buying lenses you know nothing about for DP's who know nothing about them? This sounds like a prescription for disaster.
Are you shooting these things yourself?

- Lenny Levy
Click to expand...

My next plan is to invite someone who KNOWS what they are doing when it comes to adapters. One step at a time. Thanks.
 
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