Is the Iscorama worth it? Dispelling the myth... or "Let's Shoot it out!"

Hahaha, the other thread is finding life now here. It's half time already for my custom made step ring... can't wait to get it.
 
Here's one on the bay that isn't absurdly overpriced... just overpriced. Maybe make an offer: ISCORAMA M42 mount

Just know that this is the ONLY m42 mount lens that I have had hit the mirror on my 5D mkii. So you need to pay special attention to keep you mirror up so that it doesn't strike the back element. But you'd probably switch out the stock lens back for a nikkor anyway... I did.
 
meanwhile someone else scooped up this one

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...767840&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_809wt_1167

ebay item no. 120472767840

a still in the box Iscorama 36 for the nice price of $300 even. Like Homer Simpson sez: D'oh !

One bid.... and one bid only. I was "watching" it but somehow missed it. Did anyone here get it?

I didn't even notice I missed it until this morning... I must not be living right.
 
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Well, congrats on that $950 m42 version purchase. PM me for my PayPal so I can get my 5% commission. :beer:

That $300 one is a MAJOR mystery, it was supposed to end on 9/29. It was at 100, then dropped to 99 dollars last night. Then a few hours later it was ended with one bid a 300 dollars. I figure someone contacted the seller and asked them to end the auction early... bad ebay form... and a little dangerous. I don't know why I'm still tracking this... maybe because I'd like a 2nd unit so I can set up my stereoscopic anamorphic system one day.

Keep a careful eye out guys. I think a few scammers have figured out the over the top desire for these right now. Another thing to remember is that the second a manufacturer steps up and produces something that works better than these (paging Hot Rod Cameras, Isco, Zeiss, etc.... come-on!!!) that you can RACK FOCUS with, the value of the Iscorama will probably never be what it is right now.

Let's get some more footage in this thread!
 
No wonder I missed it. Bad ebay form indeed, I guess but all is fair in love and war? Did someone on this forum buy it? I agree that there may be some scammers lurking around. I wonder what caused the seller to end his sale early? Mystery, intrigue.

Meanwhile I have been researching ways to mount a non-threaded sankor or other type lens onto 15mm rods. There are various parts from telescope companies that look promising but also gadgets made for scientific instruments that work with lasers that seem to show some promise. I'll post some examples as soon as I win a couple of auction items.... hehe.

As for getting more footage, I agree. Off to the hardware store for some JB weld for my sankor F. The sun is shining today and I want to shoot some more....
 
I shot some footage in a club last night with my 36, it has a loose focus ring and I can rack it. I'm not sure if it came out of the factory like that, it's not a nikon mount type but was the front of a 10mm c-mount isco, it looks almost identical to the nikon 36. I'll post some flared loveliness in about a week, I have to go back and shoot some more footage for a job next weekend before I cut it. I desperately need a +0.5 diopter, I was trying to shoot the DJ from above and just couldn't get focus with a +1 diopter until I bashed the isco into his head.
 
At B&H (special order)

Series 9 +0.5:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/398975-REG/Schneider_68070509_Series_9_Water_White.html

Series 9 to 72mm step ring:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/400540-REG/Schneider_68247209_72_mm_Series_9_Adapter.html

All this assumes that series 9 is larger than 72mm which I don't even know if it is.

Is it worrying that the diopter is specially coated, flare free, etc.

Intriguingly, the image they show also shows a +0.25 diopter also, but I can't find it on the B&H or Schneider sites.
 
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handheld, misaligned and an old 300d so far so good.

helios 44-2 + kowa 16d

3955870827_d2c76a51cb.jpg


better focus but misaligned
3956650544_0949e47c8d.jpg


3957237980_58eab621bb.jpg

can't wait to try it on a 7D, now I need to find a step down ring.
 
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Just got my iscorama 42, Didn't have the correct step up ring for any of my lens except one which fit the canon 100mm macro . Going to try to get ones for my lecia 28mm 2.8 and 50mm 1.4.
anyway here's my first picture taken with the iscorama. Damn hard to judge the focus.
3956801435_167e0ed459_b.jpg
 
Deadfish, congrats. What does the back end of the 42 look like? Can you snap a pic?

I will be amazed if the 28mm works without vignetteing but let us know.
 
This is the back of lens without the extender ring
3957055837_3f5b96e060.jpg

with extender ring
3957056327_823fac3edc.jpg


lecia 90mm 2.8 on the left iscorama 42 in the middle and lecia 28mm 2.8 on the right
3957056873_1efcc3bc9e.jpg


lens from a top angle - 28mm left 90mm right iscorama btm mid
3957057389_28f066a991_m.jpg
someone in vimeo had the same combo as me - lecia 28mm 2.8 iscorama 42 but with a panasonic GH1 . here's his footage http://www.vimeo.com/6296514
what's this with diopters? got links or pictures of it?

thx
 
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Diopters or "close focus filters" are like reading glasses for your lens. Because our Iscorama's don't focus down past 2m we're all using them to achieve close focus capabilities. We're all able to find +1 diopters easy enough but the power is too much for a medium closeup distance.

Finding a +0.5 or +1/2 diopter is important to achieve a medium closeup. It should allow focusing from 1-2 meters.
 
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