Iscorama Anamophic Lens Test

I posted the footage on vimeo linked by squig using the Panasonic ag7200. I have to thank Michael Pappas whose tests inspired me to do this in the first place. The following is a quick run down of the limitations of the PANASONIC as I’ve used it on the 5d mark ii. These are not scientific tests, just what I’ve observed. (Keep in mind the adapter was attached to lenses without the use of any kind of diopter. Just 72mm step-up/down rings. It was simply screwed onto the front of lenses using step up rings.)

FLARES: Yes, they are there, usually blue, only pronounced with bright sources pointed at the camera. Look wonderful.

ZOOM THROUGH AND RACK FOCUS: Yes, both possible. Infinity focus is possible. The focal length limits of what you can achieve with the Panasonic thus tested are: 30mm-125mm. Anything wider than 30mm is going to vignette where you see the edges of the adapter, 125mm was simply the longest lens I had to test with, but the image was focusable, though the lens needed to be stopped down a great deal to achieve acceptable sharpness. *This is for the 35mm still format.

OUT OF FOCUS PROPERTIES AND DEPTH OF FIELD: Depth of field is FAR SHALLOWER with the anamorphic adapter attached. The oof characteristics of the lens the base lens are enhanced wonderfully in the that special way only anamorphic can do. Intensified blobular highlights. To achieve acceptable sharpness sometimes however, the lens has to be stopped down (to compensate for both horizontal and vertical resolution) this of course reduces all that nice OOF.

CLOSE FOCUS CAPABILITIES: This depends heavily on the lens used, distance from subject, and F-stop. The 35mm Flektogon could do well about 6 feet out about wide open, stopped down to f16 the lens could be acceptably focused on objects much closer… I can’t remember for sure HOW much closer but it’s at least a foot away from the lens.

SHARPNESS VIA LENS: Depends. On the 35mm Flektogon, the image was sharp edge to edge, about wide open at f2.4 at all distances (minus close focus limit, talked about above) On the Nikon 28-70mm zoom, wide open, (f2.8) the image was blurry on the edges of the frame at infinity, and sharpens up around 15 feet out at the edges throughout the zoom range.***

***I believe the explanation for the blurred edges (though this is just my guess) has to do with the front element size/distance from the back of the Panasonic adapter. The Flektogon has a very small front element that is also very flat, and fits entirely within the space of the rear Panasonic adapter rectangular element. The Nikon on the other hand, has a very large curved front element, that stretched well beyond the diameter of the Panasonic’s rear element. Cause of edge blur?

Keep in mind the edges become sharper on the Nikon when stopped down dramatically. On the Nikon it takes until about F11 for the sides of the frame to sharpen up at infinity… though it’s not perfect.

LIGHT LOSS: the canon’s high iso performs so amazingly well that it’s hard to tell, but light loss appears MINIMAL, maybe a stop or less?

SHARPNESS OVERALL: the anamorphic definitely softens the hd image overall, but that isn’t by any means a negative thing. I personally love the look of anamorphic; its ability to isolate the subject, so razorblades aren’t as important to me. I don’t own the ISCO, but compared to the footage shown here, the Panasonic is not nearly as capable of the same sharpness wide open. But there are so many variables, lens combinations with the panny, and a lot of other factors that contribute to sharpness.

Rich was also able to upload his videos directly with a nice looking quicktime, where as I had to use vimeo’s heavily compressed format, which took a big bite out of image quality.

Here for better or for worse (again) are the vimeo links.

http://vimeo.com/5680250

http://vimeo.com/5671123

I look forward to more people trying to get anamorphic on the 5d. I love anamorphic to death and it’s exciting that even with the limitations, it’s achievable within this price range!

http://www.slimedthemovie.com
 
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I was just heading out the door to do the isco 50mm, isco 54, panasonic shootout when it started to rain. Oh well maybe tomorrow.

Most adapters lose about 1/3 to half a stop. The isco 50mm seems a bit darker @ f/2.8 maybe more like f/3.5.

Jeff have you noticed any chromatic aberrations with the panasonic? They're easy to notice if you shoot something with black and white stripes.
 
It should be nice to know what we find with and without other focal lengths. I mean, with the 50mm stock lens. And as adapter.
 
The CA looks pretty subtle to my eye on the AG7200. I haven't shot stripes or a chart, but I've found in real world tests blown highlights and bright contrast light are very acceptable, certainly better than some 35 adapters. Color fringing is minimal to none-existent in the stuff I've shot in general, but I haven't shot bright water or stripes yet. Guess that will be next on the test list. There is definitely some subtle CA going on in really contrasty stuff, on very close scrutiny, but I suspect the lens on the back-end makes a difference. The nikon 28-70mm f2.8 AFS is a pretty well corrected lens as is... in the daylight reel you can see it in action with some heavy blown window backlight and over-exposed shots... one with a Helios 44-2 (58mm f2) which definitly is NOT a well corrected lens, but has the most beautiful oof in the world. (this is the shot with the white can crusher at 1:04 in). If CA is there, it's some of the most mild I've ever seen. I look forward to the shootout though squig! I have a feeling everyone in their right mind is going to want to get their hands on an ISCO (myself included).

http://www.slimedthemovie.com
 
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Which 50mm is best?

Which 50mm is best?

If people had to choose which 50mm Iscorama is best the Iscorama 2001 MC or the earlier version? What are the advantages is it better to just have the adapter and use your own lenses? Will the 2001 MC limit your use?
 
MC should mean: multi coated -- is it noticeable better, compared with a single coated lens?

AFAIK the oldest model can be used as adapter despite any potential loss compared with the stock 50mm lens. This is what I and we all would like to know if anyone will be kind to test it and show us. The latest model is a (multi-coated) single piece 50mm lens.
 
That Isco's gone up to 675.00 on Ebay.

Resale value on that's a good 200.00 in a few months. Ich.
 
Emanuel said:
IMO it is noticeable some loss as far as we are from the lens' centre. At least, that's what I figure out from those samples @ Iscorama 54 (link above). Iscorama 50mm is the Iscorama 36 adapter actually, right? Same performance?
Click to expand...

Yeah it's a 36 front end but I think it's sharper than the 54 because it's been perfectly matched to the isco back end. I'll be able to confirm that when I get some step up rings for my helios but as Jeff mentioned while the helios has great bokeh it's not the sharpest or most corrected lens out there.

Damn the sun is out, I really wanted to shoot it on an overcast day. I'll give it a shot anyway, I need a polarizer!
 
Kholi said:
That Isco's gone up to 675.00 on Ebay.

Resale value on that's a good 200.00 in a few months. Ich.
Click to expand...

It's up to $811, that's crazy! I paid $130 for mine.

The 2001 MC would be nice but I've been looking for one for months and haven't come across any yet. I'm using MC filters on the front of mine anyway.
 
It's people from here, I bet. The most funny is the Isco rep said something in the 200-400 range. New. He didn't know the price list exactly. But he mentioned for film nobody was interested before. Only collectors. Hope he doesn't know this thread. I won't show it until having mine in hands.

According the same guy the 5D2 is the most best seller camera he has seen in his entire life. Amateurs, professionals, video people, everyone. His words. Still out of stock there, 9-10 months after release.
 
Half of ebay deals don't conclude in effective sales. A lot of non-serious bidders bid and do not pay.
(my buddy's stats, an ebay seller)
 
The isco 54 was around $4000 new so $1000 isn't that bad considering they are quite rare but you can get a lomo for not too much more.
 
I'm pretty crazy, but not THAT crazy. I'll slap on a video camera Anamorphic adapter and make an oval cut out for the back of the lens before I do that.

Hehehe

Well, here's to hoping that CBS' guy has stock.
 
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