Iscorama Anamophic Lens Test

I have some good news to all of you. I've been in touch with Isco, the manufacturer, where I have a contact inside. They are aware of this thread now.

This is the information that I have:

Because this is either an old lens model and the chances to get stock are out of their mind, they can develop a new product especially for the DSLR market, if there will be market for. Modern manufacturing, new design and models. Everything new. Same (improved) technology and quality, though. They have all the necessary know-how.

Please, do not ask me price even why they have no idea yet. It will depend on a lot of factors. As matter of fact, the person with who I've been in touch with, asked my thoughts on the subject matter. So, I'd like to listen this community.

If you'll have interest to be an Isco customer, post it here. This will help their decision. They have everything for offering it. I repeat, it will depend on us, the market.

Moreover, the chances for several focal lengths or a general high quality adapter are both on the table. As far as I could figure out so far, they are really interested.

Please, do not send me PMs for this purpose once I have my box almost full (you can email to emanuel [dot] 2003 [at] hotmail [dot] com instead). There's nothing to hide. You can post it here your thoughts, ideas, suggestions, etc. This thread will be monitored.

More to come.

Best as usual,
Emanuel :-)


PS: Tomorrow, I hope to be in touch with the Isco's technical director via this manufacturer's employee interested to help.
 
Well, I for one am a customer in waiting !!

I would like firstly to iron out where the artefacts are coming from, an innate feature of the lens shape / arrangement or a feature of the older lenses being uncoated ? Or both ?


What I mean to say is that it would be easy for engineers to overlook the thing that - I suspect - draws many of us, here, to the lens - the lovely flares and blooms and general light artefact mayhem - and produce a technically better lens with less of these 'problems'.

It would be a pity to see an 'improved' version with all the 'technical issues resolved'.

That's my only real input / issue - but without a doubt and at the drop of a hat I would certainly buy a lens that produced the same or similar characteristics of those seen in Rich Lee's excellent little samples.



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I'd like to post something original, but I really think that Lee nailed it in his post.

I'd snatch one up in a heartbeat (as long as those unique characteristics are kept intact); basically, don't do to much 'improving'.
 
dresam said:
I'd like to post something original, but I really think that Lee nailed it in his post.

I'd snatch one up in a heartbeat (as long as those unique characteristics are kept intact); basically, don't do to much 'improving'.
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Most Definitely.
Another benefit to keeping the retro design is that it should help reduce production time and cost. I'd like a set of lenses primes that cover from 25 - 100.
If the primes aren't possible, I would still be interested in an adapter, provided it still exhibits the same unique character of the prime we've been watching so far. Two things that may be done to help improve the lens without taking anything away from the original is making it faster (f/2?), and giving it nine blades (I think the current one has five), this could potentially change the way it flares, but it will still flare, probably more smoothly and should make the bokeh smoother too.
 
A high quality lightweight adapter superior to the panasonic would be a lot more cost effective and would sell like hotcakes.

A set of say 28mm, 50mm, and 105mm 1.5x primes with 9 blades and f/2 de-clicked aperture rings would also do really well for the DSLR market with Nikon and EOS mounts.

Good thinking Emanuel I can't see any DSLR filmmaker not shooting anamorphic if there are quality lenses available at a reasonable price. With the GH1, MKII, and new Nikons coming there is a huge market for anamorphics.

Hunter has a set of lomo's I'd be interested in hearing his thoughts on the best focal lengths.

Oh and seeing as these lenses are going to be almost exclusively used for filmmaking they should make them with pressed on cine gears.

I could see myself selling all my nikkors for a full set of high quality fast anamorphic primes. I'd be more than happy to test some prototypes.
 
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I suspect Isco won't be able to meet the initial demand, Emanuel can you ask them to put my name on the waiting list for any and all of their future DSLR anamorphics.

A 24p DSLR and anamorphic cine primes now that's the holy grail!
 
Anthony,

It's interesting your point of view about the initial demand indeed. Same feeling here. That is, quite the opposite their conservative approach. And now I'm writing for ISCO (they are reading and will read our posts over here). I was in touch with them today. And they asked me how many units I would be interested to buy or estimate they might sell. I responded that I can't have an exact idea. But I'd spread the word in the forums in order to listen the potential market and give them an interesting barometer for their product.

The idea that I got: they could manufacture only under a single or a group of customers' requests. Maybe, that's just my impression. I didn't enter in touch with the technical director yet. It does seem he is the man who can put the things to move on.

As matter of fact, it's just me who has pushed the wagon, so far. They are afraid that this market may just be a niche market. Jim Jannard was used to write the same a few months ago. He hasn't been expressing his opinion lately. The point is that there's a whole different perspective (business and interest) on the RED side. 5D MkII sells like hot cakes. Scarlet FF35's brain will cost 4x the 5D MkII's body. But I can say it in other words: RED is in another ballpark, they target another market. Their customer is not the same. Is it necessary to add something more on the subject? :lipsrseal :)

E. :-)
 
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squig said:
A high quality lightweight adapter superior to the panasonic would be a lot more cost effective and would sell like hotcakes.
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. . .as long as 'high quality' means that if a light source drifts into frame (or even close) that the optics fails to control or mitigate the (cinematic) flare.
 
Lee Wilson said:
If there is a list - I want on ! :thumbup::):Drogar-Evil(DBG):
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Lee,

Post it here and we will all be in the same list. So, to those interested, post your interest, please. They should understand this will be an interesting business for them. It really is.


E. :-)
 
Despite my deal with the Isco rep (I expect to provide a bunch of units available for a bunch of you too), if they will add different focal lengths or the lens will work as adapter for my Canon glass, I am in.
 
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