F3: lens advice

Sparky874

Sparky874

Well-known member
Hi. Now I know countless threads have been started on this but I wouldn't mind asking again to see what you are all using. I currently shoot most of my work on my F3 using my RED 17-50mm lens which I love. I need some more range for a shoot in India in January and would love to use the F3 out there. Ideally I'd love to buy a RED 50-150mm lens, but I can't find 6k at the moment. This range would be great for me. Has anyone tried using this?:
[h=1]G.L Optics 70-200 F2.8 PL Version Lens - PL Mount[/h]gl optics lens.jpg
It retails in the UK for £4,300 ex vat. I wonder how the footage would look against the RED 17-50mm's?

Thanks all

SPARKY
 
Just keep an eye on the size/weight on any of these lenses, that may or may not be desirable depending on your situation. You also might need to upgrade your baseplate/rails so just food for thought.

Sorry I have no personal experience with the GL.
 
A 70-200 is a 'simple' optical design - ie even the £500 1995 nikkor 80-200s work well optically

I think you can start by considering a nikon 80-200 and then also consider larger, more cine friendly lenses as you choose to increase your budget.

The lens you linked is a rehoused canon so you are probably paying £2-3g for the cine friendly ness, which will or wont be worth it as per your choice.

The non IS canon 70-200F4 is a pin sharp wonder your can get for £300 and fit in your back pocket, almost, a fantastic lens for travelling

S
 
Sparky, I've used Nikon's G series 70-200 on an Optitek Nikon adapter. Even with a doubler, I didn't need support.
Fantastic lens, especially stopped down. I always rent from borrow lenses.com. Why buy when renting is so cheap?
 
Well if you're willing to go budget in the world of still camera zooms ( like me) , I think Sigma's new 50-150 is an incredible lens. I own all Nikon and this beats them all optically + its parfocal ( though you may have to play with your F3 backfocus to hit the Nikon sweet spot.)
For interviews its a better length than a 70 or 80 - 200. You'll want the Optitek adapter if you want to see your f-stops since its a G lens.
Focuses in the standard direction unlike other Nikon lenses and it has the placement of the zoom and focus rings are reversed from normal which drives me a little crazy. ( haven't touched my 80-200 since getting this though.
 
Having two ENG zoom lenses in the shelf, I'd just love to try the HDx35 MK2 adaptor esp as I cover a lot of sport.... the Sigma 50-159 sounds interesting though, however after using PL lenses up until now I am sure I'd find the iris control and focusing rings a little strange to get used to.
 
Iris ring on the Optitek is fine , not too much different from a normal ring. It is mechanical and there are iris markings so you know where you are unlike the MTF.
Focus is another story though it would go in the same direction. only weird thing is the zoom ring is at the front of the lens. Hell" buy to try" from B&H and you have 30 days to see if you like the feel. My guess is its optically better than the RED , but just a guess.
 
I picked up the Sigma 50-150 a few months ago. Wickedly sharp but there is light falloff in the corners from about 70mm and up, as I recall. It may be a bit higher than 70mm.
 
Thanks Andrew. I am being offered a ALLSTAR 80-200 lens for just under $3,000 - seems very well built, but being a converted Nikon 80-200mm the focus ring is the wrong way. I have heard good reports on the ALLSTAR lens though.
 
Does the AllStar rehousing on the 80-200 make the focus pull any longer or just give you nicer footage markings on the outside of the lens? I have the Nikon and its quite a good lens and par focal as well.
 
ALLSTAR rehousing makes the focus pull much longer. Looks very well built too. The Nikon focusing direction is a bit of a pain though after years of focusing the 'right' way.
 
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