Lenses?

F

flashbeast

Member
Hello,

due to the E-mount of the FS100 there's of course a bunch of lenses possible. So no big deal - just put an adapter on it and just use the lenses you've got. But that also leads to some questions:

What if there are no lenses yet?
What are your suggestions to get a decent set of lenses?
What if budget dictates to not use Zeiss lenses?
Is the A-Mount adapter worthwhile? How about manual focusing (turning angle)?
Does it make sense to go for Zooms like 16-35 + 24-70 instead of Primes (IQ-Wise)?

Any ideas/suggestions are welcome :)

Regards,
flashbeast
 
Since about any lens in the world could be used, there could be a lot of replies. Its all about budget. Maybe it would be a good idea to start separate threads by price category: e.g. BEST LENSES FOR Less than $500, BEST LENSES $500-$1000, Best LENSES $1000-$2000, on up.....
 
Nikkor AI and AI-S lenses absolutely transformed Canon HDSLR cameras into something amazing. I'd be shocked, shocked, if they didn't do something similar on this FS100. This is coming from a guy who owns an entire set of Zeiss ZF primes -- all of which sit in a drawer when I'm out filming with the old Nikkors.

The issue is that not all the old Nikkors are created equal, and this is where your research will come in to play. If you poke around hard enough you'll discover all sorts of secrets like the E Series 75-150 (magnificent light weight zoom on par with any top priced Nikkor), the 85mm f/2 AI-S (the sharpest wide open lens ever made), or the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AI (the lowest distortion 50mm ever made). On the other side are the lemons, like the 35mm f/1.4 AI-S, the 28mm f/2.8D, etc.

So, if you can't afford Zeiss branded Cosina lenses, consider yourself lucky -- they're the most overrated lenses in the industry. And, if you're up for the research, you can pick up an entire set of magnificent, stunning Nikkor primes for the price of a single Zeiss branded Cosina lens.
 
Kraut69 said:
Since about any lens in the world could be used, there could be a lot of replies. Its all about budget.
Click to expand...

Yeah that was to be estimated ;) But on the other hand there might be a way crossing out lenses which are...let's say less recommandable. For example: i use Canon FD lenses. While they produce a really good IQ per se, there is the downside that they breath significantly. And another specific question of mine would be: how do Sony Alpha lenses perform? Especially: how does the focus handle? I have only low grade lenses (Tamron, low-end Minolta) so i can't judge about i.e. the Sony 24-70 when it comes to handling (focus ring turning distance) or IQ (breathing) and that like. I guess it's the simplest to adapt theses lenses (iris control via camera, probably electronic foucs control -> for remote focus?) - but is that worth a thougt?

AGMedia said:
Nikkor AI and AI-S lenses absolutely transformed Canon HDSLR cameras into something amazing.
Click to expand...
Old Nikkors are often meantioned, so i guess they might be the most obvious "legacy lenses tip" i guess :)

Big thanks so far!
 
I would look at the Legacy lenses. I am lucky my wife shoots with Nikon, and so I have access to a whole range of Nikon lenses.
Although I dont have much experience with Canon lenses with my GH2, I think going with ether mainstream brand will suffice for your "Budget" needs.
I think the primes will fit most of your needs, although a nice 16-35 could be interesting. Sorry my answer is a bit vague.... with that said, invest in Nikon glass :P

Dai-Lon
http://www.dailonweiss.com/
http://www.kristinaweiss.com/Magyar/
 
The problem with adapters is that you lost the focus marks, (1 feet can be 1.3). All the adapters I've used have that problem, including some you can not focus to infinity.
 
My cheap Fododiox works fine for all the AF Nikkor lenses we have. Yes you do lose the accurate "focal distance". But, I have infinity focus and of course full access to the aperture.
As I dont pay much heed to the focal marks, I cant really comment on that factor.
I guess you could figure out a solution with a rack focus rig.
 
Superfast night lenses?

Superfast night lenses?

Can anyone suggest a lens for the Sony FS100 that features an extremely wide aperture for night shooting, like the Voigtlander f.095 (which I assume is only for the 4/3 AF100)?
 
If cost is your concern and you're buying an FS100, here are a few recommended ways to go for 3rd party glass:
-get a Canon FD to Sony E mount adapter, and get some classic "L" lenses like the 50mm f/1.2 or 85mm f/1.2 (not cheap, but 1/3rd or 1/4th of the same glass in the EOS series, but with a more damped focus pull) but you'll have difficulty covering the wide end with FD lenses - the 14mm f/2.8 FD is a very expensive lens even today.

-get M42 mount to Sony E mount adapter and enjoy many classic Zeiss lenses in the normal to telephoto range on the cheap - but again, the wide end of the spectrum will have to be covered by a different lens mount system.


-get a Nikon F to Sony E mount adapter, and get classic Nikon AIS lenses like the 75-150 f/3.5 lens, the venerable 105mm f/2.5, the 35mm f/2, and newer G-series "DX" glass like the 12-24mm f/4 to cover the wide end of the spectrum.

-use existing Sony E mount lenses and converter attachments like the 16mm f/2.8 "E" pancake prime with a VCL-ECU1 wide adapter to retain autofocus and enjoy an equivalent 12mm f/4, or mount the VCL-ECF1 fisheye adapter to get an effective 10mm f/4 fisheye perspective. Currently your on-the-market E mount lens options are pretty limited - 18-55, 18-200, and 16mm f/2.8. There are more coming though...

Mix and match these recommendations, and you can have a pretty solid kit for under $1000. I will be doing the following:
-Nikon F to Sony E adapter (paid $50 for it)
-Tokina 12-24mm f4 for Nikon mount (paid $300 for it)
-Sigma 24mm f/1.8 AFD for Nikon mount (paid $300 for it)
-Nikon 35mm f/2 AFD (paid $250)
-Vivitar 85mm f/1.4 MF for Nikon mount (paid $190 for it)
-Nikon 105mm f/2.5 AIS (paid $80 for it)

That kit right there is 12mm to 105mm coverage (ultra wide to medium telephoto with some redundancy) for $1070.

I'm also rolling with the following from my Nikon SLR kit on my NEX-VG10 currently, and I look forward to putting these on my future FS100:
-Nikon 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5 AFS
-Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 AFS VR
-Nikon 105mm f/2.8 AFS VR Micro
-Nikon 300mm f/2.8 AF-I
 
I work in motion graphics, and for me the FS100 has something great, Sony Lenses!, native iris control, Stabilization on some lenses, and autofocus, i gonna take this route with the FS100:
-Sony Alpha LA-EA1 Adapter
-Tamron 28-75mm f2.8
-Tamron 70-200mm f2.8
-Tokina 11-16mm f2.8

And for primes have this Canon FD:
-28mm f2.8
-50mm f1.4
-85mm f1.8

They are not expensive, not Premium but do the job pretty well, sadly the Tokina 16-28mm is not for Sony mount:
Cheers.
 
I plan on going the birger route and keeping my canon lenses, my ideal lens set up will be this:

-Sigma 8-16 4.5-5.6 (this is not a fisheye)
-Sigma 18-50 2.8
-Sigma 30mm 1.4
-Sigma 50mm 1.4
-Samyang (Bower, Rokinon, Vivitar, ect.) 85mm 1.4
-Sigma 50-150 2.8
-Canon 18-135 3.5-5.6 IS

Currently I am in the process of selling a Tokina 11-16 2.8 to replace with the 8-16 cause I'm addicted to wide angles and the FS100 is so light sensitive the light loss isn't as big of a deal. Also all of them except the Samyang should work with the electronic follow focus on the birger.
 
cgold - do you know of any testing with Sigma lenses on the Birger? I am trying to decide which lenses to buy. I'm leaning toward buying the L lenses just to be sure, but it would be nice to know if the Sigmas really do work decently.
 
Birger makes a similar mount for RED and it seems most of their lenses work. The only one that didn't work according to that person was a rather old (and not very good) lens. I allready own most of the lenses on that list and use them with my 7D, so I'm gonna go that route rather then selling all my lenses and rebuying them for Sony. Sigma reverse engineers the lens protocol (as I assume Birger must do as well) so the chances of odd bugs is certainly higher then with Canon L lenses.

Perhaps in a few months I will be able to report back to you definitively.
 
Lenses that I think are worth getting that i've used or had experience with:

Canon 85 1.8 - fantastic, often overlooked lens
Nikon 35 f2 ai-s -suppper sharp, man
Canon 70-200 L's -no matter which one you chose, you're getting a great zoom
Canon 24-105 4L -My standard lens for video and photography. Great quality, and IS is superb!
Samyung 14 2.8 -Very wide, very nice lens
Tokina 11-16 2.8 -not the only one that can vouch for this lens...
 
cgold said:
I plan on going the birger route and keeping my canon lenses, my ideal lens set up will be this:

-Sigma 8-16 4.5-5.6 (this is not a fisheye)
-Sigma 18-50 2.8
-Sigma 30mm 1.4
-Sigma 50mm 1.4
-Samyang (Bower, Rokinon, Vivitar, ect.) 85mm 1.4
-Sigma 50-150 2.8
-Canon 18-135 3.5-5.6 IS

Currently I am in the process of selling a Tokina 11-16 2.8 to replace with the 8-16 cause I'm addicted to wide angles and the FS100 is so light sensitive the light loss isn't as big of a deal. Also all of them except the Samyang should work with the electronic follow focus on the birger.
Click to expand...
Darn, I wiish you had posted this last week. I just picked up a Tamron 10-24mm because Tokina's are hard to find locally.
 
I use the Sigma primes (30, 50) and the Bower prime (85) but I've not been happy with the Sigma zooms. Are you really happy with the 8-16 and 18-50? I had the Sigma 10-20 and sold it and replaced it with the Tokina 11-16 which was FAR superior. I also had a zoom up to 300mm (Sigma) and it just did not work well for me.

Their primes have been amazing to me, but I just still haven't found a zoom that worked that great to me. Maybe I was using older models and they've fixed some of the mechanics.
 
JasonAllen127 said:
If cost is your concern and you're buying an FS100, here are a few recommended ways to go for 3rd party glass:
-get a Canon FD to Sony E mount adapter, and get some classic "L" lenses like the 50mm f/1.2 or 85mm f/1.2 (not cheap, but 1/3rd or 1/4th of the same glass in the EOS series, but with a more damped focus pull) but you'll have difficulty covering the wide end with FD lenses - the 14mm f/2.8 FD is a very expensive lens even today.

-get M42 mount to Sony E mount adapter and enjoy many classic Zeiss lenses in the normal to telephoto range on the cheap - but again, the wide end of the spectrum will have to be covered by a different lens mount system.




-get a Nikon F to Sony E mount adapter, and get classic Nikon AIS lenses like the 75-150 f/3.5 lens, the venerable 105mm f/2.5, the 35mm f/2, and newer G-series "DX" glass like the 12-24mm f/4 to cover the wide end of the spectrum.

-use existing Sony E mount lenses and converter attachments like the 16mm f/2.8 "E" pancake prime with a VCL-ECU1 wide adapter to retain autofocus and enjoy an equivalent 12mm f/4, or mount the VCL-ECF1 fisheye adapter to get an effective 10mm f/4 fisheye perspective. Currently your on-the-market E mount lens options are pretty limited - 18-55, 18-200, and 16mm f/2.8. There are more coming though...

Mix and match these recommendations, and you can have a pretty solid kit for under $1000. I will be doing the following:
-Nikon F to Sony E adapter (paid $50 for it)
-Tokina 12-24mm f4 for Nikon mount (paid $300 for it)
-Sigma 24mm f/1.8 AFD for Nikon mount (paid $300 for it)
-Nikon 35mm f/2 AFD (paid $250)
-Vivitar 85mm f/1.4 MF for Nikon mount (paid $190 for it)
-Nikon 105mm f/2.5 AIS (paid $80 for it)

That kit right there is 12mm to 105mm coverage (ultra wide to medium telephoto with some redundancy) for $1070.

I'm also rolling with the following from my Nikon SLR kit on my NEX-VG10 currently, and I look forward to putting these on my future FS100:
-Nikon 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5 AFS
-Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 AFS VR
-Nikon 105mm f/2.8 AFS VR Micro
-Nikon 300mm f/2.8 AF-I
Click to expand...

Get all those lenses if you want to lose hair or just get Nikon AIS Manual ones OR better still, just built it on sound foundation for years to come:
http://www.red.com/store/lenses/product/red-pro-zoom-17-50mm-t29-i
http://www.ducloslenses.com/Duclos_Lenses/PL116.html
 
The 18-50 isn't very good. But I got it for very cheap used, if I was buying again I'd probobaly go for the Tamron, or the newer (and more expensive) Sigma 17-50 OS which according to reviews is a lot better. They've released updated versions of a number of their zooms in the past couple years which I believe are generally a good bit better then their older ones.

I don't own the Sigma 8-16 (yet) because I have to sell my Tokina first, I can't justify owning two ultrawides. But the consensus on the web (for still use) seems to be very positive. It seems to have about the same barrel distortion at 8mm as the tokina at 11mm.

This has good comparisons of the two, the FOV change from 8 to 11 is rather large:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Sigma-8-16mm-f-4.5-5.6-DC-HSM-Lens-Review.aspx

http://www.mylensdb.com/sigma-8-16mm-f4-5-5-6-dc-hsm/
 
Thanks for the info on the 8-16, I didn't know about this lens. That's a good find. It would be really good for outdoor use when I want some CRAZY wide shots. The one thing I LOVE about the 11-16 is the speed. It's fast and I use that to my advantage. :)
 
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