Question about lens

D

David Evans

Well-known member
hi,

I just ordered a SGBlade and I was thinking of the lenses to buy. My first will be a 50mm lens. I wanted the best I could afford so I guess the Zeiss ZF 1.4 50mm is affordable if bought on ebay. But I've read so many different things about it that I really wanted your opinions. For example, I've read that Zeiss is sharper than Nikon but that Nikon has better bokeh. Is this true? Can anybody that tried both, share some thoughts?

Thanks for any help!
David
 
The Zeiss and Nikon AIS lens are about the same from what I've seen and heard. Ken Rockwell did a comparison and as I re-call the difference is minimal. Not many people are going to watch your videos and ask "Where you using a Zeiss lens?" Maybe if you were using cine lenses but not lens meant for SLRs.

The new Zeiss lens aren't German made anymore so I didn't see the point in buying the new Zeiss ones. However the Zeiss M42 lens are REALLY nice.
 
Danwreid said:
The Zeiss and Nikon AIS lens are about the same from what I've seen and heard. Ken Rockwell did a comparison and as I re-call the difference is minimal. Not many people are going to watch your videos and ask "Where you using a Zeiss lens?" Maybe if you were using cine lenses but not lens meant for SLRs.

The new Zeiss lens aren't German made anymore so I didn't see the point in buying the new Zeiss ones. However the Zeiss M42 lens are REALLY nice.
Click to expand...

Well, I found the tests Ken Rockwell did: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/50-comparison/bokeh.htm

I can't really make up if he liked the Zeiss over the Nikon or not. From what he wrote (and from what I've read in different places), the Zeiss has annoying bokeh, too sharp and bright. On the other hand, the image is sharper. But I really wanted a lens that could give me the best 3D effect a SLR lens can buy.

David
 
I own the Nikon AIS series of the supper speeds, and I have used the Zeiss ZF, its about the same on a adapter, I think the Nikons are better, personal opinion. However the Zeiss cine lenses w/ a PL mount are much better. What do you mean by 3D effect?
 
Danwreid said:
I own the Nikon AIS series of the supper speeds, and I have used the Zeiss ZF, its about the same on a adapter, I think the Nikons are better, personal opinion. However the Zeiss cine lenses w/ a PL mount are much better. What do you mean by 3D effect?
Click to expand...

By 3D effect I mean, a lot of depth in the image, making it very complex, with a lot of layers. Just making the image look spatial and 3D like, instead of flat.

Which Zeiss cine lenses are worth looking at? Can you give me model name? Will they cost as much as a car?

David
 
The Zeiss lenses are VERY expensive for what they are now. Get the Nikon AIS series, they are the same lenses, except one is dressed up in Zeiss and the other is in Nikon.

By 3D you mean DOF right? Well it all depends on what you want, a 50 is considered a standard, opened up at 1.4 has alot of DOF which creates a nice look, however you might blow out. So stop it down to 2.0-2.8

An 85mm is considered telephoto, which makes the image very flat, in comparison to the 50mm. The 50mm with make things in the background have some depth, as opposed to the 85mm which will flatten everything.
 
Danwreid said:
The Zeiss lenses are VERY expensive for what they are now. Get the Nikon AIS series, they are the same lenses, except one is dressed up in Zeiss and the other is in Nikon.

By 3D you mean DOF right? Well it all depends on what you want, a 50 is considered a standard, opened up at 1.4 has alot of DOF which creates a nice look, however you might blow out. So stop it down to 2.0-2.8

An 85mm is considered telephoto, which makes the image very flat, in comparison to the 50mm. The 50mm with make things in the background have some depth, as opposed to the 85mm which will flatten everything.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure if by 3D I necessarily mean DOF. Of course, DOF helps a lot, but if you're watching a film, on the wide shots (35mm and down), you get no shallow DOF and yet, the image looks textured and with depth. Not flat at all. I guess this has something to do with the quality of the glass perhaps, the way it deals with color grading, etc.

When you say a 85mm lens will flatten everything, didn't you mean a 35mm? Cause a 85mm will be used for close ups and those are the shots that you really want a shallow DOF, right?

As for cine lenses, I've been reading a lot in the last few days, and opinions seem to differ. Some say they're just SLR lenses repackaged and matched, others say they're much better than SLR... I've ordered my SGBlade with a Nikon mount because everyone says Nikon is the way to go. But then again, many say that Canon lenses are the sharpest. Really hard to make a decision when everything seems so subjective. But that's also the beauty of it, I just wish I had the money to spend on different lenses until I find the right ones for me...


Thanks
David
 
85mm and 105mm has given me the shallowest depth of feel (3d effect) Shooting wider shots with these lenses may help you in your look and i love my 35mm, it looks great as well.
Cheers
 
I have a 58mm/1.4 Voigtlander I use with my SGBlade that's very sharp and often compared to the Zeiss but a bit cheaper as a good alternative. However, I only use it now for extremely shallow DOF or very low light since buying a Nikon 28-70mm/2.8 zoom...

You can read more about it here: http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests/360-voigtlander-nokton-58mm-f14-sl-ii

or buy it here: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/534438-REG/Voigtlander_BA239BN_Nokton_58mm_f_1_4_SL_II.html

Cheers,
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top