Second opinion: switching a ZF 35mm out for Nikon 17-35mm?

C

chroma

Member
So I got out and about this weekend for the first time with an AF100:
http://vimeo.com/24398476

And I have to say I was a little suprised at how limited I felt with a single prime. I love primes when I've got my two feet for zooming but on sticks with a full size camera, it was a pain.

I originally bought the Zeiss 35mm primarily to use as a mid length interview lenses with the plan of using my Canon 60D + 17-55 for corproate b-roll (this is my bread & butter: on-site interview mixed with b-roll).

Now I'm loving the AF100 so much I'm wondering if I should return the 35m f2 Zeiss before the used return period runs out at Adorama and pick up a used Nikon 17-35mm.

So my options are:

A) Shoot interviews with the Zeiss 35mm & use Canon 60D + 17-55 for capturing b-roll shots
B) Shoot both interviews and b-roll with Af100 + 17-35
C) Hold on for Birger adapter and use Canon 17-55 wit the AF100 (complere with IS...)

If only I could use that lovely Canon 17-55 with the Kippon adapter. Unfortunately I can't justify holding on to both the Zeiss 35mm and Nikon 17-35 (plus th e Olympus is out of my budget).

Modern life really does give us too many options.
 
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Because I have them and use them both extensively...I certainly can recommend the Nikkor 17-35 f2.8 (as well as its brother , 28-70 f2.8).

Both vare ery versatile lenses as well as offering excellent quality. The macro focus range is an added advantage.

Variable primes offer you so much more scope on a shoot. Its a box of primes in one lens.

Check out my frame grabs in the Screen Grabs / footage sub section ( "48 hour film frame grabs")
 
I agree with Shooter, usings zooms as variable primes generally simplifies life a great deal.

But to be a complete pain in the arse and jumble it, when Im shooting all controlled narrative shots and Ive planned which lens when, I love my Zeiss 35mm on the AF100. Im yet to come across a zoom look as pretty set at the same focal length.
 
Gents - thanks for the input.

That Zeiss is one sweet lens but I'm beginning to think it's a luxury at this stage and I'll get more shoot time with a fast zoom... Though I think your lighting would make any lens look good shooter.

Looking at your grabs - I assume you'd have no objections to shooting an interview on the 17-35mm at the zoom end?
 
chroma said:
Gents - thanks for the input.

That Zeiss is one sweet lens but I'm beginning to think it's a luxury at this stage and I'll get more shoot time with a fast zoom... Though I think your lighting would make any lens look good shooter.

Looking at your grabs - I assume you'd have no objections to shooting an interview on the 17-35mm at the zoom end?
Click to expand...

I would absolutely shoot an interview at 35mm but it is more likely that I would use the 28-70 so I had a little more DOF possibilties as well as having a comfort zone for the "subject". That can be important in interviews.
 
Shooter said:
I would absolutely shoot an interview at 35mm but it is more likely that I would use the 28-70 so I had a little more DOF possibilties as well as having a comfort zone for the "subject". That can be important in interviews.
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You weren't tempted by the Nikon 17-55 for the same money?

PS what time is it in your part of the world shooter?
 
jmarkham said:
Isn't "variable prime" an oxymoron? sort of like saying "fixed zoom"

jeff
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no, its actually a real term (check wikipedia) but although the wikipedia definition slightly differs the modern use of variable prime is to describe the use of a zoom lens instead of carrying a bunch of prime lenses. eg a 17-55mm f2.8 zoom is like having an 18mm f2.8, 24mm f2.8, 35mm f2.8 and 50mm f2.8 all in one lens.
This is especially true because the zoom termi that we video people are used to from camcorders (like using a rocker zoom to zoom in while recording) cannot be applied to zoom lenses for still cameras. The mechanics of the lens will never allow for a steady zooming video shot. Thus the only use for a still zoom lens is as a variable prime.
 
Cosimo Bullo said:
The 17-35 is great for digital cinema. My one complaint with ours is no infinity focus end like the 20-35 has.
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I have had both mine (17-35, 28-70) "doctored" so that they do not have an endless rotate. I had this done as an aid to setting the base for the Follow Focus.

Point to note. On these and other lenses ( including some cine lenses) ....the end stop is not necessarily infinity. A few lenses have mechanical focus beyond infinity. This of course in not infinity and can cause infinity to be out of focus in fact.
 
35 on the m4/3 seems a bit loose for an interview setup. Around 85 or 50 for a little wider has been my sweet spot. The 17-35 is an awesome broll lens tho, couldnt go without it.
 
I think the 17-35 will pair very nicely with my Zeiss 50mm.

I picked up a mint 17-35 this morning and see it only has full apeture stops (F2.8, F4) - what is everyone doing for half stop exposure increments?
 
Shooter said:
I have had both mine (17-35, 28-70) "doctored" so that they do not have an endless rotate. I had this done as an aid to setting the base for the Follow Focus.
Click to expand...

Who did the end-stop mod for you?

I was considering sending my Nikkors to Duclos to be cine-mized (with de-clicked apertures and focus gears) - but they don't mention a hard-stop modification.
 
chroma said:
I think the 17-35 will pair very nicely with my Zeiss 50mm.

I picked up a mint 17-35 this morning and see it only has full apeture stops (F2.8, F4) - what is everyone doing for half stop exposure increments?
Click to expand...

Congrats. Good choice. ( Look around for an 85mm to compliment that set.)
As I recall... before I had mine de-clicked...we could set the stop in between the clicks.

@SteveR. I have a tame lens technician in Auckland , New Zealand that does my lens work. I asked him to see if it was possible and he came up with a soulion invoving a grub screw (internal).
 
if you use the novaflex m4/3 to nikon adapter you can use it to adjust the aperture instead of the lens ring, so that way you aren't stuck with full stops. if you aren't using that adapter i highly recommend switching to it.
 
I had the Novoflex first, and dumped it for the Voigtlander adapter + lenses with real aperture rings. MUCH happier now.
 
manglerBMX said:
if you use the novaflex m4/3 to nikon adapter you can use it to adjust the aperture instead of the lens ring, so that way you aren't stuck with full stops. if you aren't using that adapter i highly recommend switching to it.
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He is not stuck with full stops on that lens ...and also...he bought a professional lens that does not require controlling the aperture from a funky control on the adapter.

Those adapters are just crude workarounds for those that have lenses without aperture rings.

He should be able to easily set 1/3 stop increments and if he has it declicked... more like 1/8th
 
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