Using iscorama 36 with 7D

M

matt9b

Well-known member
Hey knowledgeable guys, now that I have my Canon 7D, I'm would like to try it out with my beloved isco 36 anamorphot.

The isco 36 is quite old, with its original box, and being the geek I am, I want to keep it in top condition. :engel017: I want to avoid damaging the focus ring. I'd like to find a way to focus the image WITHOUT turning the focus ring on the anamorphot. Is this possible? Is there a little focussing adapter, or lens I can stick on the front that will allow me to alter the focus?

I'm about to get a Nikkor Lens for the front of the anamorphot if I can find one. Will this do the trick?

:dankk2:
 
I don't really get it! I don't know how turning the focus ring might damage it in any way?

Regarding lenses, this should work well mounted on the FRONT of a Nikon 50mm f1.8 D lens using a 52 to 49mm step down ring.

Lenses with small diameters, focal lengths beyond 50mm are your friend.

If the lens doesn't have a recessed front element like the Nikon 50 then you'll need spacer ring(s) to bridge the gap.

Plenty of info on this in the gargantuan anamorphic thread started by Rich Lee in the 5F forum.

Enjoy your widening horizons (thanks rhervag for the pun!)
 
Hi hyalinejim,

The iscorama anamorphots are old and have a notoriously stiff focus ring. Mine is good but I just would like to keep it that way :) nice and tip top condition.
 
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I see. I didn't know that. My two Iscos are both pretty smooth. One is tighter than the other but is still loose enough to turn no problem.

Maybe there is a lens technician who could sort that out for you?

Actually now that you mention it there is a one piece Isco on ebay at the moment with a broken focus ring. It turns but the lens doesn't focus.
 
it is true in the old super 8 days,it was known that the isco's weak link was the focus mechanism,they had lens returned and batch problems.
arriflex/zeiss scrapped a bunch of isco made lens because of breathing and quality control issues..
maybe zeiss will use the reject scraps for future scope lens,a reject isco optic is still going to be better than most.

it was always a mystery to me how the company made money.maybe military projects.
i remember the wide screen centre in london purchased a production run many years ago the massive amount of 10 lens the other 2 went elsewhere.
so do not be to violent when adjusting focus,unless your rich as in money rather than rich lee the talented man that started this digi isco madness....
 
I should re-iterate that my Isco 36 focus ring is working perfectly.. the whole lens is in perfect working order. I just do not wish to use the focus ring because I want to keep it that way - perfect. As has been confirmed above, these things can get broken with time. I don't want mine to go that way. So, back to the original question, does anyone know of a way to change the focus without using the ISCO. For example, will a Nikkor Lens on the front do the trick?

Thanks
 
a nikkor on the front ???
are you being serious or is it the last minutes of an april's fool joke ? you're supposed to put the isco first and focus the light into the taking lens set to infinity. that's it. anything else is prone to disappointing results unless some miracle happens.
 
matt9b said:
the lens on the front (Nikkor or otherwise) needs to be focus-set to infinity
Click to expand...

The Isco goes in front of the taking lens! Not the other way round!

Just for the record, as there may be some confusion here, this is the way it works

CAMERA - TAKING LENS - ISCO

so.......

Step no. 1: Attach the Nikkor to your 7D using a Nikon to EOS adapter

Step no. 2: Using a step ring, attach your Isco to the Nikkor
 
Not focusing with the isco? Using it with a nikon? Thats crazy talk. Just mount it like this

IMG_0183-1.jpg
 
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