Zeiss Compact Prime CP2 50 mm

Not sure what your budget is but if you absolutely need a lens that operates like a cine lens, then go with the CP.2. If you're shooting for lower res (2k = bluray etc...) and just want the same sharpness and color of a CP.2 then get the much cheaper Zeiss ZF and cine-mod it. Getting just one lens probably won't do you any good without a set to work with anyway. I went with a set of 4 cine-modded Zeiss ZF and they're fantastic on the Af-100 and GH2.
 
I've got a set of the Compact Primes that I use on the AF100, they're pretty much a perfect match. However, it depends on your budget and your needs; as Kindred said, having just one lens is pretty limiting, and for the cost of the CP.2 50mm you could probably buy a 28, 35, and 50mm ZF and get them cine-modded. The mechanicals of the Compact Prime will still be far ahead, but the flexibility of having three lenses would beat that for most users, I would think.
 
Hi guys, my goal is to go for 2k res maximum. The purpose is to be able to shoot for blue ray and if needed telecine to 35mm film
I start on a new project end 2011 in the main time I need to shoot shortfilm for festival. My budget for lensses is max 4500 $ I want to spend
 
Take a look at duclos in Los Angeles. They de-click the iris ring, add a focus gear and mount a step up ring to make the front end 80 mm to match the opening of most matteboxes. Other companies offer these services and some add a few more features.
 
Huug ..just one question.. who will do the cine-mod ??

Ow wait a minute, let me see if I got this clear, if this mod is just to fit to filters in the mattebox then there would be no need for course
the AF has build in filters wright? exept polarisation filter??
 
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Kindredmachine said:
Not sure what your budget is but if you absolutely need a lens that operates like a cine lens, then go with the CP.2. If you're shooting for lower res (2k = bluray etc...) and just want the same sharpness and color of a CP.2 then get the much cheaper Zeiss ZF and cine-mod it. Getting just one lens probably won't do you any good without a set to work with anyway. I went with a set of 4 cine-modded Zeiss ZF and they're fantastic on the Af-100 and GH2.
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Just saw indeed I would have more lesses for the price of only one Compact Prime , so i better go for the ZF lensses, Thanks Brent
 
As Barry said... One thing I will add about the ZFs is the throw on the focus rings is surprisingly long, like the CP.2s which make focus adjustments easier. CP.2s are obviously a more desireable route but the cheapest you can get a 4 lens set is $14,000. AFIK. Add $250 per lens for the Duclos Cine-modding to the ZF's.
 
Andrew Stone said:
As Barry said... One thing I will add about the ZFs is the throw on the focus rings is surprisingly long, like the CP.2s which make focus adjustments easier. CP.2s are obviously a more desireable route but the cheapest you can get a 4 lens set is $14,000. AFIK. Add $250 per lens for the Duclos Cine-modding to the ZF's.
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do the ZF 2s focus clockwise infinity....counter clockwise MFD?
 
Katty, you're welcome. you could easy get four ZF lenses for around $4k (especially used) so it sounds perfect for your budget. The reason you want to cinemod the ZF lenses is because most of these Zeiss lenses have long focus thorws and the traditional lens gear screw or bolt will go all the way around the lens and hit your follow focus before you hit the end on the focus ring. The cine modded lens gear from Ducos (thats where I shipped mine) uses a fitted 360 degree gear so you don't have to worry that issue. there's other ones that look simalr like the snap-gears but I don;t want my lens gears to have powerful magnets like that near my equipment - especially with SD cards.

I'm also shooting for 2k res max and and the CP.2 lenses could be overkill for a lot of people (me included) if you don't mind pulling focus on SLR style lesnes as apposed to the cine feel. The ZF will give you same sharpness and color as well.

Also note that the Zeiss ZF lenses actually extend slightly when you focus them (minus the 18mm lens) so you if you're using these with a mattebox you'll need a flexable ring like the Chosziel rubber flex ring, a nun nicker or something like the clothy rings that come with the Redrock matttebox.
 
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If you're only going to get one lens (or one lens to start) then you might want to go with the 25mm; it would be the equivalent of a 50mm normal lens - vs. the 50mm (which would be a 100mm equivalent). Quite long - unless that's what you're after.
 
25mm ZF is pretty slow though, it only opens up to 2.8. You might want to go with the 28mm instead, it opens up a full f-stop more.
 
I wonder if I could shoot most of my footage and over the shoulder and wide shots with just one prime lens ' Zeiss Compact Prime CP.2 25mm/T2.9 Cine Lens DSLR '
As a second zoom lens for autofocus work, would that be an option ?
 
Steve R said:
If you're only going to get one lens (or one lens to start) then you might want to go with the 25mm; it would be the equivalent of a 50mm normal lens - vs. the 50mm (which would be a 100mm equivalent). Quite long - unless that's what you're after.
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25 would indeed be a better equivalent to 50mm cine :-)
 
No, 50mm on a cine camera is rather telephoto. 25 would match a 30mm on a cine camera.

And if you could only buy the 25mm or the 28mm, I'd go with the 28mm. It's only 12% more telephoto but it lets in 100% more light.
 
Katty Galloo said:
I wonder if I could shoot most of my footage and over the shoulder and wide shots with just one prime lens ' Zeiss Compact Prime CP.2 25mm/T2.9 Cine Lens DSLR '
As a second zoom lens for autofocus work, would that be an option ?
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Just one prime would be a lot of work, and not a lot of flexibility. For the same price as the one compact prime, you could get this:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/665583-REG/DigiOptical_DO_18_50F_DO1850F_18_50mm_T3_PL.html

Same speed as the CP, same price as the CP, but it's a zoom that covers from 18 to 50mm. Much more flexibility.
 
Barry_Green said:
Just one prime would be a lot of work, and not a lot of flexibility. For the same price as the one compact prime, you could get this:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/665583-REG/DigiOptical_DO_18_50F_DO1850F_18_50mm_T3_PL.html

Same speed as the CP, same price as the CP, but it's a zoom that covers from 18 to 50mm. Much more flexibility.
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Waaw thank Barry , that would be another option and indeed more flexible to work. I was just wondering if the zeiss could reach infinity anyways.
 
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