Zeiss Compact Prime Review

I bought a set (of the originals, not the CP.2's). Same glass and housings -- same lenses, really -- but the main thing about the CP.2's is that they're using an interchangeable-mount system, versus the CP1's which use a regular PL mount. I love 'em. They're excellent affordable modern true cinema primes.
 
Although I understand the prices of pro lenses like this, it would still be nice for them to offer something more semi-pro in the range of 5K$ for a set.
 
Svart said:
But the ZF aren't housed in cine housings..
Click to expand...

Correct. That is exactly what you're paying for with the Compact Primes. That is specifically the reason that Compact Primes cost about $3k more, each, than ZF's. A cost that I feel is well worth it. Consider that I already had a complete set of ZF's, and I went ahead and bought the Compact Primes anyway.

Those housings are not cheap. That's exactly what you're paying for and why they cost so much. The only substantial difference between the ZF's and the CP's is the housings, and the CP's cost, on average, about $3,000 more than the ZF's. That cost is entirely in the mechanicals. That's not gonna get cheaper.

If you want cheap and PL, you can look to the Sony PL primes they're releasing for the F3. Every review I've read has said that the glass is okay but the housings suck suck suck, but then again, the lenses are only $2,000 apiece; they charge $6,000 for the three-lens set of 35/50/85. I doubt you'll find any other PL lenses from anyone anywhere, that inexpensive, unless you're looking at old used Lomos on ebay.

The ZF's with the cinemod is the closest you're going to come to Zeiss glass with cinema-style functionality. Not true cinema mechanicals like the CP's, but the best you're going to find in stills glass. And the Duclos CineMod service goes a ways towards making them feel and act more like cine lenses.

Or, you can go another route in that price bracket and get the DigiOptical zoom lens, the 18-50. It has a cine-style but more "prosumer" housing, it's reportedly the same lens as the original Red 18-50 zoom (but not in the same class as the new Red Pro 17-50). It's $3999 at B&H, and gives you the range of five of the ZF lenses (but not the fast f-stop of the 28/35/50). It has a cinema-style prosumer housing -- the mechanicals are not up to true cinema specification, but they're better than Nikon or Canon stills lenses, that's for sure! It's probably the best-known, most affordable "prosumer" cinema lens offering.
 
Last edited:
Excellent. I have a set of Nikons with lens gears and all that, matched for drag and feel but I'm pretty tired of the pumping/breathing and the other normal complaints of using stills glass on movie cameras. Excellent lenses but I'm finding them harder and harder to work with as I strive for more perfect shots. I certainly don't have the $$ for buying full priced cine glass but will rent them on occasion however I feel it's time to start looking for some upgrade path for the future.

Unfortunately I've been watching lomo prices climb as more and more people use them on SLRs and now even sets of lomos are commanding thousands of $$ for fairly well used glass.

Does anyone know if the Zeiss ZF are helical focus lenses? I see some sites that say they believe they are but doesn't the helical focus generally cause the pumping/breathing that we see in stills glass?
 
Svart said:
Although I understand the prices of pro lenses like this, it would still be nice for them to offer something more semi-pro in the range of 5K$ for a set.
Click to expand...

I'm hoping their m4/3 set will be in the range you're talking about. While $3,900 for a compact prime is considered affordable for some, it certainly isn't for me.
 
Barry_Green said:
I bought a set (of the originals, not the CP.2's). Same glass and housings -- same lenses, really -- but the main thing about the CP.2's is that they're using an interchangeable-mount system, versus the CP1's which use a regular PL mount. I love 'em. They're excellent affordable modern true cinema primes.
Click to expand...

Yeah I feel the same way. I was a little iffy on the price but to put it into perspective these are probably the cheapest true cinema lenses on the market besides, say rehoused Nikkor glass. Even those aren't truly cinema lenses.
 
Svart said:
Does anyone know if the Zeiss ZF are helical focus lenses? I see some sites that say they believe they are but doesn't the helical focus generally cause the pumping/breathing that we see in stills glass?
Click to expand...

Not sure if they are helical but I know they don't breathe. Well I say they don't but they barely barely breathe. No lens that I know of will not entirely breathe- the higher end zooms such as optimos, and primes are just really really good at not breathing as much as say still glass. Still glass is built to be much more lightweight and easier for the AF motors to snap into focus. Cinema lenses are the opposite, heavier, more durable and much smoother in terms of focus.
 
Barry_Green said:
If you want cheap and PL, you can look to the Sony PL primes they're releasing for the F3. Every review I've read has said that the glass is okay but the housings suck suck suck, but then again, the lenses are only $2,000 apiece; they charge $6,000 for the three-lens set of 35/50/85. I doubt you'll find any other PL lenses from anyone anywhere, that inexpensive, unless you're looking at old used Lomos on ebay.
Click to expand...

The image quality of the new Sony PL lenses is decent but the CP's are a bit better. The housing on the Sony's on the other hand SUCKS. Its very plasticey and flimsy. The rental house I work at just got an F3 in with 3 of the PL's. I'm curious to see how long they will hold up out in the field. Then again, check out the price.
 
Jon Chema said:
The image quality of the new Sony PL lenses is decent but the CP's are a bit better. The housing on the Sony's on the other hand SUCKS. Its very plasticey and flimsy. The rental house I work at just got an F3 in with 3 of the PL's. I'm curious to see how long they will hold up out in the field. Then again, check out the price.
Click to expand...

I wish DvxUser had a 'like' function.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top