Zeiss CP.2 MFT Mount

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bclighting

Well-known member
I see these are available on Zeiss's site. Has anyone in the States seen them yet? The usual suspects don't have them listed on their sites, (Abel, Spec Comm, etc). Just curious if they are actually in the wild yet.
 
Most vendors probably do not really stock them due to cost, but order drop shipped. The M43 mount is just that, a mount. Can be swapped out any time, but why the hassle? Unless you love the aesthetics of 'native' M43, you'd be better served with a Nikon or PL mount CP.2 + adapters to a particular camcorder. Highly universal, rentable, and resellable. The M43 mount can be adapted to nothing AFAIK. The CP.2 kit is 'bigger' than the AF100, so think of it as adapting a camcorder to CP.2 not the other way.
 
maxusa said:
Most vendors probably do not really stock them due to cost, but order drop shipped. The M43 mount is just that, a mount. Can be swapped out any time, but why the hassle? Unless you love the aesthetics of 'native' M43, you'd be better served with a Nikon or PL mount CP.2 + adapters to a particular camcorder. Highly universal, rentable, and resellable. The M43 mount can be adapted to nothing AFAIK. The CP.2 kit is 'bigger' than the AF100, so think of it as adapting a camcorder to CP.2 not the other way.
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I had a response all typed out but I decided it was too snarky. In a nutshell this "answer" does nothing to actually help me.
 
I know everyone loves their PL mount, but wouldn't getting a native m4/3 set eliminate shimming. I appreciate that the cost of a full set of the lenses is a multitude of the camera, but in an owner/operator environment, isn't simplicity and ease of use important. It doesn't cost any more to have the lenses shipped in the mount that matches your camera, and they can always be remounted if sold.

Now what would be cool is if Zeiss produced a genuine compact prime designed for the m4/3 format instead of the current line of rehoused full frame still glass.
 
bclighting said:
I had a response all typed out but I decided it was too snarky. In a nutshell this "answer" does nothing to actually help me.
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I know his answer may not have come across the best - and I know it didn't really answer the direct question you initially asked - but I think maxusa was actually trying to help with some advice about the CP.2s that would maximize your value (i.e. the PL and F mount versions would be more likely stocked and readily available to you - and also they would also probably be a better long-term investment than the MFT mount).
 
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I reread my post and cannot see anything brash. Mondays can be tough on people... sorry.

On the CP.2 mount replacement, it is indeed a hassle. Not only you have to pay $390 per replacement set, but also you don't just bolt them on... you must calibrate with the included rings to find the correct focus point. Granted, there are engineering types who have nothing better to do... but why the hassle? Why not just use precision-calibrated CP.2 from the factory? I have considered the M43 mount too, and guess what makes more sense? The PL or F mount + adapter. If the CP.2 had built-in electronics, then yes, a native mount might be the answer. Hope this clarifies my original recommendation.

There is no shimming with decent adapters. Novoflex, Voigtlander, Metabones, and MFT have great fit and finish. They do not wobble. Even affordable Fotodioxes are tight. In fact, native Lumix M43 lenses rotate a bit more on the AF100 than the adapters (tighter locking pin).
 
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I'll just double up on what maxusa said. A well made PL mount while shimmable to correct mount culmination, does not mean that it needs to be shimmed. My Hotrod PL mount is spot on the mark. If you are only going to be using your CP.2 lenses with a M4/3 mount camera over the course of the life of the lenses then get them in M4/3 mount. If I were shopping for a set of CP.2 lenses, I would get them in PL mount. As I will likely replace the AF100 within 3 years, and who knows what camera will be available then. The PL mount will let me maximize my investment, as I will not have to pay for new mounts for each lens, a shim kit for each lens, bench time to culminate each lens, and shipping and insurance on the set. Or roughly $600 per lens when all is said and done. $20K+ is a lot of cash to spend on a lens set for personal use. If you are going to maximize your investment and possibly rent the set to qualified users to help aid in your ROI, then PL mounts make the most sense as maxusa pointed out earlier.

All the Best!

Dave
 
I guess I need to clarify what I was getting at in my original post. I am aware of the advantages of getting them in a PL mount. In fact, if I were to purchase a set that would be used an many different cameras I would indeed get a PL mount.

dop16mm
I know everyone loves their PL mount, but wouldn't getting a native m4/3 set eliminate shimming. I appreciate that the cost of a full set of the lenses is a multitude of the camera, but in an owner/operator environment, isn't simplicity and ease of use important. It doesn't cost any more to have the lenses shipped in the mount that matches your camera, and they can always be remounted if sold.
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Now this is the right question. As of now the only camera that I would be using them on would be an AF100 and I too am an owner operator. Yes I am also aware that it would be an expensive investment in glass that would not be rented out but I am doing quite well with the projects that I make money on. Honestly I am not looking for the best bang for my buck, I am looking for the simplest solution to my way of working. I would guess that because Zeiss has spent the time and money to make a MFT mount for those lenses than there must be a market for them.

Ben, B & H has them listed on their site.
Does that help you?

All the Best!

Dave
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Dave,
I honestly don't every rely on B&H listing them on their site, they list everything, even things that aren't shipping for months. I don't trust them whatsoever when it comes to actually trying to discover the availability of a product.


I would assume that I am correct in understanding that no one has actually seen them or tried them out. That was really what I was hoping to find out. I didn't want to come off sounding like a dick, I guess everyone just wants to be more helpful than I needed. It sure made for a lively debate though :)
 
I'd give them a call to check on status, as shipments got slowed down from Japan because of the disaster there not too long ago.
Remember the lens elements for the CP.2 series are made by Cosina in Japan, and then shipped to Germany for assembly so they can print "Made in Germany" on the lens.
 
Nigel Cooper recently reviewed a native set of CP.2 on his AF100. He asked Zeiss to send him CP.2 in MFT mount, and they did. This seems to be the shipment from the manufacturer, but you can try to contact Zeiss too. Best of luck with hunting. Zeiss CP.2 are some of the best compact cine primes currently.
 
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