Ziess Nikon lenses

dantewaters

dantewaters

Well-known member
Range as in?

It's best to have a wider gamut of lenses to cover all your bases, and not to limit your lens length choices. Depending on how you zoom on the letus and frame up, the 25mm might end up more toward the normal end than you think, and the 100mm would be longer than you're used to, especially if you're only reference is an SLR
 
I would also throw in an 85 in there. The 100mm is good for those really close CU like on fingers and stuff but I think the 85 is better for headshots.
 
25, 50, 85 then

And for your longer range, you want a 200 right? Since you can't get a 200 from Zeiss you could settle for the Nikon 80-200mm, which is sharp as heck and gets nothing but excellent reviews... Now the focus throw will be a quite bit shorter but decent with a Red Rock Micro or Arri Follow Focus. The main think might be that the color won't match. Perhaps you can make a preset CC that brings your Nikon as close as you can to your Zeiss... and just keep tabs on which were on the zoom.
 
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50mm is the lens you would probably use the most. 28mm or wider for wide angle stuff. 85mm is nice. And for really nice shots you can't beat a 105mm ;)

So I'd pick whatever is closest to those :)
 
I find that I gravitate toward the 135mm Nikon I have the most. Close second is the 50mm, with a 28mm coming in third. I have a 28, 35, 50, 85,and 135. I use the 35 and 85 rarely. They sort of just fill in the gaps.

Those long lenses just have a look that I like and tend to be a bit sharper with the 35mm adapters. The wider lenses tend to have edge sharpness issues and are really only good when you are in a tight space and have to get close to a subject and still get a wide shot. In those cases your eyes are normally focused on something in the center of the frame anyway so you (hopefully) don't notice the soft edges.
 
Do not get the 25mm. It's the worst of the bunch. The 28/2 is miles better.

The lenses I use the most out of my Zeiss set are 28 35 and 85. Rarely ever touch the 50 and often seek out the 135. I do narrative and commercial work, personally, and prefer to retain detail in backgrounds unless the shot specifically calls for a hyper shallow field.
 
dantewaters said:
Well I was looking at how much of a difference a 25mm would give me over the stock lens. I considered a few from Philip bloom:

Nikon 17-35mm
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=workaround.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=186250&is=USA

Nikon 80-200mm
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=workaround.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=124669&is=USA

And will use the ZF 100macro for those closeups.
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Both of these zooms are sharp, do not discount the importance of mechanics. If you do work that will require pulling focus frequently AND repeatable focus you'll be in trouble with both of these lenses not only because of the short focus throw but the lack of hard stops.

Hard stops meaning the focus ring stops turning or locks when it reaches it's extent on either side. Both of these lenses continue to rotate which means focus marks WILL be off. That's an extra headache that's looked over a lot.

The sharpness is great, I think the 17-35 serves better as a 17-24 or 28, something you don't have to really pull focus for. Above that it can and will create an issue for situations described above.

If you're just shooting scenery or flowers and such it's no big deal at all.
 
Oh yea thanks for the correction it is Zeiss...

To answer your question Kholi

I am shifting most of my focus towards documentaries (would like to make that my area). So I will like to use these lenses when I buy my Letus... These set of primes are for a client he is investing a lot in new gear so I just wanted to double check my list. He is also doing documentaries and a bit of movies.

I am also considering buying his rails and baseplate from zacuto:
http://store.zacuto.com/product.php?productid=30&cat=66&page=1

For myself I will definitely buy mine from Zacuto I hear their build quality is excellent.

Also Kholi when do you think the Letus Ultimate will be out?
 
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Jimmy Moss said:
I find that I gravitate toward the 135mm Nikon I have the most. Close second is the 50mm, with a 28mm coming in third. I have a 28, 35, 50, 85,and 135. I use the 35 and 85 rarely. They sort of just fill in the gaps.

Those long lenses just have a look that I like and tend to be a bit sharper with the 35mm adapters. The wider lenses tend to have edge sharpness issues and are really only good when you are in a tight space and have to get close to a subject and still get a wide shot. In those cases your eyes are normally focused on something in the center of the frame anyway so you (hopefully) don't notice the soft edges.
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Actually on the Canon side (when I do still work) the 135mm Is my favorite it's bokeh, and sharpness is superb here are a few samples:

(No flash)
p363096452-4.jpg


This was taken at ISO 1600 (with no flash)

 
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dantewaters said:
Oh yea thanks for the correction it is Zeiss...

To answer your question Kholi

I am shifting most of my focus towards documentaries (would like to make that my area). So I will like to use these lenses when I buy my Letus... These set of primes are for a client he is investing a lot in new gear so I just wanted to double check my list. He is also doing documentaries and a bit of movies.

I am also considering buying his rails and baseplate from zacuto:
http://store.zacuto.com/product.php?productid=30&cat=66&page=1

For myself I will definitely buy mine from Zacuto I hear their build quality is excellent.

Also Kholi when do you think the Letus Ultimate will be out?
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For Documentary work I could definitely see a 50/1.4 being quite a keeper. You'll be able to use it at the HVX's widest point and then the telephoto end of the HVX's lens which should give it the feel of about an 80 - 90mm. Very versatile in that sense.

The pair of zooms for documentary work will also be advantageous, you probably won't have to worry about repeated and hyper-accurate focus as much as a commercial or narrative environment.

I hung out at the Zacuto booth during Cinegear and while I haven't had EXTENSIVE use with their products I plan on acquiring some Zacuto gear in the near future to test out, put through the ringer. Best to know for future reference even if it doesn't become the preference, y'know?

As far as the Letus Ultimate, at the Zacuto booth I kept hearing in a week so expect it to go up on the Adapter Place (www.adapterplace.com) website. If you want to check out some footage you can see samples on my vimeo page here:

http://www.vimeo.com/1093520

Nothing special, but about the only thing I can get up because of NDA's and all that. As soon as I can get footage for my reel it'll be up as well.

Good luck on your hunt! And remember, STAY AWAY FROM THAT ZEISS 25/2.8!
 
Not to go off topic... but was buying a lens setup one of the very first purchases after getting the camera for you guys???

I have had my HVX for about six months now and am finally putting it to use, and am now wanting to buy some camera equipment that will benefit me and the client dramatically.
I have access to lighting, dolly, cranes and what not, so what next???
A lens setup, on board monitor etc.

Any guidance?
Thanks
 
Evans said:
Not to go off topic... but was buying a lens setup one of the very first purchases after getting the camera for you guys???

I have had my HVX for about six months now and am finally putting it to use, and am now wanting to buy some camera equipment that will benefit me and the client dramatically.
I have access to lighting, dolly, cranes and what not, so what next???
A lens setup, on board monitor etc.

Any guidance?
Thanks
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Well what I am realizing is that we often times never get our skills together
before we move on to the next best thing. If you have a bare camera, a bag for your camera, audio (very important 70% of your shot), I would suggest you get adaptor if you already have access to all that equipment.
 
Isaac_Brody said:
Don't mean to be a spelling nut but it's spelled "Zeiss."
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You crack me up .Ziess hihi.:happy: Anyways this thread has helped clear alot of things up for me.So many adapters which one to choose but more importantly which lens to choose.
Thanks guys. Now if I only had the money.
 
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