[Bob Cole]

Right on, Jason. I think I’ve already decided that of all my Nikkors, the only two I’m going to use are the special purpose ones (55mm Micro-Nikkor and an ED-400mm). I don’t want to have to “focus” on another variable when I’m shooting.

I think I’ll test a few Canon EOS lenses, knowing going in that there are all sorts of issues with the focus ring. I think a Zeiss is in my future. To tide me over until that ship comes in, what do you think of the 17-55mm Canon zoom?

And thanks for welcoming me to the club. I appreciate that!

Bob C

[Bob Cole]

Todd, when you buy a used lens, do you have it checked out by someone? If so, who do you use?

Bob C

[Bob Cole]

Seth, I know you’re writing to John, not me, but I have one minor bit of advice: keep buying used, and sell before what you have is totally obsolete. Or just rent. I don’t think many people can afford to buy something that will never be obsolete – it’s a pipe dream to try, imho. Technology just changes too dang fast.

That said, it’s a good question: what to buy which won’t be obsolete before you can get it to pay off for you!

bob c

[Bob Cole]

[john sharaf] “The Leica Cine lenses are Summicron-C and cost $178000 for a set of seven!”

I was looking at the wrong Summicrons…

Ah well.

[Bob Cole]

[Todd Terry] “Well that is sad indeed (light sobbing beginning)..”

I had a similar reaction to John Sharaf’s post about lenses.

OTOH…
…look at all the great films that were made with lenses that wouldn’t be good enough for an iPhone today.
…think about how you’d feel, if you bought a lens for future-proofing, and it got damaged/stolen before you ever actually used it to its full capability.
…think about the added insurance premiums for a super-expensive lens kit, year after year.

I am sure John is right on target about the future of our current lenses, but we have to live and work with today’s tools, and they are amazing.

John’s advice is great, provided it doesn’t cost the moon. I was quite interested in John’s mention of Summicrons. Not crazy expensive, but what about the mounts?

Bob C

[Bob Cole]

I saw a video on Vimeo by Martijn Schroevers. He has adapted the Zacuto Z-Finder to the EX1’s screen, nesting the Z-Finder in a Petrol hood and spacing it back from the LCD screen so it can cover the whole area of the screen (the Z-finder is designed for DSLRs and their smaller screens.)

Bob C

[Bob Cole]

Thanks John. This is a clip-and-save.

Bob C

[Bob Cole]

My sympathies for the left-eye problem.

It does seem rather amazing that a technology that worked beautifully (the Betacam eyepiece) has been lost. Perhaps the b&w viewfinder is not considered marketable. Think of all the old Betacams gathering dust – if someone could figure out a way to put their viewfinders onto the new cameras…. ah.

[Bob Cole]

Just looked at the Alzo website. Even more interesting than the PanL light is the HID light. Does anybody know more about this? They bill it as similar to but better than HMI lighting.

bob c

[Bob Cole]

I think you made a great observation, but drew the wrong conclusion. Just look at the new tv spots for “Siri.” They cut off the tops of peoples’ heads in almost every shot. iow – it’s all about the PRODUCT. Apple doesn’t want to make the people in its advetising fabulous as individuals — that would take away from its customers’ tendency to imagine themselves inside the advertising, using the PRODUCT.