Guy Mcloughlin
Forum Replies Created
-
Why not buy Zeiss ZF2 primes? It’s the same glass. Tests have shown that ZF2 primes produce the same image as the CP2 lenses. They are obviously not built like CP2 lenses, which is why the CP2 lenses cost 3-4 times more.
This is the route I’ve chosen: Voightlander 25mm, Zeiss ZF 50mm, Zeis ZF 85mm
( I plan on adding either a Voightlander or Zeiss 35mm later on )You could also buy Zeiss ZF2 primes from Duclos which cost $250 more, but they have been “cine-fied” with tough durlon follow-focus rings, no aperture clicks, and feature a common 80mm mounting size. ( see my previous post, or just google Duclos Lenses )
[Jon Gianelli] “my partner thinks we ought to purchase a zeiss compact prime lens like CP.2 50mm for around 4 grand. I was wondering, if we were to purchase something like the Voightlander 25mm f/0.95 or the Nikon 35mm f/1.4 AI-S instead for less than half the price would we really see a major difference in image quality for primes?”
-
[Uli Plank] “I’m not that impressed by the older Nikon lenses on a AF100.”
…Some frame grabs by a very talented DvxUser member for their 48-hour Film Race entry. Everything is shot with Nikon lenses on the AF-100 camera:
Frame Grabs – 48 Hr Film – AF102
-
D[Jon Gianelli] “If I got a multi-coated nikon lens @ 35mm wouldn’t that convert to something like a 60mm lens on the af100?”
If you are thinking of the 35mm Full Frame Still Photo camera, like the Nikon D3 or Canon 5D MK2, then yes a 35mm lens on the AF-100 camera would give you the equivalent angle of view as using a 70mm lens on a Full Frame 35mm Still Photo Camera.
You have to think like the AF-100 is a 35mm cine film camera, because the AF-100 sensor is very close to the size of the 3-perf 35mm Cine format.
AbelCine Field-of-View Comparator Tool
-
[Uli Plank] “And those are cheap, try Rainbowimaging in N.Y.– I got mine there and they are OK.”
Rainbow Imaging adapters are low cost adapters made in China. I would NOT recommend buying these adapters, as you risk both your lenses and possibly your shoot if they malfunction.
I recommend buying the NOT CHEAP Micro 4/3 adapters that are made from machined aluminum, brass, and stainless steel. These adapters are much better made, come with a warranty, and will still properly align your lenses after years of use.
Voightlander Nikon F to m4/3 Adapter : $200
Novoflex Nikon F to m4/3 Adapter : $300
MTF Services Nikon F to m4/3 Adapter : $350
Adaptimax Plus Nikon F to m4/3 Adapter : $400
Yes they are expensive, but I think they are worth the cost. ( I use the Voightlander adapter, and plan on buying the Adaptimax adapter later this year to use with Nikon G style lenses that do not have a manual aperture ring )
-
The Nikon AI-S lenses I listed are modern fully multi-coated lenses with high contrast. I recommend Nikon because they are easy to find and some of these manual lenses are still being produced by Nikon. ( 35mm f/1.4 and 50mm f/1.2 for example )
I am sure that the multi-coated Minolta lenses are also very good, just like the Pentax and Olympus multi-coated lenses are great too.
-
…I made a mistake, you can buy “cine-fied” lenses from Duclos with the Nikon mount, so you will just need a good Nikon to Micro 4/3 adapter for these lenses.
-
The Zeiss Vario 16 10-100mm T2 won’t cover the AF-100 sensor, it’s made for 16mm cameras not 35mm. ( AF-100 needs 35mm cine lenses )
There are no low cost cine lenses for the AF-100, so most people are using DSLR lenses like the ones I listed previously. Keep in mind that most of these DSLR lenses are NOT parfocal, so you have to treat them like “variable prime” lenses because they will NOT keep focus as you zoom.
If you are willing to spend the money, you can by DSLR lenses that have been “cine-fied” like the lenses sold by Duclos.
…But this also means buying a good PL mount adapter for the AF-100 like the HotRod PL Tuner Kit.
Hot Rod PL Tuner Kit (for AF100 series)
-
The zoom lenses with the best reputation for the AF-100 are:
Olympus 14-35 f/2.0 ( expensive but fast )
Tokina ATX Pro 28-70mm F2.6-2.8 Nikon Mount ( Angenieux design, find used on eBay )
Nikkor ED 17-55mm f/2.8G IF DX ( very sharp, even wide open )The two Nikon mount lenses will need an adapter to mount on the AF-100, and you may want an adapter that can control the aperture. Adaptimax, MTF Services, Novoflex, and Voightlander make great lens adapters.
As for prime lenses, I would recommend:
Samyang 14mm f/2.8 ( fast, low cost, manual focussing, often sold under other names )
Voightlander 25mm f/0.95 ( expensive, but fast with great manual focusing )
Nikon 35mm f/1.4 AI-S ( still being made, fast with great manual focusing )
Samyang 35mm f/1.4 ( fast, low cost, manual focussing, often sold under other names )
Nikon 50mm f/1.4 AI-S ( find used on eBay, fast with great manual focusing )
Nikon 50mm f/1.2 AI-S ( still being made, fast with great manual focusing )
Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 ZF2 Nikon Mount ( expensive, but fast with great manual focusing )
Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S ( find used on eBay, fast with great manual focusing )
Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 ZF2 Nikon Mount ( expensive, but fast with great manual focusing )
Samyang 85mm f/1.4 ( fast, low cost, manual focussing, often sold under other names )There is a rumor that Olympus will announce a new 12mm f/2.0 wide-angle at the end of this month, which will be a great addition to a AF-100 kit, if this rumor is true. I am hoping it is.
…For myself, I own the Voightlander 25mm, Zeiss 50mm, Zeiss 85mm, and the Lumix 14-45mm zoom and 45-200mm zoom ( theses zooms are very slow, but sharp with good image-stabilization )
-
SDHC and SDXC memory cards are all formatted as FAT32 partitions, which can only store a maximum file size of 4GB.
With longer takes, the camera will automatically split your take into as many 4GB file segments as it takes to store your video, along with meta-data that describes how to assemble these segments back in to your one big video file.
To obtain your original video take, you need to use a NLE that understands how to read AVCCAM files and then convert these back in to the one big video on your computer’s hard-drive.
I use Sony Vegas Pro which has a “Device Explorer” feature that will automatically read AVCCAM files from either the camera or from a SD card-reader, and then convert the 4GB segments back in to one big seamless video file.
I know that Adobe Premiere can do this too, though I am not sure about Final Cut Pro.
-
The SmallHD DP1 8.9″ monitor has been discontinued, so the only monitors that SmallHD are making is the DP6 5.6″ and a new DP4 4.3″ monitor. For larger monitors you will have to look at the more expensive Marshall, TV-Logic, Panasonic, Sony, etc…
I think 5.6″ is becoming very popular because it’s large enough to focus with, yet still compact enough for a hand-held rig.