Nikon "G" 1.4 primes, a mini review...

[D Fuller]

Overall I think the breathing is pretty good for still lenses. Checkout the min. focus at the end of the 24mm clip!

LOL! That is one patient dog!

They seem to have improved the minimum focus on all of these. And the breathing is not bad at all.

Nikon should be paying you commission. You've probably sold a dozen sets of these this week!

[Steve Das]

..... I will still be using my Optimo DPs for most cinema work, but for light weight/location work the new Nikkors offer some real compelling options.

Image wise (colors/sharpness) how do the Nikons compare to your Optimos. Is the breathing why you'd stick with your Optimos ? Thanks...

[James Brundige]

I don't get it. I'm sure these G Nikon lenses are optically great. But this is a cinema forum since REDs are cinema cameras.

Won't these G lenses have limited use on a RED since they don't have the cine mechanics? Maybe useful just for Interviews, EPK, ???
I would buy them in a sec if they had excellent mechanics and marks.

I use still glass all the time, mostly working alone, but occasionally with an AC. Focus by eye. Mount and mark a follow focus if there's a move. Not for big crews with 5 people on the camera, but I make docs, and the weight and image quality are great. If you've got a big budget, rent what you need.

[Roberto Lequeux]

The mount I have is "dumb", IE no electronics. AFAIK the Canon's can't use autofocus confirmation for video anyway. For obvious reasons I wouldn't use theses lenses for stills on a Canon.

BTW here are some breathing tests on @f1.4 on a 5D...

http://www.evingrant.com/pics/NikonG...mBreathing.MOV
http://www.evingrant.com/pics/NikonG...mBreathing.MOV
http://www.evingrant.com/pics/NikonG...mBreathing.MOV
http://www.evingrant.com/pics/NikonG...mBreathing.MOV

Overall I think the breathing is pretty good for still lenses. Checkout the min. focus at the end of the 24mm clip!

You rock! Thanks. Here is one vote for Red sending you one of the first Nikon mounts when they are released.

Can't, wait, to see these on M-X.

[Evin Grant]

Image wise (colors/sharpness) how do the Nikons compare to your Optimos. Is the breathing why you'd stick with your Optimos ? Thanks...

Horses for courses, the Optimos are a proven design that can take the rigors of professional shows and seasoned ACs, they have excellent mechanics, focus marks and are optically superb, although the Nikon primes are probably a bit sharper. They both out resolve the Red One and Epic sensor so it's not an issue. As for color the Nikkors have a neutral/primary color bias while the Optimos have a slight warm/yellow bias but not as much as Cookes.

[Erich Ocean]

Nikon should be paying you commission. You've probably sold a dozen sets of these this week!

No kidding! Count me as one of the people who is picking up a set...

[Robin Horn]

Hi Evin

I have just brought a set of Optimo Rouge zooms. However I was thinking of getting the Nikon G lenses as well for low light as I shoot a lot on Phantom Flexes and Golds. I have 2 issues:

1: How difficult is it for an AC to pull focus on them

2: Using the Prolock Nikon adaptor on a PL mount camera, how does this effect the Bokeh of the lens? Does the Nikon G stay wide open and there is a manual iris in the adaptor?

Many thanks

Robin Horn

2:

[Evin Grant]

The prolock is not an adapter but a replacement mount for the Red One.
It does not have any optic to affect the Bokeh. As for focus pulling, using the Redmote pro it will be similar to a Preston or C-motion.

These options will of course not be available on the Phantoms.

[Michael Hastings]

The prolock is not an adapter but a replacement mount for the Red One.
It does not have any optic to affect the Bokeh. As for focus pulling, using the Redmote pro it will be similar to a Preston or C-motion.

These options will of course not be available on the Phantoms.

FWIW Birger makes an electronic (focus and iris) Canon EF mount for the Phantom Flex (we will probably use it on a housing we are in the middle of making now - although it will also have provision for PL lenses as well) And of course Nikons work on the Canon mount in manual mode. As Evin says, because Canon has a shorter Flange focal depth you don't need an optic when using Nikon on Canon - just a thin mechanical adapter.

[Jacek Zakowicz]

The prolock is not an adapter but a replacement mount for the Red One.
It does not have any optic to affect the Bokeh.

These options will of course not be available on the Phantoms.

Actually the ProLock will work on Phantom with an adapter part I made.
FYI I'm just about done with the prototype ProLock for Epic as well...
Sorry for (slightly ) derailing the thread but I felt that corrections were needed and ProLock is essential at this time for use of Nikon lenses with motion cameras.