Canon Cine Primes kit or CP.2 ?

[Robino_J]

I want to build a Cine lens kit without totally breaking the bank. Based on my research it looks like it's between the Canon Cine lenses or Zeiss CP.2s. Everything else is out of reach (cookes Angenieux, etc.) I am looking for reliable focus rings, minimal breathing and fast lenses (aren't we all..).

I will use them at 4K (1.6 crop)

My options are:

1. Get the Canon Cine 24mm, 50mm and 85mm and use my 16-35 2.8 L II for wider (PRO = faster lenses | CON = Nothing wider than 24mm in Cine, have to use still zoom for wider)
2. Get CP.2s 15mm, 21mm, 28mm and 50mm (PRO = All Cine quality lenses, cheaper than Canon (except for the 15mm) | CON = Slower lenses)
3. Get a PL Mount and older / vintage primes or Zoom on ebay (PRO= Can be cheaper??, More character.. CON = Less reliable, servicing fees and extreme research needed)

What would you recommend?

[Nick Morrison]

Standard Primes?

[Zack Birlew]

I would prefer speed if I were buying cinema lenses, however, in this case the Zeiss CP.2 solution is hard to turn down. It all boils down to what your shooting style is really. If you're going to be handheld or have a lot of lights, then shallow DOF won't make a lot of sense unless it's a style choice. If you're going to be locked down and using more source or natural lighting, then you would want fast lenses to maximize results. If it's all about saving some money, still lenses are the only other solution and it's not a bad one either thanks to electronic mounts and other innovations.

[Brian Merlen]

Are your needs based on your current Red or are you upgrading to Dragon? If Dragon is what you seek, your answers will be different... Also if your spending that kind of money now, perhaps you want to think somewhat about your future needs as well...

[Robino_J]

Are your needs based on your current Red or are you upgrading to Dragon? If Dragon is what you seek, your answers will be different... Also if your spending that kind of money now, perhaps you want to think somewhat about your future needs as well...

Yes I am upgrading my Scarlet to Dragon when it's available. Are Canon Cine lenses and CP.2's not good for future?

[Brian Merlen]

Nothing is in stone but I hear the CP 2's cover (check the Dragon thread in Recon for commentary)...Not sure on the Canon glass..

[Robino_J]

Standard Primes?

Those are VERY nice lenses but they will break the bank.

[Nick Morrison]

Nothing is in stone but I hear the CP 2's cover (check the Dragon thread in Recon for commentary)...Not sure on the Canon glass..

Aren't the Canon cine-primes using the L designs? If so, then they should cover full frame...which is even wider coverage than Dragon. CP2s are absolutely FULL FRAME lens designs, and ABSOLUTELY cover Dragon (and even bigger sensors like the 5D).

The trade-off on full frame designs is always speed. The larger the image circle, the more light it requires. This is why medium format lenses (massive image circle) average at around F4, while 16mm zooms can go from 10-100 at 1.8 (their smaller image circle helps them be that much faster).

Its math. If you go the Canon or CP2 route with a larger image circle, don't expect speed, especially in the wides. The Canon lenses right now are fast, but I'd be shocked if any wide they offer could be faster than a 2.8. Even the new Zeiss 15 is a 2.8. If it wasn't full frame, and only covered S35, I'm sure they could have shaved off a stop (think if the Standard Prime 16mm T2).

[Mitch Gross]

Both Canon Cine Primes and Zeiss Compact Primes cover Full Frame 35 (36x24). The one exception is the 18mm CP.2, which will slightly clip. But this is vastly larger than the forthcoming 6K image area.

[Dan Kanes]

I would take any 3 of these before I'd get 6 of the CP.2's, or the 3 Canon Primes:

http://www.abelcine.com/store/Cooke-...-Six-Lens-Set/

But that's me - I'm a Kook.