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Optimo 15-40 alternative ?

Michael Totten

Michael Totten

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I'm looking for a shorter zoom that's not as sharp as the Optimo.

Approx the same focal length range... but softer.
Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
thanks in advance.
Michael
 
You owe it to yourself to check out the red 17-50. Yes it is slower but it is a great lens. and 6k price aint bad either.

Other than that the the cooke 15-40 is fast and has that classic Cooke look.

someone has one for sale now for 38,500 I believe
 
The Rouge lenses are awesome and tack-sharp. That's probably not what you're after. However, there could be some solutions here to soften up the image without hunting down vintage glass.

Have you experimented with netting or other rear diffusion techniques? ...Or combinations of front and rear diffusion? I've got a couple recipes of my own, but a lot will depend on the exact look you're going for.
 
I had an Angenieux 20-120mm T2.9 that made magical images. I miss that lens.
 
Jeff Kilgroe said:
The Rouge lenses are awesome and tack-sharp. That's probably not what you're after. However, there could be some solutions here to soften up the image without hunting down vintage glass.

Have you experimented with netting or other rear diffusion techniques? ...Or combinations of front and rear diffusion? I've got a couple recipes of my own, but a lot will depend on the exact look you're going for.
Click to expand...

I have used all different types of softening filters and IMO although some do an ok job they just appear to be 'synthetically soft' (can't think of a better way to put it). There's something about the way softer glass resolves an image that I really like.
I haven't experimented with rear diffusion though and have always been curious. I'd love to know what your recipes are : )

I like the look / softness of lomo's, but I'm not interested in owning anamorphic lenses as I don't shoot anamorphically that much.
 
Just bought an Optimo 16-42 Rouge, love it. It's plenty sharp but my Zeiss T2.1s are actually a little crisper. Still, I almost always run a Schneider classic soft or hollywood black magic filter. That said my favorite people lens is my Cooke 25-250 MII, so smooth.

I've checked out the 20-60 Cooke, it's interesting but not up to the 20-100 or 25-250.
 
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