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85mm prime - CP2 or RPP?

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nigelsmith

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I am trying to decide between the Zeiss CP2 85mm and the Red Pro Prime 85mm lens for our Red One MX, soon to be Epic.
The CP2 is shorter [3" not 6", lighter [2lbs not 4.2lbs], and has more and more accurate witness marks, while the RPP is slightly faster [T1.8 v T2.1], and has a shorter minimum focus distance [24" v 39"].
Price is about the same, and I'm leaning towards the RPP at the moment.
Along with a RPZ 17-50mm, these will be our first 4K capable lenses; previously we have been using S16mm glass at 2K [and getting great results].

Can users of either lens please offer any advice or considerations I have missed?
Ta
Nigel
 
Sorry for stating the obvious, but test each lens and pick the one that fits your shooting style best, before shelling out big bucks.
 
George Butterfield said:
If you have a follow focus, you don't need lens focus marks. You can be more accurate with the follow focus marks.
Click to expand...

This absolutely not true, 1st ACs use the the marks on th lens to focus by distance, more often than not they mark directly on the lens with a grease pencil.
Although if you're planning on getting the RPZ 17-50 I'd get the RPP for consistency's sake. I think the marks and weight a big plus for the CP but the RPP optics are definately better.
 
Thanks to all for the advice.
It sounds like the RPP would match better.
My students will work largely with an Arri FF2 and MB15 - if they still fit!
I guess the weight and speed would be more critical for wider primes with handheld work.

BTW I've heard it's possible to get new witness marks added to the Red Lenses.
Does anyone know a place in the UK for this, and ballpark costs?
 
Evin Grant said:
This absolutely not true, ... , more often than not they mark directly on the lens with a grease pencil.
Click to expand...
I said you can be more accurate with the follow focus marks. And of course if you want to mark on the lens, you can just put a piece of tape on the spot and mark that.
 
Last edited:
I'm currently making this same decision now. have you seen this reduser thread already?
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?70793-RED-17-50mm-plus-85mm-prime-vs-and-army-of-Canons

Shane advocates his red 17-50 + cp2 85 combo. this is what I'm leaning toward.

nigelsmith said:
I am trying to decide between the Zeiss CP2 85mm and the Red Pro Prime 85mm lens for our Red One MX, soon to be Epic.
The CP2 is shorter [3" not 6", lighter [2lbs not 4.2lbs], and has more and more accurate witness marks, while the RPP is slightly faster [T1.8 v T2.1], and has a shorter minimum focus distance [24" v 39"].
Price is about the same, and I'm leaning towards the RPP at the moment.
Along with a RPZ 17-50mm, these will be our first 4K capable lenses; previously we have been using S16mm glass at 2K [and getting great results].

Can users of either lens please offer any advice or considerations I have missed?
Ta
Nigel
Click to expand...
 
Cheers for the link George - it's hard work searching through Reduser ;-)
I think I'm gonna go with the Red lens for matching the RPZ.
Like I said if it was a wide angle lens for run and gun style handheld, the weight and size might matter more, but for me the closest focus distance is bigger factor, as is the quality and ability to match the zoom.
I had been looking at the RPP 100mm originally but found a thread that seemed to say the 100mm was not great, and 85mm was pick of the bunch.
Can't seem to find that thread again though :(
 
A client of mine recently bought a set of CPs. I have been using them instead of my lenses, where as before I was using my glass. The CPs are much softer, flare more easily (particularly veiling flare), and are generally a disappointment. My 25-80 russian zoom is sharper than the CPs most of the time and my k-35s blow them away. My standard speed lomos look beter than the CPs. I am not a fan.

Nick
 
Hi!

I have owned Cp2, Canon k35 and also have a 25-80mm russian zoom.
All these are great lenses. The CP2 are fantastic considering their price. Lightweight and sharp. Recommend using them from 2.8 and not full open.
The 25-80mm is the one I still keep. great little lens!

Roger
 
Unless the size and weight are critical issues for your shooting style/needs the 85mm RPP wins on IQ alone.

BTW, I might have been the one who praised the 85mm RPP as my favorite of the set and noted the 100mm seems a bit low in contrast.

Cheers - #19
 
Evin Grant said:
This absolutely not true, 1st ACs use the the marks on th lens to focus by distance, more often than not they mark directly on the lens with a grease pencil.
Although if you're planning on getting the RPZ 17-50 I'd get the RPP for consistency's sake. I think the marks and weight a big plus for the CP but the RPP optics are definately better.
Click to expand...


??????????????

"Absolutely" not true ???

hmmm.. you can go right with his method no problem Evin i think.

Anyway you'll have to measure distances 1 and 2.

Both methods sound right to me.

You can mark them on follow focus asking someone to stay at both places.

What do you find so bad with this method ?

I think it depends on his workflow.

Antoine
 
Rogerhaugen said:
Hi!

I have owned Cp2, Canon k35 and also have a 25-80mm russian zoom.
All these are great lenses. The CP2 are fantastic considering their price. Lightweight and sharp. Recommend using them from 2.8 and not full open.
The 25-80mm is the one I still keep. great little lens!


Roger
Click to expand...

What is the name of this russian zoom lens?
Is it still around or how did you find it?

Thanks for your help!!
 
Thank's Nick!!

Minimum focus of the 24-82mm is 1 meter??
Isn't that too inconvenient for you or is it a wrong information?

But I'm intrigued by the size, aperture and zoom range!
 
I have the RPZ 17-50 matched with the CP.2 85mm and its a great combo and they cut great together. However I made my decision primarily on weight for handheld. I do a lot of it and two pounds extra in the front means two more in the back.
Either way you cant make a bad call on either lens.
 
Minimum focus of the 24-82mm is 1 meter??
Isn't that too inconvenient for you or is it a wrong information?
Click to expand...


Well the lens with a matte box on it is a little over a foot, so that's 2 feet in front of the lens that's in focus, I don't really stuff my camera in peoples faces when shooting handheld (which is the main reason to have this lens (Hand held not stuffing it in peoples face)), so I've never really had an issue with it. If I need closer focus, I use a different lens.

Oh yeah, they also came with a set of diopters originally (I have a set) so if you want to do some ecu stuff all up in someones grill, you've got those ;-)

Nick
 
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