Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

trying to decide which lenses to buy, someone help me break the tie.

Peter Osinski

Peter Osinski

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 5, 2009
Messages
370
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
New York
Hey guys,

Here is the deal. Currently and for the foreseeable future I am working 100% in post production. I have worked in production before on corporate projects when I was doing solo work and used the nikon 14-24, 24-70, and 80-200 lenses. I sold them along with the rest of my gear when I went from self employed to employee and now I am looking into getting a new lens set.

My requirements for lenses are that they must be completely manual, nikon or pl mount, and well under 10,000 for the set. So far I have looked at the following:

Nikon AI-s

20mm 2.8
35mm 1.4
50mm 1.2
85mm 1.4
105mm 2.8

Price: $4500 for the set

pros: low cost, durable build, resale value to a variety of vendors

cons: old design, lower IQ, 85mm 1.4 only available used

zeiss zf.2

21mm 2.8
35mm 1.4
50mm 2.0
85mm 1.4
100mm 2.0

Price: $8100 for the set

pros: newer designs and coatings, durable build, additional lenses still sold new which can be added to the set (15mm, 135mm), high resale value, better IQ wide open

cons: cost

rehoused stills lens


gl cinemod 16-28mm
allstar cine 80-200

Price: $7300 (just about 10,000 when a 50mm rehoused prime or mid range zoom is added)

pros: many more focal lengths covered, pl mount, accurate focus marks

cons: only resale market is cine industry, cost, no current mid range zoom



So that is where I'm at. I am kind of leaning towards getting the zeiss zf glass and starting off with the 21mm, 50mm, and 85/100mm lenses and then building up from there. What do you guys think?
 
Hi,
i am in same boat ;-)

I would not mix Nikon focus zoom with others. Either Nikon 100% or nothing.
I do have full set of fastest Nikkor primes and Zooms. I do not like Nikon Focus direction. After 25 years in biz ot is hard to focus with Nikons for me.
Gl optical 16-28 is nice but 1.8kg heavy. He has got NEW Canon 70-200 LIGHT about 2.2kgs. I would go with this and later buy MIDRANGE ZOOM. He will be working on that at the end of this year.

My favorite cheap primes are Zeiss ZE primes. I love them. They are cheap,solid and optically they are nice. I have 4 of them.
35/1.4,50 macro, 85/1.4 and 21/2.8.

I will sell my Nikon set and buy another Zeiss 15/2.8ZE and new GL Optics 70-200 LIGHT.
Then i will wait for Canon 28-70/2.8 rehouse. I am hoping ;-(

Good luck
jiri
 
Maybe there is another choise,Contax prime Lenses:
25mm F2.8
28mm F2.8
35mm F2.8
50mm F1.4
85mm F2.8
 
With that budget in mind, in my humble opinion, I would go for Zeiss ZF.2 glasses. Either with Duclos mods, or a cheaper way would be temporary lens gears for each lens + check out Cordvision cine rings which makes the front of your lenses to the 80mm industry standard with rubber caps + 77mm thread in screws.

Nikon AIS lenses has a very short focus throw, while Zeiss lenses have around 300-320 degrees! They are built to last...

Although I didn't buy as many lenses as you intend, only one for now, and I was hesitating between Nikon AIS (new or used), Rokinon Cine glass and Zeiss ZF.2. I went with the Zeiss. Now I'm addicted and want more Zeiss glass :D
 
I would also recommend the zeiss ZF.2 but I am not sure you would need the 100mm... And that could save you some money.
 
As much as I love the look of old Nikkors and dislike the modern Zeiss look, the ZF2s are going to give you a much more consistent look across the line and perform better technically in most aspects. Like Chris said, the Leica R's are definitely worth a look as well.
 
Both ZEISS CONTAX and LEICA R's need to be given STRONG LOOKS. Both have superb mechanics, and a wonderful rendering that is not as digital (and sterile, if you will) as some of the more modern coatings we have become accustomed to.
 
Maz Mawlawi said:
I would also recommend the zeiss ZF.2 but I am not sure you would need the 100mm... And that could save you some money.
Click to expand...

I have a ZF set and I have the 100mm. I love that lens for CU work as it always gets the eye-catching shots. However focusing is a bitch. The 85mm is more practical and gets used a lot.

EyeScreenshot2.png
 
I don't want leica r's or contaz zeiss lenses because I would have to track down the whole set used. I think at this point I am leaning towards the zeiss lenses. I think I'll start with maybe the 21, 50, and either the 85, 100, or 135 what do you guys think?
 
Peter Osinski said:
I don't want leica r's or contaz zeiss lenses because I would have to track down the whole set used. I think at this point I am leaning towards the zeiss lenses. I think I'll start with maybe the 21, 50, and either the 85, 100, or 135 what do you guys think?
Click to expand...

21 2.8
35 f2
50 f2 Macro
85 1.4
 
Don't short change the Nikkors, they are just as good as the Zeiss and a few are better IMHO, Specifically...

28mm F2
50mm F1.2
85mm F1.4
135mm F2

They get a bad wrap because of the focus direction but that can easily be changed with FF gearing and that's much cheaper than the difference in price from a set of nice used Nikkors to new ZF/Es.

Try KEH.com for excellent condition Nikkors at very reasonable prices and then have Duclos cine-mod them. My personal set consists of...

6mm F5.6 (Widest lens ever made!)
20mm F2.8
28mm F2
35mm F2
40mm F2 (Voightlander)
50mm F1.2
85mm F1.4
105mm F2.8 Macro
135mm F2
180mm F2.8 ED

Here is a classic from the 85mm 1.4...
krissy-2000x1342.jpg
 
Evin don't you also have the Nikkor 200 f2?

Evin Grant said:
Don't short change the Nikkors, they are just as good as the Zeiss and a few are better IMHO, Specifically...

28mm F2
50mm F1.2
85mm F1.4
135mm F2

They get a bad wrap because of the focus direction but that can easily be changed with FF gearing and that's much cheaper than the difference in price from a set of nice used Nikkors to new ZF/Es.

Try KEH.com for excellent condition Nikkors at very reasonable prices and then have Duclos cine-mod them. My personal set consists of...

6mm F5.6 (Widest lens ever made!)
20mm F2.8
28mm F2
35mm F2
40mm F2 (Voightlander)
50mm F1.2
85mm F1.4
105mm F2.8 Macro
135mm F2
180mm F2.8 ED

Here is a classic from the 85mm 1.4...
krissy-2000x1342.jpg
Click to expand...
 
Evin Grant said:
Don't short change the Nikkors, they are just as good as the Zeiss and a few are better IMHO, Specifically...

28mm F2
50mm F1.2
85mm F1.4
135mm F2

They get a bad wrap because of the focus direction but that can easily be changed with FF gearing and that's much cheaper than the difference in price from a set of nice used Nikkors to new ZF/Es.

Try KEH.com for excellent condition Nikkors at very reasonable prices and then have Duclos cine-mod them. My personal set consists of...

6mm F5.6 (Widest lens ever made!)
20mm F2.8
28mm F2
35mm F2
40mm F2 (Voightlander)
50mm F1.2
85mm F1.4
105mm F2.8 Macro
135mm F2
180mm F2.8 ED

Here is a classic from the 85mm 1.4...
krissy-2000x1342.jpg
Click to expand...
Thats one way to crash black levels ;-)

Have both sets. Zeiss lenses are better for manual operation. Zeiss lenses are sharper and have lbetter wides and superwides. Current Zeiss 100 macro and 135 is very nice.
There is something special about Nikons AI-s. Must be that old coating they used . They are bang for $$. 35/1.4 is soft fully open and so is 24/2.0. 20/2.8 is waste of $. 17-35/2.8 zoom is better option.
So if you want to save money and DO NOT MIND DIFFERENT FOCUS PULL go ahead with Nikon AI-s.
Zeiss are better built,sharper and give you longer focus pull(270*).
 
there is always the upcoming 55 1.4 distagon. It's still a zf.2 technically but its a totally new design thats supposed to be razor sharp wide open.

It would be nice to have an all manual lens less expensive and higher IQ than cp2's
 
My thoughts... Pickup your 3 lens f2.8 zoom set, and wait till the right prime set comes along.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top