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  • 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 :)

RED ONE and Nikon Lenses...

I own a nice set of vintage nikkors from the early 70's. Eventually would like to set them up for cine use.

But I have heard that there will be "back focus" issues with still lenses used for cine style shooting.

Supposedly, "there is too much slop inherent to the design. Intended more for eye-focus and less for tape-measured readings- making their markings inaccurate."

Has anyone experienced these issues that agrees or disagrees with this statement?

Any info would be appreciated.
 
william otto said:
I own a nice set of vintage nikkors from the early 70's. Eventually would like to set them up for cine use.

But I have heard that there will be "back focus" issues with still lenses used for cine style shooting.

Supposedly, "there is too much slop inherent to the design. Intended more for eye-focus and less for tape-measured readings- making their markings inaccurate."

Has anyone experienced these issues that agrees or disagrees with this statement?
Click to expand...

Some zoom lenses my not hold focus through a zoom. Other than that backfocus can be adjusted - so I'm not sure backfocus problems exist. I suppose one lens to the next could be inconsistent.

I have seen lenses (new and old) that will cause the image to shift while focusing. You can simulate how a lens is going to work just by testing with your DSLR.
 
This is so crazy that lenses from yester-year are getting a front and center attention again. Who woulda' thought!
 
Angryseven said:
This is so crazy that lenses from yester-year are getting a front and center attention again. Who woulda' thought!
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's pretty cool. I'm guessing that the newest designs specifically made for DSLRS will outperform. The best of new canons and nikons will probably outperform many older PL Lenses.
 
Many Arri 2C's and Bell & Howell Eyemos were converted to Nikon mount. They made decent images and were expendable for crash camera use.
 
William, checkout the Footage field tests.. Some users have a little bit of footage on there.. I'll post some stuff soon as well
 
Zeiss ZF breathing with rack focus

Zeiss ZF breathing with rack focus

Is anyone familiar with the amount of breathing on the Zeiss ZF lenses? I know there will definitely be some breathing, but how well will rack focuses hold up? I am currently using Canon FD lenses with my Brevis 35 adapter, and the breathing is terrible. I am planning on upgrading to the Zeiss ZF lenses in hopes that they work well enough to use with a Red One when I get it.
 
Quick Question, if I've read right, DX sized lenses that I use on my D300 will work right? Anybody try any of these lenses yet. I know most people have full frame sized nikons to use. Anybody have any experience using the DX type lenses?

I'd love to try this lens on it. http://www.adorama.com/TN1116NK.html
 
you can't use DX lenses because they use an electronic iris you can't control from RED
 
william otto said:
I own a nice set of vintage nikkors from the early 70's. Eventually would like to set them up for cine use.

But I have heard that there will be "back focus" issues with still lenses used for cine style shooting.

Supposedly, "there is too much slop inherent to the design. Intended more for eye-focus and less for tape-measured readings- making their markings inaccurate."

Has anyone experienced these issues that agrees or disagrees with this statement?

Any info would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

While I haven't received my Red yet, I'm using (new) Nikkors on a shoot right now, with the Brevis35 adapter. Not a bad set-up, but not as robust as I'm used to.

But I do agree with the focusing issue: the barrel rotation on still lenses generally is extremely short so in some instances less than a quarter-turn of the follow-focus wheel throws focus from about 5 feet to infinity! In a feature-film environment, that's a very difficult scenario for the focus-puller when, for instance, you have a shot of a car driving away from camera, or you boom down from a wide establishing shot to a medium shot of an actor in the foreground. I've done a bit of run&gun shooting as well, and I am searching for focus a lot longer than I would on a cine lens, or even an HD lens. It's a demanding scenario when you have moving subjects.

And yes, many of these brand new Nikkors reveal inaccurate barrel markings - so "tape-measured readings" don't work: you have to take distance marks with eye-focus and mark up your FF wheel. It's not a back-focus issue as far as I can tell, just that sharp, acceptable focus shifts dramatically with only minor barrel adjustments.

Having said that, I can't wait to throw these lenses up on the Red! (I'm blessed with an excellent focus-puller....;)
 
I read about the Nikon zooms in American Cinematographer (10/07). Oliver Wood had (I think) ARRI rehouse some for Bourne Ultimatum. Oliver talks about the great edge to edge sharpness and what great light weight lenses they are for hand held and steadicam.

I am an Indi film DP (always on a budget) and a steadicam op. With a Red comming well you get the drift.

I knew enough about lenses and optics to know I wanted someone else to select and modify the glass for my kit.

I searched the web. and found http://www.rplens.com/index.htm

I got a set of Nikon high speeds 24mm-f2.0, 35mm-f1.4, 50mm-f1.2, 85mm-f1.4, and a 80 to 200 f2.8 zoom from Peter Sensor.

The primes are very nice very sharp. The zoom is top notch. Peter was a pleasure to talk to. I learned a lot as he helped me get my kit together.

I am shooting a "New Orleans second line parade" over the weekend. I hope to post that video soon.

Here is something interesting from the BarTech manual. With the BFD "the smaller the range of travel of the motor, the more accurate the system becomes".
 
Fovean said:
But I do agree with the focusing issue: the barrel rotation on still lenses generally is extremely short so in some instances less than a quarter-turn of the follow-focus wheel throws focus from about 5 feet to infinity!
Click to expand...

I understand the Birger mount only works with the newer nikkors that are programed to communicate with the mount itself. But does the Birger follow
focus simulate the longer rotation of a true cine-type focus barrel?

This same question applies to a BarTech remote focus.
 
from what i recall at the reduser NAB get together ...
the birger calibrates the focus to be one FULL turn on the birger focus wheel = so even if the canon lens focus is equal to only a 1/2 " from 1ft to infinity on the canon lens barrel that will be equal to one full turn on the birger focus wheel
 
Thanks for the info.

Will the Birger be able to calibrate a motorized gear (microforce) to work with the older nikkors with focus rings?
 
william otto said:
Thanks for the info.

Will the Birger be able to calibrate a motorized gear (microforce) to work with the older nikkors with focus rings?
Click to expand...

No but the Viewfactor Studios Imerio and Inclino will.
 
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