Zeiss Variprimes Users

[Cal Brunker]

With 60k to spend on glass for my RED, several people have suggested a used set of Zeiss Variprimes.

Can anyone chime in on their experience with these lenses?

Do these have the portholing problem that people talked about with the standard speeds?

How are they for handheld work?

When did they stop making these? Optically are they closer to Standard speeds or Ultraprimes?


Thanks guys

 

[Greg M]

For 60k you have many options. I would look at a nice set of primes over the Variprimes. You can buy a small set of new Ultra primes, or a used set of Standard Speeds and have money to spare...

...or even the Angenieus 24-290, although a beast, it is fast and looks beautiful.

The 24-290 wouldnt be ideal as your only lens, but it would surely earn its keep. And you cant go wrong with a prime set.

 

[Irri]

We have a set of VPs. They don't get used much due to the weight. They are pretty big and when you add the mount and an MB14, handheld starts to become impossible. They can be nice in a studio, but it is a bit of a pain to change lenses.

 

[Jorge Díaz-Amador]

The biggest problem with the Variable Primes is size and weight. Optically they are equal to the Ultra Primes in resolution/contrast but slightly slower at T2.2. They are very advanced optical designs.

 

[chuck colburn]

http://www.cinematography.net/Pages GB/ARRIVP.HTM

 

[tobycam]

I love shooting with the VP's however they are very heavy and large if you need to handhold alot. They are also very,very,very expensive to maintain and repair compared to other Zeiss glass.

 

[fREDeric ChAMbERlAnd]

An ex camera assistant's POV

An ex camera assistant's POV

Handheld is not a realistic option since they are so big and heavy. Changing lenses from different VP's is time consuming since they have different physical length , you have to move the rods in or out, the bridge support also, follow focus is cramped and have to be moved also. Changing VP's is as complicated as changing a zoom, lots of manipulation involved.
Sounds like a small irritant but when every lenses change takes 1 minute instead of 10 seconds, it sometimes is a pain in the ...
Don't forget you are also stuck with three cases to carry around at all times to cover all focal lengths.
The front of the lens is huge and I recall using only 6X6 matte box's to cover the whole super 35 frame.
The kind of lenses that have great possibilities but they stay on the shelves of rental houses because of awkward design imo.