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 :)

NIKON or other Prime LEns Sets Vs Zooms

T

tj williams

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 17, 2007
Messages
955
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Website
www.camera-person.com
I’m interested in starting a discussion of getting sets of primes together out of still lenses issues such as matching wide iris which are below 2.0 and capable of being controlled by the proposed Birger Engineering Focus/Iris system.
Other issues I haven't seen discussed include:

Color matching among the Nikon/canon lenses in a set of primes

Comparisons of new AF Zooms to AF prime lenses in terms of sharpness, since clearly these focal ranges can easily be covered by two Nikkor Zooms.

NIKON LENS PRIME SET: Purchase

16mm Nikkor 2.8 Autofocus……600*
20mm Nikkor 2.8 Autofocus……410
24mm NIkkor 2.0 Manual………800*
28mm Nikkor 2.8 Autofocus……210
35mm Nikkor 1.4 Manual……....700*
50mm Nikkor 1.4 Autofocus……250*
85mm Nikkor 1.4 autofocus…….925*
105mmNikkor2.0 autofocus…….925

ZEISS SPEED PRIMES rental

18mm Zeiss T1.3………..70
25mm Zeiss T1.3………..70
35mm Zeiss T1.3……….70
50mm Zeiss T1.3………..70
85mm Zeiss T1.3………...70
65mm Zeiss T1.3………...70 (often not included in std. set)

Here is a standard set of Zeiss prime High speed lenses. Rental of set $375+ per day.
Above is a set of similar Nikkor lenses. Estimated new purchase price $3200+

After reading the thread about the Birger engineering company that wants to develop a focus system for Nikon/.Canon primes I started assembly of a list of those auto lenses which may prove most desirable in Nikon.

One big problem I noticed right away was that it is hard to get a set similar to Zeiss where all the lenses are fast below 35mm I couldn’t find a 1.4 Nikon on Ebay or B&H

Also I noticed that several of the lengths I’d use are not available as Auto Focus. For instance there is no 25mm Nikon so I’d have to use a 28 rather than the slightly wider 24mm which is only available in manual. Also I couldn’t find an AF 35mm. So these lenses couldn’t be controlled by the proposed focus system.

This focus system is an exciting development since it will allow Canon Auto lenses to be iris controlled with a remote and also spread the focus/iris of both Canon and Nikon AF lenses over a sizeable remote dial to allow exact focusing irising of these still lenses.

Probably this has some errors.
Corrections are welcome.
 
So Birger is going to develop a remote focus system that actually uses the AF motor? So, now we would actually require the AF version over the manual-focus version if we're going with the Birger system? Are they developing a wireless "FIZ" device, as opposed to a traditional, manual follow-focus rig?
 
This is all just exploratory for them, so don't go getting all wrapped up in AF vs. MF quite yet. Both are suitable but the MFs, especially the original AIs are still the best choice for focus draw provided they offer the focal lengths you require.
 
I believe that the Birger follow focus would only work with AFS lenses, (lenses that have internal focus motors) not all AF lenses.
 
Scot, yes that is the understanding I had talking to Birger. This was kinda a sidelight in my initial post. Although it throws doubt on the wisdom of early purchase of lenses.

My main concern stated more clearly is that there are as far as I can tell no Nikon mount either nikkor or zeiss under 35mm which open to 1.4 so a matched set of primes is impossible.

Given the opening of these lenses is either 2.8 or approaching it, I'd sure like to see a test off between the available wider nikon lenses and the zooms in the same range that maintain 2.8

I'm also very interested to know if the collections of zeiss or nikkor lenses owned by several participants on the forum show any very pronounced color / rez differences?
 
Ralph Oshiro said:
So Birger is going to develop a remote focus system that actually uses the AF motor? So, now we would actually require the AF version over the manual-focus version if we're going with the Birger system? Are they developing a wireless "FIZ" device, as opposed to a traditional, manual follow-focus rig?
Click to expand...

If it happens it will be "FI", there will be no "Z" because there is no zoom motor built into these lenses.
 
I would have an expectation that lenses would show some colour disparity but I wonder how significant colour matching is if you are shooting RAW. I would presume you could compensate for slight differences in RedCine, after some testing you would probably be able to apply a known amount of compensation for any particular lens. I know it isn't ideal but any use of stills lenses is a compromise.

I wonder how realistic it is to pull "in shot" zooms with a stills zoom lens. I have been assuming that stills zooms are probably more practical as variable primes in operation.

M
 
One big problem I noticed right away was that it is hard to get a set similar to Zeiss where all the lenses are fast below 35mm I couldn’t find a 1.4 Nikon/zeiss etc. in Nikon mount on Ebay or B&H they are all about 2.8. There are several zooms across the same range that are 2.8 all the way through the range also.
Is ther any lens test distinction at 4K between these primes and zooms. sharpness issues or other problems.\
I've owned one of these for several years and used on my Nikon with very nice results...



Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8 D F2.8 AF-S ED IF Zoom Lens is one I'm considering as replacing the 2.8 Nikon primes out to 50mm?
 
Ralph Oshiro said:
So Birger is going to develop a remote focus system that actually uses the AF motor? So, now we would actually require the AF version over the manual-focus version if we're going with the Birger system? Are they developing a wireless "FIZ" device, as opposed to a traditional, manual follow-focus rig?
Click to expand...

Scot Olson said:
I believe that the Birger follow focus would only work with AFS lenses, (lenses that have internal focus motors) not all AF lenses.
Click to expand...
Good questions. Any feedback?
 
Although its not the fastest.. this setup has been working FINE for me..

Nikon 17-35 AF-S f/2.8
Nikon 50 AIS f/1.8
Nikon 80-200 AF-D f/2.8

...Covers all of my ground with excellent optical quality..
 
puntociego said:
Has anyone tried the Zeiss for Nikon, they are clearer, but manual, any tips?
1.- 100 mm f/2.0 ZEISS
2.- 85 mmf/1.4 ZEISS
3.- 50 mm f1.4 ZEISS
4.- 35 mm f/2.8 ZEISS
5.- 28 mm f/2 ZEISS

pablo.basulto@pixelblue.cl
6.- 25 mm f/2.8 ZEISS
Click to expand...

I have the 28, 35 and 50 in zeiss and they are fantastic lenses. The focus ring feels like a cinema lens and has a long focus throw. I took the hard stops out of the iris ring last week and put zacuto gears on them. I also use a nikon 85/1.4 and it matches pretty well but I'll probably sell it and go all zeiss soon. The 18mm looks sweet.
other lenses that I own are: nikon 180/2.8, hartblei swing/tilt 80m/2.8 and a nikon 17-35/2.8 - another great lens.

Shane.
 
Lowdown said:
I took the hard stops out of the iris ring last week and put zacuto gears on them.
Click to expand...

I tried Zacuto Zipgears on the ZF lenses, but because of the LONG focus throw (near 360 degree), I couldn't get full turn on most of them. (Except the 35?) The locking housing on the Zipgears gets in the way.
 
Nils J. Nesse said:
I tried Zacuto Zipgears on the ZF lenses, but because of the LONG focus throw (near 360 degree), I couldn't get full turn on most of them. (Except the 35?) The locking housing on the Zipgears gets in the way.
Click to expand...

I'm only having that problem with the 25 at 8" focus and below but I don't do much shooting that close. Possibly the 85 and 100mm are a different story. I would really love for someone to make delrin gears for the zf line that we can just purchase and install ourselves. They really are the best new prime lenses for the red if you decide to go with nikon mount.
 
Lowdown said:
I would really love for someone to make delrin gears for the zf line that we can just purchase and install ourselves.
Click to expand...

You are correct.

Did I hear talk about Viewfactor clamp-on gears?
 
Would you guys say I would be sitting pretty solid with these Nikons in my kit:

17-35mm f/2.8
28-70mm f/2.8
80-200mm f/2.8

28mm f/1.4
50mm f/1.4
85mm f/1.4

It will be a while before I could step into cine glass, and just want to know from some experts if this is the best bang for my Nikon buck, i.e. good focal lengths and speeds for most narrative filmmaking situations. Thanks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top