Scarlet and Canon/Nikon lenses

[Miguel Queiroz]

Maybe this is not the most enlightened question, but that's how one learns: Asking questions.

I have been working with 2 Canon XL-H1 cameras for the last couple of years and hopefully will be doing a dramatic upgrade to 2 Scarlets with a FF35 brain/sensor. I was wondering if I can use the Cannon lenses of my XL-H1 cameras (Canon HD video lenses 20x Zoom 5.4-108mm) or if they are poor choices to use on a Scarlet camera. What would the result be, if any?...

When I upgraded from XL-2 cameras to XL-H1 cameras, I was warned that SD camera lenses of the XL-2 wouldn't be suitable for shooting HDV with the XL-H1... Only for shooting with the XL-H1 in SD mode.

I was wondering if a similar limitation will occur while trying to shoot on Scarlet with my XL-H1 lenses...

Also, what about with a Nikon D-50 lens (AF-S Nikkor 18-70mm)?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Michael S.]

If I'm wrong, somebody please correct me, but I believe that the problem is that the lens for the XL-H1 is designed to cover the 1/3 sensor size of the XL-H1 and thus would not work with the larger sensors of the scarlet brains at their full resolutions. Your Nikon lens, which is a lens for 35mm cameras I believe should work with the scarlet sensors if I'm not mistaken (again, correct me if I'm wrong). It's likely that there are other factors that I'm not thinking of, but this is what occurred to me when I read your post. I hope that was helpful.

-Michael

 

[Albert Leidinger]

Also, what about with a Nikon D-50 lens (AF-S Nikkor 18-70mm)?

Thanks in advance!

No, it wont really work on the FF35 Scarlet. The Nikkor is a DX lens not covering the full 24x36mm (FX in Nikon language). But you might use it on the FF35 Scarlet for a smaller resolution only covering the center.

 

[Miguel Queiroz]

Thank you for the replies so far, and for the Nikon confirmation in particular!

Still would love to have a confirmation on the Canon lenses.

Also, could you please elaborate if any of these 2 lenses I mentioned above are suitable for any other scarlet brains/sensors?

 

[Mick van Rossum NSC]

If I'm wrong, somebody please correct me, but I believe that the problem is that the lens for the XL-H1 is designed to cover the 1/3 sensor size of the XL-H1 and thus would not work with the larger sensors of the scarlet brains at their full resolutions. Your Nikon lens, which is a lens for 35mm cameras I believe should work with the scarlet sensors if I'm not mistaken (again, correct me if I'm wrong). It's likely that there are other factors that I'm not thinking of, but this is what occurred to me when I read your post. I hope that was helpful.

-Michael

This is confirmed, you will NOT be able to use the Canon lenses on the scarlet for the reason of the different mounts, and the coverage of the lenses as Michael assumes correctly.

 

[Albert Leidinger]

Also, could you please elaborate if any of these 2 lenses I mentioned above are suitable for any other scarlet brains/sensors?

DX sensor size is about 24 x 16 mm.
Scarlet S35 has a 30 x 15 mm sensor.

Of course the DX lens isnt stop working just at 24.1 mm - but the quality is becoming bad very fast. You get more vignetting, more CA and the 18-70 might get black in the outer regions at some focal lengths.

And honestly: Do you really think buying a 7.000 $ Scarlet brain for using it with a cheap $ x00 lens?

Buy the Nikkor AF-S 24-70 1:2,8 for around $ 1.500 and you`ve got a great lens for your D90 (equiv 36-105) and a really great Full Frame Lens for your FF35 Scarlet.

 

[Aiden Cornwell]

DX sensor size is about 24 x 16 mm.
Scarlet S35 has a 30 x 15 mm sensor.

Of course the DX lens isnt stop working just at 24.1 mm - but the quality is becoming bad very fast. You get more vignetting, more CA and the 18-70 might get black in the outer regions at some focal lengths.

And honestly: Do you really think buying a 7.000 $ Scarlet brain for using it with a cheap $ x00 lens?

Buy the Nikkor AF-S 24-70 1:2,8 for around $ 1.500 and you`ve got a great lens for your D90 (equiv 36-105) and a really great Full Frame Lens for your FF35 Scarlet.

So would you say for a 2/3rds scarlet would DX or FX lenses be better?

 

[Miguel Queiroz]

And honestly: Do you really think buying a 7.000 $ Scarlet brain for using it with a cheap $ x00 lens?

Not really... That's one of the aspects I thought about in the first place...:sarcasm:

I just wanted to make sure if the Canon XL-H1 were of some use, since I already have them. After all... They are decent cameras for their $9000 range.

 

[Justin O'Neill]

Buy the Nikkor AF-S 24-70 1:2,8 for around $ 1.500 and you`ve got a great lens for your D90 (equiv 36-105) and a really great Full Frame Lens for your FF35 Scarlet.

Unfortunately the Nikkor AF-S 24-70 1:2.8 does not have a manual iris ring so the older Nikkor 28-70 1:2.8 is probably better for cinema. You can find them used on Ebay for around $900.00. Still really great glass.

 

[Albert Leidinger]

So would you say for a 2/3rds scarlet would DX or FX lenses be better?

Id say DX but an FX isnt bad either.

Its just the same with Nikon DSLRs. When you put a 18-70 FX lens on a FullFrame (FX) sensor you'll get 18-70 mm focal length.

When you put the same lens onto a DX sensor the lens behaves equal to a lens with 1,5 times the focal length: in the upper case 27-105 mm

Since the 2/3 sensor is even smaller than a DX sensor it will be hard to shoot wide angle. Even more with an FX lens.

 

[Albert Leidinger]

Unfortunately the Nikkor AF-S 24-70 1:2.8 does not have a manual iris ring so the older Nikkor 28-70 1:2.8 is probably better for cinema. You can find them used on Ebay for around $900.00. Still really great glass.

:blink: Uups, you're absolutely right. Good point!