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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 :)

Owner-Op Minded PL Mount Zoom Lens Criteria

Illya Friedman

Illya Friedman

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Hello All,

I've been toying with the idea of building a relatively short & lightweight zoom from scratch, or possibly from a hybridization. Partially for fun, partially to play with an optical design idea to possibly develop into a product. So here's my question,

How would you rank the following criteria for a inexpensive (sub $15,000) zoom lens:

Focal range, optical quality, speed, size/weight and price.

Thanks!
 
Focal Range - if its not in the range I need, I dont need it.

Optical Quality - if it doesn't perform well enough, I don't need it.

Speed - if it's too slow, no good

Size / Weight / Build Quality - can I use it on a steadicam? What about handheld? Will focus be hard to pull?

Price - Sub 15K is great anyways for a good zoom.
 
Try to make PL zoom 18-85mm, T2, lighter and cheaper then Fujinon and you'll get rich pretty fast...
 
Also you could "rehouse" Tamron SP LD 28-105mm f/2.8 Aspherical and offer the first FF35mm zoom in that range...
 
Soon new materials will be on the market to make hi quality optics with plastic lenses. That will probably make it lighter and maybe also lower cost.
 
I would love to see someone make a set of variable primes like the Arris but at better price.
 
Hybridization?

Hybridization?

Illya Friedman said:
Hello All,

I've been toying with the idea of building a relatively short & lightweight zoom from scratch, or possibly from a hybridization. Partially for fun, partially to play with an optical design idea to possibly develop into a product. So here's my question,

How would you rank the following criteria for a inexpensive (sub $15,000) zoom lens:

Focal range, optical quality, speed, size/weight and price.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

What is "hybridization"?
Does it have anything to do with the "green anodized" PL adapter?
 
OptiTek said:
What is "hybridization"?
Does it have anything to do with the "green anodized" PL adapter?
Click to expand...

hybridization- part custom, part existing stills product, built for cinema = all new.

One popular lens manufacturer, uses this technique as their bread and butter method for many years. Not really a secret, but I won't mention who.
 
I'll back up a vote for a fast 18-85 (or thereabouts) lens.

For me, one-stop-shop drama and promo lens that's fast enough to shoot night exteriors and available light doc work when necessary (within reason on lighting levels, of course) would be the holy grail.

I'd sacrifice the long end slightly before the short end, and size and weight slightly before price. Optical and build quality must be very good, or it's a no-fly for my money.

Hope that helps, and here's hoping you manage an 18-85 T2 for $15k- but I won't hold my breath!...

Cheers,
Dom.
 
Illya Friedman said:
hybridization- part custom, part existing stills product, built for cinema = all new.

One popular lens manufacturer, uses this technique as their bread and butter method for many years. Not really a secret, but I won't mention who.
Click to expand...

Century (now Schneider) Optics, as well as Focus optics now with the Ruby.

I'd really like to see the Nikon 17-55mm F2.8 DX get a complete ground up re-housing. I have a 16-42mm Angie Rouge on order but I'm vacillating because of the price. If I could have something that covered a similar range for $10K I'd drop coin in a heartbeat, assuming the mechanics and focus throw were acceptable.

Another alternative for full frame 35mm might be the 16-35mm F2.8 Zeiss lens for the Sony Alpha cameras, although I'd personaly rather have 55mm on the long end.
 
I've shot a few commercials with the Optimo 15-40 which is IMO a great workhorse for many applications, especially hand held work. Unfortunately the short Optimo is very expensive and nothing for the private owner. The Rouge 16-42 is half the price, still pretty expensive and does not work with a spinning mirror.

I find Focus Optics' Ruby a viable way. Their 14-24 is too short for a workhorse but with the 24-70mm, which I think is ins the makes, this can be a great set.

I think Evin is right about the Nikon 17-55mm. A 17-55m sounds like a very meaningful compromise. Actually the more I think about this the more I feel that 14-24mm and a 17-55mm would be my set.

The big advantage about rehoused FF35 lenses is the fact that they are FF35 which will lead to a wider FOV when FF35 Epics are available.

All rehousing requires cine quality. I'm happy to pay 20k for a set of 2 light weight rehoused zooms if they have the similar features like the Rouge series: Long focus throw, hardly any breathing, hardly any ramping, at least T2.8, light weight, supreme quality and convenient mentainability.

I haven't made my choice yet, I wait until I know how much budget I'll need for the upcoming Epic X. Then I'm in the market for one or two light weight zooms. In the moment I still tend to the Rouge 16-42mm.

(BTW, I find it rediculous/childish when manufactures of gear, be it lenses or what ever, try to jump on the Red wagon by adding "Red" design features such as red rubber rings (Angenieux Rouge series) on their products. Please leave your stuff black.)


Hans
 
Evin Grant said:
I'd really like to see the Nikon 17-55mm F2.8 DX get a complete ground up re-housing.
Click to expand...

This would be in direct competition with the RED 18-50. Which has very good optics, lesser mechanics. So a 17-55 rehousing should either be cheaper than the RED lens, or have significantly better mechanics. Is this realistic?
 
RE: lens under 15,000

RE: lens under 15,000

Pany and century both took a canon 17-35mm and rehoused them. That lens sales under 15 but is slow F3.5??? and the range alittle short on the long end. Duclos lenses makes some nikon rehouses as well. The thing is the Sharpness will always be an issue with zooms very few companies do this well . The other Thing is breathing. The truth is most companies try to put too much range in the lens so it always forces a compromise. You don't have that in your mind so in truth you will probably succeed. The revolution periscope was created exactly from this type situation and it has been considered the best boriscope periscope system to date. Made in someones garage, go figure. Keep it short like the optimo's and good luck.
 
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