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Lens recommendation

A

Aiden K.

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Since my wife just spent $5k on a watch, I get to spend 5k on a lens. Which should I get. I'm looking for a nice prime. Any suggestions? Ive been thinking about the Zeiss compact distagon 18mm Any one ever use this on RED?
 
Never used it but always liked the fact that since the Compact Primes have origins in 35mm still lenses they cover FF35. That'll be nice when Monstro comes out.
 
Aiden, your question is pretty difficult to answer. A lens is both a technical and artistic choice- think of it like choosing a paintbrush. There's no one lens that will do it all for you, especially in terms of a prime. You can get a zoom that will cover a good range of focal lengths, but it might be too slow to use in low-light situations without a lot of additional light. You can get a nice 50mm prime at T1.3, but it won't let you get a nice wide field of view in a small room. So, you need to ask yourself what you want to shoot with your one lens.

The Zeiss 18mm compact prime is a nice lens in that it's a good wide angle when used on 35mm or FF35. It's light, it's sharp, it's contrasty. It's also very slow by today's standards for prime lenses, with a maximum aperture of T3.6.

If you're looking to spend up to 5K on a single lens, and you're leaning towards a wide angle, then I would suggest the 18mm Red Pro Prime when it starts shipping. Although there hasn't been any stills/footage posted yet, if it matches the rest of the RPPs (and it should), it's going to be a VERY nice lens. Sharp, contrasty, wide, and FAST. Also heavy (6.25 pounds).

You might also consider buying a few of the Zeiss ZF primes. The ZFs are basically the Compact Primes, intended for still photography. You can put them on a Red One with a Nikon mount with no problem. They cost quite a bit less than the Compact Primes, but they have the downside of short focus throw, a click-iris ring, and focusing in the opposite direction from cine lenses. They've been used on plenty of Red Ones, and Matt Duclos offers a service to make them more cine-friendly.

So, there's a lot to consider. Given your budget, I would really have a good look at the Zeiss ZFs, and get a couple of them- maybe the 21 or 28, 50 and 85 or 100, to start you off.
 
Thanks for the input Ryan. I should have mentioned what I already have. I have the RED 18-50, however when I got it, it was defective (Doesn't hold focus, something loose inside the housing, zoom ring has too much play, image shifts on sensor when zooming). Unfortunately, I didn't have the 3 weeks time to send it out, I needed to shoot with it. So i have that, and I'm just looking for a nice prime lens to shoot wide angel stuff with. I think the 18-50 is T3 as well. I've had no real problems with that so far.

I have a bunch of canon lenses for my DSLR, so I don't want to buy a nikon mount and nikon still lenses.

Any other fast primes for 5k?

I dont want to wait for the RRP's either, nobody knows when those will ever ship separately.
 
Ah, sorry if I came off a little condescending then- you never know what a person knows about lenses, especially with the myriad of would-be filmmakers who have jumped on the 35mm=Depth of Field=Cinematic bandwagon in the past few years. Not that I can really chuck dirt for that, as I started off as one of them...

You could probably find an 18mm Super Speed Mk I for 4 or 5K, maybe even a Mk II. I like the Mk Is myself, as they have that cool triangular bokeh. And they do open up to T1.3, although they look kind of mushy wide open. Use with caution.

I also have a lot of love for the Zeiss 16mm T2.1 distagon. In my opinion (and others may dispute this) it looks better wide open than the 18mm Super Speed stopped down to T2. You may have to haggle, but you could probably snag one for 5K.

I hope that helps!
 
In the wide angle department, if you have say the birger mount, the 14mm f2.8L Canon makes is simply astonishing and they also have a 24mm f1.4L which I haven't used but lets in a lot of light and is said to be quite excellent, 5 out of 5 stars on B&H Photo's website.
 
I found a super speed mk II 18mm on ebay for $6k starting. I'm sure the reserve is set much higher though. :( only problem I have with ebay. Just start at the reserve!

as for the birger mount, well i was very interested in it, until i read the posts on here about voiding warranty. :/

I'll keep looking I suppose. Really wish the RED 18mm would ship sooner than later.
 
Aiden, contact Matt Duclos, one of the premier contributors to Reduser, for some wonderful lenses that are competitively priced (but there may be a waiting line)
 
If you haven't had any problems shooting with T3, you might check into the Duclos modified Tokina 11-16 zoom. It's not a fast prime, but it might the the wide you are looking for. Just a thought.
 
Yeesh, how did I not think of that. The Duclos modded Tokina is a sexy little lens. It goes to 11!
 
Rent out your wife for 5k to pay for the lens....

Duclos 11-16. Small , inexpensive, sharp and reasonably fast for a wide.
It will work on 5k. Will work with FF at 15-16mm.
A PL 1.4x adapter would extend usage....
 
Aiden K. said:
Since my wife just spent $5k on a watch, I get to spend 5k on a lens.
Click to expand...

Well, if she spent 5 grand on a f-ing watch, you should be allowed to get a 13-piece set of Master Primes and a MasterZoom. It would be only fair, no?
 
epic indeed! Nion set?

epic indeed! Nion set?

Aiden K. said:
Since my wife just spent $5k on a watch, I get to spend 5k on a lens. Which should I get. I'm looking for a nice prime. Any suggestions? Ive been thinking about the Zeiss compact distagon 18mm Any one ever use this on RED?
Click to expand...
You're lucky man:wink5:
how about this configuration:
14-24 nikkor- $1600
24-70 nikkor- $1700
Nikon ProLock-$750 http://optitek.org/nikon-prolock.php
you'll have money leftover for a Tokina 11-16 in nikon mount- $500
you covered from 11-70mm all f2.8
or you could get nikkor 70-200- $1700 and be covered from 14- 200mm all f2.8
full frame covered for monstro use.
positive locking a'la PL mount, etc..
Welcome to the future NOW: Indie Ultra Hi Def Film making on a budget!!!!
 
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