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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 :)

An Examination of: Duclos 11-16mm T2.8 Ultra Wide Zoom

Thanks Timur. I have a question. I am currently working with still glass only. I am looking forward to get into PL glass next year. I have decided the Duclos 11-16 will likely be my first lens. What would you suggest as the best moderately priced options beyond that lens for a new to PL glass user? In which order would you purchase lenses if you were in my possition? Buying a 50mm next or a zoom, etc.? Obviously I would love to own Masterprimes but I haven't won the powerball yet.
 
Oof...

Do you want primes? Or Zooms?

I would try to get a set of RPP if you want to start in the prime world, or the Fujinon Cabrio for the Zoom world. ITs 19-90mm T2.9 and only 6 lbs, and includes motor control of all Focus Iris and Zoom. Quite amazing really. Its not cheap, but its pretty much a whole prime set in one. In combination with the 11-16, you get almost everything from 11-90mm in two light weight lenses. As of now, there is little in the PL range thats inexpensive and on the longer end that i know of that isnt 40 years old, or $40,000. Perhaps the upcoming Zeiss PL 70-200 is less than 40k. But im not sure.
 
I think I'm trending towards primes. I guess I am the type that hates selling things after buying so I don't want to buy too much overlapping lenses. I've also seen these CP.2s priced moderately. How would those compare to RPP? Also afraid that RED will discontinue the lenses before I save up.
 
I would disagree only in that I find I use it all the time. I can't remember the last time I did a shoot without at least a few shots on the 11-16. Docs, comercials, coporate, maybe less in narrative, maybe not. It makes a bold statement for wide shots. The 11-16 and a slider are a killer combination.

nick.
 
Samir Patel said:
I think I'm trending towards primes. I guess I am the type that hates selling things after buying so I don't want to buy too much overlapping lenses. I've also seen these CP.2s priced moderately. How would those compare to RPP? Also afraid that RED will discontinue the lenses before I save up.
Click to expand...

I mean, unless they redesigned the "CP Super speeds" and its not a rehash of the CP1 T1.5 50mm and 85mm, maybe its a good choice. The CP1's were awful wide open, and didnt get good till a 2.8/4, so why bother at their price. Take a look at the new CineXenar's from Schneider. MAybe they are better nowadays? I love my Cooke miniS4's, but they arent for everyone. Some feel they need a faster stop for the price, but i see it differently, i see it as im getting Top shelf glass for a lower price.
 
Thanks Timur, interesting to finally see a detailed discussion of how this lens focuses.

No disrespect whatever to Duclos for what he has done, but I would be significantly more impressed if he had done something to fix the focus throw and scale.

I guess that's why this costs $3.5k, and the Focus Optics/Nikon 14-24 costs $12.5k...

Mike
 
Timur Civan said:
Oof...

Do you want primes? Or Zooms?

I would try to get a set of RPP if you want to start in the prime world, or the Fujinon Cabrio for the Zoom world. ITs 19-90mm T2.9 and only 6 lbs, and includes motor control of all Focus Iris and Zoom. Quite amazing really. Its not cheap, but its pretty much a whole prime set in one. In combination with the 11-16, you get almost everything from 11-90mm in two light weight lenses. As of now, there is little in the PL range thats inexpensive and on the longer end that i know of that isnt 40 years old, or $40,000. Perhaps the upcoming Zeiss PL 70-200 is less than 40k. But im not sure.
Click to expand...

Zeiss zooms are around $20,000
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/searc...&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=

Instead of Cabrio i will take 2 Angies anytime:-)
 
Timur Civan said:
The Angie's have motor control now too right?
Click to expand...

Not the DP's. Only some of the 'regular' Optimos

EDIT: Just looked it up and they do. I thought at time of announcement the DP's weren't... Oh well. I guess I was wrong. :/


From Angie site:
"Compatible with lightweight Optimo line : Optimo 45-120, Optimo 28-76, Optimo 15-40 for Film and Digital cinema, Optimo DP 16-42 and Optimo DP 30-80 for Digital Cinema. Optimo Servo Unit provides control of Zoom and Iris. Focus control will only be available with specific versions. Servo Unit also allows communication with certain cameras such as the capability of remote iris position control. Not available for sale."
 
Couldn't agree more, the 11-16 is just right for docs:


dAZnzW

http://flic.kr/p/dAZnzW

Using 3 Cabrios next week for an MTV program. Turning into an effective method to help producers put away the work-horse ENG cameras and step into the larger sensor arena.
 
Bear in mind that the Duclos is a rehousing, but he has not extended focus throw or scale.
He told me this himself. He has added a handy aperture ring though. :-)

I have to say though that the lens itself is completely blown out of the water by the Zeiss 15mm f2.8 and it's CP.2 twin.

If you want to compare, here is the place to do it:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/...meraComp=474&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=4&APIComp=0
 
Timur Civan said:
Take a look at the new CineXenar's from Schneider. MAybe they are better nowadays?
Click to expand...

I played with an early set of the Mk 3. at NAB last year. Optically they were always very nice, the problem was ergonomics, as you pointed out in your reviews. They've certainly fixed the ergonomics in the Mk 3s.

The good news, they added an 18mm to the range, the bad news, they also bumped the price; one more lens but now something like $60k for the set. Not UP or MP territory, but no longer in the same ballpark as RPP, by a large margin. They're big lenses, RPP big, and not fast - T2+ across the range. Not on my shopping list; too expensive, too slow, won't rent.

Mike
 
...they also bumped the price; one more lens but now something like $60k for the set. Not UP or MP territory...
Click to expand...

Unfortunatly that really puts them in UP territory.. UPs are lighter, smaller, faster, more uniform in size and with a massive focal range choice... also from my expericence as near service free as a lens can get (so very cheap to keep).
 
Mike 'Fireman' Ross said:
I played with an early set of the Mk 3. at NAB last year. Optically they were always very nice, the problem was ergonomics, as you pointed out in your reviews. They've certainly fixed the ergonomics in the Mk 3s.

The good news, they added an 18mm to the range, the bad news, they also bumped the price; one more lens but now something like $60k for the set. Not UP or MP territory, but no longer in the same ballpark as RPP, by a large margin. They're big lenses, RPP big, and not fast - T2+ across the range. Not on my shopping list; too expensive, too slow, won't rent.

Mike
Click to expand...

Actually, they are really around 48K for the Mark III's. So more like in Panchro terrritory than Ultraprimes.
I think they are great lenses optically, though the 50mm suffered from a little bit of veiling at wide open on the older sets (exactly like an old Super Takumar) gone by closing down a stop or so. Quite nice for beauty shots actually. There was also a touch of coma on one of the lenses as well.
They are definitely lower in contrast than most of the other brands, especially Zeiss. This is however, a good thing as it means better roll-off and easy to compensate for in post. I suspect that the coatings are less optimized comparitively. They actually remind me of Cooke Panchros with uncoated elements.
The Mark III's are about half the weight of the previous versions, on par with Cooke's for their size.
One day, someone famous is probably going to discover these lenses and we will watch their prices go throught the roof.
In the meantime, they are a hard sell for rentals. I personally hope they continue to evolve though.
 
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