Compact Prime or Ultra Prime with Master Prime

[Shermen L]

I'm planning to rent Master Prime for a production, since film with two cameras, I'm planning use Master Prime lens for A camera, B camera use Compact/ Ultra lens which is a bit cheaper, just wonder if Compact Prime can easily match with Master Prime in terms of color and sharpness, or if Ultra lens is the better choice? Or both of them just can't easily match with Master Prime ?

Thanks

 

[PatrickFaith]

if your shooting shallow depth of field, i dont like how my cp's match with cinema glass belllow t2. not sure if it matters much above t5.

 

[Steve G]

Compact prime and master prime cut together would probably be a bit tricky. If on a low budget, spread your single set of master primes between your 2 cameras. Most situations you will probably be on different focal lengths.

 

[Michael Tiemann]

Compact prime and master prime cut together would probably be a bit tricky. If on a low budget, spread your single set of master primes between your 2 cameras. Most situations you will probably be on different focal lengths.

This ^

Also, remember that it's not just about matching color (easily fixed in resolve) or bokeh (harder to fix), but also general lens dynamics (breathing) as you pull focus. Really top glass moves more consistently across the range. OTOH, if your B camera is only ever locked off and never used for focus pulls, then you might be able to get away with different glass for the environmental shots. But the moment you do anything dynamic with the B camera, it will tell on you.

 

[Eric M Hurt]

Compact prime and master prime cut together would probably be a bit tricky. If on a low budget, spread your single set of master primes between your 2 cameras. Most situations you will probably be on different focal lengths.

+1

If you think you will have a lot of matching cross coverage just rent a second lens of the focal length you usually like for coverage. One set for two cameras is usually sufficient, especially if you're carrying a zoom or two.

 

[Ignacio Aguilar]

If you're planning on renting two sets, then rent two sets of Ultra Primes and avoid matching problems.

 

[Björn Benckert]

Ultra primes matches master primes quite well if the T stop is set the same of both sets. We just a combo quite a few times and I found if really hard to see what was what when intercut. And if you set the white balance on the same graycard for both then you really need be looking into the pixels to tell which is which. The big differnce between the two is the low Fstop and shaprness at low fstops that the MP's has. and they flare differently.

But Yes, If you got a full set of MP's then why rent another set I assume you will not need the same lens on both cameras at the same time. And there is what, 16 different focal lengths in a full set of MP's. So if you have them I would go for the MP's even though I think they are over kill for most times, they do not look too good wide open, I find the dof at 1.2 to look like post blur and at higher Fstops they are quite compaable to ultas.

 

[Eric M Hurt]

You could shoot with Cookes, they're all color matched between sets, and they look great!

 

[Louis Maddalena]

As was said, I would only rent one set as it is unlikely that you'll use the same focal length on both cameras. However, if you do fell that you need two sets the CP.2s should definitely be out if Masters and Ultras are in.

In an ideal world you would want to rent 2 sets of masters if you know for sure that you need two full sets, however, 1 set of masters and a set of ultras will match pretty well if you are shooting at the same T stop on both lenses and are stopped down a bit. With that in mind, it might be better for you to shoot with 2 sets of Ultras if you're going to be shooting what the ultras can shoot anyway and save yourself quite the bit in rental expenses. You'll be able to use that money elsewhere.