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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 :)

debating a couple Zeiss lenses for scarlet. Feedback please.

Domenic Barbero said:
ahhhh ok. I really prefer a less sharp more old school feel to my lenses. Like old cooks or ang. Which would give me a more old school feel? contax? the canons are very sharp. Which is nice but i enjoy the more vintage feel. Any other recs for a couple lenses under 4g? Ive only worked with canon and zeiss glass so my field of expertise is limited.
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For that slightly more vintage or classic look, you can look at Nikon AIS manual lenses, Leica R's are EXTREMELY POPULAR (and costs are shooting through the roof), and certainly Contax.

Contax and Leica R's have similar CINEMA MECHANICS: ie, their aperture and focus rings are manual, and turn the right way. They are both ideal glass to cinemod.

NIKON AIS and Zeiss ZF's are NIKON orientated, meaning they focus THE WRONG WAY. AC's hate this, but you can get Follow Focus's with an inverted cog to compensate for this.

Zeiss ZE's have a digital aperture, which some people like, but it means you are always adjusting your iris ON CAMERA, not on the barrel. Not ideal for iris pulls.

Hope this helps.
 
Thanks nick. Good info for sure. Used the cp.2 lenses before. I feel they are highly overpriced when considering the difference between the two. And im looking for light weight as possible. Ive been fairly happy with the ease of canon glass plus cine rings and follow focus. Yea i cant see footage markers but ive yet to wish i had a lens with footage markers. Would like a cp.2 in the future maybe, Im happy renting them for the time being. But i would love some glass i can jus pack up anywhere and shoot. I really am considering a zeiss 35mm. Maybe a contax now
 
Domenic Barbero said:
Thanks nick. Good info for sure. Used the cp.2 lenses before. I feel they are highly overpriced when considering the difference between the two. And im looking for light weight as possible. Ive been fairly happy with the ease of canon glass plus cine rings and follow focus. Yea i cant see footage markers but ive yet to wish i had a lens with footage markers. Would like a cp.2 in the future maybe, Im happy renting them for the time being. But i would love some glass i can jus pack up anywhere and shoot. I really am considering a zeiss 35mm. Maybe a contax now
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I think the value of Contax lenses is pretty hard to beat. The CP2's and ZF/ZE's are all based on Contax designs; they are minor improvements only, and almost all the Contax lenses, in particular the primes, but even some of the zooms, are all razor sharp (allthough a few of the 1.4's are a little soft wide open, but this often by design to give you a "soft focus" dreamy look). They also have the older T* coating which has a more retro, filmic look in my opinion (the ZE/ZF/CP2's have a slightly clawing, modern look Im not as much a fan of). And they have perfect Cinema Mechanics. Most of these lenses are from the 80's and 90's, so make sure to get them in good shape, but I'm a huge fan. They are real poor man's Super Speed/Standard Speeds. It's that "look", but in still glass. A bitch to collect, but once you get them all they are very charming and versatile. Hope this helps.
 
I really think ive made up my mind. Thats awesome. Any good adaptors? c/y to ef you would recommend. And also which 3 primes would you get if you had the choice. I have a 11-16 tokina 2.8 and access to a 70-200 2.8 canon. Really interested in something around 50 and 85 but not sure if i should go 35mm or 24ish range. whatever the equivalent is in that series.
 
Domenic Barbero said:
I really think ive made up my mind. Thats awesome. Any good adaptors? c/y to ef you would recommend. And also which 3 primes would you get if you had the choice. I have a 11-16 tokina 2.8 and access to a 70-200 2.8 canon. Really interested in something around 50 and 85 but not sure if i should go 35mm or 24ish range. whatever the equivalent is in that series.
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35mm is may favorite focal length for s35 shooting; it's hard to imagine making a film without one. Of course, I like having all of the options available, but if I had to choose between a 24 and 35, I'd take the 35 without hesitation.
 
Thanks Erich, thats where i was leaning. i wish i had a few to test on the scarlet.
 
Domenic Barbero said:
I really think ive made up my mind. Thats awesome. Any good adaptors? c/y to ef you would recommend. And also which 3 primes would you get if you had the choice. I have a 11-16 tokina 2.8 and access to a 70-200 2.8 canon. Really interested in something around 50 and 85 but not sure if i should go 35mm or 24ish range. whatever the equivalent is in that series.
Click to expand...

If you had to get three, I'd do the 35 1.4, the 50 1.4, and the 85 1.4, kind of a classic, fast set. The 25 2.8 is also a fantastic focal length and lens to get. The 28 F2 doesn't have quite the noticeable "wideness" of the 25, but it's still AMAZING wide open at F2 for portraits. The 135 2.8 is another fun one.

If you are on a budget, you can also get the 35 2.8, 50 1.7 and 85 2.8 as an alternative, probably all for combined for under $1,000.

I shot THIS on the 2.8's (28 2.8, 35 2.8, and 50 1.4 for interviews)
And THIS on the 1.4's (35 1.4, 50 1.4, and 85 1.4)

Hope this helps.
 
yea i like the look of the contax i believe. probably going that route. and hey its cheaper so now i can get more. :)
 
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