Dragon and MasterPrimes

[Gunleik Groven]

I have definitely made the argument for old glass... but.

With Dragon I kinda have started to think of more glass in the other end of the spectrum. What I got from the combo on the prototype, really pleased me.

Any experiences and images to share?

I know the 18 does not even remotely cover 6k...

But still.

G

 

[Medavoym]

Tried it.

Way too sharp looking for my taste.

The 18mm indeed does not cover at 6K Full.
It covers 6KHD if it's not stopped down all the way.

The rest of the focal lengths cover fine.

 

[Erich Roland]

MP

MP

Love the Zeiss Master Primes, and Epic Dragon. There is something comforting and powerful about knowing your using the best combination on the planet... tough to argue. Okay the Leica Summilux's are said to be as good, but most mortals will never even see one in their life time (or so it seems at the rate these are hitting the streets.... and being stolen). You can always muck up the image later.

 

[Gunleik Groven]

Yup, that's what I am thinking...

Great lenses to mess up!

 

[Dave Brick]

This is the combination I've been using and they work together fantastic, the MPs look stunning on the Dragon!

 

[Daniel Christensen]

in my mind your goal as a shooter or DP is to simply get as much information as possible, which you can then manipulate however you like. Getting the sharpest images on the planet, in my mind, would be better because if you need it, it's there. If not, desharpen in post. Don't limit yourself conscientiously.

 

[Björn Benckert]

I like Toia's compassion, MP vs canon L:

http://classic.syndicate.se/Files/~usr/hawk/Toia MP's vs Canon L at 5.6.jpg

That little JPG has helped me control my MP shopping itch at some close calls

 

[Eric Haase]

in my mind your goal as a shooter or DP is to simply get as much information as possible, which you can then manipulate however you like. Getting the sharpest images on the planet, in my mind, would be better because if you need it, it's there. If not, desharpen in post. Don't limit yourself conscientiously.

My goal is to tell the story visually and command emotion with light, composition, and color. There are image characteristics and moments you can create uniquely with glass that is less sharp, flarey, or has special quality. It's about much more than gathering the most amount of information.

Master Primes are great - just another lens set that gives a particular look when combined with a particular camera or particular filters, post processes, etc etc etc. Appropriate for some stories, art, images but not all. It's really subjective.

 

[Nick Morrison]

in my mind your goal as a shooter or DP is to simply get as much information as possible, which you can then manipulate however you like. Getting the sharpest images on the planet, in my mind, would be better because if you need it, it's there. If not, desharpen in post. Don't limit yourself conscientiously.

Yes sometimes sharper is better, totally agree. But I've also found desharpening later doesn't always look real, especially when color grading on a budget. And there are many other lens characteristics that are very difficult to fake when you use clean glass: lens flare, bokeh, a certain lowcon DR, etc.

But I agree, sometimes you DO want to catch it all. But I think it's illuminating to notice how many top ASC DP's with ASC's frequently try and get a look in camera, either with specific lenses and/or filtration. Take Game of Thrones for example, perhaps the most expensive TV show of our time: they are shooting on Cooke Primes with Hollywood Black Magic filtration. Two very conscious choices, with one of them certainly affecting the sharpness (the HBM), however the "look" of the filter appears in this case to be more important to the show creators.

Point being. Sometimes you want sharp. And sometimes you want a look. Both choices can be valid depending on the project and circumstances.

 

[Marc Wielage]

Point being. Sometimes you want sharp. And sometimes you want a look. Both choices can be valid depending on the project and circumstances.

I agree. And I know that it's an ongoing concern among DPs as to the need to bake-in their specific look. All things being equal, my preference would be to shoot sharp and degrade later, because we can control it more consistently, but I don't dispute that there's a unique look when the diffusion is done with lighting and filters.

 

[Hans von Sonntag]

I like Toia's compassion, MP vs canon L:

http://classic.syndicate.se/Files/~usr/hawk/Toia MP's vs Canon L at 5.6.jpg

That little JPG has helped me control my MP shopping itch at some close calls

The lenses were stopped down to 5.6, the center was used and the focal length of 50mm is the easiest to build a sharp lens. All parameters were set to give the Canon a chance. I own a set SuperSpeeds and every time the task is to shoot glossy and sharp pictures I rent MPs. Shooting the 18mm at T 1.4 is an eye-opener. Compare that to a 18mm Super Speed or any still lens that can do 18mm @ T 1.4.

But I got what you are saying, and this is the reason why didn't step up either.

Hans

 

[Jens Jakob Thorsen]

in my mind your goal as a shooter or DP is to simply get as much information as possible, which you can then manipulate however you like. Getting the sharpest images on the planet, in my mind, would be better because if you need it, it's there. If not, desharpen in post. Don't limit yourself conscientiously.

That is a huge misunderstanding of my craft and quite funny!