I have a 4k budget, what lenses to get?

[Larry McKee]

James, you have gotten some really good suggestions, but I'll throw one more into the mix. I have the Optitek Nikon Pro Lock mount and highly recommend it. You can find really good, inexpensive, used Nikon AI and AIS lenses at your local camera store. No, they are not cine lenses, and yes, the focus ring turns "backwards." But they produce very pleasing images. I have yet to have a client turn up their nose that the pictures we are getting. Just the opposite, they are in love with the images the RED produces with the Nikon glass. The image looks almost 3D from the 24mm F2, and the 85mm F1.4 is pure magic. I haven't tried them, but the focus rings from Cinevate are only $32 plus a few bucks for screws.

You should be able to put together a very usable set of lenses for the budget you have.

 

[Antoine Fabi]

skin looks better to start with, it's wormer, nice contrast, i like the flairs (personal preference) being a zoom it's a real time saver.
It also has a look "out of box" it's not nececery the "old" look, just something else.
Primes usually stay in the case, unless I need the speed.
On the other hand; Prime is a prime...
check out my reel, towards the end I have stuff from trojan I shot few months back with my Cooke.
www.vimeo.com/7003311

Yep, definitely different than Zeiss ZF.

Thanks Albert

Antoine

 

[Kip Kubin]

Cooke Look - extreme example

Cooke Look - extreme example

http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=24392&highlight=kip+kubin


Not a scientific test by any means...

Link with a grab comparing Zeiss STD Speeds with Cooke Panchros

This would be the most extreme example of the "Cooke Look" more modern Cooke lenses do not shift the color as warm as panchros... but still warmer than Zeiss

Cooke is on the left - notice the warmth and how it shifts the browns, reds and yellows....

If you have a small crew or do add work/music videos a zoom is an easy way of making quick work of a shoot. With a 4k budget you can either get a zoom or pick up a few primes but a whole set of cinema primes is hard to come by for that kind of money.