Lens Advice - Electronic Aperture Control vs Manual vs Image Stabilization

[Ryan Zimmer]

Hey all,

First time starting a thread on RU and looking to the community to provide your thoughts on an 85mm lens purchase I'd like to make for my Raven. I'm looking for examples of why I may want to consider one type of lens over another or if I'm overlooking certain shooting scenarios. These are my top choices:

Zeiss Milvus 85 f/1.4 - (Canon EF Mount with Electronic Aperture Control)
Zeiss Milvus 85 f/1.4 (Nikon Mount with Manual Aperture Control)
Canon 85 f/1.4 (with Autofocus and Image Stabilization)

--All of these are pretty much the same price--

I have always used manual focus glass with step-less iris control and love the feel of real manual focus. Occasionally but not often I had a use for step-less aperture adjustments during a shot. When I got the Raven and Sigma 18-35, I immediately loved having a lens with communication to the camera body so I've definitely ruled out vintage or other cine glass that won't provide communication to the body.

The Milvus with Nikon mount would be the most similar to what I'm used to. But after recently purchasing the DSMC2 side handle I really have enjoyed controlling aperture and focus with that little baby on the Sigma. The Milvus with EF mount would be a bonus that I don't need to use a Nikon adapter and I can control aperture with the side handle or Fool Control (but losing the step-less option). And the Canon obviously has the image stabilization bonus but no proper manual focus compared to the Milvus.

What are your thoughts on where modern productions and lens tech are going? Especially any of you out there that are utilizing tools like electronic aperture control, auto focus, etc. on your RED bodies...

Thank you for any advice and anyone who made it through my lengthy first post

 

[Tolin]

Personally I never shoot with IS on for narrative work. IS in lenses has a certain 'look' to it (I guess if you shoot documentary work it's useful).
And I feel your dilemma choosing between manual Nikons and electronic Canon - I've got sets of lenses all with Nikon mount; Manual, easy to adapt to different mounts.
But having that electronic control feels pretty great too.

 

[Ryan Zimmer]

Hey thanks for the reply man...yeah I'm definitely leaning the least towards the Canon with IS for the work I do. Leaning the most towards getting the Milvus with EF mount, the only thing I don't want to happen is that I'm digging the electronic aperture control now, but possibly kicking myself later for some reason.

 

[Tolin]

My choice has always been Nikon due to the fact that I never know what camera I'll be using them on. Finding yourself not able to use your expensive lenses because they don't have physical aperture control isn't a great feeling.

 

[David Peterson]

My choice has always been Nikon due to the fact that I never know what camera I'll be using them on. Finding yourself not able to use your expensive lenses because they don't have physical aperture control isn't a great feeling.

This!

If some weird and wacky brand new mount pops up in the future, you can always count on Nikon adapters to come out first/cheapest/stablest.

Plus Nikon DSLRs are simply better photography machines than Canons, if you like to dabble with stills as well.

 

[Misha Engel]

I would go for the cheapest Sigma Art F1.4 85 or when I had more money the cine version.
And you have freedom of mount with this lens.