Lens question for new camera (S35)

[Tim Lynge Resdal]

Hi.

I thinking about buying new lenses, as im buying a new camera this spring too. I have dslr's (7d and 5d), with canon glass L-series, and have rented Red when needed. I am thinking about buying the new Sony f5, but first of all I need new lenses that will work with both my canon DSLR's and the new camera.

My question is - Which would you recommend of these? Bokeh and sharpness is what im going for.

- Leica R (almost impossible to find in Denmark where im located)
- Contax (These looks AMAZING, but again - almost impossible to find in Denmark)
- Rokinon Cine's
- Zeiss FE / CP.2 (Seems kinda expensive, when building a set)
- Old Canon FD's ?

Others ?

Thanks!

 

[Mark K.]

Out of those options? The CP.2s destroy every other option for mechanics and operation alone. If you can stretch your budget to the Cine glass, you'll be playing in a very different field to any still lenses in existence.

If not, the Leica R, Zeiss Contax and Zeiss ZE/ZF are all BEAUTIFUL bits of glass (though if you go for the newer Zeiss glass go ZF - you don't get aperture rings with the ZEs). The Rokinon's are really impressive for the money, and Canon FDs are workhorses with nice image quality.

 

[Tim Lynge Resdal]

Thanks, Mark K., so you think the Cp2's are better than the canon l's ? What do you think about the zeiss ze', which i believe is their still lenses?

Do you know where to purchase Leica R's or Contax'?

 

[Gareth Ng]

CP.2s are cinema lenses, unlike the Canon L series, which is mainly for photography. The CP.2s and ZEs have the same optical quality, since they have exactly the same glass, but a different housing. They do have their differences though, like number of aperture blades and maximum aperture.

 

[Mike S. M.]

Zeiss CP.2 are just rehoused Zeiss Z series. Although they are "cinema" lenses their quality is not even close to Cookes or Master and Ultra Primes. At that rate I would as well save some cash and get Canon FDs or even Zeiss ZFs. If you really want cinema mechanics, look for a nice set of K35s or Lomo spherical. The 50mm 1.4 Zeiss CP.2 is a stinker by the way. Avoid it at all costs.

I particularly am not a fan of the Zeiss look. Specially not the CP.2s. I would take Cooke any day. But they are very expensive. So if you want some character on a budget the FDs have a nice look to them which I really like.
But in terms of bang for the buck I think nothing beats the Lomos. The problem is finding a nice set. But they are real cine lenses so no need to cinevise them, the standard speeds at T2 are quite fast compared to still glass and the optical quality of the good lenses (late 80's early 90's models) is great and comparable to Zeiss and Cookes of the same time.

 

[Saumene Mehrdady]

Out of the options you listed, the Contax lenses have the best image quality/price ratio. Start with the 35-70 f3.4, it's only 500 USD, and cinemod it. The 50 1.7 is a great intro lens too. You'll soon be addicted and will be building a set in no time. Leica R's are amazing as well- building a cinemodded set is roughly the same price as Contax. You said you are in Denmark and thus they are hard to find- I'm sure that ebay ships internationally, and keh.com as well?

If you are gonna go ZF/ZE/CP2, get the ZF (not the new ZF.2) as they are the same thing but don't carry EXIF data (unless you need that)- you'll save a few hundred on each