Nikon "G" 1.4 primes, a mini review...

[D Fuller]

Overall I think the breathing is pretty good for still lenses. Checkout the min. focus at the end of the 24mm clip!

LOL! That is one patient dog!

They seem to have improved the minimum focus on all of these. And the breathing is not bad at all.

Nikon should be paying you commission. You've probably sold a dozen sets of these this week!

 

[Steve Das]

..... I will still be using my Optimo DPs for most cinema work, but for light weight/location work the new Nikkors offer some real compelling options.

Image wise (colors/sharpness) how do the Nikons compare to your Optimos. Is the breathing why you'd stick with your Optimos ? Thanks...

 

[James Brundige]

I don't get it. I'm sure these G Nikon lenses are optically great. But this is a cinema forum since REDs are cinema cameras.

Won't these G lenses have limited use on a RED since they don't have the cine mechanics? Maybe useful just for Interviews, EPK, ???
I would buy them in a sec if they had excellent mechanics and marks.

I use still glass all the time, mostly working alone, but occasionally with an AC. Focus by eye. Mount and mark a follow focus if there's a move. Not for big crews with 5 people on the camera, but I make docs, and the weight and image quality are great. If you've got a big budget, rent what you need.

 

[Roberto Lequeux]

The mount I have is "dumb", IE no electronics. AFAIK the Canon's can't use autofocus confirmation for video anyway. For obvious reasons I wouldn't use theses lenses for stills on a Canon.

BTW here are some breathing tests on @f1.4 on a 5D...

http://www.evingrant.com/pics/NikonGtest/24mmBreathing.MOV
http://www.evingrant.com/pics/NikonGtest/35mmBreathing.MOV
http://www.evingrant.com/pics/NikonGtest/50mmBreathing.MOV
http://www.evingrant.com/pics/NikonGtest/85mmBreathing.MOV

Overall I think the breathing is pretty good for still lenses. Checkout the min. focus at the end of the 24mm clip!

You rock! Thanks. Here is one vote for Red sending you one of the first Nikon mounts when they are released.

Can't, wait, to see these on M-X.

 

[Evin Grant]

Image wise (colors/sharpness) how do the Nikons compare to your Optimos. Is the breathing why you'd stick with your Optimos ? Thanks...

Horses for courses, the Optimos are a proven design that can take the rigors of professional shows and seasoned ACs, they have excellent mechanics, focus marks and are optically superb, although the Nikon primes are probably a bit sharper. They both out resolve the Red One and Epic sensor so it's not an issue. As for color the Nikkors have a neutral/primary color bias while the Optimos have a slight warm/yellow bias but not as much as Cookes.

 

[Erich Ocean]

Nikon should be paying you commission. You've probably sold a dozen sets of these this week!

No kidding! Count me as one of the people who is picking up a set...

 

[Robin Horn]

Hi Evin

I have just brought a set of Optimo Rouge zooms. However I was thinking of getting the Nikon G lenses as well for low light as I shoot a lot on Phantom Flexes and Golds. I have 2 issues:

1: How difficult is it for an AC to pull focus on them

2: Using the Prolock Nikon adaptor on a PL mount camera, how does this effect the Bokeh of the lens? Does the Nikon G stay wide open and there is a manual iris in the adaptor?

Many thanks

Robin Horn

2:

 

[Evin Grant]

The prolock is not an adapter but a replacement mount for the Red One.
It does not have any optic to affect the Bokeh. As for focus pulling, using the Redmote pro it will be similar to a Preston or C-motion.

These options will of course not be available on the Phantoms.

 

[Michael Hastings]

The prolock is not an adapter but a replacement mount for the Red One.
It does not have any optic to affect the Bokeh. As for focus pulling, using the Redmote pro it will be similar to a Preston or C-motion.

These options will of course not be available on the Phantoms.

FWIW Birger makes an electronic (focus and iris) Canon EF mount for the Phantom Flex (we will probably use it on a housing we are in the middle of making now - although it will also have provision for PL lenses as well) And of course Nikons work on the Canon mount in manual mode. As Evin says, because Canon has a shorter Flange focal depth you don't need an optic when using Nikon on Canon - just a thin mechanical adapter.

 

[Jacek Zakowicz]

The prolock is not an adapter but a replacement mount for the Red One.
It does not have any optic to affect the Bokeh.

These options will of course not be available on the Phantoms.

Actually the ProLock will work on Phantom with an adapter part I made.
FYI I'm just about done with the prototype ProLock for Epic as well...
Sorry for (slightly ) derailing the thread but I felt that corrections were needed and ProLock is essential at this time for use of Nikon lenses with motion cameras.

 

[Evin Grant]

Good to know, I'd love to try one when my Epic gets here.

 

[Roberto Lequeux]

Come on Evin! Spill the beans. How did the Duclos PL 70-200 feel? Did you ask about the possibility for a Nikon G-Prime Duclos PL set?

Just called Duclos to ask and spoke to Michelle. Nothing yet on that. They of course had considered doing a mid-range zoom.

I bet they would have a lot of success if they were able to keep the price of the primes nice and low and also manage the large demand.

 

[Evin Grant]

Roberto, one thing at a time. Let them finish the 70-200 and get caught up on thier 11-16 orders, they also have an entire lens service Co. so be patient. I would love to see them re-house the "G" primes too but that would be quite a bit of time in R&D and development to make them live up to the Duclos name. It would be years although I'm sure worth the wait.

 

[Roberto Lequeux]

I just wished they were able to hire more Duclos-level techs to handle production while they focused on R&D (and kept a watchful eye over production).

 

[Larry McKee]

In the short term, I think it would be great for Duclos to modify their 80mm Front Rings so that all the lenses are the same length. That means the Front Ring for the 50MM would end up being more of a lens hood at about 1-1/2" long. Add some focus gears for the times the touch to focus or the REDmote Pro aren't appropriate and you have a pretty versatile set of lenses.

 

[Evin Grant]

Having the 80mm fronts longer doesn't seem necessary since the elements telescope out anyway. Also anything that adds weight seems to me to take away from one of the big reasons to use theses lenses.

Roberto, being a highly skilled lens technician as wells as being capable of Duclos level design and execution is not something that you just find at the local unemployment office. I'm sure they know what kind of market their in and they've watched carefully as seemingly good designs and projects went down in flames because of some perceived design oversight. They will take their time because it is very hard to get a second chance in cinema optics.

 

[Larry McKee]

The other lenses could probably just use the existing Duclos Front Rings, but having to move your mattebox back and forth an inch and a half every time you switched to or from the 50MM would be a real pain. The 50MM weighs about half what the others do. So, I don't the little bit of added weight would be a problem. Just my thoughts.

 

[James Brundige]

The other lenses could probably just use the existing Duclos Front Rings, but having to move your mattebox back and forth an inch and a half every time you switched to or from the 50MM would be a real pain. The 50MM weighs about half what the others do. So, I don't the little bit of added weight would be a problem. Just my thoughts.

I've just stumbled on a review of the Sigma 50 f 1.2, which is much closer in size to the 24,35,and 85 Nikkors. The performance is very close to the Nikkor 50 G. I wonder if it would color match. Anybody tried this lens?

I noticed this lens because Allstar is using the guts for a rehouse. Must be good.

 

[Roberto Lequeux]

Having the 80mm fronts longer doesn't seem necessary since the elements telescope out anyway. Also anything that adds weight seems to me to take away from one of the big reasons to use theses lenses.

Roberto, being a highly skilled lens technician as wells as being capable of Duclos level design and execution is not something that you just find at the local unemployment office. I'm sure they know what kind of market their in and they've watched carefully as seemingly good designs and projects went down in flames because of some perceived design oversight. They will take their time because it is very hard to get a second chance in cinema optics.

Exactly. I am paying them a compliment. And desperately trying to sway their attention to what I want them to work on next.

 

[Lee Saxon]

The other lenses could probably just use the existing Duclos Front Rings, but having to move your mattebox back and forth an inch and a half every time you switched to or from the 50MM would be a real pain. The 50MM weighs about half what the others do. So, I don't the little bit of added weight would be a problem. Just my thoughts.

Supposedly Nikon is working on a 50 1.2G. I have no idea why lol.

But since it's rumored to be in the $5k range, I'm guessing it's bigger and heavier than your typical 50 1.4 (or the old AI-s 50 1.2, which is actually SMALLER than your typical 50 1.4, using a 52mm filter instead of the 50 1.4G or Canon 50 1.2's 72mm, I have no idea how)