Red Nikon breathing samples

[Dustin Cross]

Aloha,

I shot a little footage today with my Nikon lenses and thought I would share.

Just a simple little test racking focus between two footballs four feet apart. I did the test using each of my Nikons @ f2.8. The footballs and the camera stayed the same, only the lens was changed.

http://www.sandust.net/red/NikonLensTest1.mov

Edited in FCP using half rez proxies and rendered using compressor.


Mahalo,
Dusty

 

[M.Halsell]

Thanks for the breathing tests. Resolve ability and breathing concerns were at the top of most Nikon user list. Thanks for taking the time and sharing. For now I will live and work around the imperfections.

 

[Joel Kaye]

Thanks Dusty. That's a helpful test.

 

[Alexis Hanawalt]

That breathing isn't nearly as evident as I'd expected - very thorough, thanks for doing this!

 

[Brandon Fraley]

Thanks, great clip!

If you don't mind, can u give me your general impressions of the 3 zooms? I was hoping to buy those 3 zooms with the nikon mount and just be set. Does that sound reasonable? Also, mechanically speaking, is there anything that would prevent me from using them with a mattebox/FF (such as the lense extending too far out when zooming or focusing)

THANKS!

 

[BigLu]

GREAT TEST THANKS that was helpful.

 

[Dustin Cross]

Brandon,

The three zooms are great, but I am looking forward to the Birger for them.

As for matte box, they all work fine. The 28-70 extends about 1" as you go through the zoom. Everything else is good. Focus is internal. The 17-35 & 80-200 everything is internal and no problems with matte box.

Follow focus is a different story. It will work, but the rotation distance is so short, that is is not practical. With proper size gears you could make it work. Also there are no hard stops, so when you get to infinity the ring keeps spinning. The Birger mount should solve these problems.

These three zooms have an aperture ring, which is important.

Picture quality seems great.


Mahalo,
Dusty

 

[Michael Schrengohst]

Thanks for that test Dustin,
How did you set focus? Visually or
measuring and using the focus marking
on the lenses?
Do you find the focus marking on the lenses
to be accurate?

I would love to see some faces in a typically
interview set-up......

Nice work - it helps in determining if using
Nikons lenses will be sufficient or not....

 

[Sanjin Jukic]

Dustin thanks.

Your great test shows that still photo lenses are not inferior to cine lenses at all.

Here is a breathing test from Cooke 25-250mm MkI CineVarotal (a vintage lens from 80's)

Snapshot from Cooke 25-250mm CineVarotal MkI

LINK>>>

 

[Dustin Cross]

Red Guy,

This was all focused by eye on the Red LCD. I didn't even have my follow focus, just my hand rotating the lens barrel. I am getting a 19mm base made for my Redrock FF. Can't wait to test that out.

The markings on the lenses are close, but I don't trust them. On one lens 5' will be just to the left of the number and on another it will be just to the right and on another it will be dead on. I need to correctly mark the distances on my primes, so I know they are accurate. I am just trying to come up with the best way to do this, something better than tape and a pencil.


Mahalo,
Dusty

 

[Siva Kollipara]

That's a great efforts helpful for lot of us, seriously on tight budget for lenses.
The third man's post has helped us to compare Nikon/old glass. Evin Grant kept telling from the begining that Modern Still Glasses are NO inferior to old cine glasses. When we saw both results from RED, we understood how close he is with the truth.

The three zooms are great, but I am looking forward to the Birger for them.
Also there are no hard stops, so when you get to infinity the ring keeps spinning. The Birger mount should solve these problems.
Dusty

OK, The idea to buy old lenses is ruled out. I am going through Nikon route.
Now, the question, how much breathing can be controlled by Birger eletrnoic mount.
If Birger mount, can resolve breathing and short focus turn problems then we will be in sweet spot.