RF Lenses for Komodo

[Tim Daust]

really looking into some of the new RF lenses to use with Komodo. That 28-70 f2 is an amazing lens. anyone have experience with the RF lens line up ? Any thoughts on best of the options available at the moment ?

 

[Jarred Land]

really looking into some of the new RF lenses to use with Komodo. That 28-70 f2 is an amazing lens. anyone have experience with the RF lens line up ? Any thoughts on best of the options available at the moment ?

They are pretty much all phenomenal . The 70-200mm is a "pop-out" lens which I just don't like but optically the entire lineup is pretty killer.

But remember... We are doing the EF protocol first since that is the majority of lenses out there right now. It will take us time to get those all EF lenses programmed in and the new autofocus on top of that, so native support for RF lenses will most likely not be there at launch.

So your next thread probably should be the same question but about adapters, and I know Phil is doing a shit-ton of testing there.

 

[Luke Marcus Rosen]

After looking at all the different RF to *insert your favorite here* Mount adapters, as well as looking at some of these bts Komodo shots, I’m most interested in the leica M mount: the size of the lenses remain small, light and compact to compliment the dimensions of Komodo but also the barrel rotation is much less than a traditional larger sized lens... requiring focus to be precise but focus racks can cover large distances very quickly for run n gun shooting. Which is why I’m upgrading/downsizing from Scarlet W to Komodo in the first place.

@Jarred, when you’re ready I’d love to hear about the crop factor. I noticed some vignetting on some of the shots in the Hard Rock hotel commercial and would love to get the inside scoop. Of course I’m standing in line many months before the ice cream parlor opens...

 

[Tim Daust]

They are pretty much all phenomenal . The 70-200mm is a "pop-out" lens which I just don't like but optically the entire lineup is pretty killer.

But remember... We are doing the EF protocol first since that is the majority of lenses out there right now. It will take us time to get those all EF lenses programmed in and the new autofocus on top of that, so native support for RF lenses will most likely not be there at launch.

So your next thread probably should be the same question but about adapters, and I know Phil is doing a shit-ton of testing there.

went ahead and started an adapter thread good sir lol

 

[Ryan Genova]

I have the 28-70 and 50. The 28-70 is big and really heavy and feels very front heavy and unbalanced on the EOS R (using the battery grip helps a bit), but there's definitely something special about the image quality versus the EF 24-70 II. There's no question it's the best zoom lens I've ever used. The 50mm is very sharp even at f/1.2 and has nice bokeh. I've compared it with the Otus 55mm for stills and it's pretty close in overall quality. Whereas I feel like the 28-70 has a sort of "magic" to it's images, the 50 is much more clinical -- sharp and clean without much character. It's a great still lens, but I'm not sure what it can really do for video without a proper RF mount video camera.

The EOS R's video capabilities leave a lot to be desired, so I haven't done much testing with the RF lenses for video. The focus rings on the RF lenses don't have hard stops and they're probably a bit smoother than Sigma or Canon EF lenses, but not as smooth the Otus or Canon CN-E. The build quality is a little "plasticy" and they don't feel nearly as solid as a Zeiss Classic/Otus or CN-E. I've compared the RF 50 with the Canon CN-E 50mm and the difference in images between the two is almost unnoticeable. The EOS R has quite a large crop in 4K, which is advantageous for the CN-E, which shows more flaws toward the edges of a full frame, and I don't find EOS R 4K video to be particularly sharp in general. It's entirely subjective, but I'd say the Otus and CN-E look slightly more cinematic than the RF 50 and I also prefer their color rendition (although only subtly different) over the RF 50.

 

[Jarred Land]

After looking at all the different RF to *insert your favorite here* Mount adapters, as well as looking at some of these bts Komodo shots, I’m most interested in the leica M mount: the size of the lenses remain small, light and compact to compliment the dimensions of Komodo but also the barrel rotation is much less than a traditional larger sized lens... requiring focus to be precise but focus racks can cover large distances very quickly for run n gun shooting. Which is why I’m upgrading/downsizing from Scarlet W to Komodo in the first place.

@Jarred, when you’re ready I’d love to hear about the crop factor. I noticed some vignetting on some of the shots in the Hard Rock hotel commercial and would love to get the inside scoop. Of course I’m standing in line many months before the ice cream parlor opens...

Just did a "test" for a feature with the Leica M mount adapter on Komodo today with that insane pancake Japanese lens and I wish I could show you the test. It blew my mind. One of those "there is no way this is possible" moments....

 

[Corey Koniniec]

Jarred, Do you have any way to receive private messages at all. I wouldn't bother unless I think it was something pretty cool pertaining to Komodo. If not no worries

 

[Abiodun Shote]

Jarred, Do you have any way to receive private messages at all. I wouldn't bother unless I think it was something pretty cool pertaining to Komodo. If not no worries

Send him a mail. He reads his email like no other CEO (and responds!). The man is a machine!

 

[Jeremy Torrie]

Come On, Jarred...how about a little something to tide us over?

Just did a "test" for a feature with the Leica M mount adapter on Komodo today with that insane pancake Japanese lens and I wish I could show you the test. It blew my mind. One of those "there is no way this is possible" moments....

 

[Blair S. Paulsen]

They are pretty much all phenomenal. The 70-200mm is a "pop-out" lens which I just don't like but optically the entire lineup is pretty killer. (snip)

Sorry to hear the R version of the 70-200 extends - no bueno. The EF 70-200L 2.8 is one of my absolute favorite lenses despite it being purpose designed for stills. I was hoping the R version would knock it out of the park, not knock into the rear filter in my matte box... :cryin:

Cheers - #19

 

[Han Vogen]

The RF 70-200 is really great for travel. It packs light and takes up a fraction of the space as the EF version. Granted, there are drawbacks to the retractable design. But overall I feel the RF version suits the Komodo’s smaller footprint.

 

[Gregory Karydis]

Yup, the "pop-out" 70-200 is a deal breaker for me.
As much as I owned and loved all versions of the EF version, I might just skip that one.

Jarred, since you are doing the EF lenses first, are you just focusing on the Canon lineup, or is there any hope for the Sigma Art series too?

The RF 70-200 is really great for travel. It packs light and takes up a fraction of the space as the EF version. Granted, there are drawbacks to the retractable design. But overall I feel the RF version suits the Komodo’s smaller footprint.

Yes, but hand-held or on a gimbal you never know if it might slide out mid-action.
Not only that, each time you want to adjust the focal length, you have to re-balance the gimbal...

 

[WesG]

The RF lenses look great (and love the smaller footprint/weight of the 70-200)
but I'm sold on sticking to EF purely as I'll be able to have 'internal NDs' with the RF-EF adaptor
to keep my kit small.

Unless I'm missing something and there's any potential solution for the RF mount??

 

[Jarred Land]

The RF lenses look great (and love the smaller footprint/weight of the 70-200)
but I'm sold on sticking to EF purely as I'll be able to have 'internal NDs' with the RF-EF adaptor
to keep my kit small.

Unless I'm missing something and there's any potential solution for the RF mount??

RF native lenses you lose the ND ability as that gap is filled.

 

[paulcurtis]

Just did a "test" for a feature with the Leica M mount adapter on Komodo today with that insane pancake Japanese lens and I wish I could show you the test. It blew my mind. One of those "there is no way this is possible" moments....

I can guess the lens, MS Optics? Very cool guy, all hand designed AFAIK.

I too lean towards the M Mount range - One of the issues with DSMC2 was the limited depth inside the OLPF, meaning that a bunch of the wider M mount lenses won't work as they hit the OLPF - I assume due to the nature of the RF mount these will be okay?

Have there been any details on the filter stack, as some of these lenses can refract through thicker stacks and loose resolution in some cases.

But Komodo + M mount and focusing off the lens by hand should give a really nice feel to shooting...

cheers
Paul

 

[WesG]

RF native lenses you lose the ND ability as that gap is filled.

beauty
that's enough to keep me on EFs for good

 

[Eirik Fiskkjønli]

But remember... We are doing the EF protocol first since that is the majority of lenses out there right now. It will take us time to get those all EF lenses programmed in and the new autofocus on top of that, so native support for RF lenses will most likely not be there at launch.

Are we talking no support at all for native RF at launch? Will we not be able to even focus manually?
Heh.. sold all my EF lenses and only have the 15-35 and 70-200 in my possession..
Do not need AF at launch, but would be nice not having to buy a temporary EF-lens.

 

[Tim Daust]

Are we talking no support at all for native RF at launch? Will we not be able to even focus manually?
Heh.. sold all my EF lenses and only have the 15-35 and 70-200 in my possession..
Do not need AF at launch, but would be nice not having to buy a temporary EF-lens.

I hope we get some sort of support for RF lenses at launch... the AF can wait but I just got the 28-70 f2 RF and it would be a shame if it stays attached to the EOS R

 

[hani fayed]

Does that mean prime and zoom cannon lenses (RF) will cover the ND on the Komodo making it unusable?
So every time we would want to use the ND, we need an adapter?

 

[David Rasberry]

Does that mean prime and zoom cannon lenses (RF) will cover the ND on the Komodo making it unusable?
So every time we would want to use the ND, we need an adapter?

Behind the lens ND is part of the EF to RF adapter. No space for behind the lens ND with RF lenses.