Scarlet-X and Nikon G Lenses

[Bob Gundu]

I'd love to but I'm still waiting for my Scarlet

Sounds good...thanks Bob. It does sound like a good option. Any chance you can upload sample footage or point me to an existing thread? 2k and/or 4k. Ungraded frame grabs would be fine also.

 

[Marq Lee]

I'd love to but I'm still waiting for my Scarlet

Oh hehe! Gotcha.

 

[D Fuller]

Hey David,
Thank you for clarifying. We were about to pull the trigger on Jacek's ProLock, but have some time, since we're pretty far down the Scarlet list.
In regards to your comment about adjusting the Iris, are you referring to the controls on the ring/mount itself...not through the LCD right?

From my chat with Jacek, it sounded like the ProLock is only responsible to function from the mount to the lens. It WILL NOT have any functionality from the mount to the camera...this is to maintain the warranty of the Brain, which was RED approved.

Please let us know otherwise.

Because of this issue, we were going to use our Fotodiox on the EF mount: http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Pro-...3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1325360323&sr=1-3

Until the Nikon mount becomes accessible of course.

ML

It's correct that the mount does not communicate with the camera. But in the Nikon world, all of the lenses (including the G series and the DX lenses) have a mechanical actuator for the iris. the Optitek ProLock takes advantage of this. Importantly, it also gives you a scale to tell you what the aperture is adjusted to. I'm not familiar with the Fotodiox adapter, because I don't shoot with Canon cameras. But I can tell you that the ProLock is rock solid. To my mind, it is far better to have that single, solid, locking mount than an adapter to another mount. But that's just me.

The Red Nikon mount will make the Epic (or Scarlet) work more like a D3, but it won't make the lenses look any different.

 

[jaadgy akanni]

In my opinion, the one thing that would've made the Optitek mount perfect was an actual iris ring instead of a small lever, so that one could mark the f-stops on it.

 

[D Fuller]

In my opinion, the one thing that would've made the Optitek mount perfect was an actual iris ring instead of a small lever, so that one could mark the f-stops on it.

Have you actually seen an Optitek mount? it has an iris ring with f-stops marked on it. Not sure what you are on about here.

 

[Bob Gundu]

In my opinion, the one thing that would've made the Optitek mount perfect was an actual iris ring instead of a small lever, so that one could mark the f-stops on it.

The lever is for mounting the lens. There is a separate ring to control iris.

 

[jaadgy akanni]

Have you actually seen an Optitek mount? it has an iris ring with f-stops marked on it. Not sure what you are on about here.

That's what I get for talking out of my ass. I had no idea it had an iris ring. I thought the lever was for aperture control. So I stand corrected. Now that I know this, I'm placing my order immediately. My world is simpler than I thought...:sigh:
Thanks Fuller and Bob for clarifying that.

 

[D Fuller]

That's what I get for talking out of my ass. I had no idea it had an iris ring. I thought the lever was for aperture control. So I stand corrected. Now that I know this, I'm placing my order immediately. My world is simpler than I thought...:sigh:
Thanks Fuller and Bob for clarifying that.

Y'know, there ought to be a rule on this forum about talkin' out yer ass. Seriously.

There are so many people here posting things they have no clue about that it makes Reduser the whipping boy of the film industry. Can we get you guys to just stop doing this??

 

[D Fuller]

Sounds good...thanks Bob. It does sound like a good option. Any chance you can upload sample footage or point me to an existing thread? 2k and/or 4k. Ungraded frame grabs would be fine also.

Look here. http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?57078-Nikon-quot-G-quot-1-4-primes-a-mini-review

The footage is pretty casual, but Evin knows lenses, and his thoughts are worth listening to.

 

[jaadgy akanni]

Y'know, there ought to be a rule on this forum about talkin' out yer ass. Seriously.

There are so many people here posting things they have no clue about that it makes Reduser the whipping boy of the film industry. Can we get you guys to just stop doing this??

heheh you're so right. I usually abstain from using my ass to express myself, but hey, I'm human.
Hey, I just watched that optitek prolock installation and operation video on youtube, and I finally understood it after having watched it thousands of times. Maybe something in me was biased towards the Allstar mount...guilty...hehehe

 

[D Fuller]

heheh you're so right. I usually abstain form using my ass to express myself, but hey, I'm human.
Hey, I just watched that optitek prolock installation and operation video on youtube, and I finally understood it after having watched it thousands of times. Maybe something in me was biased towards the Allstar mount...guilty...hehehe

To be human should be a privilege, not an excuse.

I'm sure the Allstar system works well. I've never seen it, so I can't really comment on it. (See how easy that was?)

I do know the Optitek mount works well -- PL-quality solid mounting. And it gives iris control for my complete collection of Nikkors. All good.

I am really anxious to see the Red electronic mount arrive, because its lens control combined with the side handle will be fantastic. But I don't expect that for at least 6 months, and I have work to do. I was one of Jacek's first customers for both the R1 and the Epic mount, and I can tell you it is the real deal.

Jacek's videos could use some help, and his web site is a disaster (but then, so's mine) but the mount is excellent.

 

[jaadgy akanni]

Hey Fuller, have you shot anything with any one of these that I could see?:
Nikkor AF-S 85mm f/1.4 G
Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.4 G
Nikkor AF-S 35mm f/1.4 G
These are some of the lenses I'm gonna be putting on my Scarlet. For now. I just have a D7000. I'm curious to see what images they produce on an Epic or a Scarlet

 

[A_Love]

Happy New Year to all!

 

[D Fuller]

Hey Fuller, have you shot anything with any one of these that I could see?:
Nikkor AF-S 85mm f/1.4 G
Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.4 G
Nikkor AF-S 35mm f/1.4 G
These are some of the lenses I'm gonna be putting on my Scarlet. For now. I just have a D7000. I'm curious to see what images they produce on an Epic or a Scarlet

This link has some casual samples (it's not mine):
http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?57078-Nikon-quot-G-quot-1-4-primes-a-mini-review

Really, they'll look like they do on your Nikon. And at 4K, almost exactly the same FOV.
This is standard def finish, so it's not a great sample, but the 85 and the 35 play a lot in this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blk_SW051cY&context=C3c1e19eADOEgsToPDskLnpVz546NTdnnJBcf652QM

 

[Bill Sepaniak]

I am planning to use my 14-24 G and 24-70 G on my Scarlet. I currently use Novoflex adapters, since I also use the lenses on my 5DII. My only concern is getting a matte box wide enough for the 14-24.

 

[Bob Gundu]

You'll have to make a custom matte box for that one or use the Lee Filters solution specifically made for that lens.

I am planning to use my 14-24 G and 24-70 G on my Scarlet. I currently use Novoflex adapters, since I also use the lenses on my 5DII. My only concern is getting a matte box wide enough for the 14-24.

 

[Andrew Huse]

I recently sold all my Canon Ls and I plan on getting the Nikon G prime set for my Epic. 9 rounded aperture blades and incredible sharpness is what did it in for me. They may breathe a little, but thats fixable in post. The only problem is that they are ALWAYS out of stock on B&H!

 

[Lee Saxon]

I find it hard to believe based on what I've seen that the cream of the crop Nikon primes (24/1.4, 35/1.4, 85/1.4 AF-S G models) would be noticeably less sharp... Or less sharp at all... Than the ZF lenses.

In my opinion the Nikon 24 is noticeably less sharp than the 21 ZF (but still quite nice). But the Nikon 85 is incredible while the ZF is "just" very good. So it's a mixed bag.

Since these aren't "sets" (they don't match, not even the CP.2 rehousings), I have no problem having a mixed bag. (hehe see what I did there?)

 

[Steve Wake]

Questions about iris control on the Optitek.

1. Is the control geared or levered to increase the throw? Average throw on an AIS lens is about 45 degrees; is it more on the OptiTek?
2. Is it damped and how well does it stay in place once set?
3. Do you set it by feel/look or is there a way to put marks on it?
4. Can you use the large gear control that comes with the mount to control aperture on AIS lenses?

What's the price for a Scarlet/Epic version?

Any issues with the weathersealing o-ring on newer Nikkors?

 

[D Fuller]

Questions about iris control on the Optitek.

[*]Is the control geared or levered to increase the throw? Average throw on an AIS lens is about 45 degrees; is it more on the OptiTek?

Yes, the iris is geared for remote iris control. But no, it does not increase the throw. In fact, for lenses with I usually use the iris ring on the lens, because the throw on the mount is shorter. The iris control works by controlling the iris actuator lever in the back of the lens, so the throw is, in fact, significantly than it is on an AIS lens's iris ring. But for G-series or DX series lenses, it's a huge improvement over not having any control at all.

For AIS lenses (and Zeiss ZFs and others) the real advantage of the mount is the locking mechanism. It seems as solid as PL mount, and eliminates the lens rotation when focusing that is so common in simple, spring-mechanism Nikon bayonet mounts. I would say that this is at least as important as the ability to control the iris. It mounts these lenses solidly enough to make them useable for motion work.

[*]Is it damped and how well does it stay in place once set?

Yes it's dampened. It stays in place very well.

[*]Do you set it by feel/look or is there a way to put marks on it?

The mount has an aperture scale that can be set for the widest aperture in the lens. There are then marks that will tell you the stop you are using. It is not as accurate as the iris ring on the lens (assuming it has one), and I would not set my exposure based on it. But I set exposure based on the meters in the camera and set the aperture for my creative intent. It is accurate enough for that purpose.

[*]Can you use the large gear control that comes with the mount to control aperture on AIS lenses?

Yes. I believe the only Nikkor lenses it cannot control are the new, fully-electronic T/S lenses.

What's the price for a Scarlet/Epic version?

$995 (or thereabouts, when I bought mine)

Any issues with the weathersealing o-ring on newer Nikkors?

I'm not sure what kind of issues you mean here, but I've had no issues with the newer Nikkors at all, so I think the answer is no.