SLR Magic APO HyperPrime mini review

[Illya Friedman]

Made the plunge and purchased a brand new set from Adorama last week.

The big box shops are pretty poor at inspecting lenses before shipping, I have heard multiple horror stories in particular about cinema lens purchases.

As a point of contrast, if Hot Rod Cameras was your vendor all of your SLRMagic APO lenses could have been inspected prior to shipping out.

 

[darren scott]

The big box shops are pretty poor at inspecting lenses before shipping, I have heard multiple horror stories in particular about cinema lens purchases.

As a point of contrast, if Hot Rod Cameras was your vendor all of your SLRMagic APO lenses could have been inspected prior to shipping out.

And that's why I'm getting them from Hotrod ����

 

[paulcurtis]

Is this typical of SLR Magic given that they are a smaller company with less stringent quality control requirements, or did I receive duds?

Certainly not typical. I think if you reach out to SLR Magic with Serial numbers they will track where and when they have been. As mentioned these look like demos or used. Not new. They're pristine new.

cheers
Paul

 

[paulcurtis]

I bought a 25mm and 50mm from Adorama about a month ago and was skeptical since other companies didn't have them in stock. But mine didn't have any cosmetic damages (at least not that I'm aware of. Now I better check in detail.) I really hope I didn't get demos. My 25mm is def tinted green. But that seems the case with all of them?

All of the lenses skew green. It's an choice of coatings on there and is part of the look. All manufacturers skew one way or another and it's not by much. Key is that they all match, that's what's important.

cheers
Paul

 

[Andrew Rieger]

Illya, do you have any APO sets in stock or are they all custom orders? If they are custom order, what is the current wait time for a set (25,50,85)?

 

[Illya Friedman]

Illya, do you have any APO sets in stock or are they all custom orders? If they are custom order, what is the current wait time for a set (25,50,85)?

Hi Andrew,

Generally speaking the 25, 50 and 85 are kept in stock at the SLRMagic warehouse and we can generally have a new set in Burbank in as little as a couple days. I see you are local to Burbank. Hot Rod keeps a full demo APO set in stock for testing. We also have multiple cameras, a lighting grid/set and plenty of monitors where you can shoot a test with them. Like with all manufacturers, availability is always changing so it's a good idea not to wait until the last minute if you are planning a project. Hot Rod has also been known to loan the demo lenses to customers who purchase a set and need something for a day or two while waiting for their new lenses to arrive. Worth mentioning, the 32mm APO is shipping in the next few weeks, and the early reports we've received are extremely promising.

All the best,

I.

 

[John David Pope]

All of the lenses skew green. It's an choice of coatings on there and is part of the look. All manufacturers skew one way or another and it's not by much. Key is that they all match, that's what's important.

cheers
Paul

I've read the SLR APO's compared to Cookes in terms of their look but in my mind "green tint" is unlike Cookes, which I think of as having an orangey tint. I think of Cookes as being on the side of the spectrum with Canon glass- warmish and flattering to skin-tones. Whereas "green-tint" doesn't sound flattering to skin tone at all. It sounds like the ugly green of traditional fluorescent lighting.

What other glass also has a green-tint that is similar to the green-tint of the SLR APO's in order that one might get an idea of what to expect?

I've seen the videos that provide side-by-side images comparing the SLR APO's with other lenses and I didn't see any green-tint in the images from the SLR APO's. But, I must not be adept at seeing such subtleties of image character because half the time someone is dismissing a lens as too-this or too-that I don't see what they are on about.

 

[John Brawley]

Made the plunge and purchased a brand new set from Adorama last week. Took delivery yesterday and needless to say I'm disappointed in the condition (see attached photos). Multiple cosmetic damages on the 25mm and 50mm. Anyone else receive new lenses from SLR Magic in this condition? Prior to my purchase I was assured from Adorama this lens set was brand new and not a customer return or demo set. I was a bit skeptical because they had the kit in stock whereas everywhere else has it available as a special order item only.

Is this typical of SLR Magic given that they are a smaller company with less stringent quality control requirements, or did I receive duds?

That’s not right.

The dings on the gears especially.

Those aren’t new.

I would ask for an exchange.

JB

 

[John Brawley]

I've read the SLR APO's compared to Cookes in terms of their look but in my mind "green tint" is unlike Cookes, which I think of as having an orangey tint. I think of Cookes as being on the side of the spectrum with Canon glass- warmish and flattering to skin-tones. Whereas "green-tint" doesn't sound flattering to skin tone at all. It sounds like the ugly green of traditional fluorescent lighting.

What other glass also has a green-tint that is similar to the green-tint of the SLR APO's in order that one might get an idea of what to expect?

I've seen the videos that provide side-by-side images comparing the SLR APO's with other lenses and I didn't see any green-tint in the images from the SLR APO's. But, I must not be adept at seeing such subtleties of image character because half the time someone is dismissing a lens as too-this or too-that I don't see what they are on about.

There are some DNGs availablento download here.

I don’t think I’d cal them cooke, but I do find they intercut much better with PV Primo than the Zeiss CPs and I consider Primos to be “warm” glass.

https://johnbrawley.wordpress.com/2018/01/15/slr-magic-quick-test/

JB

 

[Shannon O'Donnell]

I've read the SLR APO's compared to Cookes in terms of their look but in my mind "green tint" is unlike Cookes, which I think of as having an orangey tint. I think of Cookes as being on the side of the spectrum with Canon glass- warmish and flattering to skin-tones. Whereas "green-tint" doesn't sound flattering to skin tone at all. It sounds like the ugly green of traditional fluorescent lighting.

What other glass also has a green-tint that is similar to the green-tint of the SLR APO's in order that one might get an idea of what to expect?

I've seen the videos that provide side-by-side images comparing the SLR APO's with other lenses and I didn't see any green-tint in the images from the SLR APO's. But, I must not be adept at seeing such subtleties of image character because half the time someone is dismissing a lens as too-this or too-that I don't see what they are on about.

I'm not sure what lenses skew green as well but IMHO the 25mm skews worse than my 50mm. So it is a tad bit distracting when grading it out but honestly I haven't found it too difficult to remove it. I think you're right though. It's not the color I would prefer to skew in a lens but for the value of the lenses, it's still a great deal.

Here is some stills of some skin tones. I think any green pollution is just from the foliage nearby. Not Red so don't kill me

 

[Mark Farag]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Definitely sending this used set back to Adorama and re-ordering from another company.

 

[darren scott]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Definitely sending this used set back to Adorama and re-ordering from another company.

I recommend Hotrod cameras. I've only got great service from them. Since they are a small outfit you can actually talk to people who care about their customer.

 

[Tommaso Alvisi]

What other glass also has a green-tint that is similar to the green-tint of the SLR APO's in order that one might get an idea of what to expect?

It's mainly on the 25mm...

other slightly green-tinted lenses are older Leicas and Schneiders and some Panavision Primos.

 

[Ericsson San Pablo Chu]

Hi Paul et al, do you find the SLR Magic PL-EF adapter to be any different than the c7 one? Are they pretty much the same functionally? Are the APO's focus markings accurate on the c7 adapters (I'm assuming they definitely are on the SLR Magic adapter). Thanks!

P.S. I also found the 25mm I had to skew more green than the 50 and 85 for what its worth (by a lot fyi). I may have had a bad version, so will possibly try again in the future.

 

[Marcus Gelhard]

I have the same with the 25mm, so maybe we have a bad batch or all of the 25mm are more green then the 50 & 85.

Or should we send them in?

 

[John David Pope]

This is a bit disingenuous.

The main thrust of the thread is that these represent great value for money for a great look in todays market. They're not really competing with the 10k lenses, no one would realistically expect them to, right?

Thanks for the feedback, Paul. Although "disingenuous" means something different than what it appears you think it means. ( It means insincere. You were accusing me of being dishonest. )

I don't expect a $2000 lens to be of the same optical quality or robustness as a $10,000 lens. But I do want a $2000 lens to at least hold up to use as well as a $500 Rokinon. $2K for a cine lens is indeed a bargain. But that said, it is still $2K ( $8K if purchasing a 4-lens set ).

It is great that owners are loving the lenses. But any prospective buyer should also take into account the owners who are less than in love with their purchase. Any prospective buyer should go about a $2000 lens purchase with the same good prudence that one uses in going about making a $10,000 lens purchase. That the SLR APO Hyperprimes are a "bargain" compared to other cinema lenses doesn't mean you don't still do your research. It also does not mean that the lenses are not to be criticized. Or that we accept the unforgivable with a shrug and the knowledge that it only cost $2500.00.

 

[paulcurtis]

I don't see why you would find my post to be insincere, Paul. Maybe you are just misapplying the word "disingenuous". I don't expect a $2000 lens to be of the same optical quality or robustness as a $10,000 lens. But I do want a $2000 lens to at least hold up to use as well as a $500 Rokinon.

I'm not taking anything personally, don't worry. But i was just pointing out blanket statements are not fair on smaller companies.

You specifically talked about QA from the vendor. The one example you quoted appears to not be from the Vendor. A smaller company can hand check everything before sending out in a way that a larger company can't (witness the many QA issues with Sigma)

You spoke about customers in the plural having issues with Green. The set skews green in the same way that other lenses skew magenta and only one person here has really mentioned a 25 looking more green than they think it should.

One lens with an inoperable ring - well i've seen cookes and Leicas with inoperable rings too - they're damaged by someone. Doesn't mean they're mechanically substandard.

There was a redesign of a lens to improve some aspects of it. Most lenses have sub versions and redesigns, going back decades. I'm not sure specifically what you're talking about but there was mention on this thread of a tweak to the design to improve an issue in the field and they would sort that out for anyone that needed it- that's customer service no?

The tone of your message was a little heavy on opinion and light on examples to back that up.

I just think it's a bit unfair. And SLR Magic aren't that small, they ship, design and move a lot of other lenses as well. Bigger than Nisi might be (a guess, i really don't know)

And no, i really don't have any shares in the company!

You're right though, everyone should do their own research and make their own decisions.

cheers
Paul

 

[John David Pope]

Heavy on opinion and light on examples to back that opinion up is a different thing than "disingenuous". The characterization of disingenuous implies that I was being dishonest and saying something I did not think to be true.

As I said before, $2000 is a "bargain" compared to other cine lenses like Cooke and even compared to Sigma cine primes. But it's still $2000. It's still over twice the price of SLR Magic's own Microprimes that, as an owner of an e-mount camera, make any buying decision more complicated. I'm stupidly seduced by the siren-song any lens faster than a T2, I fully admit. But not alone in that.

 

[paulcurtis]

Hi Paul et al, do you find the SLR Magic PL-EF adapter to be any different than the c7 one? Are they pretty much the same functionally? Are the APO's focus markings accurate on the c7 adapters (I'm assuming they definitely are on the SLR Magic adapter). Thanks!

P.S. I also found the 25mm I had to skew more green than the 50 and 85 for what its worth (by a lot fyi). I may have had a bad version, so will possibly try again in the future.

If you can post some R3Ds of a grey surface with your version then maybe we can see if it's a one off or in general?

The SLR Magic adaptor seems pretty similar to the C7 but i have not tested the marks with the C7. Wireless FF and usually not marking focus by distance means it's not come up for me. The SLR Magic new one is a no brainer as it's cheaper than the C7, so that makes sense

cheers
Paul

 

[darren scott]

Do these lenses cover Monstro? I've seen people say they vignette on full frame.