Sony lenses

[Mark L. Pederson]

back to topic...anyone tried these!?!?

These lenses are extremely similar to RED PRO PRIMES in contrast and sharpness. Mechanics are very nice. But giant boner is the focal lengths. 40mm & 60/65mm are requested on most features. So ... for me they are a non-starter without more focal lengths. But again, I was impressed with quality. I did throw one on an Epic (forget which focal length) and it did cover full 5K - but I did nit check all the lengths.

One thing to consider - if you own RED PRO PRIMES ... you might want to pick up the 135mm for your set. It's nice having a 135mm or 150mm length in a set.

Keep your eyes on the Schneider Cine-Xenar III - hoping for more focal lengths from them .... http://www.ducloslenses.com/products/schneider-cine-xenar-iii-set

 

[Tommaso Alvisi]

Thanks Mark!
The Cine Xenars III seem gorgeous but @ almost doulbe the cost!
I'm trying to decide between CP.2, Sony, MiniS4, Schneider...

RP - Great but Heavy!!
CP.2 - Great but not so homogeneous look and slow wides, now it's the winner with the new 15mm T2.9 and choosing carefully the focal lenghts...
Sony - ??
MiniS4 - not so fast and I like being @ around T2 in 4K & 5K as far as DOF is concerned, expensive...
Schneider - expensive for my budget / application...

What do you think? Was the 20mm Sony sharp wide open (is it T2, right?)
Are they heavier than CP.2s?
Are they smoother/creamier than the CP.2s?

Thanks!

 

[Clayton Burkhart]

Are they smoother/creamier than the CP.2s?

Dir: That was great acting Mr. Brando, but could you give us something more, I don't know, purple in terms of your expression?

Brando: WTF? Can you be more specific?

Dir: Umm, more mauve you know?

 

[Mark L. Pederson]

What do you think? Was the 20mm Sony sharp wide open (is it T2, right?)
Are they heavier than CP.2s?
Are they smoother/creamier than the CP.2s?

sharp wide open. heavier than CP2s. can't really comment on "smoother/creamier" except that Sony's are not "creamy" - they are very sharp. And I wouldn't exactly call CP2s "creamy" either.

miniS4s have a little cream IMO

 

[Tommaso Alvisi]

Dir: That was great acting Mr. Brando, but could you give us something more, I don't know, purple in terms of your expression?

Brando: WTF? Can you be more specific?

Dir: Umm, more mauve you know?

Lenses have character...contrast, flaring and highlight rendition contribute to the general look.
In general CP.2s are a little too contrasty and clinical for my (and others) taste...

sharp wide open. heavier than CP2s. can't really comment on "smoother/creamier" except that Sony's are not "creamy" - they are very sharp. And I wouldn't exactly call CP2s "creamy" either.

miniS4s have a little cream IMO

Thanks Mark, all I needed to know.
miniS4 are on my list for that reason alone (and cam based focusing of course he he), but everytime my brain thinks about a 2.8 prime
it spit out an error! When we have many GREAT (Angenieux and the new Fujinon) zooms at our disposal...

 

[Mark L. Pederson]

but everytime my brain thinks about a 2.8 prime
it spit out an error!

I know. Everyone wants fast glass. But ... unless creatively you want to shoot wide open for that depth of field ... most focus on the T for "less lighting" ... well ... the newest sensors (F55, Dragon) are a lot more sensitive than MX sensor and Alexa sensor. So if you needed a T2 before for your low light - T2.8 on a newer sensor gives you ... more

 

[Christopher Probst]

Sounds like the 20mm and 135mm might flesh out a RPP set nicely. Ironically, my favorite lenses are the lest common in sets. 28mm, 40mm and 65mm.

I may need to check these out. I got a used set of RPPs just to have some good quality lenses at my disposal for little projects.

 

[Mark L. Pederson]

Sounds like the 20mm and 135mm might flesh out a RPP set nicely. Ironically, my favorite lenses are the lest common in sets. 28mm, 40mm and 65mm.

I may need to check these out. I got a used set of RPPs just to have some good quality lenses at my disposal for little projects.

Yeah - I'm right there with you re: adding the Sony 20mm + 135mm to RPP set. I think everyone who purchased RPPs will be very glad when they get the Dragon. I fully expect the price of used RPPs to increase.

 

[Mark L. Pederson]

Ironically, my favorite lenses are the lest common in sets. 28mm, 40mm and 65mm.

It's not just you - I think 99% of the lists for feature films I see have a 28mm, 40mm and 60 or 65mm.

 

[Christopher Probst]

Yeah - I'm right there with you re: adding the Sony 20mm + 135mm to RPP set. I think everyone who purchased RPPs will be very glad when they get the Dragon. I fully expect the price of used RPPs to increase.

The other thought was looking into Unique Optics... I believe at one time they were working some additional focal lengths not covered by the RPPs. Those lenses are extremely close in almost every regard to the RPPs, and although no one will come out and admit it, they share some DNA to the RPPs. If Kenji made a wider lens and a longer lens in that same housing style, that'd be another great way to compliment the RPPs.

I've looked into the Duclos focus scale engraving mod, but it's extremely costly so for the time being I'm keeping my set the way it is.

 

[Mark L. Pederson]

The other thought was looking into Unique Optics... I believe at one time they were working some additional focal lengths not covered by the RPPs.

as far as I know - they only have -
18mm T1.9-T22 14" 69.3x54.9 156.8 34 5.75 110
25mm T1.9-T22 13" 52.9x41.0 156.8 36 5.75 110
35mm T1.9-T22 16" 39.2x29.9 156.8 38 5.75 110
50mm T1.9-T22 15" 28.0x21.2 122.4 43 4 110
85mm T1.9-T22 21" 16.7x12.6 122.4 43 4 110
100mm

 

[Bob Gundu]

Didn't RED go after UNique optics for patent infringement too?

 

[Christopher Probst]

Yes. but there was development toward other focal lengths, though I'm not sure they ever produced any, even prototype... Just dreaming...

But otherwise you liked these new Sony's a lot? Aesthetically they seem a good fit too.

 

[Mark L. Pederson]

Yes. but there was development toward other focal lengths, though I'm not sure they ever produced any, even prototype... Just dreaming...

But otherwise you liked these new Sony's a lot? Aesthetically they seem a good fit too.

Yeah - I was impressed. But I did not check for 5K coverage on the whole set.

 

[Matt Gottshalk]

Yeah - I was impressed. But I did not check for 5K coverage on the whole set.

According to Mitch Gross they do:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?300349-F55-On-My-Dining-Room-Table&p=1986264099&viewfull=1#post1986264099

 

[Robert Horwell]

I saw the sony lenses at BVE, and was impressed with the build, the images looked very nice. Pics taken on my iphone.

 

[Clayton Burkhart]

I saw the sony lenses at BVE, and was impressed with the build, the images looked very nice. Pics taken on my iphone.

Yup, those look like real lenses. Glad to see that Sony is really stepping up to the plate.

 

[Nick Morrison]

It's not just you - I think 99% of the lists for feature films I see have a 28mm, 40mm and 60 or 65mm.

Love hearing this stuff. Roger Deakins basically says the same

QUESTION: If you could only select four primes, what would they be?

DEAKINS' ANSWER: 27mm, 32mm, 40mm, 65mm.

 

[Clayton Burkhart]

Love hearing this stuff. Roger Deakins basically says the same

Yes, and what he says is that if he could chose only one it would be a 32mm.
Which kind of makes sense, because for most photographers working in FF, the closest lens with an equivalent FOV would be you guessed it, a 50mm.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Yes, and what he says is that if he could chose only one it would be a 32mm.
Which kind of makes sense, because for most photographers working in FF, the closest lens with an equivalent FOV would be you guessed it, a 50mm.

Right, it's the "honest" lens. The one that renders life as we see it. Michael Haneke shot Amour entirely on a 35mm prime (for an honest look at the most irrevocable truth...death)