Zeiss 21-100mm vs. Fujinon 20-120mm ?

[Soon Park]

I am a documentary and commercial film director.
I wonder what kind of lens I should choose on my Scalret-W.
Please help me.

ZEISS Lightweight Zoom LWZ.3 21-100mm/T2.9-3.9 T* vs. Fujinon XK20-120mm T3.5 Cabrio Premier Lens

 

[Scot Yount]

I am a documentary and commercial film director.
I wonder what kind of lens I should choose on my Scalret-W.
Please help me.

ZEISS Lightweight Zoom LWZ.3 21-100mm/T2.9-3.9 T* vs. Fujinon XK20-120mm T3.5 Cabrio Premier Lens

Depends on the material you are shooting. The Fuji has the motor servos which are fantastic if you are one-man-banding it. It also does not ramp like the Zeiss, which can be a super pain in the ass. Especially if you need all the light you can get (which is typical in a doc situation.)

 

[A. Clint Litton]

The fujinon is both wider and longer in range, plus constant aperture? That sounds like two very good considerations. Are the weights and prices of each comparable? What about sensor coverage? The 19-90 covers 6k Dragon pretty well, so would hope the 20-120 does the same. Zeiss may carry a little more brand name recognition that could translate to rentals, but it may be negligible, and as an owner operator, you may want to place more priority on the versatility of each lens and what it buys you on that end (i.e. not worry about brand). Good luck...

 

[Jon Dishler]

My biggest issue in this decision is the image circle, the Zeiss is supposedly 31.1 whereas the Fujinon is 28.5 [FD Times: Image coverage: 24.84 x 13.97 mm (28.5 mm diagonal)]. But B&H says the Fuji is 31.5 [31.5mm Diameter Image Circle]. So it would be great to know. 7.5k 2:1 on Helium is 31.3 [PHFX Tools]. Also 11 blades on iris vs 9. But the Fuji has LDS and /i technology, and as mentioned servo (at additional cost). Scarlet W 5k FF is the largest possible for that camera, and that is 28.94 image circle, so you should be OK either way, although just a tad larger than the fujinon, if this is the correct spec (28.5).

 

[Scot Yount]

I own the 19-90 Fujinon and I don't know what the image circle on the 20-120 is, but mine is supposed to be 31.5 as well. I can tell you that on Helium, the only thing it doesn't cover completely is 8KFF. At 8KHD you get this at 19mm. (this is a screen cap of RWGRGB and Log3G10 obviously)

 

[Jon Dishler]

Very Nice, I think the 19-90 has a larger image circle than the 20-120 but not certain. One reason it is more expensive besides being a faster lens.

From the Fujinon website:

19-90 sensor size 27.45X15.44
20-120 sensor size 24.84X13.97

Helium 8k HD is Format Size = 28.03x15.77mm (32.16mm image circle) (thanks Phil)

 

[Scot Yount]

Very Nice, I think the 19-90 has a larger image circle than the 20-120 but not certain. One reason it is more expensive besides being a faster lens.

And it is almost one stop faster. Light matters!!!

 

[Olivier Gresse]

Hi Soon Park,

I ask myself the same question, see this topic : http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?158619-Zoom-lens&highlight=fujinon+zeiss

 

[Jiri Vrozina]

The fujinon is both wider and longer in range, plus constant aperture? That sounds like two very good considerations. Are the weights and prices of each comparable? What about sensor coverage? The 19-90 covers 6k Dragon pretty well, so would hope the 20-120 does the same. Zeiss may carry a little more brand name recognition that could translate to rentals, but it may be negligible, and as an owner operator, you may want to place more priority on the versatility of each lens and what it buys you on that end (i.e. not worry about brand). Good luck...

In Production of Zoom lenses worldwide name Fujinon is higher regarded then Zeiss. Compare their range of Zoom cinema, broadcast optics to Zeiss. Yes in Primes, Zeiss is more regarded but in Zooms, Zeiss can not touch Fuji. Who makes zooms for ARRI?

 

[Scot Yount]

In Production of Zoom lenses worldwide name Fujinon is higher regarded then Zeiss. Compare their range of Zoom cinema, broadcast optics to Zeiss. Yes in Primes, Zeiss is more regarded but in Zooms, Zeiss can not touch Fuji. Who makes zooms for ARRI?

I was gonna say this same thing too. Great glass and mechanics. Some people say the Premier zooms equal or out perform zeiss's ultra and master glass. YMMV

 

[Olivier Gresse]

Hi Soon Park,

Have you chosen between the fujinon and the zeiss ? I would like to have your feedback.

 

[Oron Cohen]

One thing to note is that the Zeiss has interchangeable mounts so yo can go from PL to EF if say you're using a C300 Mark II etc, that's a benefit on certain situations, it's also a bit smaller and T3.9 is not that far off from T3.5, and focus rotation is bigger. I would highly recommended to test both lenses before buying if possible, you might like the operating or the look of one lens over the other. it's not only specs and numbers when it comes to lenses IMHO.

 

[RobMNeilson]

Anyone used the Fujinon 20-120 on a RED? Curious about sensor coverage.

 

[Misha Engel]

Anyone used the Fujinon 20-120 on a RED? Curious about sensor coverage.

Lens (Focal Length) 20-120mm
Model Number XK6x20
Zoom Ratio 6x
Maximum Aperture: T3.5 — no ramping of exposure
Iris Range: T3.5 – T22
Format Super 35
Image coverage: 24.84 x 13.97 mm (28.5 mm diagonal)
Mount: PL
Angular Field of View: at 20 mm — 63 deg 41’ x 38 deg 30’
16:9 Aspect Ratio at 120 mm — 11 deg 49’ x 6 deg 40’
MOD (Close Focus): 1.1 m / 3’ 7”
Close Focus Coverage at 20 mm — 1109 x 624 mm
16:9 Aspect Ratio at 120 mm — 182 x 102 mm
Front Diameter: 114 mm
Length: 239 mm
Weight: 2.9 kg with servo handgrip, 2.4 kg without
Gears All 3 rings have industry .8 Metric gears

28.5 mm image circle guaranteed.

For image circles from red camera's look at PHFX.COM

 

[RobMNeilson]

Thanks for that. Need some light and cheap zooms for a low budget documentary shoot and would love to use these. Might have to shoot 4K to get them to cover at all focal lengths or use the zeiss with less range and the ramped aperture (at least we're shooting outside)!

 

[Curtis boggs]

close focus on the Fujinon is 3'7", .. not very close!

 

[Scot Yount]

close focus on the Fujinon is 3'7", .. not very close!

I don't know about the 120mm Fuji, but this is not correct concerning the 19-90. Mine has a macro function and I can focus right up to the glass almost.

 

[Lenny Manfred]

I don't know about the 120mm Fuji, but this is not correct concerning the 19-90. Mine has a macro function and I can focus right up to the glass almost.

The 20-120 has macro also, but the reason i sold mine and went back to the Canon 17-120 was the 3.7 feet close focus distance makes it unusable in ENG type work. Yes, you can go to macro, but that will not be practical hand held, where a slight turn of the macro thingy will make you completely loose focus.

If you are looking for cheap, and light, may I suggest the Canon 18-80. Yes, T4.4 (which is f4, like all photo zooms on that range) but most cameras can handle high ISOs now anyway. the lens is sharp, it's compact, it's light, and it's cheap. I use in on my C200, FS7, and even on an F55 and i love it. Did i mention it's cheap?

Next step I would jump to either the Fuji 19-90 or the Canon 17-120. Both those lenses are great for documentary work, but they are both heavy (the Canon feels heavier even though it weights the same because most of the weight is on the front).