Zeiss DigiPrimes?

[JLeonzio]

Someone with considerable tech knowledge once told me that Zeiss Digi Primes are made specific for digital capture because they focus all wavelengths of light on one focal plane, whereas film lenses focus each main group of light wavelengths (R,G,B) on slightly different focal planes because film is composed of tiny reacting layers stacked on top of each other.

So my questions are:

(1) Is this true?
(2) If it is trure, shouldn't all RED users be going nuts after the Digi Primes?
(3) Why or why not?

 

[Jörgen Persson]

Someone with considerable tech knowledge once told me that Zeiss Digi Primes are made specific for digital capture because they focus all wavelengths of light on one focal plane, whereas film lenses focus each main group of light wavelengths (R,G,B) on slightly different focal planes because film is composed of tiny reacting layers stacked on top of each other.

So my questions are:

(1) Is this true?
(2) If it is trure, shouldn't all RED users be going nuts after the Digi Primes?
(3) Why or why not?

1. Yes
2. No. The Lenses would not cover the imaging area for Red.
3. The DigiPrimes are designed for 2/3 inch CCD cameras like the Sony F900 and the Viper camera from Thomson.

 

[JLeonzio]

So I guess the next logical question would be, are there any digi lenses out there that cover the Super 35 sensor size?

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

RED lenses.

The slightly different convergence for various wavelengths is what can exaggerate CA or fringing on digital cameras when using film-oriented lenses. There are also digitally optimized lenses out there that are made specifically for 3xCCD imagers and have different convergence depths compared to lenses designed for film or a single digital imager.

 

[Pawel Achtel]

Someone with considerable tech knowledge once told me that Zeiss Digi Primes are made specific for digital capture because they focus all wavelengths of light on one focal plane, whereas film lenses focus each main group of light wavelengths (R,G,B) on slightly different focal planes because film is composed of tiny reacting layers stacked on top of each other.

So my questions are:

(1) Is this true?
(2) If it is trure, shouldn't all RED users be going nuts after the Digi Primes?
(3) Why or why not?

(1) No. They focus on different planes because they are made for prism cameras, not single sensor cameras like Red One.

(2) No, you'd be nuts to be nuts about Digi Primes :clown2:

(3) Zeiss Digi Primes are 2/3" sensor lenses and do not cover S35 sensor frame. They are designed for different type of cameras, which use 3xCCD and a colour splitting prism. You will need special optics (adapter) to actually reverse this feature. The adapter additionally compromises the image.

 

[Brook Willard]

If you're looking for the closest equivalent that covers RED's sensor, look at the Master Primes.

 

[Tim Fassnacht]

...and then check the balance of your american express black card.....

 

[Yannick Sadler]

With that said, is there anything that would prevent a CCD maker (RED maybe?) to make photocells of different colors recessed a few microns to "emulate" the layers of films stocks and thus making "normal" cine lens perfectly adapted for thoses?

 

[Ramesh Jai]

...and then check the balance of your american express black card.....

LOL! True.

 

[Pawel Achtel]

With that said, is there anything that would prevent a CCD maker (RED maybe?) to make photocells of different colors recessed a few microns to "emulate" the layers of films stocks and thus making "normal" cine lens perfectly adapted for thoses?

Cine lenses, as opposed to broadcast 2/3" lenses, focus on a single plane, it is just that film emulsion is more forgiving in that respect than digital sensors. If someone did what you suggested you would get at least two colours out of focus using "normal" cine lenses.

 

[Pawel Achtel]

...and then check the balance of your american express black card.....

Now you are telling me?! :clown2: LOL

 

[Shane Betts]

With that said, is there anything that would prevent a CCD maker (RED maybe?) to make photocells of different colors recessed a few microns to "emulate" the layers of films stocks and thus making "normal" cine lens perfectly adapted for thoses?

It is being tried. Check out the following links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foveon_X3_sensor

http://www.foveon.com/

Three layers just like film. They're still struggling for a larger sensor as well as speed but it seems pretty sharp. The main thing they're aiming for is to negate the need for a Bayer filter and therefore increasing actual pixel resolution. Who knows if it's worth the effort but at least the guys are trying...

 

[Craig W. Bickerstaff]

It is being tried. Check out the following links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foveon_X3_sensor

http://www.foveon.com/

Three layers just like film. They're still struggling for a larger sensor as well as speed but it seems pretty sharp. The main thing they're aiming for is to negate the need for a Bayer filter and therefore increasing actual pixel resolution. Who knows if it's worth the effort but at least the guys are trying...

I think if they can get this tech to work as well as if not better than the current stuff then thats the future for digital cinema.