There’s this idea floating around that the big debate is whether you should shoot with Canon or Nikon. The two big names are duking it out on “This vs. That” forums and racing each other to see who can pack more megapixels into a sensor. All the while, quietly and steadily, Sony is gathering a stable of loyalists. … Continue Reading
If we gave out a product of the year award here at PCN, it would have probably gone to Zeiss for their CP.2 lenses so this next list is a round up of Zeiss articles and videos that you might have missed and one you probably didn’t.
Zeiss Unveils New DSLR Cine Lens
Way back in February while I was consulting for HDExpo/Creatasphere, Richard Schleuning leaked out some pre-announcement info about their new CP.2 lenses and then talked about them at the DSLR meetup breakfast I was hosting the next day here in LA.
In response to the high level of interest in using DSLR’s for filmmaking, Carl Zeiss has modified its Compact Prime lenses for use with EF-mount cameras. These new lenses feature a bayonet mount for a direct fit to the EF-mount and do not require any modification of the camera or use of intermediate optics. Since the optics are based on the awarding winning ZEISS SLR lenses, they cover a full 24×36 image format without vignetting. In addition, the lenses feature an interchangeable mount system that can be changed to a PL mount. at any point in the future
Since the earlier post detailing the HDSLR rig we were using for the ABC Family commercials, my team has done several more tv commercials and have extensively refined the kit. The last setup was highly functional but a bit of a Frankenstein monster.
The new rig is more compact, cleaner and more functional, especially from the standpoint of pulling focus — which is kind of a big deal. You can see the new rig in the slideshow below. The major changes outlined underneath.
A few months back I was on the verge of selling all of my Canon equipment. I was going to switch to Nikon because I found that all my pictures were coming out soft when I saw the images at a 1/1 ratio on my 5D Mark II. There was also chromatic aberration in the high contrast areas, and as a professional photographer looking to get the best images possible this frustrated me to no end.
I did some research and found that though both companies get government contracts which enables them to spend a lot of money on research and development, Canon mostly focussed on telescopes and the internal components like the sensors that capture the image, while Nikon focussed more on microscopes and optics. I tried Nikon, and I loved the lenses. Wouldn’t you know it though, I just didn’t like the Nikon bodies. That Nikon doesn’t have a HDDSLR that can compare to the Canon 5D Mark II made switching over impossible for me.
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Today at IBC, Carl Zeiss announced two new lenses in the CP.2 lineup as well as the anticipated but still appreciated news that the interchangeable mounts will soon work with Nikon, Sony and Micro Four Thirds HDSLR’s.
In 4th quarter of 2010, ZEISS Compact Prime CP.2 lenses will be available with F-mount. The Compact Prime CP.2 series, presented last April, were the first lenses developed especially for shooting with HDSLR cameras. Since then, the lenses have been highly sought after by cinematographers and film photographers alike. In addition to the PL-, EF- and F-mount, Carl Zeiss will soon also be offering the Compact Prime CP.2 lenses with Micro 4/3 and A-mount.
Rich will be showing the CP.2 line in the Zeiss booth at PhotoCine Expo so be sure to check them out in person. Richard will also be on the panel “Everything You Wanted to Know about Lenses for HDSLR Cinema” so get your tickets before it’s too late. … Continue Reading
On Saturday September 25th, “Everything You Wanted to Know About Lenses for HDSLR Cameras” will be presented at the PhotoCine Expo.
Lenses are one of the most important tools in a shooter’s toolkit. And potentially the most expensive. Photo Cine Expo has fielded a fantastic panel of lens experts to explain all the nuances of selecting the right lens, and answer your questions. Topics include the 5 important criteria for lens selection, which is better: zooms or prime lenses, understanding the advantages of cinema lenses, lens modifications, and options for adapting lenses to HDSLRs. Our panel is moderated by Brian Valente of Redrock Micro, and includes Rich Schleuning of Carl Zeiss, Paul and Matthew Duclos from Duclos lenses, and Illya Friedman of Hot Rod Cameras. … Continue Reading
