Advices needed on a 85mm

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Archive 2009 · Advices needed on a 85mm

Bmeister
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p.2 #1 · Advices needed on a 85mm

For video work, a manual-focus lens beats the AF offerings in every instance I can think of. I recently was given a 7D (I've done just a bit of video on a 5DmkII in the past) and I love the quality of the 7D's HD video. That is, until I have to focus. Manually focusing is a must when shooting video both for accuracy and for reduced sound effects. If you're set on an AF lens, I really like the inexpensive Canon 85/f1.8 but find it a bit long for smooth video and manually focusing it is horrible. Rather, for video I'm using an Olympus MF 50/f1.8 lens on an adapter and it works very well. Just my 2 cents.

Nov 04, 2009 at 12:33 AM

jparchibald
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p.2 #2 · Advices needed on a 85mm

jeremy_clay wrote:
jparchibald wrote:
Thanks Jeremy. Very interesting information about the focus ring. Can you tell me if the lens "breath" when focussed?. Don't know if this term mean something for photographers, but with cine lens, when a lens breath, a slight change in the angle of view is perceived when the focal point is changed.

I'm not quite sure what that means, I'm sorry. Their is no difference, that I can tell, when the image is focused.

Hi Jeremy, here is an exemple on a lens breathing: http://www.vimeo.com/7424284

This was shot with the Sigma 17-70. You can see a slight "zoom" when the focus point change. Generally a prime is less prone to do this but we never know. So you thing the Samyang doesn't breath?

Nov 04, 2009 at 12:50 AM

jparchibald
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p.2 #3 · Advices needed on a 85mm

Bmeister wrote:
For video work, a manual-focus lens beats the AF offerings in every instance I can think of. I recently was given a 7D (I've done just a bit of video on a 5DmkII in the past) and I love the quality of the 7D's HD video. That is, until I have to focus. Manually focusing is a must when shooting video both for accuracy and for reduced sound effects. If you're set on an AF lens, I really like the inexpensive Canon 85/f1.8 but find it a bit long for smooth video and manually focusing it is horrible. Rather, for video I'm using an Olympus MF 50/f1.8 lens on an adapter and it works very well. Just my 2 cents.

Exactly, a good manual focus ring is mandatory. I already have an old Nikkor-SC 50mm 1.4 full manual that works brillantly with the 7D. My Sigma 17-70 is fine at 17 since it is so wide, the focus plane is really long and there is no point dooing a RackFocus. What I need now is a fast 85mm and later, a fast 28 or 30mm.

Nov 04, 2009 at 12:53 AM

AbramG
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p.2 #4 · Advices needed on a 85mm

JP - I've been doing a lot of video work on my 5DmkII. I personally have the 85mm f/1.8 from canon. While I really enjoy the quality it can deliver as far as bokeh and video resolution, I'm not entirely thrilled with using it as an MF lens. That's not to say it's not possible, as it most definitely is, but in my humble opinion......

I would take the $500 and invest in a few fast MF primes from yester-year They will have vastly superior MF rings and the IQ difference will be negligible for video.

Just a thought...

(note: despite my advice, I own and use the 28 f/1.8 and 85 f/1.8 regularly for video and I'm happy with the results. I can deal with the MF ring, but you may or may not be able to. I was thinking about making a custom focus rod to make it easier to do while recording.)

Nov 04, 2009 at 01:32 AM

RobertLynn
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p.2 #5 · Advices needed on a 85mm

Thought you were looking at 85mm lenses. Didn't read the video.

If you're not interested, then disregard

Nov 04, 2009 at 03:09 AM

jparchibald
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p.2 #6 · Advices needed on a 85mm

RobertLynn wrote:
Thought you were looking at 85mm lenses. Didn't read the video.

If you're not interested, then disregard

Yes Robert, I am seeking advices about 85mm lenses. But how showing me your photographic skills whitout answering my specifics demands will help me choose the lens?

Nov 04, 2009 at 12:28 PM

philber
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p.2 #7 · Advices needed on a 85mm

Pixel Perfect wrote:
The older Contax\Yashica Zeiss 85 f/1.4 is a fine performer and under $500. It's a soft but useable wide open, but CA is a problem and sharpens up very rapidly after that, even @ f/1.7. Stopped down for landscape work it's in the same league as the 135L. It doesn't have a floating element so it's at it's weakest near mfd. The Nikon 85 f/1.4 AI-s is a super lens and has better bokeh, floating element, is pretty sharp wide open and stellar @ f/2. I've been looking at getting one of these to replace the Zeiss for the better bokeh and wide open performance.

+1 for the Contax. Contax/Yashica lenses are mechanically excellent, providing your copy is in good condition. Focus rings are among the most pleasant to use. Image wise, while I concur with PixelPerfect's assesment, Zeiss lenses have redeeming virtues that more than offset these weaknesses, and that have made their reputation. Colour and contrast are outstanding, and the lenses are famous for a "3D" effect, as opposed to a "flat" one. You should have no trouble getting a good copy within your price target. Maybe you can get Pixel Perfect's

Nov 04, 2009 at 12:46 PM

RobertLynn
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p.2 #8 · Advices needed on a 85mm

jparchibald wrote:
RobertLynn wrote:
Thought you were looking at 85mm lenses. Didn't read the video.

If you're not interested, then disregard

Yes Robert, I am seeking advices about 85mm lenses. But how showing me your photographic skills whitout answering my specifics demands will help me choose the lens?

I didn't read the video part. I just read, "advice on an 85mm", and figured I'd post a shot from the Canon 85 1.8

I understand, it was my error in not reading the post. I was under the influence of several drugs yesterday, as I had an outpatient procedure at the hospital. If you think I neglected that, you should have seen me playing call of duty yesterday..ouch!

I have no other experience with 85mm lenses, and no experience shooting video, as I'm a still photographer. I can only attest to the sharpness wide open,a nd fast AF of the 85 1.8.

I do apologize.

Nov 04, 2009 at 03:17 PM

Bmeister
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p.2 #9 · Advices needed on a 85mm

If you fancy a particular lens and have trouble finding it, try Central Camera in Chicago http://www.centralcamera.com or LaGrange Camera (708-352-0070) in suburban Chicago. They both have a good assortment of manual focus lenses (LaGrange has a LOT of many brands) that you could use with an adapter on the 7D.

Nov 05, 2009 at 06:09 PM


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