Brevis+35mm cinema lenses anyone?

[Rafael Lopes]

Hi,

I was wondering if there's anyone out there using the brevis with 35mm cinema lenses. I have just bout the following:

LOMO OKC5-18-1 f=2.5 / 18mm
OKC11-35-1 f=2.0 / 35mm
LOMO OKC1-50-6 f=2.0 / 50mm
OKC6-75-1 f=2.0 / 75mm

Before spending like 400$ on the mount (I don't know which brevis mount would be necessary for these) I'd like to be sure it works and that it is worth the money to upgrade from my nikon.

cheers,

Rafa

[Ben Winter]

I did extensive research on the topic when I was considering purchasing a similar set of LOMO lenses as an upgrade from my FD set.

The conclusions I came to were the following:
In regards to image quality, there is no appreciable difference even when used with an HDV camera. The resolution rendered by the adapter does not do justice to the optical differences between still camera and cinema lens design.

The primary advantage is the reduction in lens breathing. However depending on the lens some FD/Nikons breathe less than LOMOs and vice versa. However even pro Cooke lenses breathe to some extent; it is the nature of the beast.

Another advantage is the radial ratios for focus pulling. Rotation around the barrel on LOMOs is something like 2.5 times around from macro to infinity, while still lenses are sometimes barely 1 rotation. So more accurate focus pulling can be achieved; but again, the resolution rendered by an adapter even on an HDV cam does not lend enough sharpness to really require the same exactness as on 35mm film.

Finally, cinema lenses are typically slower than still glass, so you're looking at a darker image regardless. As you stated, your lenses are typically around f2-2.5.

If you've already bought the lenses, just buy the mount. The real advantage of buying the PL or LOMO mounts for the Brevis is so you have the availability to rent pro lenses from any pro camera store, or so there is interchangeability between cams if you are using your Brevis setup as a B-cam.

In summary, certainly it works, but cinema lenses don't give an appreciable difference in image quality to justify the $$, IMHO.

You want the OCT-19 mount for Brevis in order to use LOMO lenses.

[Rafael Lopes]

That is more or less what I thought. Thanks for the very insightful information, Ben.

[David W. Jones]

If these are from that Russian camera you purchased they should be OCT19 mount lenses. You might want to double check though, as some of the older cameras and lenses are OCT18 mount.

[Dennis Wood]

Ben is pretty much spot on with that assessment. I do find our collection of LOMO's a tad sharper than the Canon FD's, and as you move from 50mm up, the usable image size approaches SLR frame width with our CF1Le imaging element in place. I can't quite describe the difference but there's a pleasing organic warmth in the bokeh that appeals to me.

The other differences I would highlight is that in some cases, the lenses can be quite fast with the 28mm for example being a T1.3 ... and huge. Focusing is much more precise, and with no aperture indexing, you can smoothly adjust exposure during a shot with no "clicks" to jog the rig. There are generally more aperture blades meaning the out of focus specular highlights will be more circular rather than octagonal as with many SLR lenses with 5 blades. The LOMOS we have look to be incredibly well built, 100% metal, and tough!

Using the Brevis with our flip module will make these lenses usable with no spacer rings on your XH-A1, and much cleaner with respect to CA too.

[Rafael Lopes]

Hum...I really don't know now. I don't want to pay 400$ just to find out that they don't work. Is there actually anyone who has used these with the brevis? Dennis?

[Rafael Lopes]

The lenses have just arrive along with the konvas...I played with them a little bit and they are thing of beauty...but I really don't know how well they would react with the brevis. Isn't there anyone out there who has tried it???

P.S - Is there such a thing as a OCT19 to nikon adapter?

[Simon Gee]

The following http://www.vimeo.com/400252 might be useful for you to assess the brevis.
It is a short (2min), filmed using a brevis and 35mm SLR lenses (as part of a 48 hour film marathon. The brevis was on a JVC HD7 (which is a high end, high def, had disk consumer camera) we filmed at 720 and rendered out to standard definition.
If you look carefully you will be able to spot the times (when climbers foot is placed on the rock after leaving the the yellow mat) when the brevis...'switched itself off' (its really easy to catch the switch) or wasnt working ...toward the end of the day we had the indicator light on telling us it was working but clearly it wasnt. The final rig was mounted on a homemade rail.
This was our first film, (it was for an adventure film festival hence the theme), we were pleased with the brevis look (softer better contrast/tones), the scope it gave us in depth of field. The camera bore it well...amazingly after problems with a senheisser mic, all the sound is from the HD7 onboard mike and all outside.
Hope this helps

[Rafael Lopes]

Originally Posted by Simon Gee

The following http://www.vimeo.com/400252 might be useful for you to assess the brevis.
It is a short (2min), filmed using a brevis and 35mm SLR lenses (as part of a 48 hour film marathon. The brevis was on a JVC HD7 (which is a high end, high def, had disk consumer camera) we filmed at 720 and rendered out to standard definition.
If you look carefully you will be able to spot the times (when climbers foot is placed on the rock after leaving the the yellow mat) when the brevis...'switched itself off' (its really easy to catch the switch) or wasnt working ...toward the end of the day we had the indicator light on telling us it was working but clearly it wasnt. The final rig was mounted on a homemade rail.
This was our first film, (it was for an adventure film festival hence the theme), we were pleased with the brevis look (softer better contrast/tones), the scope it gave us in depth of field. The camera bore it well...amazingly after problems with a senheisser mic, all the sound is from the HD7 onboard mike and all outside.
Hope this helps

I'm sorry, I don't think I was very clear. I have the brevis35 and I have been using it for a long time. What I want to know is if there's someone out there using it with 35mm cinema lenses.