film lens for xl1s at DVinfo.net

Terrance McCalla · October 12th, 2004, 08:47 AM

I have a budget of about $1600 and I am trying to buy an adapter and a film lens for the xl1s. can anyone recommend the right adapter and film lens. I want to use this to do documentary's, films and music videos.

Charles Papert · October 12th, 2004, 09:20 AM

Terrance:

Can you describe what exactly you are looking for? Or perhaps more specifically, what is it that you are trying to achieve? If it is a shallow depth of field look, you'll have to build your own as the commercially available version is $10K new, and lenses are additional.

Holly Miller · October 12th, 2004, 09:34 AM

Terrance,

Film lenses generally run anywhere over $15,000 per lense. Each of these lenses are fixed at one focal length and as such are called "Primes". You will then in turn need various focal lengths for different needs, shot-to-shot. This means around 3, 4, or 5 times that $15,000 price.

The adapter you're speaking of which creates a shallow depth of field with the use of film lenses, as opposed to an adapter that simply converts lense mounts (PL to XL for example - which has no purpose other than to use more expensive glass.. it does NOT create the "35mm film like" DOF).. will generally cost a little under $10,000 new.

To purchase a system like this you're looking at a close to $100,000 budget required.

-------------------

Your best bet would be to find a local rental house that carries the Mini-35 adapter, and rent-as-needed. This will only run you around $1,000 per day (Completely generalizing) and you will need adiquate production insurance to cover the rented equipment as well. (In most cases)

Charles Papert · October 12th, 2004, 10:27 AM

That being the top end, such as the Cooke S4's...you can buy or rent Zeiss speeds for almost half that (i.e. $500 a day can get you into a Mini35 and a set of speeds with a bit of negotiation).

Josh Brusin · November 11th, 2004, 01:57 PM

nikon still lenses work great...
those old vivitar series 1 manual lenses are pretty nice and even cheaper than the nikkors...
and they work on my D1!

Mizell Wilson · November 11th, 2004, 02:42 PM

There are benefits to using Film or Still lenses on the XL series with just a mechical adapter like those available from zgc.com. The greatest being that they simply tend to be better glass then the provided video lens and provide sharper, clearer images. A set of used still lenses and a mechanical adapter can easily be put together for $1,600.

This solution will not, as mentioned above, provide any of the characteristics you would otherwise find in 35mm motion or still film shooting other then better glass.

There are downsides, the greatest here is that you cannot get as wide a shot with any available still or motion lenses then you can with the XL lens and you do lose any automatic control over the lens.

mizell

October 12th, 2004, 08:47 AM	#1
Terrance McCalla Tourist Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: decatur,ga Posts: 1	film lens for xl1s I have a budget of about $1600 and I am trying to buy an adapter and a film lens for the xl1s. can anyone recommend the right adapter and film lens. I want to use this to do documentary's, films and music videos.

October 12th, 2004, 09:20 AM	#2
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Terrance: Can you describe what exactly you are looking for? Or perhaps more specifically, what is it that you are trying to achieve? If it is a shallow depth of field look, you'll have to build your own as the commercially available version is $10K new, and lenses are additional. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

October 12th, 2004, 10:27 AM	#4
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	That being the top end, such as the Cooke S4's...you can buy or rent Zeiss speeds for almost half that (i.e. $500 a day can get you into a Mini35 and a set of speeds with a bit of negotiation). __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

November 11th, 2004, 02:42 PM	#6
Mizell Wilson Sales: Reflecmedia Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Linden, NJ Posts: 147	There are benefits to using Film or Still lenses on the XL series with just a mechical adapter like those available from zgc.com. The greatest being that they simply tend to be better glass then the provided video lens and provide sharper, clearer images. A set of used still lenses and a mechanical adapter can easily be put together for $1,600. This solution will not, as mentioned above, provide any of the characteristics you would otherwise find in 35mm motion or still film shooting other then better glass. There are downsides, the greatest here is that you cannot get as wide a shot with any available still or motion lenses then you can with the XL lens and you do lose any automatic control over the lens. mizell __________________ Posts before Feb 2004 were on behalf of ZGC, afterwards they're all mine!

October 12th, 2004, 09:34 AM	#3
Holly Miller Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: New York, NY Posts: 56	Terrance, Film lenses generally run anywhere over $15,000 per lense. Each of these lenses are fixed at one focal length and as such are called "Primes". You will then in turn need various focal lengths for different needs, shot-to-shot. This means around 3, 4, or 5 times that $15,000 price. The adapter you're speaking of which creates a shallow depth of field with the use of film lenses, as opposed to an adapter that simply converts lense mounts (PL to XL for example - which has no purpose other than to use more expensive glass.. it does NOT create the "35mm film like" DOF).. will generally cost a little under $10,000 new. To purchase a system like this you're looking at a close to $100,000 budget required. ------------------- Your best bet would be to find a local rental house that carries the Mini-35 adapter, and rent-as-needed. This will only run you around $1,000 per day (Completely generalizing) and you will need adiquate production insurance to cover the rented equipment as well. (In most cases)

November 11th, 2004, 01:57 PM	#5
Josh Brusin Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 439	nikon still lenses work great... those old vivitar series 1 manual lenses are pretty nice and even cheaper than the nikkors... and they work on my D1!