Zeiss Lenses for Mini35 at DVinfo.net

Matt Wolfe · July 7th, 2004, 08:16 PM

Hi

I have recently purchased the Mini35 converter for my DVX100A, with the ziess contax mount. But I'm a little scared to purchase any lenses for it, because I don't know what is the best. So if anyone had any suggestions I would LOVE to here them.

thanks for you time.

Matt

Barry Green · July 7th, 2004, 10:03 PM

It's difficult to go wrong with Zeiss glass, I say. However, because you have the Contax mount, you also have access to the cheapest way to build a nice wide array of lenses. You can get a Contax->M42 adapter, which lets you mount screw-mount lenses onto the mini35. There are lots of Zeiss Jena lenses out there in screwmount format, like the Distagon 20/2.8, the 35mm/2.4, the 50/1.8, the 80/1.8, the 135/3.5 and the 200/2.8. Those are the lenses I used with the DVX/mini35, and the results were superb.

Genuine Contax-mount Zeiss lenses will be newer-design and probably faster, but undeniably more expensive. The lenses I listed go on ebay for usually anywhere from $40 to $150, maybe up to $250 for the more rare ones (like the 80mm).

We used the mini35 with Zeiss SuperSpeed cine lenses, and also with the inexpensive M42-mount lenses (by using the M42->Contax adapter). Other than the cheap lenses being slower speed, it was nearly impossible to tell the difference between the pricey SuperSpeeds and the cheap still camera lenses. MiniDV cameras just don't have enough resolution to tell the difference, especially after being diffused by the ground glass in the mini35.

Matt Wolfe · July 8th, 2004, 11:34 AM

Thanks Barry,

Matt Wolfe · July 8th, 2004, 02:16 PM

Hey Barry

Is it possible to use a Phoenix Wide Angle 24mm f/2.8 Manual Focus Lens for Contax / Yashica, with the M42? And how good is Phoenix glass?

thanks

matt

Barry Green · July 8th, 2004, 10:50 PM

Well, if it's for Contax/Yashica, then you could mount it directly to the mini35. There is no Contax-lens-to-screw-mount-body adapter, that I know of... it goes the other way, screw-mount-lens-to-Contax-body.

As for Phoenix glass, I've never heard of it.

Martin Costa · April 4th, 2005, 07:12 AM

Hi, I have just purchased a second hand mini35 300. And will be using my Xl1.
I've been looking around at lenses and came across a set of Zeiss Primes. These lenses are: 16-24-32-50-85-135 both Distagons and Planars, T stop 2.2/2.4 (135 is T4) in PL mount.

Will these lenses be fast enough for my mini 35?

Jason Brunner · April 4th, 2005, 08:28 AM

If you have enough light, they will be fast enough. ;)

Actually, plenty fast for exterior, and fast enough for interior with the addition of a minimum of supplemental lighting. The Mini is a production tool that tends to benefit from all the things that go with shooting film. Like lighting. And these lenses are fast enough
to light for with units in a budgets price range. Kino flows, tweenies etc.

In an average top down flo- lit room, with these lenses, wide open, you would be just under a usable exposure. Ad a couple of fixtures to sex it up, and violla!!

The T4s a problem though for interior if your lit for your other lenses. It will need over twice as much light.

Martin Costa · April 4th, 2005, 08:38 AM

Thanks a lot Jason. I think if i can get him down a couple of hundred pounds from what he's asking. I'll go for it. :-)

Martin Costa · April 4th, 2005, 12:36 PM

Does the mini 35 accept an ARRI STD mount?

Jason Brunner · April 4th, 2005, 03:59 PM

>>Does the mini 35 accept an ARRI STD mount?<<

I do not believe it does, however ARRI STD to PL adapters do exist. I would ask someone at ZGC if there are any specific considerations.

Toby Watson · April 5th, 2005, 08:03 AM

Apparently, P&S Technic recommend not using the Distagon lens series with their adapter. For what that's worth.

Martin Costa · April 5th, 2005, 08:11 AM

Did they say why? I mailed them about whether a PL mount to arri adapter would work, they said it "might work". I think i'll give these lenses a miss. Thanks for the info guys. You've saved me money and a headache.

Brian Duke · November 9th, 2005, 01:41 AM

I keep seeing Zeiss lenses for "Contax" cameras. Is that a motion picture lens, and if so, is it good for my Mini35? if not, what other affordable Zeiss lenses can you recommend? I am new, so please forgive me ignorance.

Thanks

Charles Papert · November 9th, 2005, 12:19 PM

Those are still camera lenses, and they are quite good. Recommendations to Zeiss lenses that you may have heard or read refer to the motion picture variety; if you are using still lenses, there are a host of other manufacturers that will deliver fine results as well as Zeiss (Nikon, Canon etc). If you have been looking at still lenses, there really aren't any "affordable" cine lenses, relatively speaking. You might find some offbeat Russian primes somewhere but they will likely cost signficantly more than still lenses.

Brian Duke · November 9th, 2005, 12:41 PM

Thanks Charles. I do have a few Nikon lenses, but they seem to be a bit dark, I pressume because they are still and not enough light comes in, so I wanted to get the Motion Picture lenses. I guess I have to wait until I can afford the Zeiss prime lenses.

Can you or somesle explain the main difference between Zeiss prime lenses and Nikon or Zeiss still lenses. Perhpas quality etc.

Thanks

July 7th, 2004, 08:16 PM	#1
Matt Wolfe Tourist Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3	Zeiss Contax mount Hi I have recently purchased the Mini35 converter for my DVX100A, with the ziess contax mount. But I'm a little scared to purchase any lenses for it, because I don't know what is the best. So if anyone had any suggestions I would LOVE to here them. thanks for you time. Matt

April 4th, 2005, 07:12 AM	#6
Martin Costa Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: London UK Posts: 76 Images: 2	Zeiss Prime lens help Hi, I have just purchased a second hand mini35 300. And will be using my Xl1. I've been looking around at lenses and came across a set of Zeiss Primes. These lenses are: 16-24-32-50-85-135 both Distagons and Planars, T stop 2.2/2.4 (135 is T4) in PL mount. Will these lenses be fast enough for my mini 35?

April 4th, 2005, 08:28 AM	#7
Jason Brunner Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Salt Lake City. Utah Posts: 68	If you have enough light, they will be fast enough. ;) Actually, plenty fast for exterior, and fast enough for interior with the addition of a minimum of supplemental lighting. The Mini is a production tool that tends to benefit from all the things that go with shooting film. Like lighting. And these lenses are fast enough to light for with units in a budgets price range. Kino flows, tweenies etc. In an average top down flo- lit room, with these lenses, wide open, you would be just under a usable exposure. Ad a couple of fixtures to sex it up, and violla!! The T4s a problem though for interior if your lit for your other lenses. It will need over twice as much light. __________________ Kindest regards, Jason Brunner jason@aros.net http://www.jasonbrunner.com http://www.fleurpost.net (Thats just, like, my opinion, man)

April 4th, 2005, 12:36 PM	#9
Martin Costa Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: London UK Posts: 76 Images: 2	Arri STD mount Does the mini 35 accept an ARRI STD mount?

April 4th, 2005, 03:59 PM	#10
Jason Brunner Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Salt Lake City. Utah Posts: 68	>>Does the mini 35 accept an ARRI STD mount?<< I do not believe it does, however ARRI STD to PL adapters do exist. I would ask someone at ZGC if there are any specific considerations. __________________ Kindest regards, Jason Brunner jason@aros.net http://www.jasonbrunner.com http://www.fleurpost.net (Thats just, like, my opinion, man)

July 7th, 2004, 10:03 PM	#2
Barry Green Barry Wan Kenobi Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,863	It's difficult to go wrong with Zeiss glass, I say. However, because you have the Contax mount, you also have access to the cheapest way to build a nice wide array of lenses. You can get a Contax->M42 adapter, which lets you mount screw-mount lenses onto the mini35. There are lots of Zeiss Jena lenses out there in screwmount format, like the Distagon 20/2.8, the 35mm/2.4, the 50/1.8, the 80/1.8, the 135/3.5 and the 200/2.8. Those are the lenses I used with the DVX/mini35, and the results were superb. Genuine Contax-mount Zeiss lenses will be newer-design and probably faster, but undeniably more expensive. The lenses I listed go on ebay for usually anywhere from $40 to $150, maybe up to $250 for the more rare ones (like the 80mm). We used the mini35 with Zeiss SuperSpeed cine lenses, and also with the inexpensive M42-mount lenses (by using the M42->Contax adapter). Other than the cheap lenses being slower speed, it was nearly impossible to tell the difference between the pricey SuperSpeeds and the cheap still camera lenses. MiniDV cameras just don't have enough resolution to tell the difference, especially after being diffused by the ground glass in the mini35.

July 8th, 2004, 11:34 AM	#3
Matt Wolfe Tourist Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3	Thanks Barry,

July 8th, 2004, 02:16 PM	#4
Matt Wolfe Tourist Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3	Hey Barry Is it possible to use a Phoenix Wide Angle 24mm f/2.8 Manual Focus Lens for Contax / Yashica, with the M42? And how good is Phoenix glass? thanks matt

July 8th, 2004, 10:50 PM	#5
Barry Green Barry Wan Kenobi Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,863	Well, if it's for Contax/Yashica, then you could mount it directly to the mini35. There is no Contax-lens-to-screw-mount-body adapter, that I know of... it goes the other way, screw-mount-lens-to-Contax-body. As for Phoenix glass, I've never heard of it.

April 4th, 2005, 08:38 AM	#8
Martin Costa Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: London UK Posts: 76 Images: 2	Thanks a lot Jason. I think if i can get him down a couple of hundred pounds from what he's asking. I'll go for it. :-)

April 5th, 2005, 08:03 AM	#11
Toby Watson New Boot Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 9	distagons Apparently, P&S Technic recommend not using the Distagon lens series with their adapter. For what that's worth.

April 5th, 2005, 08:11 AM	#12
Martin Costa Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: London UK Posts: 76 Images: 2	Did they say why? I mailed them about whether a PL mount to arri adapter would work, they said it "might work". I think i'll give these lenses a miss. Thanks for the info guys. You've saved me money and a headache.

November 9th, 2005, 01:41 AM	#13
Brian Duke Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hollywood, California Posts: 899	Zeiss Lenses for Mini35 I keep seeing Zeiss lenses for "Contax" cameras. Is that a motion picture lens, and if so, is it good for my Mini35? if not, what other affordable Zeiss lenses can you recommend? I am new, so please forgive me ignorance. Thanks

November 9th, 2005, 12:19 PM	#14
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Those are still camera lenses, and they are quite good. Recommendations to Zeiss lenses that you may have heard or read refer to the motion picture variety; if you are using still lenses, there are a host of other manufacturers that will deliver fine results as well as Zeiss (Nikon, Canon etc). If you have been looking at still lenses, there really aren't any "affordable" cine lenses, relatively speaking. You might find some offbeat Russian primes somewhere but they will likely cost signficantly more than still lenses. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

November 9th, 2005, 12:41 PM	#15
Brian Duke Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hollywood, California Posts: 899	Thanks Charles. I do have a few Nikon lenses, but they seem to be a bit dark, I pressume because they are still and not enough light comes in, so I wanted to get the Motion Picture lenses. I guess I have to wait until I can afford the Zeiss prime lenses. Can you or somesle explain the main difference between Zeiss prime lenses and Nikon or Zeiss still lenses. Perhpas quality etc. Thanks