I have an XHA1 & Letus Extreme. I am currently using a Nikon 50mm 1.4 AI. I'm looking at the following lenses, please let me know if you guys think they would be good additions for commercial video production with the Letus. Also if you have these lenses or similar for sale please let me know!

Nikon 105mm f2.5 (NON-AI)
Nikon 85mm f2.0 AIS
Nikon 24mm f2.0 AI

I'm sure those are great, but I can't say enough about the focus play of a manual Zeiss lens. I think 35mm adapter users are their main customer. For rack focus shots, or just to be able to focus more easily, they can't be beat. Good glass too.

Rob,
Which exact model Zeiss are you talking about? I have a full set of Nikon primes, but I'm having trouble focusing with the 24mm, and was thinking of going the zeiss route.
Bruce yarock
Yarock Video and Photo (http://www.yarockvideo.com)

I have the 50 f/1.4 and would love to add the 28 and 85 (currently have those on a Sigma and Nikon). I've also used the 18 f/3.5, which is very nice.

Rob,
What I was asking is which model Zeiss lens. For example there are different models-planar, distagon, erc. Is there an internet site that explains the different models?
Thanks
Bruce Yarock

This is what I have: Zeiss | 50mm f/1.4 ZF Manual Focus Lens | 1405-174 | B&H Photo (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/441695-REG/Zeiss_1405_174_50mm_f_1_4_ZF_Manual.html)

And these are what I want:

Zeiss | 85mm f/1.4 Planar T* Manual Focus Lens | 1405-176 | B&H (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/441700-REG/Zeiss_1405_176_85mm_f_1_4_Planar_T_.html)

Zeiss | Wide Angle 28mm f/2 Distagon T* ZF Manual | 1486-409 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/524035-REG/Zeiss_1486_409_Wide_Angle_28mm_f_2.html)

And here's the Zeiss product page: Welcome to Carl Zeiss Camera Lenses (http://www.zeiss.de/C12567A8003B58B9/Contents-Frame/F059B023D3F70687C12571EC0051BB9E)

I just completed my set of Nikkor primes last week. (28/50/85/105 for SGblade)

Let me tell you, a great lens is the Nikkor 28mm F2.8 AIS. Extremely sharp. The 85mm F2.0 AIS you're looking at is a great deal too, I especially like it for interviews. The 105mm and 85mm are pretty close in my opinion, as in you don't get that much closer with the 105. I'd say the 24/28 and the 85 are the first ones to get.

Thank you guys, as always your input is greatly appreciated. I believe I will start with the 85 & 28 mm lenses. If anybody has or knows of a good deal on the lenses please let me know!

How do you guys feel about using "non-ai" nikon lenses?

Maybe I'm just a little anal but I like my set to match (i.e. AI/AIS, etc) :)

I got an incredible amount of information from Ken Rockwell, I highly recommend you check him out.
Nikon Nikkor Lenses (http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/nikkor.htm)

B&H and Adorama have good prices on used lenses if they're in stock, also check out Keh. I got all mine off ebay. At most of the vendors, the 28mm AIS 2.8 costs about $250-$275 in great condition, the 85mm AIS F2.0 is about $200-$250.

All true, just keep in mind that we're talking about using lenses on the Letus. A full manual Zeiss would not be most people's choice for still work with today's DSLR's. But AF lenses are not that much fun to manual focus (as, of course, you must do with 35mm adapters).

Andrew,
Here's what i've been able buy at fairly good prices:
Older Niikon manual primes-
24mm 2.9- Hard to focus ( unfortunately I sold a 28mm 2.8 that was a really nice lens).
35 mm 2.0- Nice lens!
50mm 1.4- Excellent.
85 mm 1.4- I bought this af/manual lens to use for still portraits and it looks really nice on the letus. very expensive lens-$1000. Beautifull bokeh.
105mm f 1.8- Great classic lens.
135 2.8- Good also.
TC for the 135. Good out side . Turns it into about a 170mm but you lose a couple of stops.

Rob,
Thanks for the info. Boy those wider zeiss distagons are expensive. Where do you find the biggest difference between say nikon manual primes and the Zeiss?
My biggest pronlem I'm having is with the 24mm. With wide lenses outside it's really hard to judge focus, because i can't zoom in close enough to tell. Would the Zeiss wides be easier in that regard? ( I'm having an easier time with the 35mm).

Bruce yarock
Yarock Video and Photo (http://www.yarockvideo.com)

Forgot to mrntion- I bought a used Tokina 28-70 f 2.8 zoom used at bh. It's ok but I'm not crazy about the color. It was about $175.
BNruce Yarock

Where do you find the biggest difference between say nikon manual primes and the Zeiss?


I don't have any experience with Nikon manual primes.

My lens collection is pretty much complete, although I was thinking of buying an old 300mm lens, then again I was thinking the only possible use for it would be very long distance shots, for example a shot to the road from a tall building or some such... Might be a waste of money.

I would love an ultra-wide lens, but I don't know which one to go for. Any suggestions? My widest at the moment is the Nikon 24mm, but it's not wide enough for some shots.

Chris

The genuine 14mm Nikon f2.8 or the non-Nikon versions may be the widest sensible lenses you can put on your adaptor for acceptable results.