Anyone know of a good source for motion picture prime lens? Anyone using the Mini35 and own their own lenses or are you renting?

Also I'd heard rumors of other options in the works besides the Technik Mini 35 Digital PL Mount. Anyone know if it's more than vapor speak?

<<<-- Originally posted by MrGranger : Anyone know of a good source for motion picture prime lens? Anyone using the Mini35 and own their own lenses or are you renting?
-->>>

The best source that I found for prime lens was on eBay. There was a complete set of Ziess primes on there not to long ago. Depending on the speed, you are looking at anywhere from $12,000 on up. Those dudes are not cheap!

My thought (as I am also looking into the Mini35) is to rent the primes as I need them. It is a much cheaper alternative.

Try these:

http://www.alangordon.com/equip.html
http://www.cinevision-ny.com/salesinfo/sales.htm#35mm
http://www.isaia.com/cameraEquipment/35mmLenses.asp
http://www.jimon.com/jimon_cameras/lenses/lenses.html
http://www.thepowerbroker.com/
http://www.visualproducts.com/lenses.html

I bought mine from Visual Products.

A DP I know said to get a great image with the XL1 is to get the 35mm adaptor, then rent a 35mm film lens.
Has anyone done this, and was the image noticeably superior to the Canon XL1 lenses?

Bob:

That is what is being discussed here, and other threads that can be found by searching under "Mini 35". It is a very different look than is possible with the Canon lenses, primarily because of the depth-of-field characteristic which is drastically different.

When your looking into 35mm lenses keep in mind that the standard mini-35 adapter only takes PL mounted lenses. And the only advantage you have with the mini35 adapter is that you get the same DOF that you would get with a 35mm MP camera and the rotating ground glass that brings some extra graininess into the picture (it's not really an advantage IMO). So if I were you I'd go for the manual lens by optex or the one by canon (I like the optex one better).

There are other adapters than PL. I know several people using Nikon lenses on the Mini 35. Several people have posted here that they are using Nikon lenses also. This thread (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5421&highlight=Nikon+mini+35) might be of interest.

Jeff

Bryan, what do you prefer about the Optex lens? My understanding is that since it doesn't communicate with the body, you have to live with a flashing "no lens" icon in the center of the viewfinder, which was a deal-killer for me. I'm curious to hear how you made your decision.

>>>A DP I know said to get a great image with the XL1 is to get the 35mm adaptor, then rent a 35mm film lens.
Has anyone done this, and was the image noticeably superior to the Canon XL1 lenses?<<<<

Yes, back in August, Lon Stratton of Stratton Camera here in the Detroit, MI
area did a film/video shoot at U. of Michigan's Media Union Video Studio
with this rig.

Lon rents both the PS tecknik adapter and lens (among film cameras etc.)
On this occasion he brought out an Arri swing tilt zoom lens.

The images were very very good for an XL1s. Also, if you have ever used
the Canon EOS adapter and 35mm glass, you will also notice a HUGE
improvement in image quality, but the XL1 still isn't film and it isn't HD.

These experiences have lead me to believe that the Canon
*video lens glass* canNOT resolve over 250 lines. I think the camera
itself can do the advertised 500 lines, because film lens give the electronics that many lines and the image seems much sharper with better saturation.