How many are using non Canon lenses?

[Jason McDonald]

I'm just curious as to what the lens list looks like for those not using Canon lenses on their cameras (And what adapters they've found work best?).

I saw Rokinon 85M-C 85mm F1.4 Aspherical Lens for Canon on Amazon and was very intrigued with it. Still, there are a lot of older Nikon and non-Canon manual lenses out there and I'm wondering if they're worth a look for video purposes.

[Greg Fiske]

I went through a 50's stage. Bought a Zeiss 50 1/4 c/y. It acts more like a 1.2(compared to my 1.4 lens), and the bokeh is really nice. I use it almost exclusively for dancing at receptions. I have a LEICA 50MM SUMMICRON-R F2 that I used a lot for the bridal prep last weekend. It has a softness that is very flattering for portraits and has the best color out of any lens I own. I have a Helios 44M-6 58mm(M42), that I used to use more when my style was more vintage. It has a low contrast rendering that reminds you of something that was produced in the 60's. For $25 its worth having in any kit, and the bokeh is crazy. Its a rip off of the boitar, do a search on google and you will see how it swirils the background. I use fotodoix adapters on those lenses. I use a Nikor tokina 11-16 on my gh1 and Canon camera's with ebay adapters (that have aperture control). I've always enjoyed using the 11-16.

[Chris Barcellos]

I shoot Nikon and Pentax glass, almost exclusively... just because of the bargains you can get for excellent glass. I am not concerned about auto focus, auto exposure or image stabilization, preferring to handle this manually. Couple that with the fact that high end L glass is probably overkill if you are using camera for strictly video, it makes a lot of sense to go this way.

I bought inexpensive Kawa and other adapters for these lenses, not paying more that $ 25 per adapter, most often, much less. I try to keep an adapter on each lens I use a lot because changing .

[Chris Joy]

I have the Zeiss C/Y in 28, 35, 50 and 85mm and a Rokinon 14mm in Canon mount. Everything else I have the "Big IS" adapters from ebay, which I have found to be better than the 4 other adapters I have, including some allegedly "high end" ones.

My Rokinon is a toy compared to the C/Y 85 f1.4 and its not that much more than a Rokinon, if you can scrape up the extra $$$ it would be well worth it IMHO. The Zeiss will outlast your grandkids cameras since its all metal and built like a tank - the Rokinon is mostly plastic, thankfully I don't use the 14mm very much (I mostly shoot with the 28 and the 35) so it won't see a lot of abuse. The Rokinon - like the Zeiss - will be full manual and the 14mm is surprisingly heavy for a lens with so little metal.

I even use my Canon adapted C/Y lenses and the Rokinon on my Sony Nex with a EOS adapter. Its just easier than constantly swapping adapters.

[Greg Fiske]

Another minor thing, Nikors focus in the right direction. Dream kit would be the new nikor Zeiss lenses on the canon bodies (plus it gives you aperture control). When using a follow focus, focusing towards you, you pull the follow focus towards you. The Canon glass is backwards and is less intuitive when you are in the field.

[Peer Landa]

Originally Posted by Jason McDonald

I'm just curious as to what the lens list looks like for those not using Canon lenses on their cameras

Initially when I got the 5D2 I invested in a series of Nikkor primes, but shortly after the 'Manual mode' firmware release I went back using Canon f/2.8 L lenses (17-35mm & 70-200mm). However (although I still often use the 70-200) nowadays I'm more into my Carl Zeiss' f/1.4 (50mm & 85mm), and a spunky Sigma f/1.8 20mm. Though, as you can tell from some previous posts, I'm currently looking for a fast zoom that could perhaps cover the 20-100mm focal range, (any pointers appreciated).

Btw, here's brief focus/light test I did using the Zeiss 85mm:

Test footage from portrait series -- Carl Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 on Vimeo

-- peer

[Bill Pryor]

I use 24mm, 35mm, 55mm micro, 105mm Nikkors, a Zeiss ZE 50 and a Canon 70-200. All non Canon lenses have their own adapters. I use 77mm stepdown rings so all my filters are one size--77mm. Also got 77mm threaded metal lens caps for all the lenses. If I had it to do again I would get the Zeiss ZF and an adapter, since those have regular aperture rings and can be de-clicked by Duclos just like the Nikkors.

[Greg Fiske]

Bill,
Any solutions for a lens hood with filters connected? I was wondering if there was a soft generic lens hood that you could slide over the adapter and filter combo but still keep it out of view.

[Jon Fairhurst]

At home, I use Canon lenses. At work we have Zeiss.

Home: EF 28/1.8, EF 50/1.4, EF 85/1.8, EF 100/2.8 Macro, EF 200/2.8 L II, 2x Extender.

Work: ZE 21/2.8, ZE 35/2, ZE 85/1.4. (I also have access to the EF 24-105/4L IS.)

For photos, I especially love the ZE 21/2.8 and the 200/2.8L.

For video, I prefer the ZE 35/2 and the ZE 85/1.4.

The Macro delivers nice, crisp closeups for both photos and video.

[Bill Pryor]

I lust after that Zeiss 21mm.

[Jon Fairhurst]

The Zeiss 21 is killer for photos - especially landscapes. It stretches the right and left sides though. People at the edges of a group shot gain weight and get wide faces. Lines remain pretty straight, but get further apart on the left and right, so it's not a normal barrel distortion.

I use it very sparingly for video. We got it in case of needing to "get it all in" when in tight spaces. I also use it for the rare "attitude" shot. Recently, I shot an ambulance leaving the firehouse to show negative consequences. An ultrawide low angle shot was perfect for the doom & gloom message.

It's also a fantastic lens for timelapses.

But for typical video, I almost never use it. That ambulance shot was the only time I used it in a 7 minute video with cuts every five seconds.