14x manual lens

Tom Schan · April 18th, 2003, 08:19 AM

I need advice, i'm looking to purchase the 14x manual Lens, but i wanted to know:

Can you use it to film the foreground in focus, while the background it out of focus?

If you can, can you

Then bring the background into focus?

Please advise if this can actually be done with the normal canon lens.

Cheers

Appologies for my ignorance... no excuses.

Tom

Ken Tanaka · April 18th, 2003, 08:46 AM

Welcome Tom,
What you refer to is "Depth of Field" (DOF). See Jeff Donald's article on the main site for full coverage of the fundamentals of this topic. In brief, yes you can but the relatively small rear aperture of video cameras (such as the 1/3" of the XL1s) presents limitations to shallow DOF.

Tom Schan · April 18th, 2003, 09:25 AM

Cheers Ken

Most appreciated.

So i know now it is worth purchasing.

Tom

Ken Tanaka · April 18th, 2003, 09:34 AM

It's an excellent lens. ( See my 16x review for photos and comparisons with the 14x.) I think its iris mechanism is the best that Canon has produced.

But, in itself, it will not deliver greater DOF control than your 16x standard lense, per se. It will, however, enable you handier control of that iris.

Dylan Couper · April 18th, 2003, 11:08 AM

It will have the same depth of field as the stock lense.
The focus shifting technique you describe from front to back is called "rack focus".
It can be done with both lenses, but is much easier to do on the 14x manual lens.

Mark Argerake · April 18th, 2003, 07:58 PM

I was under the impression that the manual 14x and manual servo 16x could both do a rack focus and the only basic diffenences where the 2x and the servo. Am I wrong?

Ken Tanaka · April 18th, 2003, 08:07 PM

Yes, they both "rack focus" easily. The focus ring on both is completely manual and the black lens barrels of each are easy to mark with a white pencil if needed.

Mark, see my 16x review page (linked above) for complete notes on the 16x and 14x manual lens differences.

Charles King · April 18th, 2003, 11:08 PM

Ken, Your link doesn't work

Ken Tanaka · April 18th, 2003, 11:12 PM

Charles,
Hmmm...it works for me...it must be biased <g>. Here's the link:

http://www.dvinfo.net/canon/articles/article82.php

Stephen Birdsong · May 8th, 2003, 03:38 AM

I recently bought a 14x manual for my xl1s, and I read that I wont be able to use a matte box with it. The end of the lens rotates, and this obviously would cause problems. Has anyone a solution to this problem? I do not have the auto lens.

stephen

Rob Lohman · May 8th, 2003, 05:39 AM

If you have a mattebox then simply try it out and see what
happens. If you don't I know there are matteboxes out there
with support rods that allow the lens to rotate. I don't know
where I saw this so I hope someone else will chime in with
more info on this!

Stephen Birdsong · May 8th, 2003, 08:11 AM

No, I dont have a matte box. Im looking to invest in one.

Stephen

Adrian Douglas · May 8th, 2003, 08:19 AM

Basically matteboxes for the XL1 come in two styles:

1. Clamp-on, which mount to the front off the lens and cannot be used with either the Fujinon or Canon 14x lenses as their front elements rotate.

2. Rail mount. The mattebox is supported by rails that are fixed to a plate that mounts to the underside of the camera via the tripod mounting hole. This can be used with lenses with rotating front elements like the Fujinon and Canon 14x lenses.

Stephen Birdsong · May 8th, 2003, 08:21 AM

Ok, Thanks Adrian.

The only Matte Box I know of for the Xl1s is the century optics. Does anyone have any suggestions about which Matte Box to use?

Adrian Douglas · May 8th, 2003, 08:30 AM

Stephen,

As well as the Century Optics mattebox, the Cavision Mattebox also has rails for use with the 14x lens

April 18th, 2003, 08:19 AM	#16
Tom Schan Tourist Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Brighton, East Sussex Posts: 2	Manual 14x Lens... foreground/background I need advice, i'm looking to purchase the 14x manual Lens, but i wanted to know: Can you use it to film the foreground in focus, while the background it out of focus? If you can, can you Then bring the background into focus? Please advise if this can actually be done with the normal canon lens. Cheers Appologies for my ignorance... no excuses. Tom

April 18th, 2003, 08:46 AM	#17
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Welcome Tom, What you refer to is "Depth of Field" (DOF). See Jeff Donald's article on the main site for full coverage of the fundamentals of this topic. In brief, yes you can but the relatively small rear aperture of video cameras (such as the 1/3" of the XL1s) presents limitations to shallow DOF. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

April 18th, 2003, 09:34 AM	#19
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	It's an excellent lens. ( See my 16x review for photos and comparisons with the 14x.) I think its iris mechanism is the best that Canon has produced. But, in itself, it will not deliver greater DOF control than your 16x standard lense, per se. It will, however, enable you handier control of that iris. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

April 18th, 2003, 11:08 AM	#20
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	It will have the same depth of field as the stock lense. The focus shifting technique you describe from front to back is called "rack focus". It can be done with both lenses, but is much easier to do on the 14x manual lens. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

April 18th, 2003, 08:07 PM	#22
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Yes, they both "rack focus" easily. The focus ring on both is completely manual and the black lens barrels of each are easy to mark with a white pencil if needed. Mark, see my 16x review page (linked above) for complete notes on the 16x and 14x manual lens differences. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

April 18th, 2003, 09:25 AM	#18
Tom Schan Tourist Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Brighton, East Sussex Posts: 2	Cheers Ken Most appreciated. So i know now it is worth purchasing. Tom

April 18th, 2003, 07:58 PM	#21
Mark Argerake Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Murrieta, CA Posts: 227	I was under the impression that the manual 14x and manual servo 16x could both do a rack focus and the only basic diffenences where the 2x and the servo. Am I wrong?

April 18th, 2003, 11:08 PM	#23
Charles King Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: sweden Posts: 795	Ken, Your link doesn't work __________________ Charles 'What we perceive to be may not be what we believe to be.'

April 18th, 2003, 11:12 PM	#24
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Charles, Hmmm...it works for me...it must be biased <g>. Here's the link: http://www.dvinfo.net/canon/articles/article82.php __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

May 8th, 2003, 03:38 AM	#25
Stephen Birdsong Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 125	Manual 14x and Matte Box I recently bought a 14x manual for my xl1s, and I read that I wont be able to use a matte box with it. The end of the lens rotates, and this obviously would cause problems. Has anyone a solution to this problem? I do not have the auto lens. stephen

May 8th, 2003, 05:39 AM	#26
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	If you have a mattebox then simply try it out and see what happens. If you don't I know there are matteboxes out there with support rods that allow the lens to rotate. I don't know where I saw this so I hope someone else will chime in with more info on this! __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

May 8th, 2003, 08:11 AM	#27
Stephen Birdsong Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 125	No, I dont have a matte box. Im looking to invest in one. Stephen

May 8th, 2003, 08:19 AM	#28
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	Basically matteboxes for the XL1 come in two styles: 1. Clamp-on, which mount to the front off the lens and cannot be used with either the Fujinon or Canon 14x lenses as their front elements rotate. 2. Rail mount. The mattebox is supported by rails that are fixed to a plate that mounts to the underside of the camera via the tripod mounting hole. This can be used with lenses with rotating front elements like the Fujinon and Canon 14x lenses. __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors

May 8th, 2003, 08:21 AM	#29
Stephen Birdsong Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 125	Ok, Thanks Adrian. The only Matte Box I know of for the Xl1s is the century optics. Does anyone have any suggestions about which Matte Box to use?

May 8th, 2003, 08:30 AM	#30
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	Stephen, As well as the Century Optics mattebox, the Cavision Mattebox also has rails for use with the 14x lens __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors