Affordable Lenses for Sony F3

Alister Chapman · January 20th, 2011, 01:55 AM

They don't have Mk1 or Mk2 markings. You need to look at the end of the lens and the way the hood fits. Mk1 has a screw fit hood and Mk2 bayonet. ASV is a later lens and will say ASV in the lettering around the front element. Avoid the ASV's. There is also a later version where the focus scale is behind a plastic window, avoid these as well. Your looking for one with a traditional focus ring. These lenses went out of production quite a few years ago. There's a Mk2 on ebay in the US

Tokina AT-X PRO 28-70mm 1:2.6-2.8 Camera Lens for NIKON on eBay (end time 25-Jan-11 03:40:01 GMT)

Peter Corbett · January 20th, 2011, 03:08 AM

Many thanks Alistair. I wish there was a suitable way to mod my C/Y Contax lenses to Nikon mount. I may have to look harder at the Nikon range.

Dave Sperling · January 20th, 2011, 08:04 AM

Hi Alister,
In taking a look at the pix of the Tokina lens on eBay, I noticed that there are what seem to be a series of reference marks for focus depending on focal length. Not sure if I've missed anything in the thread, but does that indicate the lens is a vari-focal rather than a zoom -- ie, do you need to re-focus whenever you change focal length? (or pull the focus ring to maintain focus distance while zooming?)
Or is this feature restricted to a certain version of the lens?
Thanks,
Dave S.

Alister Chapman · January 20th, 2011, 08:41 AM

Almost all stills zooms are varifocal. It's extremely rare to find a stills zoom that accurately tracks focus, it's not normally needed as you zoom, focus, shoot, re-frame, focus shoot. I have no plans to use it as a zoom, just as a multi focal length lens.

Dave Sperling · January 20th, 2011, 10:05 AM

Hi Alister,
Thanks for confirming my suspicions!
Best,
Dave S

Chuck Fishbein · January 20th, 2011, 11:33 PM

Hi Allister,
Have you have any experience with the Tokina AT-X 12-24 DX?

Alister Chapman · January 21st, 2011, 01:37 AM

No I don't Chuck.

Andy Cope · September 17th, 2012, 06:56 PM

I have a project for my sony f3 and a dslr. I am trying to decide if I can use a 7d or 5d mark 2 and share the lenses. I have some nikon glass for the f3, but wanted to see if could use canon lenses for cost and convenience on both cameras.

Dennis Dillon · September 17th, 2012, 08:08 PM

Andy
Get a canon body to Nikkor lens adapter and stay with the Nikon for both cameras. You will find using a common lens with manual controls best suited for both cameras. Now as to having both on the same gig, set your canon to a neutral setting (low con)and grade the canon to the F3.
The German adapters are best. Name escapes me. Novoflex I think. Way tighter than t he cheaper ones.
I would send you mine, but I'm in Haiti this week till the 24,

Alister Chapman · September 18th, 2012, 01:32 AM

As Dennis suggests I'd use your Nikon fit lenses on both.

If your investing in new glass then the low cost but high quality Samyang/Rokinon lenses are worth a look as you can get these in Canon mount with manual iris and focus rings, they even do full cine versions that include gears for follow focusses etc. My biggest issue with Nikon lenses is that they focus in the opposite way to Canon and most other lenses. Most Sigma Nikon fit lenses focus the same way as Canon, just to confuse things.

My F3 Canon picture profile is closer to a Canon DSLR than the stock F3 settings:

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Dusty Powers · September 21st, 2012, 12:20 AM

I heard that Joe Dunton will be introducing new lenses in the near future. For now, I have a full set of F mount primes. I've been using the Red 17 - 50 zoom recently for an EPK project and have been very pleased with the results. The fact that it's 6k is a plus. Just wish I could find a 17 or 18 to 85 for under 10k.

Nate Weaver · September 21st, 2012, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusty Powers

Just wish I could find a 17 or 18 to 85 for under 10k.

Just in case you didn't know, The Red 18-85 can be had for $6K. It's just not a handheld or run+gun proposition.

Anything of that range and a 2.8 stop is gonna be big and heavy...until they figure out a way to get around some old physics problems.

Leonard Levy · September 21st, 2012, 10:28 PM

I've had good luck with my prior generation Nikon zooms being parfocal or very close to it. (the ones with iris rings). Even when using as a multi-focal lens they are much easier to use than Canon zooms which are just a big PITA to me.
Tamron says their 17-50 is parfocal

January 20th, 2011, 01:55 AM	#31
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	They don't have Mk1 or Mk2 markings. You need to look at the end of the lens and the way the hood fits. Mk1 has a screw fit hood and Mk2 bayonet. ASV is a later lens and will say ASV in the lettering around the front element. Avoid the ASV's. There is also a later version where the focus scale is behind a plastic window, avoid these as well. Your looking for one with a traditional focus ring. These lenses went out of production quite a few years ago. There's a Mk2 on ebay in the US Tokina AT-X PRO 28-70mm 1:2.6-2.8 Camera Lens for NIKON on eBay (end time 25-Jan-11 03:40:01 GMT) __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

January 20th, 2011, 03:08 AM	#32
Peter Corbett Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Victoria Australia Posts: 246	Many thanks Alistair. I wish there was a suitable way to mod my C/Y Contax lenses to Nikon mount. I may have to look harder at the Nikon range. __________________ Peter Corbett Powerhouse Productions www.php.com.au

January 20th, 2011, 08:04 AM	#33
Dave Sperling Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tinton Falls, NJ Posts: 780	Focus Reference Markings? Hi Alister, In taking a look at the pix of the Tokina lens on eBay, I noticed that there are what seem to be a series of reference marks for focus depending on focal length. Not sure if I've missed anything in the thread, but does that indicate the lens is a vari-focal rather than a zoom -- ie, do you need to re-focus whenever you change focal length? (or pull the focus ring to maintain focus distance while zooming?) Or is this feature restricted to a certain version of the lens? Thanks, Dave S.

January 20th, 2011, 08:41 AM	#34
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	Almost all stills zooms are varifocal. It's extremely rare to find a stills zoom that accurately tracks focus, it's not normally needed as you zoom, focus, shoot, re-frame, focus shoot. I have no plans to use it as a zoom, just as a multi focal length lens. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

January 20th, 2011, 11:33 PM	#36
Chuck Fishbein Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Weehawken New Jersey Posts: 210	ATX Tokina Hi Allister, Have you have any experience with the Tokina AT-X 12-24 DX?

January 20th, 2011, 10:05 AM	#35
Dave Sperling Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tinton Falls, NJ Posts: 780	Hi Alister, Thanks for confirming my suspicions! Best, Dave S

January 21st, 2011, 01:37 AM	#37
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	No I don't Chuck. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

September 17th, 2012, 06:56 PM	#38
Andy Cope Tourist Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: West Palm Beach, Florida Posts: 1	Re: Affordable Lenses for Sony F3 I have a project for my sony f3 and a dslr. I am trying to decide if I can use a 7d or 5d mark 2 and share the lenses. I have some nikon glass for the f3, but wanted to see if could use canon lenses for cost and convenience on both cameras.

September 17th, 2012, 08:08 PM	#39
Dennis Dillon Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hobe Sound, Florida Posts: 213	Re: Affordable Lenses for Sony F3 Andy Get a canon body to Nikkor lens adapter and stay with the Nikon for both cameras. You will find using a common lens with manual controls best suited for both cameras. Now as to having both on the same gig, set your canon to a neutral setting (low con)and grade the canon to the F3. The German adapters are best. Name escapes me. Novoflex I think. Way tighter than t he cheaper ones. I would send you mine, but I'm in Haiti this week till the 24,

September 18th, 2012, 01:32 AM	#40
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	Re: Affordable Lenses for Sony F3 As Dennis suggests I'd use your Nikon fit lenses on both. If your investing in new glass then the low cost but high quality Samyang/Rokinon lenses are worth a look as you can get these in Canon mount with manual iris and focus rings, they even do full cine versions that include gears for follow focusses etc. My biggest issue with Nikon lenses is that they focus in the opposite way to Canon and most other lenses. Most Sigma Nikon fit lenses focus the same way as Canon, just to confuse things. My F3 Canon picture profile is closer to a Canon DSLR than the stock F3 settings: XDCAM-USER.COM • Login __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

September 21st, 2012, 12:20 AM	#41
Dusty Powers Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 31	Re: Affordable Lenses for Sony F3 I heard that Joe Dunton will be introducing new lenses in the near future. For now, I have a full set of F mount primes. I've been using the Red 17 - 50 zoom recently for an EPK project and have been very pleased with the results. The fact that it's 6k is a plus. Just wish I could find a 17 or 18 to 85 for under 10k.

September 21st, 2012, 10:28 PM	#43
Leonard Levy Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: USA Posts: 1,684	Re: Affordable Lenses for Sony F3 I've had good luck with my prior generation Nikon zooms being parfocal or very close to it. (the ones with iris rings). Even when using as a multi-focal lens they are much easier to use than Canon zooms which are just a big PITA to me. Tamron says their 17-50 is parfocal