Panavision Primo Primes are the ultimate lenses. They produce cinema film quality imagery that will blow you away. The contrast range is perfect because you have all of the highlight detail, as well as wonderful gradation into the shadows. They flare beautifully and have a greater depth of field than most still lenses. However, the best attribute of the lens is that focus pullers know how to use them and will deliver in focus imagery.
Panavision Primo Lens
Be aware of the large sensor in the Canon 5D Mark II camera. The widest lens that does not vignette the sensor is a 35mm.
What is your favorite lens to use and what did you notice about how it performed on the 5D Mark II?
Tags: creativity, HDSLR Cameras, lense choice, Lenses
Shane 
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shane: have you tried out a wireless lcd configuration? that will be cool.
i am thinking such a workflow:
1) to mount Canon wireless file transmitter to the camera, either 7D(WFT-E5A), 5D2(WFT-E4 II), 1D4(WFT-E2 II).
2) to have ipod touch or iphone
3) to connect a Zeiss cinemizer video goggle to ipod/iphone.
Then,
1) configure the wireless file transmitter wifi parameters in the camera menu, so that the camera will set up a wifi network through WFT;
2) on ipod/iphone, open a web browser, type in the camera’s ip address and the account info set in the camera;
3) ipod/iphone can read live view of rear lcd of the camera;
4) zeiss cinemizer behaves like a 50 inches tv so that you won’t miss the focus even using 5d2 at f1.4.
5) you can also use a macbook pro with canon eos software to wirelessly remote control the canon auto lenses.
this setup may be good for extreme situations such as on top of water or very high angle or very low angle, or other dangerous situations.
not sure if this is working to control agenieux zoom lenses (with zoom motor and focus motor) on canon cameras. maybe not unless there is a smart adapter to let the camera recognize agenieux zoom lenses. still zoom lenses do not have zoom motors. that is the achillis heel for them to be used for smoothy zooming takes.
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., January 7, 2009 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, is announcing a step forward in the digital integration of professional photography workflows with the introduction of three new Wireless File Transmitter units to accompany each of the Company’s three professional Digital SLR Camera models. The new WFT-E2 II A Wireless File Transmitter, WFT-E4 II A Wireless File Transmitter and WFT-E5A Wireless File Transmitter for the EOS-1D Mark IV, EOS 5D Mark II and EOS 7D, respectively, provide professional photographers with a range of innovative wireless connectivity options for all photographic disciplines.
For example, by coupling each compatible camera with one of the new WFT units, professionals can fire up to 10 cameras simultaneously with Canon’s new Camera Linking function, which is perfect for getting that split-second shot from multiple angles. The new WFT units also enable the roaming photojournalist or back-country nature photographer to geotag images easily through hard-wired or Bluetooth-connected GPS devices and append coordinates to the image’s EXIF data. Additionally, reliable file transfer options such as FTP Mode provide wedding and event photographers with the ability to send images in real-time to a computer for instant prints or projection onto event screens while allowing the photographer to operate wirelessly.
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“The high-tech world of digital photography has presented professional photographers with new methods for image capture and delivery, streamlining workflows and providing digital delivery from across a room, or across the world. The level of connection and control offered by our new WFT units along with their enhanced ease-of-use will change the methods and speed by which professionals deliver images and conduct business,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A.
802.11 a/b/g Compatible
All three new Canon WFT units provide a wide range of different wireless compatibility options, as well as a wired option to ensure the unit will sync into any professional workflow. For this new series of professional WFT units, Canon has added IEEE802.11a connectivity, the preferred wireless networking transmission method for commercial and corporate environments, offering reliable data transfer rates, strong resistance to electronic interference, and worldwide acceptance in heavy bandwidth environments, particularly within sporting arenas, entertainment venues and retail establishments.
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WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup)
To help make connecting the WFT unit to a wireless network even easier than before, Canon has added a Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) option for a one-touch connection to local wireless networks. This easy option helps ensure that photographers not familiar with wireless LAN setups can just touch a button on their WPS-compatible wireless router to connect it to their camera.
FTP transfer mode
The WFT units provide access to the camera from anywhere in the world via the internet as if it were an FTP site and can allow a photo editor download images with ease. Canon’s FTP connection is a direct file transfer mode that allows for the instant transfer of files across a local network or across the world via the internet. This is the connection of choice for many professional photographers looking to deliver their images with a wireless connection back to a computer as they are shot.
New WFT Server mode
The new WFT Server mode, previously called HTTP mode on legacy WFT units, allows up to three users to remotely connect to a camera via any standard Web browser for global access of images in real-time. Canon’s WFT Server mode allows for multiple connected users to download both images and video files from a camera, as well as view still images, see a remote live view of the camera’s rear LCD screen and remotely fire a camera all through the Web. The ability to initiate remote capture to a compatible personal computer while viewing the Live View display from either a computer terminal or mobile device such as a netbook, iPhone, or iPod Touch is an exciting and extremely useful feature that can be performed from within a local network or from across the globe over most web browsers. Multiple photo editors can now have instant access to a photographer’s images, or photographers can remotely control a camera and transfer images to a compatible computer from the comfort of their mobile devices.
“EOS Utility” mode
The EOS Utility mode, previously called PTP mode on legacy WFT units, provides full-camera control while remote shooting with a complete full Live View preview on-screen, allowing a photographer to see and shoot from a computer as if the camera were in-hand. EOS Utility mode is essentially a wireless version of a direct USB connection, and the ideal mode for a commercial or portrait studio that needs full camera control and instant feedback across a local network.
New Camera Linking function
The new Camera Linking function enables photographers to link up to 10 “slave” cameras wirelessly to one “master” camera and fire all eleven cameras simultaneously for multiple images from various vantage points. Imagine being able to capture the crowd’s reaction while shooting the play on the field, or having a camera capture the view from the stage while shooting the event from the pit; with Canon’s new easy camera linking function the way a moment is preserved may never be the same. Each linked camera must be equipped with a compatible WFT unit.
USB Host function
While each Canon camera has a small USB port, the WFT unit includes a USB Host port, allowing photographers to connect large capacity storage devices or GPS units directly to the camera for maximum storage capacity or geotagging images. This allows for a huge amount of storage possibilities, as well as allowing for coordinate data input on image files. The new WFT unit is now also compatible with Canon Bluetooth unit BU-30, allowing Bluetooth compatible GPS devices to connect and append information to images wirelessly. This allows the photographer to be completely free of wires while shooting and still tag GPS coordinates to images.
New Media Server function
With the WFT-E5A’s new Media Server function, EOS 7D photographers can wirelessly transfer and display images on DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) -compatible televisions and photo frames, ideal for photo presentations and workshops. This feature is available exclusively with the WFT-E5A Wireless File Transmitter.
Pricing and Availability
The Canon WFT-E4 II A Wireless File Transmitter and WFT-E5A Wireless File Transmitter are currently available and sell at an estimated retail price of $699.99[i] each. The WFT-E2 II A Wireless File Transmitter is scheduled to be available in the first quarter of 2010, price to be determined.
shane: nanoflash + 7d/5d2 may be revolutionary. you can get 4:2:2 with this little device.
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=185934
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/convergent-design-nanoflash/449017-canon-5d-magic-lantern-1080i-live-out-firmware.html
wei, wow, that set-up seems very cool. I am going to research that and see if I can incorporate this workflow. Awesome idea!!
hi Shane, thanks for the great blog, such a terrific resource. I am looking at shooting a feature length movie in a few months this time possibly on a 7D with a PL mount conversion with my own Cooke S4’s. The idea noted on the other post of mating it with a NanoFlash recorder looks really interesting – have you tried that yet?
I heard you say (on the Redcenter podcast) that you use the 5D as much as possible and only the 7D when you need to use wider Primos or higher frame rates – is it because the image quality/look of the 7D is not as good? I realise it has shallower depth of field due to the larger format sensor but is there other issues?
Also did you get your cameras permanently converted to Panavision mount for the primos – or were the Primos adapted?
Many thanks for any advice
cheers
Toby Oliver
Continue up the excellent work!
The larger sensor has greater dynamic range and a lower apparent noise floor, but you need to be able to light to around 4/5.6 if you want a sensible DOF. One thing I am not sure of is how that noise floor compares to the 7D when you up the ISO/gain on the 5D. ie. If you have a 7D at f2 and ISO100 and a 5D at f4 and ISO400.
Anyone any thoughts?
Ross
Mohan Streamyx, thank you, and I will.
Toby Oliver, sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you, I have been slammed with work. The 5D is the best quality, then the 7D and then the 1D. The image quality on the 7D is not bad but I prefer the 5D as my go to camera for everything. The pixel size is larger than the 7D so the light gathering quality is far superior. It seems much more filmic in its contrast range. The Panavision mounts mount directly to the camera without any change to the camera at all. The lens mount snaps off just like a Canon prime lens, no cutting up the interior of your camera, no removing the mirror.
Ross, 4.0/5.6 is for action depth of field, people moving, running, etc. If you have talking heads or little movement you can use the shallow depth of field to your advantage. I was just shooting a short for NAB and Canon and I went down to 1.4 on the 50mm and the 85mm several times in controlled set-ups. The 5D and its sensor enables you to do anything you want. The 7D is a very good 2nd place. Your ISO range only wants to fall into 160,320,640,1250 and 1600 ISO, nothing in between. Check out my newsletter on ISO settings and noise. Sign up on the inside track on the blog or the main website and you get insider trading info. that is not given out on the blog.
Mohan Streamyx, thank you and I will continue to blaze the trail with all of your help.
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No sé bien cómo llegué a tu blog. Excelente. Suerte!
Buenos días!. Interesante el contenido, agregaré tu blog a mi lector de noticias. Hasta luego!