Comments on: Zeiss Lenses: Sharp and Snappy

By: PORTLAND FILM » Blog Archive » The DSLR Cinematography Guide

PORTLAND FILM » Blog Archive » The DSLR Cinematography Guide — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 07:15:54 +0000

[...] Zeiss lenses “produce a colder, contrasty feel. They are incredibly sharp… Be sure to use more fill light when using these lenses and also control your highlights.” Shane’s absolutely right; one of the disadvantages to a DSLR movie when compared to, say, 35mm film is the DSLR has less dynamic range (and, to date, lacks some of the gamma knee options of a sophisticated video camera to control highlights). A very saturated, contrasty lens like the Zeiss would often be an advantage, and I do appreciate their aesthetic (I own a Zeiss set myself), but you have to be even more careful with Zeiss lenses to protect your highlights from blowing out harshly (tip: use the Magic Lanternzebra stripes). Zeiss lenses are famous for having very large, all-metal focus rings with a lot of fluid drag, which many DPs like (I actually find the action a tad too heavy for handheld work), and they share many rendering qualities with Zeiss cine lenses, which is to say: they’re beautiful. [...]

By: Shane

Shane — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 05:55:03 +0000

Jen Rich, you are welcome.

By: Jen Rich

Jen Rich — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:44:46 +0000

Thanks for this post. It it very helpful for me.

By: Shane

Shane — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:53:29 +0000

Shalom, thank you so much for your kind words.

By: Shalom

Shalom — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:12:46 +0000

Hi Shane, Just heard your interview on Lensflare35. Incredibly inspiring stuff. Great to hear you talk about the soul of the camera and also the environmental impact we can make but using these amazing DSLRs.
Can’t wait to see your extensive lens comparisons!
Awesome work and words!!

By: Blake

Blake — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:18:58 +0000

Hi Shane, I’ve been checking your blog almost daily for several weeks now. Thanks for being so generous with your info/time! I just bought a few Contax Zeiss lenses (28 2.8, 35-70 3.4, 135 2.8) and I’ve been reading that some of these lenses have large tabs that may hit the 5d mirror or scratch the AF contacts. I know that you have not personally tried these lenses yet, but since you’ve mounted an array of other glass, I wonder if you or any of your readers may have some advice on how to carefully try these lenses. I have read that some people have no problems and others have been forced to “shave” the offending tabs. Thanks again Shane!

By: Shane

Shane — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 08:28:32 +0000

Abdi, thank you so much for your kind words, I have not tried that. Have you tried fotodiox.com, maybe they have an adapter for them.

By: Shane

Shane — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 08:08:29 +0000

Shalom, it is your vision. Use what makes your creativity come to life. I always choose the lenses based on the story and its characters. You never can go wrong when you put the story first.

By: Shalom

Shalom — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:01:29 +0000

I use a Contax 85mm 1.4 and 50mm and both are great. Only 6 blade aperture as apposed to the 9 blade on the recent models but still have that Zeiss magic.
I also own a Yashica 28mm 2.8 which is pretty great too.
I had a cameraquest adaptor but have since got some cheap ones from Ebay and these work just as well.

By: Abdi

Abdi — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:38:09 +0000

is it possible?

By: Abdi

Abdi — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:37:47 +0000

Shane, I cannot begin to express how much I am loving all the info your kindley sharing – my question relates to using C mount lenses on the 5D?

By: Shane

Shane — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:33:33 +0000

Ken, I need to look into those. I have not tested any of them. Thanks for the info.

By: ken glasssing

ken glasssing — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:59:57 +0000

Shane…what about the older zeiss Planar or Distigon lenses for the Contax/Yashika mount? They can be had for not too much money and even though they are smallish, they still have a pretty good “cine focus throw”…?
Thoughts?
Ken Glassing

By: Shane

Shane — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:56:45 +0000

Kristoffer akselbo, no problem, that is why I am here. Keep them coming. I am ready.

By: kristoffer akselbo

kristoffer akselbo — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:59:08 +0000

thankz..u r amazing. great info

By: Shane

Shane — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:38:12 +0000

Kristoffer akselbo, the gear size for the Zeiss is 32 pitch. That is an industry standard. You can get the ZF or the ZE primes retrofitted with a 32 pitch ring on the lens. But if you want to take any lenses that you have and be able to put a remote follow focus motor or a manual follow focus system the best gears to go with are the ZIP GEARS from Zacuta. They fit the best and are smaller and less cumbersome. I use all remote follow focus, I find when anyone touches the camera it messes with your operation, with the camera being so light. I use the Preston III remote focus system, but it is $32,000.00. Red Rock Micro is coming out with one that will be released for NAB, and I have tried it and it is very good, and only $500.00. The monitor that I had on the camera is a Varizoom, NTSC monitor. It has its own on-board battery and was the lightest that I found $450.00.

By: kristoffer akselbo

kristoffer akselbo — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:35:19 +0000

forgot..what kind of tft screen did you use when you did these navy seals shots? the one mounted on the redrock rig.
best kristoffer akselbo

By: kristoffer akselbo

kristoffer akselbo — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:04:02 +0000

dear shane. thanks for taken the time for a reply..
i just tried some leica summincron glass..really sharp..but i guess i just have to live with the viewfinder getting dark when its at more than f5.6.
if you have the time..you mention a follow focus gear size for the zeiss…is it a redrock you use or do you use a fancy remotedcontrolled model…i saw a cheap one from hokus focus.
it also seems that you shoot without filters?? and then ad in post.
best kristoffer akselbo

By: Shane

Shane — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:16:47 +0000

Kristoffer akselbo, everything works the same, you just have to adjust the lens manually. You can’t use the wheel in the back. But all the ZF glass, Leica or whatever you would like to mount on it can be done with a Fotodiox Nikon to Canon adapter. The color grading system that I use is Speedgrade DI. The old Nikon glass is awesome, the old AI works the best.

By: kristoffer akselbo

kristoffer akselbo — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:19:32 +0000

dear shane…
love to read the blog..have a question..i know the zeiss ze are bulid for the eos mount..but older zeiss and the zf or leica lenses..does the liveview or viewfinder get darker when stopping down on aperture when using other than zeiss ze…also thinking of the old nikon glass??
anyway loved the footage of the Terminator..what do you guys use for colorgrading?
bes kristoffer