…s, turning on the gh2’s crop mode (approx 2.9x), the whole configuration becomes a super compact telephoto video setup, which is ideal for animal shooting, discrete and easy to move around. The lens balances really well with the gh2, focus ring is smooth, and the manual aperture, made it a very pleasurable lens to make video with. The lens was £200 when I got it secondhand, it was a bargain, I find any cons on this lens as it is an old lens, can’t… Continue Reading
…edded After doing 2 separate tests on 2 of my better long lenses, Tokina AT-X 80-200mm f/2.8 and Pentax SMC 200mm f/2.5 I decided to put them against each other at 200mm to figure out which one is better. As I expected Tokina is much softer wide open. Pentax is sharp even wide open., which is probably the best thing about this lens. The problem with the Pentax thought is that there is a lot of chromatic aberration, which is visible even at f/5.6,… Continue Reading
…are quite a few versions of this lens and this particular lens is the OCK6-75-1 model with the OCT19 mount. Image Quality & Character I usually start my reviews with an overview of the built quality, but this lens is all about “character”, so I really want to talk about it first! If you watched the test video above, you will have noticed the range of flares this lens produces! There aren’t many lenses that come close to Helios 44-2 in lens flare… Continue Reading
…rth it the investment, it’s just much heavier and harder to carry as a walk-around lens. I then redesigned and printed new focus gears for these and ordered more Leitax mounts and that was good for another five months. It’s a gradual process, guys. Then, near the end of last year I decided to round out the set and make it suitable for renting. That meant getting a few more lenses and upgrading various aspects I had neglected so far. The 21/2.8 was… Continue Reading
…I’ve joined the ebay partnership program to help me run this website and fund my monthly lens giveaways, so if you found this post useful and would like to help me produce more similar content, please use the links in this post if you’re planning to buy one of these lenses or use this link if you want to buy anything else on eBay. You will not be spending a penny more using these links, while still helping me as I will get a small percentage from… Continue Reading
…I’ve joined the ebay partnership program to help me run this website and fund my monthly lens giveaways, so if you found this post useful and would like to help me produce more similar content, please use the links in this post if you’re planning to buy one of these lenses or use this link if you want to buy anything else on eBay. You will not be spending a penny more using these links, while still helping me as I will get a small percentage from… Continue Reading
…r aspiring and veteran DP’s the world over! OLD FAST GLASS is a Los Angeles-based cinema lens rental company specializing in vintage lenses. While you can rent modern cine lenses and high-end camera equipment from them too, it’s their vintage cine lens collection that sets them apart from any other rental company. Their current stock includes vintage Anamorphic sets such as rehoused LOMO Round Front, Cineovision High-Speed, Todd AO, as well as Spe… Continue Reading
…it’s solidly built, and it even looks mil-spec with its gray paint and glow-in-the-dark witness marks. Both of which are useful. The gray paint means the lens won’t get as hot in the sun as it would if it were painted black, and the witness marks are ideal for shooting in low-light. Focus rotation is only about 180 degrees, which is actually perfect for doc shooting when you are pulling focus off the barrel. Another nice feature: the iris closes d… Continue Reading
…t. The Minolta Rokkor lenses, often neglected in the past due to their less-than-optimal flange distance, making them unable to be remounted to Canon’s EF mount, gained new popularity with the rise of mirrorless cameras such as the Sony Alpha series. Featuring stunning coatings and a look that is truly unique, it was only a matter of time until the Rokkors got their chance to shine. And now, Ancient Optics bring the Minolta SR line to market in st… Continue Reading
…os 40 to the modern built 40-2 MC version, with the single-coated Helios 40-2 being the most popular choice. The Cyclop 85mm, designed for use with military night vision devices, is still undergoing checks for compatibility, so best to avoid that one at this time if you are serious on getting the rehousing. It’s now possible to pre-order it here. Existing MKII customers who want to add it to their set or upgrade it from the standard MKII Jupiter-… Continue Reading
