Lens test tests...

[Evin Grant]

Here are some examples from the first test.
How do they look and can you load/view them easily?

Zoomify allows you to see all the way to 100%
http://www.evingrant.com/MCUf2.8.html (http://www.evingrant.com/MCUf2.8.html)
Breathing test is an animated Gif.
http://www.evingrant.com/breathtest.gif
These are from the 50mm 1.4 Nikkor test.

Does anyone know how to embed the Zoomify HTML file into the forumm so it shows up in the thread as opposed to a link?

[Don Woods]

That look very nice Evin. I like concept using an actual shop. there is some breathing in the lens.

[Graeme Nattress]

There might be breathing, but the contrast just looks beautiful.

Graeme

[Don Woods]

Yes it is a very good looking pic. And would be more then excited to get that quality image with that lens option on the RED.

[Blair S. Paulsen]

As someone else already suggested you could do a scale ramp with keyframes to compensate for most of breathing.

I suppose that in the case of a 4k final master a real pro might be able to spot a slight softening in the scale up but that feels like splitting hairs to me. For any workflow that ends up at 2k or less I find it hard to imagine that the scaling would be discernable.

If your show requires a ton of rack focus moves then by all means rent Cine glass, but if there are only a few then the scale ramp kludge is a great option for those of us planning to use still lenses.

[Brook Willard]

Very nice, thanks Evin. Do you happen to have any xmas lights around the house for bokeh?

[Jason Francois]

thanks Evin.

[Evan Owen]

Very nice. Confirms my decision to use Nikon glass. I can handle a little breathing...

Can't wait to see more tests!

[Evin Grant]

Very nice, thanks Evin. Do you happen to have any xmas lights around the house for bokeh?

No christmas lights, I do however have my new Bokeh-A-Lizer (Patent pending:D). What cha' think?
http://www.evingrant.com/Bokehtest.gif

What do you guys think of the zoomify shot, do I need to include full res downloadable files too?

I've revised the Bokeh test so the out of focus highlight dosen't clip. I think that is what was resposible or the star effect.

[Brook Willard]

:D Thanks!

[David Fairbanks]

It might be breating, but it's not much, and half of it is very well hidden in the focus shift. The animated GIF works really well to show the breating though.

[David Fairbanks]

Since it looks better at 5.6 (and it's sharper here), how does it look at 2.8 and closer to the subject (sharper).

[Scot Olson]

Thanks for the tests Evin. Is this the AI or AF-D?

[Don Woods]

I like the zoomify. But I do think it would be nice to have a full rez to look at. But you don't have to for every singal one I think.

[Evin Grant]

Thanks for the tests Evin. Is this the AI or AF-D?

Actually it's both. I did side by side tets and found no significantt diffrence between them. As long as you get the post 1973 AI (Multicoating added) or newer you are getting a great lens. I did the infiity test with the AI and the others with the AF because the D2x is a better focus puller than I am.

[Poi Boy]

Thanks Evin, I appreciate the effort and it is great fun to see the results.
Aloha
-A

[Sanjin Jukic]

Evin, thanks.

[Emanuel A.]

I'm surely seconding Poi and Sanjin.

Evin, since you posted your opinion on the Nikkor zoom 17-35mm breathless properties, can you add a similar test from yours? It would be much appreciate, that's for sure! Thanks in advance!

[Brook Willard]

But what is the focal length of a 17-35 on the RED ONE??? ;)




[nobody answer that, please]

[Emanuel A.]

Bad boy! :)

Anyway, it goes:

...

I'm kidding!... :rolleyes:

[Don King]

...a 17-35 on the RED ONE??? ;)




[...please]Please?

[Emanuel A.]

Here is the link:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?p=803390#post803390

And follow the river especially after and including the Brook's ;) post...

[JVB]

Very nice. Confirms my decision to use Nikon glass. I can handle a little breathing...

Can't wait to see more tests!

...after NAB you won't have to worry about lens breathing...So hold your breath!

[Evan Owen]

...after NAB you won't have to worry about lens breathing...So hold your breath!

Really? Is there news that I've missed?

Very intriguing... :)

[CVB]

Hehe, Jim's not the only one who's got secret goodies for NAB ;)

[Brook Willard]

CVB, is breathing compensation on a zoom integrated into your remote focus device?

[Emanuel A.]

Hehe, Jim's not the only one who's got secret goodies for NAB ;)And we'll expect yours... ;)

[Akcelik]

thanks Evin! real options for the rest of us.

[Damien Molineaux]

Hello, sorry for my ignorance. Can somebody enlighten me please. Is breathing the fact that a lens does not allow to precisly repeat the same setting when zooming back and forth or changing focus ?

Cheers,
Damien

PS CVB, you've got my attention. Are you planning on releasing a Follow Focus, is that correct ?

[Evin Grant]

Breathing is the slight change in magnification (focal length) that happen when you focus. Top cinema glass uses floating elements to curtail this, and make focus transitions smoother.

[Evin Grant]

I'm surely seconding Poi and Sanjin.

Evin, since you posted your opinion on the Nikkor zoom 17-35mm breathless properties, can you add a similar test from yours? It would be much appreciate, that's for sure! Thanks in advance!

It's high on the priority list, this is not the review. I just wanted to get some feedback to see if my testing methodology was sound.
Reviews to come, I promise.
E.

[GlennChan]

Is it possible to measure bokeh both near and far? (i.e. your test just shows "far") I find that lenses have different bokeh for things that are too close to be in focus.

[Antoine Fabi]

Evin,

Thanks for the info.

I can live with this slight breathing any day.

Do you think it is possible to do follow focus with this lense ?

[Evin Grant]

Gotta wait for the review boys.

[Brook Willard]

Can I have a pony?

[Don Woods]

Me too pleas pleas...

[Akcelik]

hi Evin!

any chance of test/review Nikkor 28mm f/2.8? as this would equal the "exact" normal 42mm @ s35 on a Red, it would be interesting to find out how it stacks up in relation to breathing against the 17-35, as you had already mentioned its the only prime in its range that will out do the zoom in optical quality.

[Jeff Kilgroe]

I'm looking at a 50-300mm Nikkor AI telephoto lens, F4.5... Interested how this would work out for a general use zoom lens. I think I can pick it up pretty cheap today. Any thoughts on this one? I may just grab it anyway as it would be a nice addition to the Nikon still camera I'm thinking of buying.

[Sanjin Jukic]

And I am looking for Sigma AF 50-500mm f/4-6.3 APO EX DG HSM, impressive 10x zoom for budget wildlife and sport even shooters. I have one for my Canon 30D and also teleconverter 2.0x: 200-1000mm f/10.4-12 (for manual focusing only). Looking forward to get another one with Nikon F mount too.
Read review at
http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/sigma_50500_463/index.htm

[Carlo Rho]

Thanks for all Evin!
Just a little problem from a not english native: could someone explain me the exact meaning of "breath" ... well I know I'm doing it constantly (hope to do it a bit more ;)) but for lens?
Carlo

ps
I've just remeber that I've got my grandpa Nikon straight and perfect from the '70s with a Nikkor 50mm and some kind of Nikkor zoom. I've to flight back to Milan to keep them very soon!
Kind of strange feeling looking back to grandpa still lens for RED revolution!

[Blaine Golden]

Nice stuff, Evin. Thanks!

[Finner]

Thanks for all Evin!
Just a little problem from a not english native: could someone explain me the exact meaning of "breath" ... well I know I'm doing it constantly (hope to do it a bit more ;)) but for lens?
Carlo


Hi Carlo

If a lens is said to "breathe bad" it means that the framing of the shot with that lens tends to zoom in or out a little as you change focus from far to near or near to far.

Hope that helps

[Carlo Rho]

Perfect Finner, really clear Thanks!
Carlo

[mezmo]

Hi Evin.
Great work on the subject of lenses for Red.
I was wondering if you could test your 17-35 for tracking while
zooming thru the focal range. This could be a great short
zoom for steadicam or hand held work.
Seem to remember this lens being adapted by Optex, Century
Optics or others for PL mount cine use? I'll look into it.
Thanks for your efforts. Mezmo
_________________________________

[Evin Grant]

I was wondering if you could test your 17-35 for tracking while zooming thru the focal range

Do you mean how well the lens holds focus through the zoom range?
If so I will comment on that.
E.

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Evin,

I don't want to rush you along, but I'm eager to see your report on the 17-35. I was thinking of picking up a couple of the smaller primes to augment my set and that 17-35mm zoom has me really intrigued and may be a better option. I'd love to know your thoughts on the lens (you said you plan to use one as part of your kit) as well as the test results.

[Evin Grant]

It will be a few weeks still, it needs to come back from ACS and I have a Army commerdial to shot this week. However I recomend buying it, you won't be dissapointed.

[mezmo]

Hi Evin

Tracking may not be the correct tech term for this but what happens
with a lot of stills zoom lenses is they drift left to right, up or down
while zooming back from the long end or into the tight end.
This can be a problem when shooting graphics or moving across
still images while zooming for Documentry or TVC work.
The lens will appear to drift on it's own accord making precise camera
operating a lot more difficult.
I know I'm asking a lot of a lens in this price range, some very
expensive cine zooms still have this problem. If the zoom is not
seating properly in it's mount this can also cause the problem.
I suppose it's testing the useability of this zoom lens in digital cine
workflow that I'm interested in.
To test for this you would need a camera with a centre cross hair.
A focus test card with a centre cross hair.
Sorry, you probably already know this.

If your 17-35 held focus through the focal range that would make it
a very interesting low cost option for Red
Thanks for your help Evin.
_________ Mezmo______________

[Evin Grant]

All lenses will have a certain amount of play in them, I'll need to investigate further to answer this point.