Red Primes Choice

[Emanuel A.]

Steve's Studio Daily report -- Part I [LINK (http://www.studiodaily.com/main/news/headlines/7959.html)] is saying: «the primes are not available individually, but only as a set»:

$20,000 RED Prime Set - 15mm f2.8, 25mm f1.9, 35mm f1.9, 50mm f1.9, 85mm f1.9, shipping end of 2007

Is it possible to buy them individually as an alternative to the set?

Giving a fair choice with a new 18-50mm zoom bundle for example?

[Jeff Kilgroe]

seeing how I'm only the 3rd person to vote, it's too early to tell what everyone else thinks. Personally, I would buy the 85mm separate if given the chance. That with the 18-50 and the 300mm would make a nice setup. The 15mm would be a good add-on too perhaps. But I would really like to see something like the ARRI 8mm UltraPrime or some seriously wide angle lens at some point.

[Policar]

I agree that the 18-50mm zoom and 85mm prime would be a nice combination, but these lenses are sold as a set for a reason: they all have the same f-stop (save the widest, which I assume is more suited for exterior shooting anyhow) and probably produce similar-looking footage. If you bought the 18-50mm zoom, you'd never get the chance to use the 85mm at f1.9 anyhow, since generally one sticks to a single f-stop in a given scene and there are few scenes I'd shoot at 85mm alone--that is too telephoto.

Other than the lack of a 65mm portrait lens with soft focus attachment, this is a great set of focal lengths, though. If I had ten times more money than I do now I would definitely buy the entire kit, and I think it's only being sold as such. Unfortunately I'm really poor so I'm sticking with a dvx100...

[Don King]

15mm here.

[Evin Grant]

All or nothin' baby. Prime lenses are in party packs of five only.... unless Jim says otherwise.

[Zakaree Sandberg]

if i dont buy the whole set.. i would get 15 35 and 85 fo sho

[Manfred Lopez]

I think the set is fine as it is. Maybe later they can extend it to a 7 set.

[Brook Willard]

Five for the price of one!

[Paul Moss]

Are they a matched set.....?? color, contrast, flare characeristics.....?
If not, i would personally prefer to look at a purchase of each lens on its own individual performance....?
Would be nice if they were for sale individually, they do like like some nice kit though.....

[Kyle Spicer]

I agree with Brook and Evin. At that price why not go ahead and buy them all :)

[Paul Wizikowski]

I will likely get the set. But does anyone know the answer to Paul Moss' question? Are they a matched set? (i.e. Primo)

[Roberto B]

why not go ahead and buy them all :)on a budget?.. is it reason enough?

first choice: the zoom
second choice: the widest (15mm, it seems)

[Steve Gibby]

first choice: the zoom
second choice: the widest (15mm, it seems)

I agree, for what I shoot. The zoom is small, light, built well, and focuses as close as 8". To me, it will be the most used lens in RED One owner's kits. The primes look great too. A wide prime is always the most used of my primes, for what I shoot. I'll buy the prime set....$20k is a seriously good price + I think they'll be very good lenses.

[JD Holloway]

You can get a Zeiss High speed prime set f1.3 (gen II-III) for about the same price I believe. These are often used with M2/ground glass conversions b/c of the massive light loss and need for fast lenses (or bigger Gen. Sets). They are a different beast then Cookes but f1.3 base makes shooting f1.9-f2.3 nice I would think.

I feel some testing is in order on the QT....EVIN!?!?!?!

[Alex Boothby]

Visual Products sells sets of used Zeiss Super Speeds here:

http://www.visualproducts.com/store04.asp?ID=26&Cat=8&Cat2=18

MKIII set is listed as $37,500
MKII set WAS listed as $32,000

About two months ago they were offering me 4 MKII primes for $20,000 (I already have the 25mm, which they were missing to complete the set.) Finally I decided to wait until NAB - a nerve racking two months as I watch PL mount lenses go up and up in price at all the usual places. This announcement as well as others by P+S technic should calm the crazy used market a bit.

Regarding used lenses vs. new - Evin has said some important things regarding new lens designs which are optimized for digital CMOS sensors. I'm sure that ANY Red branded lens will be the perfect fit for the Red One, and I'm happy I did not buy that Zeiss Super Speed set.

[Stephen Williams]

I agree, for what I shoot. The zoom is small, light, built well, and focuses as close as 8". To me, it will be the most used lens in RED One owner's kits. The primes look great too. A wide prime is always the most used of my primes, for what I shoot. I'll buy the prime set....$20k is a seriously good price + I think they'll be very good lenses.

Hi Gibby,

Where is the 8" measured from?

Stephen

[Emanuel & Co]

Emanuel voted for the 15mm & 85mm, however his company goes to the 15mm as our favorite choice.

[Vincent Rice]

I think you are all missing the point. RED have clearly made a great deal with Cooke by promising to sell them in sets. Otherwise they would not be viable for Cooke at these price points.

[Daniel Reichenbach]

Talked today with Ted, he maked it clear: PrimeSet, no individual possibility. They will be matching together was the promise. My favorite lenses are by the way: 16-50 or the fix lenses 15 to 35 and 85mm

[Roberto B]

Talked today with Ted, he maked it clear: PrimeSet, no individual possibility.SUBJECT TO CHANGE is the Red motto right?..

[JD Holloway]

MKIII set is listed as $37,500
MKII set WAS listed as $32,000

Regarding used lenses vs. new - Evin has said some important things regarding new lens designs which are optimized for digital CMOS sensors. I'm sure that ANY Red branded lens will be the perfect fit for the Red One, and I'm happy I did not buy that Zeiss Super Speed set.

Agreed, though I've seen cheaper prices (can't remember where, offhand). They may be a VERY good deal (pending testing). As for optimization, we will have to wait and see. I'm no expert, but there's much that can be done to match these lenses to the camera in glass manufacture, gearing and coating etc. I'm just a little afraid what will be given up to sell them at this price point.

Still, they are on my "must have" list as well as a 70-200 Zoom.

[steevo435]

short zooms are convenient, but not always the best choice for best look! Use primes if you are going for image quality!! Zeiss mkII's are great, but $10k more than RED primes (although Zeiss is proven lenses), will be interesting what P&S lenses look like for around $2500 each.

[JD Holloway]

70-200 is hardly a "short zoom".
Frankly, If/when I have the financing I will probably buy prime set/300/zoom and anything else the team can bundle together. I'm just hoping for a 70-200 cine grade lens.

[Damien Molineaux]

70-200 is hardly a "short zoom".
...<cut>

I think steevo435 was talking about the 18-50mm.

Personnaly I'm really hesitating, I've got a reservation on the 18-85, and that really is to me the best compromise. The alternative would be short zoom + the 85mm, which would be nice because I like the smallness of the short zoom, but if they won't sell it separately...

Please reconsider, redeal, see what you can do, you can do anything can't you...

Cheers,
Damien