P&S Technic Primes at NAB

[steevo435]

at NAB. Anyone been over there? They are next to Cooke!!!!
Around $2300 each for set of 5 lenses. Takers? Testers? Nikon mount, cine style markings, feel.

[Roberto B]

very very interesting..

[Jason Mitchell]

P+S had one available for touching at their booth. The focus ring was nice and big, silky smooth, geared and well marked. The iris was also smooth, but the markings were the same (tiny) as the original. P+S’s product shots (renders?) on http://www.pstechnik.de/en/optics-lensset.php show a different, full-size iris ring than the one on the floor. It looks like a cinema lens, behaves like a cinema lens ... must be a cinema lens.

JVC had a regular one on a RR M2 next to a P+S Mini35 with a CookeS4. Yes, there was a quantifiable difference (as you would expect from the price difference). But I thought the look of the Zeiss lens was nice and had a decent character about it (what is this, wine tasting?).

If you're thinking about these lenses for the red or are more demanding of your lens performance, wait two months and pony up for the P+S rehousings. You'll be happier on set and comfortable rolling them out for those upper-middle clients. Otherwise, Zacuto's got them today with their zip-focus gears and a are selling 'em like hot cakes.

As side note, everywhere there was a RR M2 at NAB, there was a new (regular) Zeiss on the front ... even the ones that weren't powered up. Now I'm weighing the pros and cons of acquiring Red primes AND P+S primes. The later would serve as a backup/option for the Red and an upgrade for my 35mm adapters I rent out. (I know my rental client’s ACs will be a big fan of that as an option.) They may also bridge the gap until the Red primes roll out if you want to own your own set and are tired of trawling on eBay for non-existent Super Speed sets. Or at least that may be how I can pay for them quicker. (Zeiss? ... I got yer “Zeiss” right here! Look, it sayz so right on the lenz.)

Jason

[Alexander Black]

hey Jason,

The sample you held was the rehoused "full cine" with integrated gears, eh? Any word on street price for a full set of primes?

_a

[steevo435]

Here's the link...about 12K for set.

http://www.pstechnik.de/en/optics-lensset.php

[Jason Francois]

Hey Peter those RPLenses look pretty nice. the site says $3975.
Do you know if they will take trade-ins or use the lenses that I have? Only if you know off-hand.

Thanks,

J.

[Peter Sensor]

J. , Anything is possible. The price atthe sight has not been changed yet, sorry. Please contact me through the web site. Itwould be a pleasure to help you out. - peter.

[Mike Prevette]

They focus backwards. They are set up with Nikon focus barrels which is opposite of all the other cine lenses in the world. AC's will hate you. Or the smart ones will steal reversal gears from 300 f2's.


_mike

[Jason Francois]

Mike are you saying that Nikon's focus backwards? I'm running it through my head, but it's been a long time since I've touch a cine lens.

[Evin Grant]

Pete, I hate to burst your bubble but your prices are astronomical for what amounts to a few step up rings and lens gears you can now buy from many diffrent manufacturers. I coud create a similar set using mostly f1.4 lenses and still come in $1000 under your pricing. I know you have to make a living but please don't try and sell you wares here.
E.

[Mike Prevette]

Mike are you saying that Nikon's focus backwards? I'm running it through my head, but it's been a long time since I've touch a cine lens.


That is exactly what I'm saying. Every cine lens that I have ever used focuses with infinity to the right, and CF to the left. Cooke's, Angie's, Super baltars, Panvision, Canon, all of them focus 'normal'. Many Dp's and directors will own their own "special" glass, like 300 f2's or 200 f2's and a lot of those are converted nikons. In which case they usually have a follow focus reversal gear in the case with them so the AC's can deal. It's a big mental issue to revers what direction you think infinity is at.

_mike

[Jason Francois]

That is exactly what I'm saying. Every cine lens that I have ever used focuses with infinity to the right, and CF to the left. Cooke's, Angie's, Super baltars, Panvision, Canon, all of them focus 'normal'. Many Dp's and directors will own their own "special" glass, like 300 f2's or 200 f2's and a lot of those are converted nikons. In which case they usually have a follow focus reversal gear in the case with them so the AC's can deal. It's a big mental issue to revers what direction you think infinity is at.

_mike

Thanks Mike. I'm no DP, for sure, but rather a director that wants to learn a lot more about cameras and lighting so that I can be a more informed filmmaker...this type of knowledge helps.

In the past my DP's wouldn't let me touch lenses and cameras. :) Guess, I'll show them. :)

[mjeppsen]

Yeah, they focus backwards. Still a pretty good deal though if you can live with that. We covered the lenses in our NAB video segment on P+S (http://www.freshdv.com/2007/04/nab-video-podcast-ps-technik-and-silicon-imaging.html).

[chuck colburn]

I believe one of the Arri Follow Focus units is reversable.
A sharp mechanical type could probally add an additonal gear to other FF units which would then reverse the direction of rotation.

[Finner]

Chuck in my expeience all the ARRI FF units I have used you can attatch the gear on either side of the swing arm but none were reversable. Big bonus here though as the remote FF system Veiw Factor studios is making can be set up to run forward or reverse at the click of a switch and he is even setting it up so you can attatch the focus wheel on the rods and run the system in that configuration off camera power so no need for batteries.

[chuck colburn]

Chuck in my expeience all the ARRI FF units I have used you can attatch the gear on either side of the swing arm but none were reversable. Big bonus here though as the remote FF system Veiw Factor studios is making can be set up to run forward or reverse at the click of a switch and he is even setting it up so you can attatch the focus wheel on the rods and run the system in that configuration off camera power so no need for batteries.

Hi Finner,

I might be mistaken on the Arri FF being reversable. Will check on that.

ahhh about the Avatar....some where awhile back I think something I said got this whole "Hoff" thing started and I would now like to publicly apologise to everybody.
Now go to your room and stay there untill you are ready to say YOUR sorry. lol

Chuck

Ok, the unit from Arri I was thinking of is the LFF-1. It's a light weight single rod mounting FF unit. How you get it to reverse is to mount it upside down. Anyhow looks like a nice unit and would solve the backwards focus problem when using certain still camera optics. Not all still camera lenses rotate in the oppisite direction. The Zeiss lenses for Contax SLRs turn the same way as Cine lenses do. There is some very nice glass in that family.

[Bruce Allen]

Arri LFF is supposed to be reversible. From the ARRI site:

"The LFF-1 shines through its simple yet flexible design. Its swing arm can be rotated a full 360°, and the drive direction can be quickly reversed by flipping the unit over. That way, the LFF-1 can be used above or below the lens, on camera right or left, with the drive direction preferred by the assistant."

http://www.arri.de/prod/cam/lff/lff.htm

I'm just a humble director. I can't wait for you DPs to give me an opinion on the LFF in the field! I understand that it's not a full "pro" system because you don't have focus knobs on both sides... but are there other problems? How easy is it to reverse?

I too am deciding between Nikons or Red 18-50 or a combination thereof. The funny thing is that I'm probably going to be using them on a Canon HV20 + 35mm adapter setup and renting a Red when I need it...

Bruce Allen
www.boacinema.com

[Clayton Harper]

I can't wait for you DPs to give me an opinion on the LFF in the field! I understand that it's not a full "pro" system because you don't have focus knobs on both sides

It has only one knob because it is a lightweight version meant for handheld work. If you check the price, you will see how fully "pro" it is. :biggrin: