RPLens the best choice for a full set of Nikors?

[Michael Morlan]

RPLens does a lot of the work of building a prime set that I do not care to do myself (nor have the expertise to do.) I'm seriously considering this. What do you think?

They offer two sets of Nikon AI primes retrofit to cine use:

$5400 - 24mm F2.0 / 35mm F1.4 / 50mm F1.2 / 85mm F1.4 / 105mm F1.8
$3500 - 24mm F2.0 / 35mm F2.0 / 50mm F1.4 / 85mm F2.0 / 105mm F2.5

According to owner, Peter Sensor:

The lenses are hand picked and sharpness tested before they go through the process of making them "Cinema friendly".

Focus barrels are re-dampened if need be and a standard 32 pitch .08 black delrin gear (very hard plastic) is carefully press fitted on. (Yes, compatible with motion picture follow focus systems).

Then the aperture ring is taken apart and the click stops removed and the ring dampened - for smooth cine-lens-like setting or pulling.

Step-ups to 80mm OD for the front of the lens, to match with standard motion picture matte boxes and clamp-on shades, etc.

Last we add Arri 80mm rubber push-on caps and deliver the set in a new Pelican case.

Personal attention to detail is taken for each set we sell, we don't crank these out by the dozens. Because of this, delivery times can be 1 to 3 weeks.

I'm a DP myself and I do appreciate nice glass.

[Michael Schrengohst]

?
Interesting question, maybe Evin has some input....
I am starting out with Nikkors and have all the
lenses listed. I wonder if they would retrofit
your exisiting lenses?
Or have you looked into used Cine Lenses?

[chuck colburn]

So let me see if I got this right. They look at the lens on a collimator or thru the lens projector, lube the focus threads if needed, (they still focus anti-cinewise) remove a little ball bearing and spring from under the lens mount, squeeze a polyacetal (delrin) focus gear on to the lens barrel, mount a step up tube on the front, give you a couple of lens caps and put them in a case.
And this costs how much?

[Michael Morlan]

So let me see if I got this right. They look at the lens on a collimator or thru the lens projector, lube the focus threads if needed, (they still focus anti-cinewise) remove a little ball bearing and spring from under the lens mount, squeeze a polyacetal (delrin) focus gear on to the lens barrel, mount a step up tube on the front, give you a couple of lens caps and put them in a case.
And this costs how much?

Pretty much. But, I don't have a collimator, the patience to wade through crappy used lenses, a delrin focus gear resource, or experience with repairing lenses.

If I could find the same service at a better price...

Anyone... anyone... bueller... bueller...?

M

[chuck colburn]

Pretty much. But, I don't have a collimator, the patience to wade through crappy used lenses, a delrin focus gear resource, or experience with repairing lenses.

If I could find the same service at a better price...

Anyone... anyone... bueller... bueller...?

M

Michael,

That's fully understandable. I was just asking what the price was.
Or a link.

cheers,

[Andrew Benz]

?
Interesting question, maybe Evin has some input....

Our man Evin certainly has some input on these... and I believe he has a counter offer on the table. Just ask him... :greedy: :weight_lift:

[chuck colburn]

Our man Evin certainly has some input on these... and I believe he has a counter offer on the table. Just ask him... :greedy: :weight_lift:

What?

please explain, if you would.

thanks,

[Evin Grant]

I think this guy is WAY over priced. You can get those f2 lenses for under 1K and the 1.4 set for like 2K. It's nice to see he's actually working on them now, before he seemed to just be slaping on gears and step rings and calling it a day. My previous offer was to do the same thing with redrock gears and charge over $1000 less and I would still make $1000. Any way it's your money and I'm going to be too busy shooting to build Nikkor sets for people.
I still think this guy is a ripoff. You can have the lenses serviced and the clicks removed for like $150 each at lens at a good Nikon repair shop.

[Andrew Benz]

Thanks Evin... Sorry for the weird post Chuck, but I knew Evin would come through w/ a better explanation and more importantly Morlan would get an answer to his thread.

[chuck colburn]

Thank you Evin. Still don't know what they cost. lol I realise that the gearing and the front tube cost "X" amount to produce. The only things I would like to know are the resoulving power and the price.

ta,

[Greg M]

if you look hard enough you can find a set of standard speed Zeiss lenses for under 10k.

[Evin Grant]

Resolving power is not an issue, I know that from shoothing these lenses in still. The only one that I wouldn't go with is the 24mm f2, the 28mm f2 is much better wide open. A better set would be 15mm f3.5 (Or Sigma 14mm f2.8) 20mm f2.8, 28mm f2, 35mm f1.4, 50mm f1.4 (Or 1.2) 85mm f1.4 135mm f2.

[Michael Morlan]

Thank you Evin. Still don't know what they cost. lol I realise that the gearing and the front tube cost "X" amount to produce. The only things I would like to know are the resoulving power and the price.

ta,

Chuck,

My original post notes the cost of each set of primes. ;-)

I remember Evin's original offer to retrofit for me but I rather imagined (as he has confirmed here) that he would be far too busy playing with his new toy to build lenses. :)

[Michael Morlan]

Evin, I will investigate your prime set recommendations further. Any notes on avoiding bad lenses? I remember reputable dealers mentioned in past posts.

Anyone know where one can purchase the neat delrin plastic rings? They have a much cleaner look than the other attachable/detachable choices.

M

[chuck colburn]

Chuck,

My original post notes the cost of each set of primes. ;-)

I remember Evin's original offer to retrofit for me but I rather imagined (as he has confirmed here) that he would be far too busy playing with his new toy to build lenses. :)

Michael,

Yes it did. All I saw was focale lengths. duh, lol
Thank you.