Rehousing my Zeiss ZF lenses

[Tony Lorentzen]

Any idea if it's possible to rehouse the Zeiss ZF lenses to PL-mount?

[jbeale]

I think anything is possible... if you have the budget for it :-)

[Jaime Vallés]

Well, the folks at P+S Technik did a rehousing of those lenses for cinema purposes, but left them as Nikon mount. See here:

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

Maybe you can ask them if they can do that to yours, but with a PL mount? Although, it'll be much cheaper to just use them with a Nikon mount.

[PaulClements]

Hi,

Might want to try asking Les Bosher too. www.lesbosher.co.uk

Let us know how you get on with your enquiries.

Paul

[Tony Lorentzen]

Thanks Paul - I'll ask Les Bosher for a quote.

The reason I'm asking is this; it will be some time before I can afford to buy myself a couple of RED zooms and since I already own an almost complete set of Zeiss ZF lenses it makes more sense to try to use a few bucks on rehousing those. That way I won't have to change lens mounts on my RED when I use it and when I rent it out.

[Billy Summers]

Oppenheimer rehouses the zeiss'

[albert rudnicki]

Tony
Let me know on your findings, I have a couple of ZFs and want to convert them as well
Thanks
Albert

[Mike Prevette]

Billy,

Oppenheimer Rehouses old Ziess lenses from the Contax/Yashica still cameras. Not the Cosina made ZF's. Although I'm sure he would be more than willing to charge for doing the RnD on rehousing the ZF's. I talked th his lens tech not to long ago and he hadn't even heard of the ZF's yet.

_mike

[donatello b]

does oppenheimer rehouse any still ( zeiss-contax)?

i thought it was only the 2 macro's ( 100mm & 60mm)

[Mike Prevette]

As far as I know those are the only two, along with the 8mm nikon.

[Evin Grant]

It's going to be far more expensive to rehouse those lenses than it would be to buy the P+S or even a used set of standard speed primes. I'd go that route if I were you.

[PaulClements]

Hi Evin,

The P+S ones are still Nikon mount which goes against the OP's requirements. I agree a used set of speed primes would probably be a good option though. It's a shame P+S didn't put a PL mount on the rehoused lens and just go the whole hog.

Paul

[Tony Lorentzen]

I emailed Les Bosher, but it bounced back with an "undeliverable mail" after trying to deliver it 20 times. I really don't understand why it would be such a big deal converting these lenses. I'll try to get a hold of a PL-mount from a rental company I know and see what I can do myself.

[Tony Lorentzen]

I've also e-mailed a bit with Jorge Diaz-Amador from CinemaTechnik who thinks it's not possible to convert the Zeiss ZF lenses to PL-mount. In his own words: "Regrettably that is not possible. The flange focal distance of the Nikon mount is too short. If it were possible, P+S Technik would have done so already."

But the FFD of the PL-mount is 51.98 mm and the Nikons are 46,5 mm so I don't see why they couldn't be adapted with a bit of ingenuity and magic :-)

[albert rudnicki]

bummer

[Billy Summers]

Yeah, talked to Marty at Oppenheimer too...

What about some of the stuff Samcine did previously. You guys take a look any of that?

I was also wondering about a contax adapter for RED?


Okay boys, I'm leaving it up to you...

[PaulClements]

I've also e-mailed a bit with Jorge Diaz-Amador from CinemaTechnik who thinks it's not possible to convert the Zeiss ZF lenses to PL-mount. In his own words: "Regrettably that is not possible. The flange focal distance of the Nikon mount is too short. If it were possible, P+S Technik would have done so already."

But the FFD of the PL-mount is 51.98 mm and the Nikons are 46,5 mm so I don't see why they couldn't be adapted with a bit of ingenuity and magic :-)

Hi

Mount adapters can only convert an f-mount lens to be a macro PL lens. They cannot focus to infinity because of the position of the lens. However I thought we were talking about lens conversions or rehousing. That should be possible but is indeed more costly and difficult because you are building the lens rather than just sticking a new mount onto the back.

Paul

[PaulClements]

Hi,

Also the problem with the Zeiss ZF isn't the mount. It's the fact they have no automatic control for Nikon bodies, as such the lens cannot be used with the Birger mount. Therefore all of the problems inherent with still lenses used in a cine environment exist. Unless you change the housing so that it acts as smoothly, accurately and gives you the greater focus throw etc there's little point worrying about changing the mount to PL since you won't have resolved any of the issues.

Paul