Lens test database

[mezmo]

Hi Evin,
Keep up the good work. I was wondering if you could
also test for tracking on the 17-35mm Nikkor Zoom, movement
left to right, up and down thru the zoom range, or are you
planning to use this lens as a variable prime only.
Many thanks for all your efforts.
__________________________
Mezmo

[Karl H]

Hi Evin

Just wanted to say thanks in advance. I'll certainly be in the market for using SLR lenses on my RED and plan to start purchasing the lenses before RED ships.

So seriously, the advice you give here is invaluable. Thanks a lot!

My first naive question would be this. As the DSLR's and RED shoot a closer FOV than a full frame 35mm sensor, effectively this means you'd be shooting the sweet spot of a lens. Does that mean lesser expensive lenses would fair well in these tests? I always thought that lens quality was more noticable at the edges for it's deterioration/softness/vingetting etc.

Do cheaper lenses compare more favourably at the centre?

[Jarred Land]

Hi Evin

Does that mean lesser expensive lenses would fair well in these tests? I always thought that lens quality was more noticable at the edges for it's deterioration/softness/vingetting etc.

Do cheaper lenses compare more favourably at the centre?

remember there are alot of cheap Digital specific lenses out there now with smaller back elements, so the sweet spot is alot smaller on those lenses... but in general, the advantages of using full frame lenses on APS-C sensors translates pretty well.

[Sanjin Jukic]

Nikon lens database with a summary of Nikon lens serial numbers, specifications and accessories.
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/lenses.html

[Andrew M.]

Anybody knows if M2 adapter will work for mounting Canon EF lens on RED PL mount? Is there any other way of mounting Canon EF lens on PL mount?
Andrew

[Evin Grant]

Anybody knows if M2 adapter will work for mounting Canon EF lens on RED PL mount? Is there any other way of mounting Canon EF lens on PL mount?
Andrew

Unfortunately there is no viable way to mount EOS lenses on to Red at this moment. A dedicated mount could be made but no aperture control would be possible beacuse Canon requires a proprietary electronic data conection to control Iris. There is one work around using a Canon SLR. Setting the aperture, powering down the camera and reoving the lens, but this is impractical and allows too much oportunity for dust to enter the sensor chamber. Hopefully a third party solution will emegre but I would not count on seeing one till the end of the year at the earliest.

Don't fret, used Nikon primes can be had for very lillte money on E-bay, KEH.com or your local camera store.

[Vincent S]

Just wondering if anyone has feedback on the Tamron, seems you have manual control and it's a 2.8, plus the price is really low compared to the Nikon.

Tamron Wide Angle SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD

Vin

[Jeff Kilgroe]

IMO, Tamron lenses suck.

I don't have any direct experience with their 17-35mm, but I think f2.8 is the widest aperture it has and I don't think that lens is a constant aperture model, meaning that it pushes you to f4 by the time you're at full tele. You get what you pay for... As for the Nikon 17-35mm It's a truly awesome lens. There's a reason why used ones on ebay are still going for $850+ in most situations. B&H has them for $1299 (where I got mine) comes with a case too.

[Júlio Taubkin]

Hey, I know there's still a lot to be discussed over the zeiss lenses, especially after they launch their wide angles and their macros (Zeiss cinematography macros are awesome pieces of glass), but something comes to mind while reading their specifications. They claim the ZF's focus barrels have longer turns, something that cine lenses also do and something that can help tremendously in a cine-like operation.

I was wondering that Evin's reviews, while they deal pretty well with image quality, don't mention anything about operability (but the breathing and bokeh tests are very good!). So I would suggest that to be included in future tests.

Cheers, and keep on with the good work!

[istvanttt]

Hey, I just discovered this forum and want to express my thanks to Evin Grant for going to make this incredible work he plans. So I feel guilty to ad a wish, but what about the Lomo Prime lenses? At the end Tarkovskij made his movies with those lenses. Browsing around the web I read a lot of interesting things about them and started to order some of those lenses. Its not easy to find them, but I think an interesting alternative for the RED ONE.