Whats wrong with red pro primes?

[utku sonmezer]

i know a lot of dops out there who think that red pro primes are really bad lenses. I know that RPPs are kinda too sharp(dont know why this is considered as a problem) and the flares look terrible. But other than these reasons i mean technically whats wrong with these lenses? Why would you prefer zeiss ultra primes instead of red pro primes?

[Greg M]

The lenses are beautiful...the only negative is size and weight. They are huge.

There is no reason to claim they are "bad lenses" other than ignorance.

[David (dudi) Namir]

They are very very heavy and bulky. In a climate where shooting became "chop chop quick quick" which in a way Red contribute too, this kind of housing don't fit in
Very heavy especially the 25mm and 35mm
The focus marks are not detailed enough and the iris marks are not consistent but I have seen mistakes with marking on the Optimo 17-80 too.
Other than that I think their optics is quite a good value for their money.
I would guess their optics is Minolta.

[keith morton]

I LOVE MY RED PRO PRIMES!!

[Clint Lealos]

Utku, I ask myself the same question all the time.

RPPs are great lenses that are big and heavy, but there size is not the issue. Here in Turkey, a lot of DOPs coming from a film background (not all, but many) are resistant to the digital revolution that is taking place right now. Red was obviously the catalyst and the arguably the leader in this revolution, so anything with their name on it will be resisted by many DOPs for that sole reason. Even if they have come around to digital cinema, they usually gravitate to what they know... Arri (Alexa). The problem does seem to be worse in smaller markets like Turkey's. The few big rental houses are more resistant to change also, because that means spending money. They were doing just fine with their Arri film cameras they purchased 10 years ago, until Red came to town. Its natural to have resistance, but it is also temporary. Things will change. People will forget. Some day RPPs will be measured for their performance and nothing else. Everyone will eventually see what we all see... a great set of lenses :)

A man can dream, can't he?

[Kegan Sant]

Love our RPPs too, but yes they are big and heavy. Other than that, optically they're beautiful.

Kegan

[Alexander Ibrahim]

Red Pro Primes are very fine lenses, and a fantastic value.

They are large and a bit heavy, but they are pretty fast and very budget friendly.

Any DP who says a lens is too sharp makes me raise an eyebrow.

First off filtration ... Schneider and Tiffen have great businesses making these beautiful pieces of glass that let you modify the character of light entering the lens, including softening it in interesting ways.

Also ... the Master Primes are definitely sharper than the RPP's. Cooke's, which are reknowned for the organic quality of the image they produce, also produce very sharp images. You want your lenses sharp.

I recently shot a feature (on a 7D unhappily) that was ideally suited for an Red One MX with a Cooke Varotal zoom and some really old fast primes, like Zeiss MK1's ... but that is an exception not the rule. Most days I want fast modern primes that are tack sharp.

Flares ... you know I've never flared an RPP - or any Red lens - so I can't say. Not ascribing the Red lenses superpowers, I've just never put them in a situation where they might flare without flagging them.

They are good lenses. The only thing that keeps me from recommending them without reservation is the markings, which are not so accurate.

Of course ... if that is an issue in your work you should look into having Duclos re-collimate and remark them. Ketch was telling me that he had some of his RPP's adjusted by Duclos and that they are superb now.

[Ibrahim Abdulkarim]

coming for using a optima 24-290 the RPP seem fine to me as far a weight. the color profile and the sharpness is amazing. i have no complaints and for 20k new you cant find a better set of glass

[Gunleik Groven]

Ask yourself: what are your alternatives...

The rpp are great. Not only for their money as to image charracteristica.

The wide ones are very heavy, though. Heaviest primes I have ever used.

If I had to choose between RPPs and supers, I'd be a bit in a difficult corner.

Weight vs light.

Sharp vs nice diffusion.

Unprecise markings on both...

Probably would take the supers, selling them and buy RPPs and an old set of rehoused speed-panchros... :))

[utku sonmezer]

thx for sharing all the info and experiences. I was thinking exactly like you guys I guess the name red horrifies some people for some reasons.