Cullen74 Posted April 21, 2006 Share Posted April 21, 2006 I'm building a camera package I'm going to use to make a film. Many scenes take place within tight quarters--cars in particular. I'm debating on getting an Optar Illumina 8mm or 9.5mm. My question is--is the 8mm too wide? Is there significant distortion? Will it be worth the extra cost to get that extra width(the 8mm costs a bit more) and will it come in handy in tight situations? Or is it overkill? Or is there even a significant difference b/t the two lenses? Does anyone have any experience w/ Optar Illuminas--advice welcome. Many Thanks, Cullen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Michael Carter Posted April 21, 2006 Share Posted April 21, 2006 IF all lenses see the same amount at whatever mm focal length, and I don't know if they do, then my Angenieux 9.5 - 95 does see just a little bit more than 6 feet wide by 4 feet high at 9.5mm from 6 feet away. Hope that helps, at least it is a reference for you. I'd like to know what a 8mm lens sees from that distance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kar Wai Ng Posted April 21, 2006 Share Posted April 21, 2006 I've used both the 8mm and 9.5mm Illuminas. There's a big difference between the two; the 8mm is *very* wide. Whether or not you need the 8mm in a car depends on how wide you're thinking your shots are going to be. The general feeling I get when I look through the viewfinder is that the 9.5 is a good wide-angle focal length that gets used often in interiors, but the 8mm look calls a little bit of attention to itself because it is so wide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Anthony Vale Posted April 21, 2006 Share Posted April 21, 2006 IF all lenses see the same amount at whatever mm focal length, and I don't know if they do, then my Angenieux 9.5 - 95 does see just a little bit more than 6 feet wide by 4 feet high at 9.5mm from 6 feet away. Hope that helps, at least it is a reference for you. I'd like to know what a 8mm lens sees from that distance. ---Did you take trig in high school? The math to figure it out is even simpler than that. ---LV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewbuchanan Posted April 21, 2006 Share Posted April 21, 2006 The distortion of the wide-angle lenses should be something you take into consideration too. When I am shooting, a lens with too much distortion can work against the narrative. For me, the 8mm and 9.5mm you are discussing might be too much of a distorted perspective for a dramatic story where I was trying to convey a sense of realism. They might work great for a surreal horror story where I wasnt too concern with real persectives, and was more into creating a feeling for the film. Different lenses have different amounts of distortion... the 9.5mm for example is very wide, but has a good deal less distortion than the 8mm even though the difference in focal length isn't huge. Don't just think of the glass in terms of what it will squeeze into a shot at a certain distance, think about how it will effect the viewer to see things from a certain perspective too. That said, the widest pro lens you will get in S16 is the Elite 6mm, with a PL mount. You can get a Century 3mm in C-mount if you look hard enough, but I do not know the quality of this lens. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cullen74 Posted April 21, 2006 Author Share Posted April 21, 2006 That's what I'm concerned about--the benefits of a wide frame vs. distortion. But judging from what I've read, the Optar 8mm has very little distortion. Yet--it may be 'too wide' all the same. Will a 9.5mm lens get me a nice frame in a small car...or worse, in a crammed backseat of a small car? Ideally, I'd like to test the two lenses out and see for myself but I don't think that option's available. Does anybody have experience w/ these two lenses, specifically Optars, in these types of situations? Cheers, Cullen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Welle Posted April 22, 2006 Share Posted April 22, 2006 (edited) Here is a picture inside of a car shot with an 8mm Optar Illumina. The shot was taken on the long bridge which stretches across the Florida Keys just before Key West. I noticed that the corners were very sharp on this lens and it didn't seem to distort a great deal. I hope this helps, Mike Welle Charleston, SC That's what I'm concerned about--the benefits of a wide frame vs. distortion. But judging from what I've read, the Optar 8mm has very little distortion. Yet--it may be 'too wide' all the same. Will a 9.5mm lens get me a nice frame in a small car...or worse, in a crammed backseat of a small car? Ideally, I'd like to test the two lenses out and see for myself but I don't think that option's available. Does anybody have experience w/ these two lenses, specifically Optars, in these types of situations? Cheers, Cullen Edited April 22, 2006 by Mike Welle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cullen74 Posted April 22, 2006 Author Share Posted April 22, 2006 Excellent--thank you very much Mike! Kind Regards, Cullen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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