zoom lens

[Randy Havens]

I'm doing a music video next month,

and we were thinking about using a zoom lens for the first time.

 

I never touched these beasts before so I am asking for some input.

I will be using a set of Cooke S2s and 3s again.

So something that would complement them would be nice.

 

I'm renting from Duall, and here are my choices;

 

1. Angenieux 20 - 120mm T2.6

2. Angenieux 25 - 250mm T3.2

3. Cooke 20 - 100mm T3.1

4. Cooke 25 - 250mm T4

 

I guess Cooke 20 - 100mm may not be long enough, but

it still wouldn't hurt to know about this lens.

Were going for a slightly soft look with lots of shallow focus.

Pros and cons of these lenses would be great to know.

 

thanks!

[Max Jacoby]

Since you are shooting on older Cooke lenses, I would suggest the 20-100mm. The Cooke 25-250 I am not so familiar with. I did a film where we had these 2 lenses and we never used the 25-250. In fact after a couple of weeks we send it back and I remember the focus puller saying that it wasn't a good lens.

 

But obvioulsy it would be a good idea to put the lenses on a projector to check their sharpness. From what I gather the Cooke lenses haver been build over a period of time, so their quality varies.

[Adam Frisch FSF]

Also, most older zooms and even some newer ones do NOT cover super-35. This is true

for both the Angenieux 17-102mm and the 25-250mm. The new Optimo does however cover

it.

[Randy Havens]

I'm definitely shooting super 35mm,

so I guess the Angeniux 25 - 250mm is out for me then.

I will stay away from the cooke zoom 25 - 200mm also.

Maybe they have better zooms, I'll have to talk to them about it.

 

I could also just add the Nikkor 200mm 2.8 instead of getting a zoom I guess

(although I would love to try them out).

How is this lens?

 

 

thanks for the help guys

[Max Jacoby]

The Nikon 200mm I know is T2. We carried it on 'Girl with a Pearl Earring, together with Cooke S4s (which only go up to 135mm). The one scene where it got used is at night when Griet is sweeping the floor and she sees Vermeer for the first time, entering through the front door. Both the shot and reverse are on the 200mm and they seem to match quite well with the S4s.

[Randy Havens]

I went to see the lens today. The Nikkor was T2, it looked beautiful!!

They only had those zooms, so I'm going to take your advice

and go with the Nikkor.

Since were shooting mostly night scenes, right now my DP and I are

considering the super speeds over the S2 and 3s (although we prefer the look

of the S2s and 3s). I guess its just for

TV so it shouldnt be a big problem matching wise right?

 

I'm going to rent out 'Girl with a Pearl Earring and check that scene out.

 

thanks! ;)