Milo Sekulovich Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 Hi, I 'm currently shooting a feature in 35mm. It's a supernatural thriller. We've been using a variety of stocks,but I've mainly been sticking to Kodak 5218 and Fuji 8573 for night interiors. For exteriors we've used mainly 5245,5201, and 5205. I'm using older glass-Angenieux 25-250 zoom, 18mm Kinoptik, and the classic 9.8mm Kinoptik. The thing I've consistently been noticing is that these lenses combined with both the 500 ASA stocks just never seem to turn out as clean and crisp as they should. When I've gone to stocks a stop slower the look is better-more crisp and clean. We're talking same lighting condtions,and simlar exposures. And I realise that there's virtually no difference between the new 250 asa stocks and 500 asa stocks. I've read the MTF curves and RMS granularity. Not really enough to make a noticeable difference. It's most apparent in the stuff I've shot with 5218-just no snap or crispness. Everything else looks great. I always try to avoid shooting wide open with these lenses. It's a strange phenomenon that has shown itself consistently. Have any of you experienced a similar scenario? Regards, Milo Sekulovich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Max Jacoby Posted January 22, 2007 Premium Member Share Posted January 22, 2007 I don't think the stock is the limiting factor in your case, it's the lenses which are pretty old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milo Sekulovich Posted January 23, 2007 Author Share Posted January 23, 2007 I don't think the stock is the limiting factor in your case, it's the lenses which are pretty old. Max, I realise the lenses are old, but I've seen stuff I've shot with them that look fantastic. Even with 250 ASA stock. It's a strange anomoly. Milo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim Sargenius Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 It's most apparent in the stuff I've shot with 5218-just no snap or crispness. Everything else looks great. I always try to avoid shooting wide open with these lenses. Hi Milo, Some stupid questions to start with: Are you shooting both '18 and '73 in the same scene under the same lighting? If not - could it be that the scenes you are shooting with the '73 has just that little bit more snap? How have you been viewing your rushes? Ignore all of the above if you've already been through all that :) In my experience the '18 should if anything have just a little bit more snap and contrast than the '18. HTH, Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Tony Brown Posted March 4, 2007 Premium Member Share Posted March 4, 2007 I agree I think you may be looking for something thats not there. I tend to use S4's with 5217 or 5218 95% of the time so maybe I'm lucky with that combo. However I tend to use old glass (cooke mk 1 25 - 250 amongst others) for beauty work and still find the current Kodal crop to be leauges ahead of 'other' stocks I see. It took me some time to adapt to the latitude of 12/17/18 but owuld never go back now. Change your lenses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck colburn Posted March 4, 2007 Share Posted March 4, 2007 Are these lenses used with the same camea body all the time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Stephen Williams Posted March 4, 2007 Premium Member Share Posted March 4, 2007 Hi, I'm using older glass-Angenieux 25-250 zoom, Milo Sekulovich Hi Milo, I bought one of those lenses from Digital Domain on Ebay for $300. At T8 it's O.K. I ended up taking it to pieces to use as a prop, did not seem worth a couple of hours to put it back together! LOL. Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Kukla Posted March 4, 2007 Share Posted March 4, 2007 I don't understand the nature of your question - why is it so surprising that slower stocks and newer lenses should give "better"/"snappier" images? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milo Sekulovich Posted March 5, 2007 Author Share Posted March 5, 2007 Hi, Thanks for all of the replies. I realise I'm using older glass. Not as sharp as modern lenses, not as good contrast. The Angenieux 25-250mm T3.9 zoom has been much maligned but this lens can still produce fantastic images. This is the crux of my point: For some reason '18 doesn't seem to have any "snap" when using this older glass. The zoom using slightly slower stocks (i.e., 250asa) looks great. Similar lighting setups,stop,contrast etc. And there shouldn't be that much of a difference between the 2 stocks. I'm using an Arri 2C in a Cine 60 blimp. I know,I'm a throwback. I shot a scene with the 25-250 in a park backlit with golden sunshine. Fuji 250D Eterna at T5.6 and I must say it looks as good as the majority of things I've seen shot with modern lenses. My footage is being transferred on a Spirit. Dailies viewed on DVcam. Perhaps I'm reading too much into this,but it's a constant phenomenon. Could be the batch of '18,variances in telecine etc. I'll post some screen captures. Thanks, Milo Sekulovich DP/Equinox-Pinnacle Film Productions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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