Lens test: Ang

[Lewis Martin Soucy]

Hi,

here's a quick lens test I made with a new lens I just got. I bought a used Angénieux 70-210mm f/3.5 with a Leica R mount which I adapted on my Red Epic via a Novoflex Lens Mount Adapter - Leica "R" Lens to Canon EOS Body. It's a great lens, handmade, very well built, made in France in the early 80's.

My Epic was set to 800 ASA, RC 8:1, 5K Widescreen, Redgamma 3 and no filters.

Everything was shot indoor daylight on a hazy (sometimes slightly bright) sunday afternoon.

I ran my footage through Redcine X Pro only to export screenshots. I didn't grade anything and didn't alter the footage in any way.

I shot every scene framed as accurately as possible to make the comparison easier.

As you can see, the Angénieux is much warmer and soft than the Canon. I really like it.

Here it is:

The first interesting factor is that the lens is 770g lighter, almost half the weight an size on the Canon (although my Canon is Cinemoded), making it really nice for run and gun handheld style shooting. I plan giving it a Cinemod by Duclos, like I did with my Canon lenses. But in my opinion, the true advantage of these old school pre auto focus era lenses, is that the focus ring stops so you can really shoot cine style, with proper focus marks. I know my 1st AC will love it... And the really good news is that it holds focus AND aperture throughout the zoom!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7293/11782705064_4c5b3d8768_o.jpg

And here's a little bonus with some live footage at the end... :)

[video=vimeo;83443840]

Here's some original 80's coverage and reviews in french (you can understand some interesting detailed technical specs i'm sure even if you don't speak french!):

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2842/11811579956_88c30a38d3_o.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3712/11811247304_4ce7b9a9bf_o.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5527/11810832605_c3afeb0915_o.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3784/11811247974_c4d310c26c_o.jpg