still lenses?

Edgar Nyari · June 2, 2015

Greetings.

I just bought an Arri 35III, with a PL mount, but lenses these days are often more expensive than cameras themselves, so I'm thinking of using still lenses for starters. Let me just say that I am aware that a still lens is no replacement for a real cine lens. I know about some of the problems I can expect, but I'd like to hear some opinions about image quality.

If I were to use a Canon or Nikon zoom lens, with a PL adapter, can I expect a decent image quality, and frame coverage? I know these lenses are designed to cover a larger frame, so I should be OK right?

Any other warnings or advice would be appreciated.

thanks

Edgar

Jean-Louis Seguin · June 2, 2015

Canon or Nikon won't work on PL-mount.

If you can find some old lenses in T or T2 mount, you can get a inexpensive T2 to PL-mount adapter.

Otherwise Medium Format lenses can be used on PL with an adapter.

Jean-Louis

Edgar Nyari · June 2, 2015

I have Hasselblad CF mount lenses, will the work?

And why won't Canon or Nikon lenses work? I mean with a proper adapter.

Brian Drysdale · June 2, 2015

The flange distance on the Nikon & Canon mounts are less than the 52mm for a PL mount, so there is no way you can adapt them.

I gather there is a Hasselblad CF mount to PL adapter. This one I believe is $360, but you may find others.

Edgar Nyari · June 2, 2015

Hi, thanks for the explanation...

here is a PL to M42 mount I found on ebay also:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Adapter-ARRI-Arriflex-PL-Mount-F3-RED-Alexa-C500-Scarlet-M42-Screw-Lens-/371275158200?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5671b952b8

It says in the description that only some M42 lenses work with it. I have an old Practica SLR, which uses M42 mount, so maybe that's another cheap option.

The trouble with using my CF lenses is that I don't have a very wide lens, and on 35mm MP, the zoom factor will be huge compared to 6x6 MF, I suspect. So I'd have to probably buy another CF lens for wider work, and those are often nearly as expensive as some older cine lenses.

Edgar Nyari · June 2, 2015

Since there is so much uncertainty with this, I'd appreciate if someone could tell me exact combinations of lenses and adapters they've used. Something in the middle range around 28mm

Brian Drysdale · June 2, 2015

In that adapter they've put a screw mount into a PL mount. The limitation would be the outside diameter of the lens. If it's too wide you won't be able to screw the PL mount onto the back of the lens.You'll have to measure your lens to ensure that it'll fit inside the "52.50mm, depth is about 8.50mm ".

Edgar Nyari · June 2, 2015

Yea I understand now. Thanks.

Alex Anstey · June 3, 2015

Not sure of your budget but have you considered Lomo lenses? You can pick them up for around £300 for a lens in good condition. These can be remounted to PL.

Edgar Nyari · June 3, 2015

One more question.

Speaking of that m42 adapter, I see that the flange focal distance for M42 is smaller (about 45mm) than Arri PL (which is 52mm). So basically what they did with this adapter is they placed the entire lens barrel into the opening of the PL mount and moved it back into the body of the camera by a couple of mm so that the lens moves closer to the film plan, otherwise it would have been impossible to focus to infinity. Am I correct in saying this?

Mark Dunn · June 3, 2015

Yes.

IIRC there was a fashion a while back for adapting Hasselblad lenses to cine use, but of course being intended for 6x6cm film the lenses are longish, with nothing under 40. Even the 40 and 50 are rather heavy retrofocal designs.

The standard 80 is as sharp as a tack.

Edited June 3, 2015 by Mark Dunn

Edgar Nyari · June 3, 2015

I have the 80mm CF Zeiss for Hasselblad. I'm sure I'll make use of it, but that's going to be a very long lens for 35mm MP frame. That's pretty much the equivalent of 50mm for still 35mm. Am I right in assuming that I'd have to take a 28mm lens (for use on the motion picture camera), of any sort (be it medium format or 35mm still), to get a 50mm equivalent for still 35mm? Sorry didn't know how to phrase this more elegantly.

Edited June 3, 2015 by Edgar Nyari

Brian Drysdale · June 3, 2015

On full frame 35 stills a 50mm angle of view is around 40 degrees, on a 35mm motion picture camera (not Super 35) a 30mm has that angle of view, so 28mm would be your closest if you want a common lens with a similar angle of view.

Mark Dunn · June 3, 2015

There is in fact a Zeiss 30 for the Hasselblad but it is very rare and still fetches a couple of thousand by the look of it. (pounds or dollars).

it's still not that wide on S35.

Edited June 3, 2015 by Mark Dunn

Edgar Nyari · June 3, 2015

Hey guys, I'll use this thread to ask you something else quickly, even though it's off topic.

Can I use any video power supply that has a 4-pin XLR connector (like for use with video cameras)? I assume pin wiring is the same in all of these units and compatible with movie cameras.

Of course, if it supports enough amps. 35-III motor draws 2.5 A at 24FPS, so 5A will suffice except maybe for high speed work.

Edited June 3, 2015 by Edgar Nyari

Kenny N Suleimanagich · June 3, 2015

I would look into the PL converted Sigma 18-35 1.8 lens. You can find them on eBay. GL Optics does a great conversion, but of course, there's also a budget conversion done by a Chinese company. It's an excellent lens, and will give you coverage. The Tokina 11-16 Duclos conversion is another option. These both run ~$3000