Low light lens at DVinfo.net

Nick Glenister · August 14th, 2002, 02:02 AM

Hi,

This is kinda linked to my filming meteor showers post in general topics but thought it best to post here.

Is there a low light level lens available that will fit onto an XL1? My main interest would be to film metoer showers but some night time wildlife filming would come a very close second.

Regards

Nick

Adrian Douglas · August 14th, 2002, 04:54 AM

By "low light lens" I guess you mean a fast lens? If you do the standard XL lens is one of the fastest video lenses around. You could try the manual lens but I has the same max of F1.6.

To get any faster you'd have to go to 35mm SLR lenses and then your limiting your self to something that is gonna cost you more that the camera and isn't a zoom lens. There are 2 options as far as Canon lenses go and they are:

1. EF 50mm/F1.0/1.4/1.8 The F1.8 version isn't much good and really shouldn't be considered. The F1.0 version costs about the same as a new GL2, so I'd be looking at the F1.4 version.

2. EF200/F1.8 A fantastic lens worth more than a new XL1s, would be a fantastic piece of glass to sling off the end of your XL but you would have no zoom or money left in your pocket.

To use any of these lenses you'd also need a Canon EF-XL adapter.

There are lots of lenses available from other manufactures like Nikon, Sigma etc, but by the time you adapt them you'd be better off using the standard XL1 lens with your camera set to the slowest shutter speed 1/6PAL 1/8NTSC.

Chris Hurd · August 14th, 2002, 06:47 AM

There are at least two "night vision" lens attachments that operate in the UV spectrum for seeing in the dark. One is from Electro Physics, the other from Optex. These devices attach in between the XL1 camera body and lens. Can't recall the price but I believe they're in the range of USD$8000. Primary application is surveillance and law enforcement.

Jeff Donald · August 14th, 2002, 10:29 AM

The difference between F1.6 and F1.4 is not even a half a stop in exposure. Not really worth worrying about. The $8000 is the less expensive of the two. The other runs $12,000 to $15,000 depending on accessories.

Jeff

Jacques Mersereau · August 14th, 2002, 02:20 PM

I saw the optex at NAB three years ago. They said it
cost about $5K, and if you had lights turn on at a bad time,
you blow the electronics.

Nick Glenister · August 15th, 2002, 01:55 AM

Ummmm ok, i don't think i'll be getting one of those in a hurry. Thanks for the info though guys.

Nick

Don Palomaki · August 15th, 2002, 06:33 AM

Keep in mind that the CCD prism block sets/limits the aperture to a max of f/1.6. Using a larger aperture lens will not provide any speed benefit.

August 14th, 2002, 02:02 AM	#1
Nick Glenister Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: UK - Norfolk Posts: 95	Low light lens Hi, This is kinda linked to my filming meteor showers post in general topics but thought it best to post here. Is there a low light level lens available that will fit onto an XL1? My main interest would be to film metoer showers but some night time wildlife filming would come a very close second. Regards Nick

August 14th, 2002, 04:54 AM	#2
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	By "low light lens" I guess you mean a fast lens? If you do the standard XL lens is one of the fastest video lenses around. You could try the manual lens but I has the same max of F1.6. To get any faster you'd have to go to 35mm SLR lenses and then your limiting your self to something that is gonna cost you more that the camera and isn't a zoom lens. There are 2 options as far as Canon lenses go and they are: 1. EF 50mm/F1.0/1.4/1.8 The F1.8 version isn't much good and really shouldn't be considered. The F1.0 version costs about the same as a new GL2, so I'd be looking at the F1.4 version. 2. EF200/F1.8 A fantastic lens worth more than a new XL1s, would be a fantastic piece of glass to sling off the end of your XL but you would have no zoom or money left in your pocket. To use any of these lenses you'd also need a Canon EF-XL adapter. There are lots of lenses available from other manufactures like Nikon, Sigma etc, but by the time you adapt them you'd be better off using the standard XL1 lens with your camera set to the slowest shutter speed 1/6PAL 1/8NTSC. __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors

August 14th, 2002, 06:47 AM	#3
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	There are at least two "night vision" lens attachments that operate in the UV spectrum for seeing in the dark. One is from Electro Physics, the other from Optex. These devices attach in between the XL1 camera body and lens. Can't recall the price but I believe they're in the range of USD$8000. Primary application is surveillance and law enforcement. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

August 14th, 2002, 02:20 PM	#5
Jacques Mersereau Trustee Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,334	I saw the optex at NAB three years ago. They said it cost about $5K, and if you had lights turn on at a bad time, you blow the electronics. __________________ Jacques Mersereau University of Michigan-Video Studio Manager

August 14th, 2002, 10:29 AM	#4
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	The difference between F1.6 and F1.4 is not even a half a stop in exposure. Not really worth worrying about. The $8000 is the less expensive of the two. The other runs $12,000 to $15,000 depending on accessories. Jeff

August 15th, 2002, 01:55 AM	#6
Nick Glenister Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: UK - Norfolk Posts: 95	Ummmm ok, i don't think i'll be getting one of those in a hurry. Thanks for the info though guys. Nick

August 15th, 2002, 06:33 AM	#7
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	Keep in mind that the CCD prism block sets/limits the aperture to a max of f/1.6. Using a larger aperture lens will not provide any speed benefit.