Holding off purchasing nex FS100

[Dimitris Mantalias]

This is a mighty interesting topic. I recently purchased the FS100, because although we mostly do weddings, we also are interested in entering other markets as well. And I have to be honest, DSLRs (which we also own) are a pain in the @ss, and when you've worked with FS100 for a few hours, you can never seriously go back to them and their limitations, unless for certain things. This following video was shot mostly with FS100. It is a prewedding film actually (I know, it doesn't look like it), and the filming is not over yet but the thing is that no way the night shots could be done properly with any DSLR on the market right now, unless someone likes to be tormented with overcoming stupid limitations (and I don't). The only shots that were shot with 7D, is a couple of urban scenes at 00:20 - 00:25, one shot with the fountains of Vatican and the subway parts because in the last two, cameras were not allowed but DSLR was! :) We also mostly used FD lens. And I simply have never seen the best of 5Ds, giving that result, especially in night shooting. Just my two cents.

"Errand Boy" Initial Teaser on Vimeo

[Chad Whelan]

Love it Dimitris. Do you mind sharing what FD lenses you like the best? I am also looking to purchase some.

Thanks

[Dimitris Mantalias]

Thanks! Can't really say about favorites. Actually we borrowed all the lenses from a friend who is a photographer and has a huge collection of FD. But what was used really often? 24 (for the steadicam shots), 28, 35, 50, 85, 100mm. All 2.8 except the 100mm which was 2.0. With those lenses and the super 35 sensor, I don't think the image quality can be beaten by any DSLR (ok, maybe 1DMKIV, but at the same price point, you still get a better videocamera with FS100).

[Scott Caplan]

Thank you for posting this and for the lenses you selected. Great food for thought.

Scott Caplan

[Jonathan Palfrey]

Dimitris, great video and thanks for sharing info on your lenses.

One quick question, which adapter did you use to mount the fd lenses? I'll be getting a FS100 for our company soon and for short term looking at some FD lenses, just not sure how much I should be spending on a half decent mount?

[Rob Katz]

Dimitris-

Your footage looked great.

If that is the pre-wedding film, I can only imagine the honeymoon movie!

Nice work.

Be well.

Rob
Smalltalk Productions

[Dimitris Mantalias]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Palfrey

Dimitris, great video and thanks for sharing info on your lenses.

One quick question, which adapter did you use to mount the fd lenses? I'll be getting a FS100 for our company soon and for short term looking at some FD lenses, just not sure how much I should be spending on a half decent mount?

We use this one.

Canon FD to Sony E mount adaptor

One important plus of this adapter is that unlike some others we tried in the past with different cameras (like Jag on Sony FX1), the exposure doesn't "lock" when you put the lens on it. In the past, we used needles and other trickery in order to get the manual exposure (I guess most of you know what I mean), but in this one, you just put the lens on and exposure/focus are ready to be played with. It has 1.54X magnification factor, but we can easily live with that.

[Jean-Philippe Archibald]

Originally Posted by Dimitris Mantalias

It has 1.54X magnification factor, but we can easily live with that.

But this has nothing to do with the adapter you are using. It's because of the difference in size between 35mm still frame and Super35 motion frame.

[Dimitris Mantalias]

Yes, I know. :) I just noted this, because some people I am talking to, consider this as a bad thing which should be resolved. :)

[Jean-Philippe Archibald]

So the way films are shot from over a century should be resolved... (ok, over simplification here, since the Super35 format is not that old, but you get the idea).

[Don Miller]

Originally Posted by Gabe Strong

........ and I'd guess the Nikon lenses
are better than FD lenses as well. ...............

Not necessarily. The better Canon and Nikon glass has been good for many years. The FD's can't be used on modern (EF) Canon without an optical adapter, so there's little demand for these lenses.

Contax/Zeiss was very inexpensive until people realized these lenses could be adapted to the Canon 5D.

[Chad Whelan]

I have just purchased a Canon FD 50mm F1.4 ($60) and a FD 35-105 F3.5. ($85). Very excited to see some results after they arrive. I will post some video of some test shots with each lens.

[Gabe Strong]

Originally Posted by Don Miller

Not necessarily. The better Canon and Nikon glass has been good for many years. The FD's can't be used on modern (EF) Canon without an optical adapter, so there's little demand for these lenses.

Contax/Zeiss was very inexpensive until people realized these lenses could be adapted to the Canon 5D.

Good point. I was just thinking 'tech' in general has advanced SO far, that
theses lenses from the 70's and 80's can't be that good. But they sure
do look nice, and while camera tech may have come a long ways, good lenses
are kind of 'timeless' it seems. Or at the very least, they don't go
out of date as quick. I like the 28-90 F2.8 FD lens I bought for
doing interviews......gives you most of the focal lengths you want
for interview shooting....and it looks REALLY good!

[Brian Drysdale]

I've used the Aaton Mt conversions of the prime Contax/Zeiss lenses. Not quite as sharp as the 16mm Zeiss Super Speed Distagons, but nearly there.

[Scott Caplan]

Good glass is good glass, especially when OIS and AF are taken out of the equation.

Scott Caplan

Originally Posted by Gabe Strong

Good point. I was just thinking 'tech' in general has advanced SO far, that
theses lenses from the 70's and 80's can't be that good. But they sure
do look nice, and while camera tech may have come a long ways, good lenses
are kind of 'timeless' it seems. Or at the very least, they don't go
out of date as quick. I like the 28-90 F2.8 FD lens I bought for
doing interviews......gives you most of the focal lengths you want
for interview shooting....and it looks REALLY good!