"Vintage-warm-retro" video: Which lense?

Mark Randall · May 5th, 2010, 10:41 PM

I just got my first alt glass lens and I'd say it's pretty easy to get a retro look with this lens. It's an Asahi SMC Pentax-M 50mm f1.4 and it's awesome. $130 on eBay plus a $15 adapter. When I got it I went out in the front yard and shot this video footage with it. No color correction in post.

Check the description and posts on Vimeo for more info.

Peer Landa · May 6th, 2010, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Randall

I just got my first alt glass lens and I'd say it's pretty easy to get a retro look with this lens. It's an Asahi SMC Pentax-M 50mm f1.4 and it's awesome. $130 on eBay plus a $15 adapter.

Looks like a nice/fun lens -- the only problem I have with it (the same with all Nikkor glass) is its backwards focus pull. It's like you suddenly have to drive in England... with a British stick shifter.

-- peer

Don Miller · May 6th, 2010, 08:53 AM

I have a lot of alt glass, including pre WWII. The problem is creating specific effects. Many/Most DPs seem to own a lensbaby kit. This is an inexpensive way to create all kinds of looks. Color really doesn't matter, as that's done in software (in camera or post).
The most expensive lensbaby was made for video/film, and allows the setting to be locked in. I don't know if that model is necessary for most people, but for video I suggest at least the $150 base unit. The least expensive unit seems to be designed to be held in place by hand.
Personally I'm not capable of creating a great many effects in post. As I improve I'm sure I will do more. But there's something kinda sad about doing it all on the computer. If I were paying union wages I might find shooting clean a lot more attractive.

Evan Donn · May 6th, 2010, 10:19 AM

I just got a chance to play with a lensbaby 2.0 (older model, I think it's what they call the 'muse' now) and it's a very cool lens, almost a must have for the price. You tilt and push/pull it to focus and adjust the effect - but it really is an 'effect' more than a look, too extreme if you're just trying to get a 'vintage' look.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Randall

I just got my first alt glass lens and I'd say it's pretty easy to get a retro look with this lens. It's an Asahi SMC Pentax-M 50mm f1.4 and it's awesome.

This is a great example though - I've got that lens, I'm actually using it more than any of my other lenses lately. I have yet to shoot anything with it though that I would consider 'vintage' - with a standard color profile and proper white balance you get very clean, sharp video with good contrast (microcontrast breaks down a bit at f/1.4) and nice shallow DOF. To me what makes that video look 'retro' is the combination of white balance (very warm look overall),handheld movement and lens flare which also flattens out the contrast significantly. The flare might be harder to duplicate with a modern lens with better coatings, but otherwise I'm not sure it's the lens that contributes primarily to the vintage look.

Peer Landa · May 6th, 2010, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evan Donn

I just got a chance to play with a lensbaby 2.0 (older model, I think it's what they call the 'muse' now) and it's a very cool lens, almost a must have for the price. You tilt and push/pull it to focus and adjust the effect - but it really is an 'effect' more than a look, too extreme if you're just trying to get a 'vintage' look.

I got their "Composer" model that you can lock the angle and hence how much of an effect you want. It's actually a quite nice little thingee.

-- peer

Manus Sweeney · May 7th, 2010, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Randall

I just got my first alt glass lens and I'd say it's pretty easy to get a retro look with this lens. It's an Asahi SMC Pentax-M 50mm f1.4 and it's awesome. $130 on eBay plus a $15 adapter. When I got it I went out in the front yard and shot this video footage with it. No color correction in post.

One Minute of Pure Joy

Check the description and posts on Vimeo for more info.

It has a nice vintage look certainly.. as evan said i think its mostly the yellowish colour cast giving it the look though.. did you set the colour up like that intentionally or was it some kind of unexpected cast coming from the ND filter??

Mark Randall · May 7th, 2010, 10:04 PM

I intentionally set the white balance warm by manually selecting a WB preset.

Alex Hawt · May 17th, 2010, 02:12 PM

check out these cheap russian lenses. Im sure you could get some artsy vintage looking shots with these. They make eos mounts for them. Im thinking about ordering the fisheye

Diana+ 20mm Fisheye Lens - Lomography Shop

Jon Bickford · May 19th, 2010, 07:40 PM

I love my lensbaby composer, I had a 2.0 before that and while the optics are similar the composer is LEAPS AND BOUNDS better in terms of user friendliness, consistency, etc.

I'm trying some Nikkor glass, I like it an they have a lot easier time manually focusing, the only problem is that the backfocus is a bit off and they will roll past infinity as a result. other than that I like the aperture ring because you can fine tune it instead of being stuck with 1/3 stop increments and the focus mechanism is really nice with my redrock follow focus, I like the optics of my Canon 85mm 1.8 a lot better but I like the operation of the Nikon equivalent a lot. There is also a little bit of play in the adapter but I am thinking of gluing it on or maybe some real small screws.

Nikons will be your best bet for vintage looks since they are available all day everyday, if you try one and don't like it you can probably sell it for the same price you paid, etc.

you can also try something like 1/8 black promists and 812 warming filters, that might get you where you're trying to go.

May 5th, 2010, 10:41 PM	#16
Mark Randall Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 47	I just got my first alt glass lens and I'd say it's pretty easy to get a retro look with this lens. It's an Asahi SMC Pentax-M 50mm f1.4 and it's awesome. $130 on eBay plus a $15 adapter. When I got it I went out in the front yard and shot this video footage with it. No color correction in post. One Minute of Pure Joy Check the description and posts on Vimeo for more info.

May 6th, 2010, 08:53 AM	#18
Don Miller Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 706	I have a lot of alt glass, including pre WWII. The problem is creating specific effects. Many/Most DPs seem to own a lensbaby kit. This is an inexpensive way to create all kinds of looks. Color really doesn't matter, as that's done in software (in camera or post). The most expensive lensbaby was made for video/film, and allows the setting to be locked in. I don't know if that model is necessary for most people, but for video I suggest at least the $150 base unit. The least expensive unit seems to be designed to be held in place by hand. Personally I'm not capable of creating a great many effects in post. As I improve I'm sure I will do more. But there's something kinda sad about doing it all on the computer. If I were paying union wages I might find shooting clean a lot more attractive.

May 7th, 2010, 10:04 PM	#22
Mark Randall Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 47	I intentionally set the white balance warm by manually selecting a WB preset.

May 17th, 2010, 02:12 PM	#23
Alex Hawt New Boot Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Richmond Virginia Posts: 23	check out these cheap russian lenses. Im sure you could get some artsy vintage looking shots with these. They make eos mounts for them. Im thinking about ordering the fisheye Diana+ 20mm Fisheye Lens - Lomography Shop

May 19th, 2010, 07:40 PM	#24
Jon Bickford Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Las Vegas, NV., Los Angeles, CA, Posts: 220	I love my lensbaby composer, I had a 2.0 before that and while the optics are similar the composer is LEAPS AND BOUNDS better in terms of user friendliness, consistency, etc. I'm trying some Nikkor glass, I like it an they have a lot easier time manually focusing, the only problem is that the backfocus is a bit off and they will roll past infinity as a result. other than that I like the aperture ring because you can fine tune it instead of being stuck with 1/3 stop increments and the focus mechanism is really nice with my redrock follow focus, I like the optics of my Canon 85mm 1.8 a lot better but I like the operation of the Nikon equivalent a lot. There is also a little bit of play in the adapter but I am thinking of gluing it on or maybe some real small screws. Nikons will be your best bet for vintage looks since they are available all day everyday, if you try one and don't like it you can probably sell it for the same price you paid, etc. you can also try something like 1/8 black promists and 812 warming filters, that might get you where you're trying to go.