Best and or must have lenses for DIY 35MM adapters??

[phanatik]

What do you guys suggest and or use with your DIY 35MM adapters. What the best primes and all those above and in between(28mm,35mm,50mm,85mm, 17-xxmm, 28-xxmm,etc.)

I'm still very fresh n new to this game of 35MM adapters n stuff. Just need direction in what lenses to use instead of trying to buy anything zi can bid on ebay. I have a vibrating DIY from Worley, thanks by the way!! Works great, but only have thus far a 50MM f1.4 and a 28mm on its way. I wanna know whould also be necessary to get a more wide lens in say the 17mm or so mayb the varying ranges from 17-xxMM in addition.

Im on the Nikon end of spectrum and would appreciate any help, tips and or suggestions.

[1]

You might want to use the search feature, as that might get you more answers than you can solicit yourself...

Here's one thread; there's more though.
http://www.hv20.com/showthread.php?t=8272

Also, you posted into the wrong forum. 35mm adapter stuff goes into DIY forum.

[OllyWhite]

I would recommend using primes, not zooms, as you'll rarely see zoom used in professional cinematography.

As a general rule, three lenses are used on most shoots -- a 24mm for close-ups, a 50mm for standard shots and an 85mm for wide shots.

[Charles Lowthian]

...as you'll rarely see zoom used in professional cinematography.

Seeing more of it these days.
Times are changing. For better or worse

[phanatik]

thanks 1 and Olly.I did do some searching but wanted direct answers, I guess. And also wanted to hear more opinioins on what is used and or how like Olly stated.

Appreciated much.

Im learning and gonna start using my 35MM adapter more on future projects.

Here's something I did before the adapter
http://www.vimeo.com/788880

let me knowhat u guys think.

[Worley]

Although zooms are rarely used in films, it doesn't mean you shouldn't use a zoom lens. I have started using one, but I don't zoom with it whilst filming.

There are times when you can't move the camera closer to where you want to be, so a zoom lens is ideal.

[mattias]

olly, while i also like to use wider lenses for closer shots and vice versa, spielberg likes to do the same for example, it's not common practice since it's much more intuitive/easy to do it the other way around. shoot the wide with a 28mm lens and then put on the 85 for the closeup and you don't have to move the camera much. you need to be very far away to shoot a wide on a long lens, and very close to get a closeup on a short one. the reason i still like it though is that the wide angle gives you more geography in the closeups, you bring more of the surroundings into the shot, while the long lens compresses the wide shot so that you get more depth whereas the standard wide angle wide often looks flat. good luck.

as for zooms, no they're not that uncommon and it seems like they get used more and more. the reason is probably that current high quality zooms are fast, sharp, and don't breathe, but your average cheap slr zoom will be slow, soft, and breathe like hell.

/matt

[PeterC]

as for zooms, no they're not that uncommon and it seems like they get used more and more. the reason is probably that current high quality zooms are fast, sharp, and don't breathe, but your average cheap slr zoom will be slow, soft, and breathe like hell.

/matt

What exactly is breathing?

I thought breathing was when the lens hunts for focus, which wouldn't be the case here since you're manually focusing the lens.

Is breathing when you're racking focus and it looks like the elements in the image are moving due to the changing focus?

Thanks,
Peter

[Erik Bien]

Is breathing when you're racking focus and it looks like the elements in the image are moving due to the changing focus?

Yes; it's a little bit of "unintentional zoom" as you pull focus, so the shot slightly reframes itself as you rack focus from a far subject to a near one, or vice versa. Cinema lenses often have a lot of heavy, expensive bits and pieces to correct this, whereas stills lenses don't worry about it at all.

[OllyWhite]

@worley: I agree that for the practicalities of shooting a zoom lens can be useful.

@charles: I think we are seeing more of it these days, but in films like Cloverfield where they are trying to replicate a homemade feel. However, zooming is useful for the technique where you dolly in and zoom out (or vice versa), which is commonly used in horror movies.

@mattias: I completely agree that there is no one correct way of doing things and experimentation is great. I was simply stating the 'industry' way, if there is such a thing.

I think the most important point is that while you can strive to replicate a film look, that doesn't mean that you should. Great photography is great photography.

[mattias]

@mattias: I completely agree that there is no one correct way of doing things and experimentation is great. I was simply stating the 'industry' way, if there is such a thing.

that's where i think you're wrong. i think it's much more common to use wide lenses for wide shots and tight lenses for tight shots.

/matt

[phanatik]

I get everyones point and thanks to all. Bottom line could be get the basic primes (1st) and then some different colors to experiment within certain ranges.
Like Olly stated that experimentation is great and can also bring a different/look and feel to the film or video.
Just wanted to know about what and which lens to use at best, for different looks; for these innovative adapters.

Thanks all.

[OllyWhite]

@mattias: you have an extremely good point and I'll tell you why: I was wrong. Re-reading my original post I see that I've transposed 24mm and 85mm.

[mattias]

well, i wouldn't say you were wrong since what you did say makes sense too. you made a typo, that's all, and a good one for the sake of discussion. :-)

/matt

[OllyWhite]

In that case, I meant to do that...

[PeterC]

Thanks for clearing that up for me, Erik!

Can't really change the breathing of the lens so I'll just explain that I "like" it because it helps accentuate where you want the viewer to focus better