...but in Other News I've bought a couple of bargain lenses. Well, I think they are bargains, anyway.
One is a Canon J11X4.5 - a Standard Def TV lens that is amongst the best and widest angle zoom lenses on B4 mount ever made. When this one was brand new in about 2006 it would have retailed for over 11,000 GBP. In beater condition it was up on eekBay for 400 GBP and I nabbed it with an offer of 350, which I'm quite happy with. It will need a full strip-down service that I will entrust True Lens Services to <http://www.truelens.co.uk/index.php?webpage=lensrepair.html> although this will cost more than the price of the lens. But very much worth it. These TV lenses get knocked and bumped and CA can become a big problem unless the optics are absolutely dead right. I'm assured that it's in full working order, which means at least the servo motor will be operational. TV lenses are described by their zoom ratio - hence this lens is a 11X4.5 - that is, it is 4.5mm at the wide end with an 11 times ratio - or 4.5mm to 50mm - with a built-in 2X extender that, when flipped easily into place, makes it a 9mm to 100 mm lens. Bear in mind the sensor size on the camera is 2/3 inch - actually 3 sensors of that size. <http://www.techhive.com/article/2052159/demystifying-digital-camera- sensors-once-and-for-all.html> My current lens is a 13X6 (6mm to 78mm with 2x extender, known as a YJ13X6) and when new in 2006 was about 5000 GBP. It has served well and continues to do so but the 4.5mm (J11X4.5) is a higher spec lens. 'J' was always full broadcast standard while 'YJ' was 'professional/ corporate' standard. Allegedly. In the latest incarnations, the HJ14X4.7 sets the High Def benchmark. But at over 12,000 GBP plus tax (all up about 15,000 GBP) far too expensive for my clients' needs ! I will be spending some high coinage soon, but on a live capability (a 'LiveU' unit) which will hopefully achieve more return for the asset. Meanwhile.... I have nabbed another bargain. I've been looking for a good price on a Nikkor 17-35/2.8 stills lens, and one finally turned up. Going rate for a decent example seemed to be about 5 or 600 GBP. Thing is, I need this lens to be able to have it modded for cine use. It has a real live mechanical aperture ring on it! Something lacking from the Canon 17-40/4 that my son has. Shooting video with the 17-40 in dynamically changing lighting conditions is a real pain as the electronic aperture control is not totally stepless - not smooth. Even at finest setting, aperture adjustment during a shot is noticeable and therefore unusable. Fine if the aperture is constant, so can be used with care. The Nikkor's real aperture ring can be 'de-clicked' and a company will do the mod for me. While they're at it, they will add a damping mechanism so that the ring will not freely turn by accidental knocking. Also, I want them to put end stops on the focus ring so that it will effectively have mechanical minimum and maximum focus positions. There's a company in the USA that handles this work as well: <http://www.ducloslenses.com/pages/cine-mod> For more info on why one would want to do this in the first place: <http://www.danielhaggett.com/blog/160-what-is-the-best-zoom-lens-for- canon-and-dslr-video> So anyway, the Nikkor I got for 250 GBP! In very good condition but sold as 'spares or repair' because the auto focus motor is noisy. Otherwise minty. Given that the AF is the last thing I need in a cine lens - it was a perfect choice. I honestly thought it would go for about 350 so am well pleased. The mods will cost me 200 or so, a big saving on the 800 I was quoted for a good condition lens with the mods already done. One happy bunny :-) So what's happening with this Pentax full frame jobby then. Cheers all -- Cheers, Cotty ___/\__ Broadcast, Corporate, || (O) | Web Video Production ---------- <www.seeingeye.tv> _____________________________ -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
