Fri Oct 19, 2012 3:35 pm
I own a set of the ZF.2 lenses. I first purchased the ZEs, then returned them. My thinking at the time - and it hasn't changed since - is the following.
1. The ZE (Canon/EF-mount) isn't adaptable to a Nikon mount, whereas the Nikon (F-Mount) is pretty much universally adaptable due to its smaller size. Therefore you are not locked in to EF-only camera mounts if you go with the ZFs. I'll quickly add that, practically, this hasn't been an issue, since most recent cameras have been EF mount. Nikon is the outlier, but they really haven't come to the table with a camera that has been a popular choice with motion folk. But it could happen and if you want to use that camera, you're out of luck with the ZE version. And, of course, it's a non-starter for aperture control if you can't even adapt the ZE lens.
2. Aperture control has already been covered on the 1/3 stop increments vs granular control in de-clicked lenses. I'll just add, or re-enforce the point, it's critical if you're working in a less than ideal shooting environment where you do not have control over lighting and you want to ride the iris. I'm thinking here of a documentary style shoot.
3. Purchase solid adapters. I first bought a Novoflex. Superb, yet really expensive at $300 per. So, for the remainder of my primes, I opted for a cheaper brand called, Coyo. Then I caught a lens after it detached from the adapter/camera mount. I took it as a stern warning. I had my lenses modified by Duclos last year and got the screw-in type adapters. Excellent. Again expensive but not outrageously (think less than $180 per).
4. A work around for the "backward" focus rotation is to purchase a reversing gear. Duclos sells a good one - I have it. Not cheap, but well made. Of course this assumes you'll be using rods and follow focus. Otherwise, you retrain your brain. I've done it and struggle with simple math. It gets really tricky though moving between EF and F rotation lenses on the same day. So think about how often this will happen in your particular line of work. I, for example, do a lot of corporate and doc work and I've been fortunate enough to use my gear for the bulk of it.