Simplifying the Lens issue for Pocket cam

Hi guys,
Incredible to see such rapid and useful progress in this field - I feel I was born at the right time to make my (low budget) films.
I have to admit though to feeling very confused by the posts about the lens compatibility issue.
We understood the crop factor (3.0), we understood difficulty with adapting some lenses, and the hard math involved, but can someone please answer this question:

Are there ANY lenses that, put onto the pocket cam (with or without adpater), will act that it's own focal length? (or very near)
(ie, a 50mm lens that will act/look the same as a 50mm on a full-frame)

Many thanks for your answers!
And well done BM!

The simple answer is no. A 50mm will always be a 50mm lens, but this only applies to a full frame camera. So, you multiply (look up "crop factor" or "focal-length multiplier") by the sensors "crop" into that lens, depending on the mount or sensor size. I think it would get confusing if different manufacturers started to change this now.

I'm sure someone will follow up with something about "Speed Boosters". But that doesn't exist yet for M4/3.

Treat it like a Super 16 camera and all will make sense.

Well.. this is where I already get re-confused.
One kindly answered the post and said there was no such thing as a lens that would act on this cam its own focal length.
But another posts suggests to 'treat it as a s16mm camera'.

But on a s16mm camera, if I put a 50mm lens for it, it's a 50mm image. Is it not?

Thanks

No, it isn't. You still multiply. That's why 16mm lenses are so much smaller in (mm) size. While in a 35mm lens kit you would find a 18mm wide in the 16mm kit you would find a 9.5mm wide.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dnsebi65glb7l ... ochure.pdf

Here's a link to an S16 lens brochure. Notice the sizes in mm

It's not an issue. Forget about crops and DSLRS and go back to film. Need to go back to the old way of filming here. You prep for shooting on the pocket as you would super16 film so super 16 lenses tend to go lower.

ok, understood.
I think. I need to read up and digest.

Thanks for info.

Trouble with 'going back to film' is that it seems to somehow cancel out the portability of it, or indeed the cost, as cine s16mm lenses are very expensive.

Just one more question: people use extreme wide angles like 8mm to get something like 24mm on this cam.
Since these sorts of lenses are so specialised, with such extreme 'bends' in the glass, does the image really end up looking like a 24mm? (assuming the 8mm is a good quality lens).

Thanks again.

The simple solution is to understand what you're talking about.
Look crop factors came out after this whole DSLR thing and people are comparing film/video systems to stills which never was a comparison, unless you were shooting vistavision (which is FF in size).
In the film world, 35mm would be APSC about but you're never hear someone complaining about the "crop factor" on a s16mm camera because it was a non-issue. It was simply understood that as you decrease the size of the recording medium you also decrease the size of the lens to get the same field of view.
Quickly you'll learn the lenses which'll get you what you're after, or you can pick up a directors viewfinder.
The Pocket cam is PERFECT because it's a S16mm sized sensor which opens up the world of S16mm lenses which have been used for a long long long time, as well as the 35mm motion picture lenses which you can adapt to because of the MFT mount. You're not going to run into the same trouble of wide-lenses not covering the sensor because it's a normal size -v- the BMCC which had an odd sized sensor from the get-go.
The only problem you'll run into is if you try to use normal 16mm lenses on a S16mm camera because Normal 16mm film had a smaller recording area, and as such, some wide lenses won't cover it.

For an example, this is the lens kit I have for my SR3

9.5mm
12 mm
16mm
25mm
35mm
50mm
2x Extender

and that basically covers you for all situations. Hell the 9.5mm is so wide that I'll see the matte-box unless is slide it all the way back on the rails to where the filters are almost touching the front of the lens.

</rant>

Correct, Adrian.

But part of the issue is that 'in those days', film people had access to all those options, all those delicious 16 and 35mm film lenses, all tightly packed in metallic boxes, ready for use. Worth a mere ...50,000$

I guess we are trying to 'extend' the philosophy of cheap accessible great video recording quality of the pocket cam, with accessibility in lenses.

I don't see why you can't just rent until you can own. It just makes a lot more sense, to me at least.
And for in-house, I don't see why any of the options from Rokinon et-al wouldn't work for the budget minded or even CP2s; while not super cheap are incredibly affordable -v- Cooke SK16s. Another option would be an OCT19 mount and using some Lomo Glass (won't get you wider than 18mm, however) or an OCT18 for some of the Russian made 16mm lenses.
Even S16mm zooms, while not super cheap, can be had for a few grand in perfectly workable condition--and of course you get to make that money back in kit fees.

The second hand market in S16 lenses is going to be fantastic thanks to this camera. The whole crop factor issue is and always has been meaningless to me. Every one going on about it with the 2.5k camera, yet the same people were still going gaga over the footage.

I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be able to rend out my Super Speeds again when/if the pocket cam ever arrives at my door.

Hey guys, great stuff. His original question of course was, will a 50mm lens act like a 50mm lens on the pocket cam. And the answer is still no. I'm not going to debate still lenses vs cine lenses or FF vs S35. The fact still remains, when he slaps a 50mm lens on that cam (and most likely it will be a still lens) it will look like a longer lens (because of field of view).
I agree renting is a great way to go to find out what works for you, but not everyone gets that option (and I would imagine especially for those buying this camera for any kind of production)
Chances are you'll find some nice affordable "C mount" S16 lenses that are affordable, and "if" you can outbid everyone else. But, there's a reason this thing has an active M4/3 mount on it, and not a PL mount, and that's because the majority of people will be using either active M4/3 lenses or still lenses of some sort. I doubt we'll be seeing much of the advertised giant PL zoom lenses as shown in the PR, except for gimmicky purposes.