Zeiss CP.2 vs. Canon Cinema Primes

The place for questions about shooting with Blackmagic Cameras.
  • Author
  • Message
Offline

Cameron Mckinlay

  • Posts: 106
  • Joined: Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:31 am
  • Location: Touring the World

Zeiss CP.2 vs. Canon Cinema Primes

PostWed Dec 26, 2012 12:01 pm

Hey Guys, so I am curious if anyone has had the opportunity to try the Canon Cinema Primes yet. I am looking to slowly start building my arsenal of cinema lenses. I currently only have still lenses for my 7D. Some L glass, vintage lenses and anamorphic glass. I have been reading a lot about Leica glass, that it resolves very well and has a warm filmic look to it. But then again they are still lenses again. I was wondering what you guys would recommend investing towards. The Zeiss CP.2's are tried, trusted and true lenses. The Cinema Primes look pretty well built and canon makes great glass. What road would you guys invest in to future proof your lenses for an upgrade in the future to say....an Epic etc or when GoPro comes out with a 4K cinema camera at NAB 2015 :lol:
Cameron Mckinlay
Offline

Cameron Mckinlay

  • Posts: 106
  • Joined: Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:31 am
  • Location: Touring the World

Re: Zeiss CP.2 vs. Canon Cinema Primes

PostThu Dec 27, 2012 5:24 pm

I guess no one has tried a canon cinema prime yet.
Cameron Mckinlay
Offline

David

  • Posts: 321
  • Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2012 3:05 am
  • Location: Ohio.... just marginally better than Kalgoorlie

Re: Zeiss CP.2 vs. Canon Cinema Primes

PostThu Dec 27, 2012 5:40 pm

Five G's, man. My wife would kill me.....reeeeaaaaal slow. :shock:
David Daniel
Dilettante
Offline

Darryl Gregory

  • Posts: 939
  • Joined: Sun Dec 16, 2012 2:49 am
  • Location: LA

Re: Zeiss CP.2 vs. Canon Cinema Primes

PostThu Dec 27, 2012 5:51 pm

Cinema Primes = expensive, But I would rent them , I own Zeiss ZE/ZF lenses they work a treat, My clients love them, and Pay me more because of them.
I know that didn't answer your question, but Vincent Lofaret had some good experience with them on his short he shot for Canon, check his blog he may have the information you need.
Last edited by Darryl Gregory on Thu Dec 27, 2012 5:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Offline

Cameron Mckinlay

  • Posts: 106
  • Joined: Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:31 am
  • Location: Touring the World

Re: Zeiss CP.2 vs. Canon Cinema Primes

PostThu Dec 27, 2012 5:53 pm

I'm just engaged so I can still make foolish purchases....hahahaha.
the Zeiss' are only $4000. So I assume the canons are not optically much better for another grand.
Cameron Mckinlay
Offline

Darryl Gregory

  • Posts: 939
  • Joined: Sun Dec 16, 2012 2:49 am
  • Location: LA

Re: Zeiss CP.2 vs. Canon Cinema Primes

PostThu Dec 27, 2012 6:19 pm

cmckinlay wrote:I'm just engaged so I can still make foolish purchases....hahahaha.
the Zeiss' are only $4000. So I assume the canons are not optically much better for another grand.


This one may be optically better :mrgreen:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/8 ... 2_6_L.html
Offline
User avatar

Nick Bedford

  • Posts: 352
  • Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2012 3:56 am
  • Location: Brisbane, Australia

Re: Zeiss CP.2 vs. Canon Cinema Primes

PostThu Dec 27, 2012 11:53 pm

I've heard the general gist of the Canon cinema lenses is that they're very good, but like any cine glass, way over my head in terms of budget. I'd love to own a set of CP.2s for shooting "whenever I damn feel like it", but hiring is a much wiser choice haha.

Granted, I don't have use for decent glass until I have my actual camera. I sure as hell wouldn't bother using cine glass on my 5D.
Nick Bedford, Photographer
http://www.nickbedford.com/
Offline

John Brawley

  • Posts: 4267
  • Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2012 7:57 am
  • Location: Los Angeles California

Re: Zeiss CP.2 vs. Canon Cinema Primes

PostFri Dec 28, 2012 6:29 am

cmckinlay wrote:What road would you guys invest in to future proof your lenses for an upgrade in the future to say....an Epic etc or when GoPro comes out with a 4K cinema camera at NAB 2015 :lol:


I don't think the Canon primes are really out in the wild yet. Perhaps why you haven't seen any feedback.

I liked and bought the Zeiss CP2s. mainly because they have interchangeable mounts. Seems to me you only get EF mount with the canons. I don't see the world taking to EF mount for cinema cameras, aside from the Canon stable of course.

With the CPs I have, EF mount, PL mount and m4/3 mount. It's a system that allows you to grow beyond one brand of camera.

jb
John Brawley ACS
Cinematographer
Currently - Los Angeles
Offline

Cameron Mckinlay

  • Posts: 106
  • Joined: Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:31 am
  • Location: Touring the World

Re: Zeiss CP.2 vs. Canon Cinema Primes

PostFri Dec 28, 2012 1:54 pm

John Brawley wrote:
cmckinlay wrote:What road would you guys invest in to future proof your lenses for an upgrade in the future to say....an Epic etc or when GoPro comes out with a 4K cinema camera at NAB 2015 :lol:


I don't think the Canon primes are really out in the wild yet. Perhaps why you haven't seen any feedback.

I liked and bought the Zeiss CP2s. mainly because they have interchangeable mounts.

jb


Interchangeable mounts!? I have never heard of that feature before. Wow ok, Thanks John that feature in itself has sold me on the Zeiss' That is definitely a future proof solution for great cinema glass.
Thanks for everyones input.
Cameron Mckinlay
Offline
User avatar

adamroberts

  • Posts: 4538
  • Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2012 5:27 am
  • Location: England, UK

Re: Zeiss CP.2 vs. Canon Cinema Primes

PostFri Dec 28, 2012 11:51 pm

Zeiss CP.2 ( not the first gen CP ) lenses have interchangeable mounts. It is not a quick thing to change. You would not do it on set for instance. It involves removing a bunch of screws and the mount, then selecting the correct shims and attaching the new mount.

It is a great feature but its not quick and easy.
Offline
User avatar

Nick Bedford

  • Posts: 352
  • Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2012 3:56 am
  • Location: Brisbane, Australia

Re: Zeiss CP.2 vs. Canon Cinema Primes

PostSat Dec 29, 2012 1:01 am

The guys who produced my band's music video used a 5 piece CP.2 set with PL mount on RED One and Epic cameras. Those flares :D 8-)

You're right John. The interchangeable mounts make the CP.2s a great choice for those who have EF mount but also want to own a set of cinema primes.
Nick Bedford, Photographer
http://www.nickbedford.com/
Offline

John Brawley

  • Posts: 4267
  • Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2012 7:57 am
  • Location: Los Angeles California

Re: Zeiss CP.2 vs. Canon Cinema Primes

PostSat Dec 29, 2012 1:09 am

cmckinlay wrote:
Interchangeable mounts!? I have never heard of that feature before. Wow ok, Thanks John that feature in itself has sold me on the Zeiss' That is definitely a future proof solution for great cinema glass.
Thanks for everyones input.


Indeed it is.

It's only with the current CP2's, and they are quite expensive to buy (the different mounts) and it's not THAT easy or fast to do, but they were designed with interchangeable mounts in mind. That alone says "future proof" to me.

jb
John Brawley ACS
Cinematographer
Currently - Los Angeles
Offline
User avatar

Nick Bedford

  • Posts: 352
  • Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2012 3:56 am
  • Location: Brisbane, Australia

Re: Zeiss CP.2 vs. Canon Cinema Primes

PostSat Dec 29, 2012 4:13 am

Out of curiosity, what set of CP.2s did you get John?
Nick Bedford, Photographer
http://www.nickbedford.com/
Offline

John Brawley

  • Posts: 4267
  • Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2012 7:57 am
  • Location: Los Angeles California

Re: Zeiss CP.2 vs. Canon Cinema Primes

PostSat Dec 29, 2012 4:16 am

Nick Bedford wrote:Out of curiosity, what set of CP.2s did you get John?


28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 100mm and 50mm macro.

The 35, 50 and 85 are the superspeed versions.

I have the 135mm on order but it keeps getting pushed back.

I'm about to pull the trigger on the 15mm and the new 25mm I think...

JB.
John Brawley ACS
Cinematographer
Currently - Los Angeles
Offline

CaptainHook

Blackmagic Design

  • Posts: 2054
  • Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2012 4:50 am
  • Location: Melbourne, Australia
  • Real Name: Hook

Re: Zeiss CP.2 vs. Canon Cinema Primes

PostSun Dec 30, 2012 11:14 pm

**Any post by me prior to Aug 2014 was before i started working for Blackmagic**
Offline

Cameron Mckinlay

  • Posts: 106
  • Joined: Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:31 am
  • Location: Touring the World

Re: Zeiss CP.2 vs. Canon Cinema Primes

PostMon Dec 31, 2012 12:57 am

Thanks for your posts guys, very informative. Now if I can just get my hands on my BMCC
Cameron Mckinlay

Return to Cinematography

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Sean van Berlo and 95 guests