andy lee

there are alot of hidden jems out there Enisnor 24mm f2.8 is another one - a superb cheap 24mm prime

the lens is moving thats what is causing your wobble , I have the same problems with some lenses especially long lenses you have not said what camera you are using micro 4/3 cameras are all rubbish with follow focus as the mount diameter is so small and the lens can move up down left right once you impart a force on it from the follow focus Ive had nightmares with micro 4/3 and follow focus all different bands Canon EF is wider diameter and Ive had more luck with Follow Focus on this mount - my Black Magic EF mount rig is very stable.

this lens is a hidden jem Vivitar 35-105mm f3.5 Canon FD mount. so this is the same spec as the Canon FD 35-105mm f3.5 But is has warmer colours (The Canon has a cool blue tinge to it) and it is slightly sharper than the Canon version of this lens it zooms internally and the other good news is it is very very cheap!! plus it has a close macro focus back focus ring wich is nice http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VIVITAR-35-105mm-f3-5-ZOOM-MC-CANON-FIT-LENS-/231184321537?pt=UK_Lenses_Filters_Lenses&hash=item35d3a8cc01

the best FD lenses are the L Series ones, at the time these came out in 1979 - 1980 ish they where the Permier League of Canon's glass - the best they made and they still are!!! all have aspheric elements (Canon made all their hi end aspheric element lenses into the L Series in 1979) the 24-35mm f3.5 Canon FD L Series is a lens that just has someting about it thats put it in a different league in my book. They way Canon have grouped the elements has given it a very unique cinematic look , it looks like a very very expensive PL mount Cinema lens, they way it renders light , the way it flares , the great skin tones it gives , warm colours and good nice blacks too. plus it gives you 3 great focal lengths in one lens 24mm 28mm 35mm so carry one lens instead of 3 primes. It has a nice bokeh too especially at 35mm. I cannot recomend this lens enough. Oh yes did I say its very sharp too!! ......sharper optically than most prime lenses I own ...... read this : http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/canon/fdresources/fdlenses/fdzooms/2435.htm here is one cheap on ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canon-FD-24-35mm-3-5-L-Lens-/221400686333?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item338c825efd

Contax Zeiss is slightly sharper which is why I use it a s a variable prime - both are cheap so get both!!! it depends on what camera you are using them on I shoot micro 4/3 so a 28-70mm is a great range

FD fit Zeiss are the cheap Sigmas made in Japan and branded Zeiss - these where sold in Jessops style camera shops 20 years ago avoid - they are called Carl Zeiss Jena II and have sky blue lettering on the lens caps and lens barrels they are cheap and Ok but identical to their Sigma equivilants.....no way near as good as the Yashicas ML range and Zeiss C/Y range. the Canon FD 35-105mm is the perfect partner for the Canon FD 24-35mm L Series they are very similar in look so work well together Plus the 35-105mm is a great lens and cheap

yes its a great lens and cheap on ebay

buy the book 'New Cinematographers ' by Alexander Ballinger. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Cinematographers-by-Alexander-Ballinger-Paperback-2004-/331151390404?pt=Non_Fiction&hash=item4d1a2936c4 it is a gold mine of infomation on how to shoot films and what lenses and f stops are used , with drawings and breakdowns on big Hollywood films and how they did it . you will see most Feature films very rarely shoot above f2.8 or f2 max in low light mostly shoot lower f5.6 etc Darius Khondji shot Alien Resurestion at f2.8 , he lit all the sets the whole moive for that stop. the Great Freddie Young didn't like going over f3.5 - (read his autobiography its very good) if you want bokeh - use a telephoto lens to isolate the subject from the background that way . thats how these guys do it - have a read of the book!! and dont forget Movie Cameras (Alexa, Epic, Super 35mm etc) are not full frame !

if you want Constant aperture use the Canon FD 35-105mm f3.5 or the Canon FD L series 24-35mm f3.5 or the steller Fujinon TV zooms Ive been going on about for years. Its all about choosing the right lens for the shot you are doing , if I'm doing Bourne / Hurt Locker type Barry Ackroyd / Paul Greengrass Docu zooms then I use a constant aperture zoom . I use the Zeiss Vario Sonars as Variable Primes not for zommy in and outs the 24-85mm Zeiss Vario sonar is amazing - 3D pop lens.

f3,5 is just great for actors hitting there marks and their faces actually being in focus I dont film narative stuff at f1.2 ever !! way too shallow DOF for me. It drops 1 stop in its full zoom , its hardly noticable in reality. Your shot can alter 1 stop just by moving the camera position on set - so its never an issue. And I use these lenses as variable Primes as they optically out perform most Prime lenses as it has 2 aspheric elements in this lens it is insanely sharp - it has that Zeiss '3D' pop to it.

The 35-70mm Vario Sonar is a great lens - FOR STILLS as it is a PUSH PULL zoom lens so not very good for shooting video the 28-70mm Vario sonar is small light and zooms like a cinema lens .....it is not a push pull lens so it is a much better lens for video my fave Yashicas are 24mm ML f2.8 and the 28mm ML f2.8 - cheap and very good 50mm ML f2 - very cheap but a great sharp lens

yes I have been posting about Zeiss C/Y lenses on here for along time now - and the good thing is that the Yashica ML line is optically practically identical to the Zeiss lenses and alot cheaper - they are both made in the same factory in Japan. The Zeiss Vario Sonar 28-70mm in C/Y mount is a stunning lens I use alot - everyone with a Micro 4/3 camera should have theis lens - its that good!!!

Vivitar had a premium line of lenses called 'Series 1' and these tend to command a higher price Vivitar did not actually make/manufacture any lenses they got 3rd party manufacturers to make lenses for them . so if you can get one cheap buy it! Vivitar make a 19-35mm Sereis 1 zoom it is rectalinear and very good

exactly it doesnt really say why it happened ....how long was the camera on for and was it in record or standby and just on waiting to be used!

Schott glass wow sounds superb!! nice one Rich

Lithium Ion batteries can do this!!

I've just been sent this link....... have a read and a look at the video Looks like the camera overheated and set on fire . might be internal problem or the battery.... have a read of the article SSD destroyed all footage lost http://weeder.org/rLHYN6H

so Im intrigued how have you made these wide angle adapters and can I use them on other lenses , is this your new design!! it sounds cool . especially the 25mm version - that must be a x0.45 widener to get that focal length.

I do really like your idea of a Helios with different wide adapters on it , I would like to see the 25mm version , as that my standard lens focal length on micro 4/3

micro 4/3 so it only uses the Center part of the lens!! no distortions they are very good almost optically neutral . Most of the Centurys are made for Sony Pro Video cameras so they are optimised for smaller sensors not full frame . Schneider Magna Com is absolutly stunning , this a a vaiable focal length reducer used in Cinama Projection lenses the glass is high end industial , practically optically neutral .

Century (Schneider) make superb wide adapters I have a bunch of them , the glass is pin sharp . They are big and heavy 72mm rears

Gino is the same as the Sun lens just a different name. if you get the right taking lens for it it will work on any camera , GH3 included

what are you looking for ? are you a flare fanatic or a sharpness pixel peeker ? what style of shot are you wanting!!! what do you like about the helios what characteristic? these lenses are cheap you can get the Zeiss Rollei QBM Planar on ebay - this is the version you want single coated http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Carl-Zeiss-PLANAR-50mm-F1-8-Germany-made-Rolleiflex-SL35-mount-/161250022923?pt=AU_Lenses&hash=item258b40160b the Sigma 24mm goes for under $50

yes there are the Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm f1.8 in Rollei QBM mount (the early version that is single coated not the HFT coated version) This lens is great... it is low contrast and flares like crazy like the Helios , and it is sharp it has a great arty cinematic look to it , the colours are a bit more muted compared to the Contax Carl Zeiss 50mm f1.7 Planar in C/Y mount. the blacks are more gray than black I also pair this up with the Signa 24mm f2.8 Super Wide II lens , its has a similar colour look to it so works well together. it flares nicely too when you hit it with light from the front off axis. Tamron 28-85mm zoom f4 has a similar low contrast flares like crazy look and work with the above lenses well

g6 has amazing EVF and does 24p 25p and 50p