I´m a totally new to this cinema world, as I´m used to shoot video. I am totally lost in all these different lens mounts....very confused. So here are my questions:

It looks like to me, that it's gonna be very expensive for me to go out and buy super16 lenses, so I would like to use old Nikon lenses instead. And please tell me if I understand this correctly:

1. I must buy the IMS mount, because then I can use the P+S Technics different adapters so I can mount Nikon lenses. Is this correct?

2. I am used to shooting with SLRs, so how will the angle of an 50mm Nikon lens be, when it is mounted via the IMS mount on the A-Cam? What is the factor, of which I need to multiply?

3. Nikon question: Will all Nikon lenses which don't have the "G" (manual iris), work?

4. As I don't have any super16 lenses yet, but I will maybe in the distant future, it would be better for me to go with the IMS mount, so I all options open. Is this correct?

Thanx for helping me out :)

5. Does anything weird happen, if I put on a Nikon Zoom lens? Will there be any soft-black edges at different angles?

I believe this has been discussed before. Basically, you will only use a part of the Nikon lens and your field of view will be 3.5 times more narrow.

Brook Willard http://www.brookwillard.com/ made a very nice comparison chart. Although intended mainly for Red, you can also see how a 2/3 sensor compares to 35mm photographic film (135 still film).

So I would advise, not to use Nikon lenses, except for.... exceptions. ;-)

Kurt

Hi Tomkob,

If you want to use your Nikon SLR 50mm lens on the dII it will be like a 200mm Nikon tele lens on your 35mm still camera. Something around 4 should be the multiplying factor. If you see a 50mm lens as normal lens for 35mm still format,
12,5 mm or a little bit less would be the normal lens for the dII.

There are quite cheap adaptors available to use Nikon lenses on a C mount camera. The IMS system will be much more expensive. But for both - the adapter and the IMS - you need old style manual Nikon lenses with manual focus and manual f-stop.

You can use Nikon zooms and tele lenses as well. This is a very easy way to ceeate a strong tele effect and a very small viewing angle with the dII.
As a summary: for wide and normal viewing angles with the dII you will need Super 16 or C mount lenses (2/3" and/or 1"). For long focal lengths (tele lenses) you can use SLR lenses.

Please keep in mind what I wrote yesterday: at the moment it's not absolutely clear that the 2/3" C mount lenses will cover the entire active pixel area of the dII.
As shorter the focal length of the 2/3" C mount lens is as more critical is that point.

Ok, thanx guys I understand. I have lots more question, but will post new thread, as it is a new topic.

The A-cam would be kind of a bummer with Nikons, as readily available as they are.

For a normal shoot, you'd probably want to have a wide, mid and zoom lens. Since the multiplication factor is so enormous, your 'wide' would end up being a 10mm Nikon, and then still not very wide. A Nikon 10mm is very expensive as well, and if you can score one that's cheap, it wouldn't be a very fast lens...

The real value of nikons is when you get into full-frame or DX sized chips, 'cause then that cheap, sharp, fast 50mm is an amazing lens you will use all the time.

Get a Mark2 and enjoy your lenses