The Weekend Lens - Photography || Vintage Lens Reviews || Sony E-mount
  • HOME
  • PHOTO
    • Photo Series >
      • Moscow Metro
      • Japan on 2 wheels
      • Shisa Kanko
      • Tatami Garden
      • Hoi-An Fish Market
      • Profiles
    • Places >
      • Japan
      • Vietnam
    • Film
  • REVIEWS
    • Lenses >
      • Canon FL/FD/nFD >
        • Canon FL 55 f1.2
        • Canon FD 50 f1.4 SSC
        • Canon nFD 24 f2.8
        • Canon nFD 35 f2
        • Canon nFD 50 f1.4
        • Canon nFD 100 f2
        • Canon nFD 135 f2
      • Carl Zeiss >
        • Carl Zeiss 50 f1.7 T Planar
        • Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50 f1.8
      • Jupiter 3
      • Konica >
        • Konica AR 40 f1.8
        • Konica AR 135 f3.2
      • Nikkor >
        • Nikkor 50 f1.2 AIS
        • Nikkor 105 f2.5 AI
      • Olympus >
        • Olympus Zuiko 21 f3.5
        • Olympus Zuiko 24 f2.8
      • Pentax >
        • Super-Takumar 50 f1.4
        • Pentax-M 50mm f1.4 SMC
        • Pentax 135 f2.5 SMC
      • Samyang 12 f2
      • Tokina AT-X 90 f2.5 Macro
      • Vivitar 55 f2.8 Macro
      • Voigtlander FE 15/4.5
    • Motion Studies
    • Lens Index
  • ABOUT
    • Intro
    • Portfolio

Motion Studies


Vintage lenses are well-suited for videography.  With (usually) smooth manual focusing and excellent mechanical construction, they offer better handling than many modern lenses.  While most can't quite match the contrast and resolution of modern glass, they can produce more 'interesting' results, full of vintage 'character' caused by one or more of the following: vignetting, reduced contrast, wide-open glow, wild bokeh, etc. 

Below you'll find some short sample footage shot with lenses I have already reviewed. The videos were mostly filmed with the Sony A7s using the Movie Picture Profile with little (if any) colour correction in post. 

Sony A7 Canon fl55 f1.2

Canon FL 55 f1.2


A heavy beast with an excellent mechanical construction and a uniquely 'messy' bokeh. Capable of very thin dof with good sharpness wide open; very sharp stopped down. Produces interesting results. 

Sony A7 Canon fd100 f2

Canon FD 100 f2

Smooth focusing and excellent image quality; great sharpness and contrast wide open. Creamy bokeh, too. The 100mm focal length can really isolate the subject and give a cinematic look to footage. 

Sony A7 Konica ar 40 f1.8

​Konica AR 40 f1.8


A great fit for the A7s, this lens is a very good performer during the day with good sharpness, short focus throw, and excellent handling. Not a good choice for night shooting with purple fringing, ghosting, and coma showing their ugly heads.

Sony A7 Canon FD 24

​Canon FD 24 f2.8


Affordable wide angle with pretty good image quality and good handling on the A7s. Some slight moustache distortion. 

Sony A7 Canon FD 50

​Canon FD 50 f1.4 SSC


Lots of character wide open with heavy vignetting and sometimes harsh bokeh but good contrast and sharpness. A little front heavy on the camera but good mechanically. 

Picture

Nikkor 50 f1.2 AI-S


Excellent mechanical construction and operation. Dreamy wide open with decent bokeh. Very sharp stopped down. 

Picture
Canon FD 135 f2

Big and heavy and rather well put together. Smooth and long focus throw is great for video shooting. Image quality, subject isolation potential, and bokeh are all outstanding!

Picture
Carl Zeiss 50mm f1.7 

Build quality may not be as good as all-metal vintage lenses, but it does make the lens light and easy to handle on the A7s. Excellent image quality - sharp and contrasty. 

© 2020 The Weekend Lens                                                                                               SUBSCRIBE                                                                                                    Contact