Prime lenses on HPX500

[faust80]

Hi there you all
I'm about to shoot a student film. And it's not counted in K's (Very low budget).
We were thinking about taking a SUPER COOKE S3 PL MOUNT T2.2 prime lenses with pro-35 to attach them to Panasonic HPX500.
Still expansive to us.
So, I wondered if it is possible to attach Nikon prime lenses (that I have) and save costs on pro-35. May be another converter from Nikon bayonet to Panasonic bayonet?
Or I will still have to use pro-35?

Any advices folks?
Thanks' in advance

Gregory

[NGM]

So you're using the HPX500, which has a 2/3" image sensor and a B4 lens mount...

To mount a Nikon lens on the HPX500 you need a B4 to Nikon mount adaptor. However, using the Nikons this way won't change the depth of field characteristics of the camera's sensor. It should also be noted that 35mm lenses have a narrower field of view when mounted on cameras with 2/3" sensors than they do on 35mm cameras (i.e. your Nikons will act like longer lenses on the HPX500 than they do on your SLR).

If what you're after is "35mm depth of field" then you'll need the PRO35. You didn't specify whether you own the Cooke lenses you mentioned or whether you'd be renting them - I assume renting? If this is the case and money is a concern then perhaps you could buy/rent a PRO35 with a Nikon lens mount and use it with your Nikon lenses instead, sparing yourself the cost of renting the Cookes.

A couple of things to consider:-

• Depth of field adaptors like the PRO35 absorb light. I don't know how much light because I've never used one, but I think I recall reading that it's typically about a stop to a stop-and-a-half. Perhaps someone else can correct me.


• It's harder to pull focus on a lens designed for still photography (like your Nikons) than it is on a lens designed for motion picture photography (like the Cookes).

Apologies if I'm telling you anything you already knew. Good luck with the film.

[faust80]

Thank you very much. It was a huge pack of information!!
Do you know the name of this adapter between Nikon and Pro35?

Thanks' again mate!
Gregory

[NGM]

This is the manufacturer's website for the PRO35. Scroll to the bottom of the page to the "Order Information." It looks like the PRO35 comes with a PL mount as standard, but that this is interchangeable with other optionally available lens mounts. It lists the Nikon F mount under "Mount Options" (Art. No. 19942). If I were you I'd enquire with whoever you're buying/renting the PRO35 from - or with the manufacturers themselves - about acquiring that mount, and also what accessories you'll need to use the Nikon lenses with them (support rails, follow focus, etc).

[Giuseppe Pugliese]

If money is a problem I say look into the Letus adapters with the 2/3'' relay lens attachment. Much cheaper than the pro, and has much better light (only half a stop of light loss)

You could also look into digiprimes but you wont have 35mm dof.

[NGM]

Gregory -

I don't know if you're still checking in here but, just out of curiosity, what did you do in the end?