Lenses / Diamond Jewellery

I've got a commercial coming up shooting diamond jewellery. My experience with lenses is with film lenses on film cameras: macros and probe lenses. Where is a good place to start my research for lenses when shooting video (f-900/3)?

Ian Ellis DP
Austin TX
www.texashighdef.com

Hi Ian

We have a Pro-35 adapter that will enable you to use the film lenses you're accustomed to. Let me know if that interests you.

There are also great HD Prime lens sets avail. I'll be happy to discuss with you. Just give me a buzz/shoot me a line.
Best,

Meredith (Seawright) Stephens
Director of Development
MPS Studios
214-630-1655
AIM: MPSStudios
Women In Film.Dallas, Board Member
Texas Motion Picture Alliance, Board Member

Ian

Zeiss 70mm Close Focus is sweet. Plus8 has those.
Innovision has a probe system [I'm using it today.] It's not nearly as clean as the Zeiss, but it's a probe.

Plus8 also has a longer macro I think its a Nikon.

Good luck.

Carlos Acosta
DIT Los Angeles
713.898.1264

Ian,

Innovision has the HD Probe with direct, 45° and 90° attachments along with 5 prime lenses.

"Close focus from 12mm and beyond"

Mark Centkowski
Innovision
Creative Ways of Imaging
www.innovision-optics.com

Hi Ian,

This is not lens related, but with jewellery you will need to be able to capture as high dynamic range capture as possible – as you previously did with film.

With the f900 you should consider looking at the Digital Praxis gamma curves (ok, it is a personal plug as I developed the curves to provide an extended dynamic range capture, allowing for better flexibility in post.

Have a look at the info at :

http://www.digitalpraxis.net/sonycurves.html

Geoff has also posted some examples from a shoot he did with the different gamma curves on the CML website – do a search for CVP Gamma Curves.

Steve Shaw
Digital Praxis Ltd.
+44 (0)7765 400 908
www.digitalpraxis.net

Steve,

Already done! I am a regular user of one of your curves. In fact, I started using the gamma curve about the time they became publicly available on your website. Use it on all exteriors and many interiors. I've shot one short and a full length feature, and many commercials. As soon as I heard "diamonds", I knew the curve was going to be invaluable for the shoot.

Ian Ellis DP
Austin TX
www.texashighdef.com

Carlos Acosta wrote:

> Zeiss 70mm Close Focus is sweet. Plus8 has those.

Carlos, or anyone, have you ever looked through a diopter with the 70mm?

Ian Ellis DP
Austin TX

>>have you ever looked through a diopter with the 70mm

The Zeiss 95mm +1 and +2 DigiDiopters should be available within about 8 weeks :

http://www.digiprimes.com/2005/reviews/digidiopter.shtml

Michael Bravin
Chief Technology Officer
Band Pro Film & Digital

Ian Ellis writes :

>>I've got a commercial coming up shooting diamond jewellery. My >>experience with lenses is with film lenses on film cameras : macros >>and probe lenses. Where is a good place to start my research for >>lenses when shooting video (f-900/3)?

Hello Ian :

It looks as if you have had some good responses to your lens inquiry but don't forget to get a good smooth servo turntable and some new black silk and black velvet for the top-o-the-turntable. Oh, and try not to let anyone pull a Pink Panther on you.

All my best,

John

John Sheeren
DP/OP/AC
610 East 9th Street
Houston, Texas 77007
(H) 713-863-7570
(C) 713-385-7595
(F) 713-863-7578

The job is done, and the decision went to the 70mm Zeiss close focus DigiPrimes. I tried to get a 1.4x but that did not materialize. At absolute close focus I got a field size of 2 1/8 inches, which was great for this job. In fact I was able to back off a little. The front element was still quite close to the rings, about four to five inches, but my gaffer was able to employ some great solutions to get very nice sparkles.

The lens performance was, of course, incredible.

Ian Ellis DP
Austin TX