| Latest Review Posted | SMC Pentax-A 135mm F2.8
For cinematographic use, this lens has a couple of advantages, and a couple of disadvantages.
First, it lets you set the camera further back for when you're filming mids and close-ups, and even further back for long shots with multiple performers, especially on cameras like the BMD Pocket Cine Camera, with it's s16 sensor and massive crop factor.
This gives the performers more space to work in, as well as makes it easier to follow their movements with smooth pans.
The narrower view angle makes it easier to hide lights out of shot, and lets the Soundie get the Boom Mic in closer to the talent for clearer audio.
Wide open, there is some fringing and CA, but nothing a half decent colourist can't sort out quickly.
This lens absolutely has to be used on Tripod or Slider, forget about using it hand-held or on shoulder rig on s16, 235 or APS-c. I'd be hesitant to use it on a rig on FF too.
Lastly, focus.
Get it right, and this lens is beautiful.
Get it even slightly out, and once you see the footage on a decent screen, you'll see it is absolutely unforgiving of missed focus, even closed down to f4 or f8.
Just missed, is missed-by-a-mile on this one.
And when working with a Matte Box and filters, you will need a flexible join between the lens and the Matte Box, as there is nearly a full 2cm length change between minimum and infinity focus, so it's pretty easy to end up with reflections on the back of the filters being seen in the frame.
The colour transmission matches other SMC... |
