Converting The Zeiss CP.2 85mm to EF Mount From PL. Or Buy The Rokinon
Carl Zeiss EF-mount, Interchangeable Mount Set EF2 for CP.2 50/T2.1 or CP.2 85/T2.1
I’m going through my gear trying to adapt to the C300 with the equipment that I already have and one big piece of kit I own is lenses. I need to figure out how I can get some use out of my PL glass with the C300. Unfortunately I dont see a solution for two of the three PL lenses I own. The Red 17-50 & the Duclos 11-16. These two wont be able to be used on the C300. Adapters just aren’t available yet to date to get a PL mount on an EF camera without issues.
I decided to look into swapping out the mount on my 85mm Zeiss CP.2 to the EF mount. I’ve seen a few videos on this and it seems like a pretty straight forward modification but the price of this modification has me thinking. The kit cost $390 and the torch wrench is another $173. This comes to a total of $563.
Zeiss CP.2 Torque Screw Driver
That’s a lot of cash for a mount swap! I talked to a lens specialist and he said don’t worry about the torque screw driver. Tighten the screws enough to secure them in a criss-cross pattern, but don’t tighten them so much that it strips the screw. Sounds good. This is probably Zeiss making sure you dont break the mount by over tightening for warranty purposes.
I got to thinking. The Rokinon 85mm cost $350.00 and it’s an EF version with no adapter, full manual declicked iris with gears, and the reviews are outstanding!
This puts me in a hard place. I like the Zeiss Cp.2 a lot but for $213.00 less than the mod I get a new lens. Tell me I’m crazy but the mod just doesn’t make sense! I’m seriously thinking abut just ordering the Rokinon 85mm Cine and leaving the PL as is. I seriously need to reconsider if owning PL lenses is worth it at this point. I was considering a Red camera this year and as it looks for now I dont see getting one so is it worth holding on to these PL lenses? I guess for now I need to think this through but this new Rokinon looks almost to good to pass up.
Since I wrote this post I decided to go ahaead and buy the Rokinon 85mm. I’m in the process of comparing the Rokinon to the Zeiss CP.2 85mm. Click on the link to see how it compares.
Rokinon 85mm T1.5 Cine Lens for Canon EF
Filed in: C100 • C300 • Camera News • Canon • Lens Talk • New Release
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Dibs on the Duclos 11-16 and Zeiss 85!
Erik,
The Tokina 11-16mm can be used on the C300/100 – I have used it several instances. Doesn’t Duclos offer an EF version of their modified Tokina 11-16mm? Or do you already have the Duclos 11-16mm in PL mount?
Let me know if you decide to sell your Zeiss CP.2′s
– Donald
I have the Duclos 11-16 with PL mount. I should see how much it cost to swap out the mount to an EF. I’m guessing it wouldn’t be inexpensive since a cine mod runs $250 for gears and declicking iris.
I have the Red 17-50 and wouldn’t that be cool if I had it modified to a EF mount? It’s probably to heavy for one but that would be a great lens on the C300 and C100.
I can’t say enough.
I own a 85mm T1.5 and a 35mm T1.5 and I’ll be completing my Rokinon/Samyang/Walimex VDSLR collection until the end of this year (the 50mm is coming…). What I can say – and I’ve used theses lenses on the AF100, GH2, GH3, FS100 and FS700 – is that they are the best for the price tag. You simply cannot find better cost/benefit cine-like glass for that amount. They are not CP.2 lenses but for the price of a single CP.2 you can buy a set of DSLR primes and still save some money. To be honest there are some differences of build quality and overall IQ (and the 35mm is more of a 38mm lens), however, this just begs the question: are the Rokinon too cheap or are the CP.2 too expensive? After using both I can safely say that although the CP.2 are better glass they are not worth eight times more.
You’ll not be disappointed with the Rokinon.
Thanks Mario.
If the 50mm was available I would buy it today. I hope it’ll be a fast T1.5 like the 35mm is. I’m considering buying the 85mm since it’s the cheapest of the three and I could compare it to the Zeiss CP.2 85mm I already own.
You’re welcome.
Go for it! Buy the 85mm to check out the image and build quality and its usability. You can then extrapolate the differences between a CP.2 and a Rokinon/Samyang/Walimex VDSLR lens.
And yes, a 50mm T1.5 would be just amazing. Let’s see if they do it. It appears that they are making it. They didn’t produced yet because the VDSLR’s are basically a cine-mod of their DSLR lenses and since they don’t actually have a 50mm still lens the release of a VDSLR 50mm is taking more time…
I’ve been watching the buzz & very basic reviews on the Rokinon cine lenses for a few weeks now. Like you, I’m considering getting the 85mm f1.5 but was hoping to see a little more thorough testing/review than I’ve seen so far before actually buying. They are definitely inexpensive for what they are but I’m a little worried that the some reported sketchy QC and focus breathing issues might mean it’s less than useful for my purposes. I may just buy it on ebay through ‘bill me later’ and then resell before the 6 months if it doesn’t work out. Did you order one yet?
Keith
I haven’t purchased the Rokinon 85mm yet. Still on the fence whether to swap out the PL mount on the CP.2. I think it would be a good review to do comparing the Zeiss and the Rokinon side by side. If I did I would have to use the AF-100 or a GH3 since both can use the PL adapter. One thing I like a lot About MFT cameras. Very easy to use with so many lenses.