{"id":82486,"date":"2016-10-07T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-10-07T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=82486"},"modified":"2016-10-05T14:58:38","modified_gmt":"2016-10-05T19:58:38","slug":"explore-the-ultimate-vintage-lens-library","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/explore-the-ultimate-vintage-lens-library\/","title":{"rendered":"Explore the Ultimate Vintage Lens Library"},"content":{"rendered":"

Looking to geek out on some vintage lenses?\u00a0Meet the team that put together\u00a0modern cinematography’s\u00a0ultimate vintage lens side-by-side comparison library.<\/h2>\n

All images via the ShareGrid Blog<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

ShareGrid<\/a>, Duclos Lenses<\/a>,\u00a0and Old Fast Glass<\/a> teamed up to assemble one of the most comprehensive and in-depth vintage lens libraries<\/a> in cinematography history<\/strong>. The side-by-side comparison library comes complete with detailed specs<\/strong>, screen tests<\/strong> (which you can literally watch\u00a0side-by-side),\u00a0and bokeh charts<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Explore<\/p>\n

The project features forty different lenses\u00a0from eight different manufacturers<\/strong>\u00a0(ARRI<\/a>, Canon<\/a>, Cooke<\/a>, Kowa<\/a>, Leica<\/a>, LOMO<\/a>, Nikon<\/a>, and Zeiss<\/a>), all shot through different\u00a0screen tests on a\u00a0RED EPIC DRAGON<\/strong><\/a>. The project was shot over a weekend and was really a labor of love<\/strong> by cinematography and self-proclaimed film lens geeks<\/strong> who simply wanted a definitive online source to compare the various vintage lenses.<\/strong> You can check out the\u00a0whole project here<\/a>. Below are some samples of what they were able to achieve.<\/p>\n

Variable-Free Setup for Comparisons<\/h3>\n

\"Explore<\/p>\n

How did they do it? Working in\u00a0a studio warehouse, the team was the first on record to thoroughly demonstrate the differences between lenses within the same controlled dimensions<\/strong>. The subject, lighting, and backgrounds<\/strong> were controlled and variable-free, allowing the viewer to make accurate comparisons. Aside from the female subject remaining still, the tests also featured\u00a0an assortment of different lights (with different outputs and temperatures) in the background<\/strong>.\u00a0Here’s a breakdown of the setup.<\/p>\n

\"Explore<\/p>\n

\"Explore<\/p>\n

They also include\u00a0a series of shots featuring\u00a0a subject moving\u00a0a flashlight slowly across the screen in different directions<\/strong> to see how the lens reacts to different light stimuluses.<\/p>\n

Side-by-Side Lens Comparisons<\/h3>\n

\"Explore<\/p>\n

It’s one thing to see how a lens will look on a subject through a certain camera and type of shot. But if you’re deciding which lens is the right one for you to buy or rent<\/strong>, the ability to compare it against others is the ultimate decider.<\/p>\n

Not only did the team film detailed tests with each lens<\/strong> from the same distances,<\/strong> they also created an interactive way for you to compare and contrast the different looks with the same controlled variables<\/strong>. You can view the full page here<\/a>. (FYI: If you click on the play button at the bottom, all the videos start at the same time.)<\/p>\n

Lens Stats and Bokeh Chart<\/h3>\n

Perhaps one of the most interesting and unexplored parts of the project<\/strong> is the inclusion of a few handy charts about lens stats and bokeh shapes<\/strong>. For those who are unfamiliar with the term, bokeh<\/a> is “the visual quality of the out-of-focus areas of a photographic image, especially as rendered by a particular lens.” Here are the charts from the project.<\/p>\n

Lens Stats<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Explore<\/p>\n

Bokeh Chart<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Explore<\/p>\n

If you’re like me, you’ll find the project just as fascinating<\/strong> for how they were able to scientifically put everything together as you do for its usefulness for cinematographers<\/strong>. The fifteen brave men and women who donated a weekend of production and four TBs of data deserve some recognition for a project\u00a0<\/strong>I highly recommend bookmarking and checking before you rent your next vintage lens.<\/strong><\/p>\n