'C' mount lenses

Dralowid · 08-20-2012

Hope I am on the right forum.

I've been working my way through a cupboard of movie cameras, something I used to collect about 20 years ago. I realise that I am rich in older 'c' mount lenses of all sorts of shapes and sizes, Dallymeyer, T&H, B&H, Bausch and Lom, Wollensak, Som Berthiot, Kern, Kodak, Angenieux etc etc, you get the general idea.

Then I read somewhere that these have come back into fashion for the digital generation, both for still and movie...

Is this really true? Am I rich beyond my wildest dreams or is it another passing example of ...you could if you wanted to and had the right adapter...??

Michael
(who will avoid asking the same question about 'D' mount lenses.

rxmd · 08-20-2012

You can, but only on mirrorless cameras with a short register (Micro 4/3 and NEX). It will vignette a fair bit, more so with the NEX, but there are a lot of people doing it, Flickr is full of pictures taken with adapted C-mount lenses.

Oh, and D mount lenses will work too, but probably only on the Pentax Q and many will vignette even there

Kekoekoo · 08-20-2012

Actually, I've seen that some people in this forum have been using C-mount lenses in their micro 4/3s cameras (from cheap plastic to angenieux lenses). Specially those lenses with around 25mm focal length, as they become 50mm lenses in m4/3. They are usable with a C-mount to m4/3 adapter (those are easy to find...). I can't tell about the price but I'm sure you will find some references on the net about actual prices...

Sergio

rbelyell · 08-20-2012

my experience with many c mounts on m4/3 is that many work great. they are tiny but typically perform well, though sometimes the bokeh can be pretty funky. wider than 25mm vignetting is terrible; at 25 its workable, above 25 usually not at problem at all. the kodak cine (vs anastigmatic) lenses are great across the board. zeiss has a tevidon line that is excellent as well. i havent found one cine zoom that works properly when mounted.
tony

chrisso · 09-10-2012

I use a Kodak Cine Ektar 25mm F1.4 C Mount with my panasonic GH1 (m4/3rds), and I have to say it's really outstanding.
Beautiful colours, pretty sharp too.

It does vignette slightly.

Mr_Flibble · 09-11-2012

Yeah, tell me about it

I'm trying to complete a B&H Filmo 70DL set with some period lenses. The short c-mount lenses (between 0.5" and 1") for 8mm and 16mm are still cheap, but anything longer becomes expensive pretty darn fast.

Got a 3" Raptar on the way. Still need something longer to round out the set.

Dralowid · 09-11-2012

Did they ever make this?

http://www.mirrorlessrumors.com/kenk...era-announced/

I've been thinking about this, if I strip the best 'c' mounts from my collection of movie cameras I will indeed make money but I will devalue the cameras and split up things that are frankly a bit historic.

For example I have a pre war 'no name' Bolex H16. It has a full set of tidy contemporary Dallymeyer lenses on it. They would make good money but the poor old body by itself is little more than a curiosity.

Mr_Flibble · 09-11-2012

Ebay sellers seems to ask big bucks for complete Filmo (and Eyemo) sets. So splitting up might indeed not be advisable...then again, I haven't checked on how many actually sold at these kind of prices.