Ryu Voelkel

John, Thanks. Tried it and it looks like things are in focus and when I look at it on the screen of my computer, it's completely blurry. I tried your test and couldn't find focus. Araucaria, Thanks. Tried your test as well. I don't experience the vertical horizontal stretch phenomenon. I just cannot find any focus at all. I focus on the TV with my taking lens and then I put my Kowa on and try to find focus with that. I've tried finding focus through the viewfinder, through the live view, and then just putting the focus distance the same distance as the taking lens. None of them work and all of my images come out blurry. Oh my. :(

Caleb, Yes they are and I received them couple of days ago. And now I have all the lenses. Taking lens (Nikon 85mm f2), Kowa BH, and Redstan clamp. But I'm having a really difficult time focusing. Or I've not succeeded at all in focusing. First I focus with the Nikon, which is connected to the Redstan clamp. Then I put on the Kowa BH and I try to focus with that, but when I look at what I've shot on the D4's lcd screen, it's hardly in focus. Am I doing something wrong? I also received a ring with the clamp and I have no idea what this is for? Is this for the closeup ring? But most importantly, I really don't understand why it's not focusing at all… :( Ryu

Thanks Caleb. I got both clamps. He gave me a good deal. :) As for the diopters, well, that's 300 quid that I don't have at this moment. The minimum focusing distance of the KBH is 1 meter, so in most cases it should be fine. Crossing my fingers.

Yes I did. I emailed Alan directly. He gave me a choice of a single for 45 GBP or double for 55 GBP. Have no idea what the double one does, so I told him that I want to pair it with a Nikon 85mm f2. Now I'm wondering if I should go for the front element filter holder as I want to shoot this thing wide open in daylight…

Just an update. Got a Kowa BH for 600 USD. More than what I wanted to pay for, but the deal was too good to pass up. Now trying to get the clamp from Redstan, but they are out of stock… Are the Vid-Atlantic clamps as good as Redstans?

John, Thanks. I can't seem to locate any copy of Bell&Howell less than 800 USD. I really would not want to spend that much if I can help it. Is the Prominar or the Centavision that much worse than the B&H? Julian, Thanks. I have been looking around for a Nikon MF 85mm f2 and I think that should do the job. I looked into the Jupiter and it looks like it's a bit of a hit or miss with that lens. As for the focusing, yes, I'm aware that you have to focus both lenses. I won't be following a moving subject wit this lens. If anything moves within the frame, it will be going from side to side and not towards and away from me. Or I'll tell them to stop moving. :)

Thanks John. I've read a bit more and the only thing I can do to make the minimum focusing distance shorter is a diopter ring. Do you have any thoughts on which of the anamorphic lens to get? Which one is smaller? And the actual lens. Read on this site that 85mm is pushing it for anamorphic. Should I go for a 50mm instead?

Hello there. Call me reactionary, but I saw this last night: Shooting with an Anamorphic Lens on an Ordinary DSLR I shoot stills and I shoot sports. I really want to try this out for my next shoot. So for the past couple of hours, I've tried to learn as much as possible about what to get. The dude on the above link recommended this: http://www.vid-atlantic.com/lensshop/isco-19x-anamorphic-lens Mmm… Too expensive. I then went onto research the sharpness and flare characteristic of the well-known anamorphic lens and obviously price. I'm down to Kowa Prominar and Iscorama Centavision. Any opinions on these two? By the way, I'm shooting with Nikon D4. Since I already travel to shoots with lots of gear, I would prefer the setup to be as small as possible. I also want to know which lens I should get with either of those two anamorphics. I'm assuming (please correct me if I'm wrong), but I should go for a 85mm lens as suggested by many? Jupiter or Nikon 85mm f2.0? Again from what I've seen and read, focal length between 85 and 100mm produces the best result when it comes to still because there will be enough separation between the subject in the foreground and the background. Is the minimum focusing length out there for these type of lens is 150cm? Are there ones that would focus closer? I apologise in advance for so many not so bright questions. But I would really appreciate any input on this matter. :wacko: