Love that you showcased the 14mm! Just picked up an 14mm and noticed there’s not a lot of content properly showcasing them. Thanks for the tasty content as always 🙏🏻
Here’s some time stamps 0:00 intro/sample footage 0:32 first thoughts 1:05 image quality 3:50 vintage vs clean lenses 4:32 sponsored by crdbag 5:45 Caleb’s thoughts on the lenses 6:51 compared to Dzofilm 10:14 build quality 14:32 focus throw 15:30 where you can watch projects 15:58 availability 16:38 conclusion
From my testing today on the Blackmagic full frame, the Fotodiox Pl-L adapter has plenty of clearance for the rear element. And after my brief hands on, I ordered the set. Sounds like it will be about 10 days. What I will say is this. For the size, weight and price, these lenses left me speechless-and I can almost always find some image issue to be a little cranky about. Not these. For my usual work these will be great. And for larger productions where you want to have a crash lens on a rig, these can be matched with lenses 10 or 20 times the price.
Great review mate. I was lucky enough to shot with the 50 and 35 - they’re excellent. I used it on a DSMC2 dragon sensor with a carbon OLPF from kippertie… and I could have sworn it was an ARRI signature on the camera haha.
I love the look of the Athena’s, I hope they come out with more focal lengths or even a macro. Caleb said something about a 135mm I think and I’m excited to that. Also for anyone wondering about an adapter that will definitely work with that PL rear element, Nisi actually makes their own for the lenses. Loved this vid 😂
4:04 I actually did think that about The Last of Us. I personally thought a dirtier, more vintage feeling lens would have suited that show incredibly well. But I know why they went with the lenses they did and respect that decision.
Very nice, indeapth review. I am getting my hands on a set during an event in Vienna. Right now I am considering a DZO wide angle pictor zoom and one or two Athenas for my ongoing project....
@@CineDailies The film is Architecture Related and is documenting a special photo project I was working on for now 2 years. For tight spaces, the dzo wide angle gives me the flexibility to get what I want. I do not mind the "slight vintage-ish" look. For some other more overall shots, I am tempted to try the more clean look of the Nisi Athenas ... :-)
I really hope they do come out with a (then) bigger version which doesn't extend the rear to make it compatible with the various ND Mounts or Adapters. I would love to order these for our Monstro with the Breakthrough Filter Mount but the missing compatibility is sadly a deal breaker :/
in theory yes as we got a fill ND Set etc. but nothing beats the flexibility of a good VND in Camera. Sadly :/ (and sometimes space requirements as well)@@CineDailies
it really is a shame that that rear element sticks out so far. Having the ability to use a speed booster on super35mm cameras like the Komodos, black magics etc would have been a uge plus. Also those rear VND lens adaptors are great. Besides that, they look perfect
This was very useful, I agree 100% that sometimes we use the vintage look as a crutch ( I have to admit I have been guilty of this of late). I shot something recently with DZO Vespids which I love, but how ever, what I was filming was at an art gallery and when I was editing the footage, I felt that the softer look of the Vespid did not allow the art work to look as sharp/pop as I would like. Will defiantly check these out as I feel they will be great for certain projects
@@CineDailies just adding to the fact , most top end dps use "tight" glass they've spent a lifetime getting away from CA and flair . Sometimes "vintage " feels are quite literally dead cats to the reality what they are shooting its poorly lit and lack control in production design .
im thinking im going to try and pick a set up to pair with that module 8 k35 tuner. clean look when i need it and something more stylized with the tuner if i want that
Been hopping from video to video trying to find out if the PL versions will clear a Kippertie Revolva or not. CVP noted that the Mofage Poco does not clear.
A photo lens will never give you the same precision as a cinema lens for focusing. Also, photo lenses breath, are flat and little expression. Clinical has a bad rep
I would like to ask you all, I am using the Sony E-mount system, currently shooting motion pictures mainly, events, weddings and documentary scenes, and would like to try my first movie lens to shoot creative types of content, so I would like to just buy a nisi athena. I've been working in TV for over 5 years and I've used broadcast camera lenses, and I don't have too much trouble with manual focusing and controlling the aperture. I would like to ask you all, if I only buy one, do you recommend a fixed focal length lens? The focal lengths I currently have are 1. 16-35Gm Sony 2. 28-75 Tamron (spare) 3. 35-150 Tamron 4. 50GM Sony 5. 150-600 SIGMA Currently I'm most interested in the nisi athena 25 & 50mm, but it's a duplicate of what I have now, so is the 35mm the best objective choice? Thanks for the replies!
Thanks for this video - I'm considering these lenses. Why did you go with PL vs e-mount? Is it because you are shooting on different cameras? Is it because, maybe, they are more of a rentable?
About the extending back element. Do you have any idea if there is a difference between the amount of extension between the different lenses that you have? In the Nisi Athena facebook group I red that someone tested these lenses with the Meike PL drop in filter mount. He (Ronald Lee) said that only one lens gave problems. Would love to know which ones would work with this combo, but he hasn't updated his post.
if you could have just 1 lens of the nisi athena lineup, super 35 like sony a6700, which would you take? idk cause the crop of the apcs.. 30? 50? 85? idk
People keep comparing these to signatures... They aren't like signatures at all.. not in look or feel. Signatures in feel are big and light weight, they feel composite almost, they also feel a lot better in the focus ring. Signatures are also warmer (not cool warm, but warmer than Zeiss and warmer than these) If I were to compare to a high end lens, I'd say it's closer to the Leica summicron-c in look and in size
I need one for landscape, one for two or more people in a scene, and one for up close like head and shoulder shots. I need to keep my budget around $4k
@@CineDailies, I thought about purchasing them until I saw the filming. Full frame. It’s not so noticeable on your crop and the shots shown were taken in a high degree of illumination, this levels it out a little, although there is nothing inspiring in these shots.
@@CineDailies I am interested to know more. If you have used them, do expand. I am researching lens choices and these two (nisi and irix) are the most interesting prospects. None is perfect but with the exception of the still very few focal lengths of the irix why would you say they are not good?
@@CineDailies Well yes obviously its my decision. But i cant rent them here in Greece. I have to buy one and see for myself, so if someone who has used them has something to say, i will listen. On paper they seem to check all the boxes and the reason i think people are not excited is that they are not a full set and their release plan doesn't make sense marketing wise. Optically though i cant seem to find any negative reviews, hence why i asked. Thank you in amy case.
I hear you. and unfortunately I dont have the time to review any all and all things. I never liked the look of the Irix lenses. Ive seen weird bokeh patters, unpleasing CA, and the claim of being a high quality lens doesn't match up.
That waterbottle, it's Gerolsteiner. Sprudelwasser from Germany (did not know they sell german water to the US!!). Besides that, thanks for the well done review-video :) @@CineDailies
The Gerolsteiner water comes out of the mountains 15 mins from where I live in the black forest (southern Germany). I was very surprised to see that on your desk....
@@CineDailies RF mount. I am not looking to get the entire set; I wanted to start with the 35mm, which is back-ordered. I have DJI RS3 PRO with the lidar, so I went with the new DZO vespid CYBER primes, which don't need calibration. I love the nisi look and will return when they are in stock.
