Any experience with Phase one / Schneider 40-80 lens

[issa]

HI All

Any experience with 40-80 lens - I know it heavy and monster to carry around in the field. Does your experience out weight carrying primes or not. for use with XF and IQ180

[Doug Peterson]

Pretty big. Pretty heavy. Excellent optically.

We tested at launch. We still have the raw files in our test catalog but we lost the full article we wrote in the conversion to our new website but you can find one of the test images here:
https://m.facebook.com/126184805164/photos/pb.126184805164.-2207520000.1459853229./10154367630315165/?type=3&source=42

I'm sure if you contact your dealer they have have raw file examples for you.

[Christopher]

Amazing lens. Or at least the copy I tested. As good as any prime in that range probably better. ( if don't have a brilliant copy of a prime. )
However, and it's a big however. It's huge and heavy. That was for me the Nogo.

Yes if you carry the 35/55/80 you have the same weight. However, the problem is not the weight in my backpack or pouch on a belt but what is actually hanging over my should or is in my hand. Here the difference is just huge.

So it depends on your shooting style. I would say the 40-80 is no walking around lens. If you are, however the type who is storing the camera in a bag between each shot it might work quite well.


Christopher Hauser
ch@chauser.eu

[Paul2660]

Hello Christopher.

I saw your mention of the 35mm. Are you using the 35LS or the older 35D?  If you have the 35LS what are your thoughts on it.

Thanks.

Paul C

[Christopher]

I'm talking about the 35LS it's a dream. A little heavy but hey, you can't have everything.


Christopher Hauser
ch@chauser.eu

[camgarner]

I have used the 40-80 for a few months now and find it's optically excellent.  Obviously, very heavy but for me the trade off is worth making.  I enjoy seascape photography and often are photographing in conditions where I don't want to be changing lenses - so it works for me.  Additionally, when I look at my metadata about 60% of my landscapes and seascapes can be accomplished with this lens.  With the 100MP back I can probably use it for 75%+ of my images if I want to throw away some pixels.

[Ken Doo]

The 40-80 is big and heavy----but just a really really nice lens. I replaced my 35D, 55LS and 80 for the 40-80LS.  Convenience of a zoom and excellent quality are worthwhile to me.  Mated to the XF, this is a not a walk-around combo.  But they do work great together!

ken

[gdh]

Paul, I've been using the 35mm LS (blue line) now for a few months and truly the sharpest, most distortion free MF lens I've used. Yeah, its a little heavy, but not like the zooms or the 240mmLS

Hello Christopher.

I saw your mention of the 35mm. Are you using the 35LS or the older 35D?  If you have the 35LS what are your thoughts on it.

Thanks.

Paul C

[Paul2660]

Paul, I've been using the 35mm LS (blue line) now for a few months and truly the sharpest, most distortion free MF lens I've used. Yeah, its a little heavy, but not like the zooms or the 240mmLS

Yes I would agree with you on that it's an amazing lens for sure.  Tough call for me, 35LS or 40-80 as can't justify both at their cost basis.  But having such a good 55LS and 80LS, makes it a better route to go. 

Paul C

[issa]

Yes I would agree with you on that it's an amazing lens for sure.  Tough call for me, 35LS or 40-80 as can't justify both at their cost basis.  But having such a good 55LS and 80LS, makes it a better route to go. 

Paul C

Paul

How size GND filters do you guys use for this? would the Lee 100mm work and will it cause any issues

[Paul2660]

Here are some details.  The 40-80 and 35LS both take a 105mm course threading.  You can use Lee, but you will need the newer 105mm wide angle rings.  Here is some more detail.
 

Phase:

28mm, you have 3 options I am aware of Cokin, Lee, and Nisi.  Lee and Nisi take the 150 x 150 2mm thick, Cokin is narrower.  The Lee holder for the 28mm is metal plastic with the new light shield very good.  The Nisi is all metal a bit heavier, by default holds 3 filters, and can fit a few others lenses, non Phase One.  I have the Nisi and so far no problems. 

You have Phase 35mm, not sure if you are looking at the 35LS or 35mmD,  The 35mm D is 77mm threaded, and you might want to just use standard filters.  If the 35LS, it's 105mm as is the 40-80mm.  Both of these lenses, can take 105mm circular filters thin or you can use the Lee system with their new 105mm wide angle ring.  These rings are huge and heavy but are not going to hurt either the 35LS or 40-80mm.  Both will need to have the hood removed when using the Lee.  The new Lee 105mm wide ring will screw over the front and cover a bit of the lens, but with the 35mm LS, it's no problem and should be fine on the 40-80. 

Phase 75-150, non LS is 77mm, again I would just use standard filters.  The 75-150LS, is a bigger lens and appears to have a larger filter thread, I have not used that lens, so can't help much there.

Nikon 14-24, I would go with the Lee SW-150, with the mount for the 14-24.  The Lee mount can stay on the lens all the time (I leave mine on) and you get a neoprene cap hold the lens cap on. 

Nikon 24-70 is 77mm again standard filters to me are the best.  Nikon 20mm 1.4 I have no experience with, only the 20mm 1.8.  But if the 20mm is threaded I still would go that way. 

Filters:

Lee, currently their large 150 x 150 grads are resin, I would stay away from these, they will warp over time and look at the lenses you would be using.  Lee does make a 105mm thin CL-PL which you might want to consider.  The Lee CL-PL is warm so not cool. 

Format Hitech Firecrest, excellent.  I have a couple of the firecrest in 150 x 150 and they are wonderful filters. Expensive, but well worth it.  You can also wait for a while and order these same filters in 105mm.  Hitech will eventually get them made, and they are also very good.  Thin can be stacked and same IR blocking glass.

Nisi, they are the new guys and I have a couple of their 150 x 150, and both seem good.  They also have a CL-PL in the 150 x 150 and it excellent.  The Nisi filters are less than Lee or Hitech and I can't see any difference in the results.  Nisi CL-PL is cool.

Here is a video I did last year showing some of this gear, mainly the Nisi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yfFfNhsr5c

If you are in the US, give 2filter.com a call. 

Paul C

[gdh]

Nice video Paul.  I have seen Nisi advertised but not used--your video timely and helpful.