Nice Pleasure 85mm T2.9 1.8x Anamorphic Lens Evaluate

The Nice Pleasure 85mm T2.9 1.8x Anamorphic Lens is the third full body 1.8x providing within the collection and it now joins the 35mm and 50mm T2.9 1.8x that I’ve each beforehand reviewed on the positioning. Identical to the 35mm, the 85mm just isn’t a rear anamorphic.

I used to be impressed with each the 35 and 50mm lenses given their comparatively low worth. With three focal lengths now out there, Nice Pleasure presents a fairly first rate focal vary that received’t price you some huge cash.

All three lenses cowl a 33 x 24 mm picture circle. If you’re taking pictures open gate 4:3 you need to be capable to get a 2.4:1 picture with none vignetting on a digicam with a full-frame sensor.

Sure, there’s vignetting when taking pictures open gate on sure cameras, however if you’re cropping to get a 2.39:1 facet ratio then it needs to be minimal relying on the focal size you might be utilizing.

Idea

The idea behind the 35mm, 50mm and 85mm 1.8x T2.9 was to make an inexpensive collection of full-frame anamorphic lenses for the plenty. Most anamorphic lenses, particularly people who cowl full-frame are costly. Nice Pleasure bucks this pattern and the worth virtually makes it sound too good to be true.

Nice Pleasure can be going to launch a 135mm so there might be 4 lenses within the collection. Which means you don’t have to fret about shopping for a lens after which questioning if any extra focal lengths will seem. I’d think about that if these lenses show to be widespread then there might be different focal lengths out there sooner or later to additional develop the set previous 4 lenses.

I believe it will be honest to say that Nice Pleasure is making an attempt to draw proprietor/operators of mid-tier and lower-cost digital cinema cameras and mirrorless hybrids which are able to taking pictures in open-gate anamorphic modes. In saying that, they may additionally very properly discover themselves on dearer cameras as properly.

At beneath $1,500 USD you’ll be able to completely classify this lens as inexpensive. Within the full-frame anamorphic house, these Nice Pleasure lenses are much more inexpensive than different choices which are out there. To place the worth in perspective, the Vazen 1.8x anamorphic lenses price $8,000 USD every.

Dimension & Weight

The 85mm 1.8X anamorphic lens includes a fairly compact and light-weight design. It ideas the scales at 1.18kg / 2.60 lbs (PL mount model), which makes it barely heavier than the 50mm T2.9 and about the identical weight because the 35mm.

The concept behind holding the dimensions and weight to a minimal was in order that the lenses might be balanced on gimbals and different stabilized platforms. By holding it gentle and small it additionally works properly on small-sized digital cinema cameras.

It’s possible you’ll properly discover that the lens is just a little heavy if you’re placing it on a smaller-sized digicam equivalent to a mirrorless hybrid, however I assumed it was simply manageable on these kinds of cameras.

Construct High quality

The lens in all fairness properly made, however the construct high quality isn’t going to rival a Cooke, ARRI, Zeiss, or Angenieux, nor would I count on it to. I’d say that the construct high quality in all fairness akin to the Vazen 1.8x full-frame anamorphic lenses, however it’s not almost nearly as good because the Viltrox T2 1.33x Anamorphic lenses that I only recently reviewed. The lens housing is made out of steel and it feels strong to the contact.

I like that Nice Pleasure went with a reasonably understated design with their lenses they usually don’t draw consideration to themselves.

What I used to be to search out out is how the construct high quality of the 85mm in comparison with the 35mm and 50mm.

With the 50mm the aperture ring didn’t have lots of resistance and I discovered it to be just a little unfastened for my liking. The main target ring resistance additionally wasn’t constant. The lens had much less resistance as you progress from its minimal focusing distance to infinity. Conversely, when you’re transferring from infinity in direction of the minimal focusing distance there’s significantly extra resistance. These could have been small complaints, but it surely was sufficient for me to note and be aware of.

With the 35mm Nice Pleasure addressed these points. The aperture ring on the 85mm, similar to the 35mm, has extra resistance and it isn’t unfastened like on the 50mm. Nonetheless, the 85mm has a stiffer aperture ring than the 35mm.

What I’ve discovered from testing all three of those lenses is that the construct high quality and mechanics aren’t constant throughout the vary. If you end up shopping for totally different focal ranges in a set you need all of them to have the very same mechanics.

One other problem that has been fastened with each the 85mm and 35mm, is that the main target journey now goes previous infinity, as a substitute of stopping proper at infinity because it did with the 50mm. Talking of the main target, the main target ring has a rotation of 238 levels.

The opposite small problem I got here throughout with the three focal lengths is that the pitch gears are fairly recessed into the physique of the lens. This does make the lenses barely extra difficult to make use of with focus motors.

Consideration to element continues to be necessary, even if you’re promoting a lens for beneath $1,500 USD. Prospects shouldn’t come throughout points, particularly with the operation or construct high quality. What at all times considerations me is that in lots of instances with extra inexpensive lenses, the consistency by way of construct high quality and efficiency just isn’t at all times the identical from lens to lens and that appears to be the case with these choices from Nice Pleasure.

Whereas I applaud Nice Pleasure for making modifications, when you already purchased one of many first 50mm allotments then the construct high quality in all probability isn’t going to be constant between that lens and the 85mm and 35mm. In saying that, I can solely evaluate the lenses I’ve for this evaluation. I’ve no manner of understanding if so for different lenses that have been offered.

First impressions matter, particularly for a comparatively unknown firm, and no matter how good a lens really performs, look and a focus to element will matter to lots of potential clients.

Markings

The lens has first rate markings for each aperture and focus. What I like is that they’ve really positioned bodily marks subsequent to the distances on the lens. The markings are constant throughout the three lenses.

For a price range lens, it’s good to see markings for each the aperture and concentrate on the non-operators facet of the lens.

The one slight grievance I had with the 50mm in the case of the markings is that the infinity marking didn’t line up accurately. This can be a small problem, however consideration to element is necessary.

On the 85mm and the 35mm, as a result of the main target rotation really goes previous infinity, you’ll be able to line up infinity accurately.

Different Options

The lens is designed with an 82mm entrance filter thread for attaching filters or diopters. The entrance diameter is a regular 95mm for matte field mounting. This is identical because the 35mm and 50mm 1.8x T2.9.

The aperture and focus rings characteristic industry-standard 0.8 mod cine gears. The placement and place of the iris and focus gears are constant between all three lenses which make switching a lens over simpler and quick when you’re working a observe focus.

The lens additionally includes a shut focusing distance of two.35′ / 0.70 m. This is excellent for a 1.8x 35mm anamorphic and it’s the identical because the 50mm 1.8x T2.9.

Above you’ll be able to see a comparability between the Nice Pleasure and a few different 1.8x full body anamorphic lenses.

Mounts

The lens is out there in 6 totally different mounts, together with PL which is good to see for an anamorphic lens at this worth level.

Why 1.8x?

Nice Pleasure selected to undertake a 1.8x squeeze design to steadiness the anamorphic characters in addition to the decision of the picture. The 1.8x squeeze can produce a cinematic widescreen 2.39:1 facet when paired up with 4:3 sensors. When paired up with 16:9 sensors, a lot much less knowledge (than 2X anamorphic lens) is required to be cropped away to create the specified 2.39:1 ratio. Sure, by doing this you might be cropping away info on either side of the picture, however you find yourself with a extra acceptable facet ratio.

Certain, you possibly can additionally use the entire picture and never crop to 2.39:1, however then you find yourself with a side ratio that’s unsuitable for many business content material. Nice Pleasure did upset just a few folks after they launched the 50mm T2.9 as a result of they didn’t clearly state that the squeeze issue different from round 1.68x to 1.8x relying on the focusing distance. This isn’t unusual amongst anamorphic lenses for them to behave in his manner. after I reviewed the 50mm I did all of my technical assessments on the minimal focusing distance and when de-squeezing the picture by 1.8x I didn’t discover any massive distortion. If you’re taking pictures somebody’s face, then relying on the person, it may have the potential to look barely distorted. This might, in fact, be simply corrected by altering the squeeze issue barely in put up.

Now, Nice Pleasure claims that the 85mm has a relentless squeeze ratio. So does it? From my testing, I couldn’t see any noticeable change within the squeeze ratio no matter what focusing distance I used.

In lots of methods, notably for a lens at this worth, the choice to go along with a 1.8x anamorphic makes much more sense than going with a 2x. 1.8x is extra versatile and it permits the lens for use on extra cameras. I additionally suspect that it is usually extra inexpensive and simpler to make a 1.8x anamorphic lens than a 2x. We’re additionally now seeing lots of anamorphic lenses being launched with a 1.5x squeeze issue.

Optical Construction

The optical design of the lens consists of 18 components in 15 teams and there are 16 aperture blades.

After I requested Nice Pleasure concerning the new design for the 85mm they instructed me: “We’ve tried new optical construction design and new lens association so there are modifications in look and options like squeeze ratio and lens flare.”

Respiratory

Anamorphic respiratory seems another way than when utilizing a standard spherical lens. With a spherical lens, respiratory offers the looks that the focal size is altering. Nonetheless, with anamorphic lenses, vertical stretching happens with the background. So while you modify focus from one thing near one thing additional away, the background takes on a squeezed look. Therefore why you see oval as a substitute of spherical bokeh.

With anamorphic lenses, the extra you cease the lens down, the much less the out-of-focus object’s look will change. For those who shoot extensive open and pull focus the out-of-focus objects will change form extra dramatically.

Older anamorphic lenses equivalent to Lomo’s and Kowa’s can breathe quite a bit. Newer anamorphic designs from firms equivalent to Zeiss and Cooke have quite a bit much less respiratory. The favored Panavision E Sequence anamorphic lenses retain true anamorphic artifacts equivalent to disproportional vertical focus respiratory.

So how does the Nice Pleasure fare?

The 85mm has some focus respiratory, however it’s pretty properly managed.

Above you’ll be able to see focus respiratory assessments for the 35mm. For these assessments, I used to be pulling focus by hand.

As one other comparability, above you’ll be able to see a earlier take a look at I did with the 50mm.

Fall off and Vignetting

When utilizing the 85mm I didn’t see any vignetting after I used it on the Kinefinity MAVO EDGE 6K in 6K 3:2.

With the 35mm on a Kinefinity MAVO EDGE 6K in 6K 3:2 OG, the vignetting is much more distinguished and noticeable, if you’re cropping for two.39:1 then you’ll be able to nonetheless see some vignetting within the corners. This can be distracting and a deal breaker for some potential clients.

Sharpness

Quite a lot of the extra ‘inexpensive’ anamorphic choices in the marketplace are likely to battle in the case of sharpness. In saying that, some anamorphic lenses have an inherent softness that’s esthetically pleasing to lots of DPs.

I shot a sharpness take a look at with the 35mm on a Kinefinity MAVO Edge 6K in 6K (6016 x 3984) Open gate to see how sharp the lens was at numerous T stops.

The lens is just a little delicate when used extensive open at T2.9, however the sharpness does enhance rather a lot as soon as it’s stopped all the way down to T4/5.6.

For an anamorphic lens, the sharpness continues to be first rate, particularly contemplating the worth.

In order for you a comparability, above are the sharpness assessments I beforehand did with the 35mm and 50mm.

Lens Flare

Together with good oval-shaped bokeh, lens flare is among the most kind after traits of taking pictures with an anamorphic lens.

Now, due to the design and optical development of the 85mm, the flare traits have modified and they don’t seem to be the identical because the 50mm and 35mm. The 85mm has a way more pronounced blue streak than the 35mm and it has extra in frequent with the flare traits of the 50mm.

With the 35mm you get much less of that horizontal streak impact. For my part, the flare now seems extra like a mixture between a spherical and an anamorphic lens. You possibly can nonetheless get that blue streak look, however it is vitally refined and solely seen when you may have a direct lighting supply going straight down the barrel. On the whole, the flare traits of this lens are fairly subtle and extra refined than lots of different anamorphic lenses. Nonetheless, you will get lots of inner reflections bouncing off the entrance of the lens. Once more, that is one thing you want to pay attention to.

With the 50mm you bought that typical blue streak that most individuals like, nevertheless, it was far softer and extra esthetically pleasing than most different anamorphic lenses I’ve seen which are beneath $10K USD. Large-open at T2.9 the blue streaks weren’t excessive and whether or not or not you want that look is a purely private resolution. I personally favored the lens flare and streaks I used to be getting with the 50mm. That they had a pleasant softness to them, whereas with most different price range anamorphic lenses the streaks and flares can look fairly synthetic. When you shut all the way down to T5.6 the blue streaks have been just a little extra pronounced, however I did nonetheless just like the outcomes I used to be acquiring.

The most important grievance individuals are more likely to have is that the flare traits aren’t the identical between the three focal lengths. The flare from the 50mm and 85mm is extra synonymous with how we understand an anamorphic lens, whereas the flare on the 35mm doesn’t share those self same traits. Once more, there’s a lack of consistency between the entire focal lengths that you simply want to pay attention to.

Chromatic Aberration

The lens doesn’t have any indicators of seen real-world chromatic aberration, even when used extensive open. You need to zoom in additional than 300% to see even the tiniest quantity. There additionally isn’t any nasty coloration fringing and you may see that the bokeh solely has a minimal quantity of coloration bleed. This was very spectacular for an anamorphic lens at this worth.

Above you’ll be able to see the identical take a look at with the 35mm.

Bokeh

Good oval-shaped bokeh is one thing you need if you’re buying an anamorphic lens. The bokeh produced in all fairness pleasing, particularly when used extensive open.

The lens has a fairly good delicate fall-off into out-of-focus areas. As I beforehand talked about, I discovered that I personally most well-liked to create bokeh within the foreground with this lens.

As a comparability, above you’ll be able to see a take a look at achieved with the 35mm.

Do the lenses match?

If you’re shopping for a set of lenses you need the lenses to all have a standard look and match color-wise. So does the 85mm match the 35mm and 50mm? In brief, sure and no. Whereas it shares the same coloration tone, the flare traits and common look of the lenses are fairly totally different. Above you’ll be able to see a comparability between the 35 and 50mm.

That is going to doubtlessly put some consumers off, particularly those that desire a uniform look throughout the focal lengths.

Above you’ll be able to see the variations between the 85mm, 50mm, and 35mm when you have a look at the entrance of the lens.

The rear component development can be fairly totally different between the 85mm, 50mm, and 35mm.

The issue with going with a brand new optical design on the 85mm and 35mm is that you find yourself with lenses that don’t share the entire identical traits. The one solution to rectify this problem is that Nice Pleasure must redesign the 50mm. After I requested them about this I used to be instructed: “In the interim, we don’t intend to replace the 50mm design. At present, we’re specializing in the manufacturing of the 35mm, and creating the 135mm as properly. Nonetheless, we’re not ruling out upgrading the 50mm model within the close to future.”

Shade Tone & Persona

The lens is pretty impartial in the case of coloration, nevertheless, I assumed it leaned barely heat. By way of its persona, it has a pleasant quantity of character.

I fairly just like the look of the lens, however once more, that is simply my private opinion.

Actual World Ideas

The lens is simpler to make use of and function than the 35 and the 50mm. I favored the pictures I used to be getting from it. Optically it’s fairly sharp so far as anamorphic lenses go, and it has some good character. The lens is comparatively compact given the picture sensors it covers and it really works properly on a wide selection of cameras.

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I needed to see what the 85mm seemed like in the actual world, so I went and grabbed just a few photographs.

Above you’ll be able to see pictures shot with the 85mm T2.9.

As a comparability, above you’ll be able to see footage taken with each the 35mm and 50mm. This was all shot in 6K 3:2 pen Gate on the Kinefinity MAVO 6K EDGE. The grade I’ve achieved is kind of stylized and it might not be to everybody’s tastes.

What I observed is that whereas the lenses nonetheless look fairly related when taking pictures in the actual world, the flare traits are utterly totally different and the squeeze issue stays the identical throughout the main target vary on the 35mm and 85mm, whereas on the 50mm it doesn’t.

For me, an anamorphic lens is extra about flares and bokeh, they usually can be utilized as an possibility when taking pictures plenty of several types of tasks and you may also combine them in with spherical lenses.

Extra Focal Lengths Coming

As I beforehand talked about, the 85mm now joins the 35mm and 50mm. The corporate can be engaged on a 135mm.

I’m going to play the satan’s advocate for a second right here and state that I personally assume it makes much more sense to launch lenses after getting a set out there. Though, in saying that, Nice Pleasure has introduced out the 35mm and 85mm pretty shortly after releasing the 50mm.

Worth & Availability

The 85mm 1.8x T2.9 has been launched on Indiegogo. Nice Pleasure has just a few launch day specials and I’ve additionally included different early hen presents and the really helpful retail worth as soon as the Indiegogo marketing campaign is over.

	PL (comes with EF adapter)	E/RF/MTF/L
Launch Day Particular	$1,445 USD	$1,189 USD
VIP Unique	$1,445 USD	$1,189 USD
Tremendous Early Fowl	$1,495 USD	$1,229 USD
Early Fowl	$1,529 USD	$1,259USD
Indiegogo Particular	$1,614 USD	$1,329 USD
RRP	$1,699 USD	$1,399 USD

Nice Pleasure formally launched the lens on the sixth of December.

	PRICE
35+85mm PL/EF Bundle	$2,890 USD
35+85mm E/RF/MTF/L Bundle	$2,378 USD
50+85mm PL/EF Bundle	$2,890 USD
50+85mm E/RF/MTF/L Bundle	$2,378 USD
35+50+85mm PL/EF Bundle	$4,335 USD
35+50+85mm E/RF/MTF/L Bundle	$3,567 USD
Arduous carrying Case Tremendous Early Fowl	$139 USD
Arduous Carrying Case Retail	$199 USD

Nice Pleasure additionally has some bundle offers which you’ll be able to see above.

Competitors?

There isn’t actually that a lot competitors in the case of 1.8x full body anamorphic with a focal size of round 85mm. Primarily, the one competitors comes within the type of the Vazen 85mm T2.8 1.8x Full-Body Anamorphic Lens ($6,999 USD) and the Cooke 85mm T2.8 Anamorphic/i 1.8x Full Body SF Macro ($38,800 USD).

Do you actually need an anamorphic lens?

I believe in precept lots of people like the thought of taking pictures with anamorphic lenses, however whether or not or not you really have to could also be a very totally different story. Relying on what you do there might be little to no demand to shoot anamorphic. For lots of shooters, it makes extra sense to lease anamorphic lenses moderately than to personal them, nevertheless, with fairly just a few budget-friendly choices now in the marketplace, they’re inexpensive sufficient to buy.

When you could discover the look of anamorphic esthetically pleasing, lots of exhibits won’t shoot anamorphic if they’re going on broadcast tv, just because the broadcasters don’t need viewers complaining about black bars on high and under the picture. With an increasing number of on-line content material being created by Netflix, Amazon, Disney, and so forth. this isn’t actually a problem. On-line streaming entities are sometimes more than pleased to have productions shoot with anamorphic lenses. For those who produce content material that can find yourself in a widescreen facet ratio you possibly can simply combine anamorphic and different spherical lenses collectively. Additionally if you’re making your individual content material then go in your life and use no matter you want.

In my sincere opinion, it’s normally higher to simply lease good anamorphic lenses for tasks that require them. Though, in saying that, shopping for inexpensive anamorphic lenses is sensible if you’re somebody who’s going to make use of them quite a bit for the kind of work you do.

Conclusion

Nice Pleasure’s first lens, the 50mm 1.8x T2.9 stunned me in a great way, regardless of a few of its flaws. The 85mm and the 35mm 1.8x T2.9 observe in those self same footsteps however each improved on lots of the shortcomings of the 50mm. The lenses are ridiculously low cost for what they’re, and moreover, at this worth level, they don’t have any actual direct competitors.

Previously, I’ve usually been fairly disillusioned with most so-called ‘inexpensive’ anamorphic lenses. The one first rate full-frame choices which have a 1.8x squeeze that I’d contemplate ‘inexpensive’ have been the Vazen that are nonetheless $8000 USD every, nevertheless, Vazen doesn’t make something wider than a 50mm.

Nice Pleasure continues to shock me and although I had my doubts earlier than reviewing their 50mm that you simply get an honest full-frame 1.8x anamorphic in PL mount for beneath $1,400 USD, I used to be completely happy to be proved flawed.

The 85mm, similar to the 35mm, has much-improved mechanics, and it’s good to see an organization listening to consumer suggestions. The 85mm in all fairness sharp for an anamorphic lens that’s this extensive, and I do just like the look of the lens, although it isn’t going to resemble most different anamorphic choices.

Anamorphic lenses are exhausting to evaluation. Certain, I can discuss concerning the technical features of a lens, however technical perfection just isn’t what most DPs search for when selecting an anamorphic. The character and distinctive look of a lens are why sure anamorphic lenses are extra widespread than others. Except you might be after one thing that’s tremendous clear like an ARRI Grasp Anamorphic, the desire is normally to search out and use a lens that has plenty of character.

Previously, anamorphic lenses have been predominantly rental objects for lots of shooters, just because the price of possession was so excessive. Now, with extra inexpensive choices coming to market I can see an increasing number of folks beginning to buy them.

Lenses can have totally different traits when used on totally different cameras and it is very important check out each the lens you need on the digicam or cameras you personal or use.

The Nice Pleasure 85mm T2.9 1.8x Anamorphic, similar to the 35mm and 50mm, isn’t optically excellent, however that’s what offers it its character. I personally just like the look of the lens and it definitely ticks lots of packing containers if you’re in search of a really cost-effective anamorphic resolution. The most important grievance is that it doesn’t match the present 35mm and 50mm in the case of lens flare and the traits of the look.

In saying that, the lens nonetheless strikes an excellent steadiness between affordability, picture high quality, and usefulness. Firms like Nice Pleasure are definitely filling a spot available in the market that beforehand didn’t exist. It’s good to see that there at the moment are three focal lengths you can buy with out having to spend a ton of cash.