They Don't Make Lenses Like This Anymore!

Camera Conspiracies
25 Apr 202413:54

TLDRIn this video, the narrator embarks on a challenging journey to purchase a vintage lens, showcasing their passion for photography and the allure of classic equipment. Despite the inconvenience of traveling to a remote location via scooter and train, the quest is driven by the allure of a good deal on a lens that offers a unique '3D pop' effect. The video details the narrator's contemplation between different lens models, including the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4, Zeiss 35mm f/1.4, and the Canon 135mm f/2, before revealing their choice of the Zeiss Distagon 35mm f/2 for its autofocus capabilities. The journey through the sprawling, car-centric suburbia is filled with humorous mishaps and navigational challenges, highlighting the narrator's determination and the excitement of acquiring a lens that promises to enhance their creative work. The summary ends with the narrator's satisfaction with their purchase and a hint at future comparisons with other lenses, leaving viewers intrigued about the potential visual impact of the new addition to their collection.

Takeaways

  • 🚂 The narrator embarks on a long journey to purchase a lens, involving a scooter, a train, and more scooter rides.
  • 🤔 He contemplates between several lenses, including the Canon EF 35mm 1.4, Zeiss 35mm 1.4, Canon 135mm f/2, Sony 85mm 1.8, and Zeiss 135mm 2.8.
  • 🏡 He expresses a preference for autofocus lenses, finding them more enjoyable to use, despite owning many manual focus vintage glasses.
  • 🐕 The journey includes an encounter with a small dog and a humorous moment of being pointed in the wrong direction.
  • 🚲 His scooter, which is in poor condition, is described as falling apart during the journey.
  • 🔋 There is a concern about not having enough battery life to complete the trip.
  • 🌳 The narrator comments on the lack of pedestrians and the car-centric nature of the city he's navigating through.
  • 🎥 He finally acquires the Canon 35mm 1.4 L lens, Mark 1, despite its focus grinding issue, and believes it will offer a nice look.
  • 📸 Comparisons are made between the newly acquired lens and the Voitlander 1.2, noting the 'pop factor' of the new lens.
  • 📹 The video concludes with the narrator testing the autofocus functionality of the lens and expressing satisfaction with the purchase.
  • 🏠 He leaves the viewer with a recommendation to check the used section on Amazon for a good deal on similar lenses and a humorous comment about the city he traversed.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the video transcript?

    -The main topic of the video transcript is the journey and process of the speaker acquiring a vintage lens for their camera.

  • What mode of transportation does the speaker initially use to get to the train station?

    -The speaker initially uses a scooter to get to the train station.

  • Which lenses were the speaker considering before deciding on the final purchase?

    -The speaker was considering the Canon EF 35mm 1.4, Zeiss 35mm 1.4, Canon 135mm f/2, Sony 85mm 1.8, and Zeiss 135mm 2.8 stabilized.

  • Why does the speaker decide against getting a manual focus lens?

    -The speaker decides against getting a manual focus lens because they already have enough vintage manual focus glass and find autofocusing lenses more fun and easier to use.

  • What is the final lens the speaker purchases?

    -The final lens the speaker purchases is the Canon EF 35mm 1.4 L (original Mark 1).

  • What issue does the speaker find with the autofocus of the purchased lens?

    -The speaker finds that the autofocus motor in the purchased lens is not functioning properly, with a grinding sensation when attempting to focus.

  • What does the speaker think about the 35mm focal length?

    -The speaker is a fan of the 35mm focal length for its ability to provide a '3D pop' and quality reminiscent of older lenses, even though it's not in their top seven favorite focal lengths.

  • How does the speaker feel about the city of Mississauga after their journey there?

    -The speaker feels that Mississauga is a 'terrible city' with 'terrible people' and refers to it as 'suburb hell', although they acknowledge that the people they see seem nice.

  • What advice does the speaker give regarding buying used lenses?

    -The speaker advises checking the used section on Amazon for potentially significant savings and suggests that buying used lenses can be a good option.

  • What does the speaker do after acquiring the new lens?

    -After acquiring the new lens, the speaker switches to a superior setup and compares the new lens to their existing Canon R8 24mm 1.4 lens.

  • Why does the speaker turn off digital stabilization?

    -The speaker turns off digital stabilization to better replicate the look of the Zeiss lens they were considering buying.

  • What is the speaker's final verdict on the purchased lens?

    -The speaker believes that despite the autofocus issue, the lens will provide a nice look and will serve as a new studio lens due to its 'pop factor'.

Outlines

00:00

🚂 Journey to Purchase a Lens

The video begins with the narrator discussing their journey to buy a new lens, mentioning a good deal they found. They express the distance and inconvenience of the trip, which involves taking a train and riding a scooter. The narrator contemplates between several lenses, including the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4, Zeiss 35mm f/1.4, Canon 135mm, and Sony 85mm lenses. They also touch upon their preference for autofocus lenses over manual focus ones, despite owning vintage glass. The paragraph ends with the narrator revealing that they are going to pick up a lens, with a humorous encounter with a dog and a wrong direction on a gimbal.

05:02

🚗 Navigating Mississauga

The second paragraph details the narrator's experience navigating through Mississauga, a city they find challenging due to its car-centric design and lack of pedestrian infrastructure. They describe waiting for a traffic light that never changes and encountering various forks in the road, which lead to wrong decisions and a sense of being lost. The narrator humorously interacts with a dog and struggles with the city's layout, expressing frustration and confusion. They also mention a brief moment of relief when they see Batman overseeing a neighborhood, indicating a pop culture reference to lighten the mood.

10:03

📸 Unboxing and Testing the New Lens

In the final paragraph, the narrator discusses their successful acquisition of a lens, which turns out to be the Canon 35mm f/1.4 L lens, despite its manual focus being difficult due to the 'grinding sand' effect. They switch to a superior setup, likely referring to a camera, and compare the new lens to their existing Canon R8 24mm f/1.4 lens. The narrator is excited about the 'pop factor' and the vintage quality of the new lens, even though it has some issues. They also discuss the importance of the 35mm focal length for creating a sense of dignity in their videos and briefly touch on the autofocus capabilities. The video concludes with the narrator turning off digital stabilization and sharing a tip on finding used lenses at a lower price on Amazon, while humorously referring to the city as 'suburb hell'.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Lens

A lens in the context of the video refers to a camera lens, which is a crucial component for capturing images or recording videos. The video's theme revolves around the purchase and evaluation of a specific camera lens. The term is used throughout the script to describe the journey and the excitement of acquiring a vintage lens, which is a significant aspect of the video's narrative.

💡Canon EF 35mm 1.4

The Canon EF 35mm 1.4 is a specific model of a camera lens manufactured by Canon. It is mentioned in the script as one of the lenses the narrator was considering for purchase. This lens is significant because it represents a popular choice among photographers and videographers for its image quality and wide aperture, which allows for better low-light performance and a shallow depth of field.

💡Zeiss 35mm 1.4

The Zeiss 35mm 1.4 is a high-quality lens produced by the German manufacturer Zeiss, known for its exceptional optics. In the video, it is one of the lenses the narrator contemplates buying. The mention of this lens highlights the narrator's discerning taste and the high standards they have for the equipment they use for photography and videography.

💡Autofocus

Autofocus refers to the ability of a camera lens to automatically adjust the focus to ensure that the subject is sharp in the image. The term is important in the video as the narrator expresses a preference for lenses with autofocus capabilities, which makes capturing images more convenient and efficient, especially in situations where manual focus might be impractical.

💡Vintage Glass

Vintage glass is a term used to describe older, often discontinued camera lenses that are still sought after for their unique optical characteristics. The narrator mentions having enough manual focus vintage glass, indicating a preference for the aesthetic and operational qualities of older lenses, which can sometimes offer a distinctive look that modern lenses might not replicate.

💡Canon R8

The Canon R8 is likely a hypothetical or incorrectly mentioned camera model in the script, as there is no known Canon camera with this exact model number at the time of the video. It could be a creative liberty taken by the narrator or a mistake. The mention of this camera suggests that the narrator is considering how well the new lens will perform with different camera bodies.

💡3D Pop

3D Pop refers to the visual effect in photography or videography where the subject appears to stand out in three dimensions against a background, creating a sense of depth. The narrator mentions being a fan of 3D pop, which is related to the aesthetic quality they seek in their images and why they chose a particular lens that enhances this effect.

💡Focal Length

Focal length is the distance from the center of the lens to the point where light rays converge if the lens were focused at infinity. It is a key specification of a camera lens and determines the angle of view and the magnification of the image. The narrator discusses different focal lengths, such as 35mm and 85mm, to illustrate the versatility and the creative choices available to them with different lenses.

💡Zeiss Distagon 35mm

The Zeiss Distagon 35mm is a specific model of a camera lens known for its high-quality optics and is manufactured by Zeiss. The narrator reveals that they chose this lens due to a good deal they found, and it becomes a central focus of the video as they discuss its features and how it fits into their collection of photography equipment.

💡GO Train

The GO Train refers to the commuter rail service in Ontario, Canada. In the video, the narrator uses the GO Train as part of their journey to purchase the lens, highlighting the lengths they are willing to go to acquire the desired photography equipment. It adds a layer of adventure and commitment to the narrative of the video.

💡Digital Stabilization

Digital stabilization is a feature in cameras and recording devices that helps to reduce the appearance of camera shake in footage, resulting in smoother videos. The narrator mentions turning off digital stabilization, which suggests a preference for a more natural and unaltered image or an intention to rely on other stabilization methods, such as a gimbal.

Highlights

The narrator embarks on a journey to purchase a vintage lens, showcasing their enthusiasm and dedication to photography.

They discuss the decision-making process behind choosing between the Canon EF 35mm 1.4 and the Zeiss 35mm 1.4 lenses.

The narrator opts for a train and scooter combination to reach their destination, emphasizing the remote location of the lens seller.

Mention of considering the Canon 135mm and Sony lenses, indicating the narrator's extensive knowledge of camera equipment.

Revelation of purchasing the Zeiss Distagon 35mm f/2 lens, highlighting a preference for autofocus functionality.

The narrator humorously recounts a challenging journey through Mississauga, adding a personal and entertaining touch to the story.

A candid discussion about the condition of the lens, including its manual focus and the 'focus grinding' sensation.

Comparison of the newly acquired lens to the Canon R8 24mm 1.4, providing insights into the differences in image quality.

The narrator expresses their love for the '3D pop' effect of the vintage lens, emphasizing the aesthetic appeal of the lens.

A humorous interaction with a dog encountered during the journey, adding a light-hearted moment to the narrative.

The narrator's commentary on the challenges of navigating through an unfamiliar city, providing a relatable experience for viewers.

A critique of the city's infrastructure, describing it as a 'car city' with poor pedestrian accessibility.

The narrator's successful acquisition of the lens and their immediate switch to a superior setup for a noticeable improvement in filming.

A comparison between the new lens and the Voigtlander 1.2, suggesting the narrator's deep understanding of lens capabilities.

The narrator's recommendation to viewers to consider purchasing a similar lens, with a suggestion to look for used options on Amazon.

A reflection on the journey and the city of Mississauga, with a humorous and critical perspective on the suburban experience.