My biggest filmmaking investment after 2 years - Was it worth it? | Leica R set

Summary

In this video, Mateo reflects on his two-year experience with his Leica R set, purchased from Mark Manarella. He discusses the lenses' high cost and their worth, versatility, and the diverse projects he's shot with them. Mateo praises the lenses for their character, sharpness, and 3D pop, comparing them favorably to high-end cinema lenses. Despite acknowledging some cons like chromatic aberration, he highly recommends them for their unique look and emotional impact. He also touches on maintenance issues and suggests alternatives like Canon FD and Nikkor lenses for those seeking vintage glass.

Takeaways

• 📅 Mateo has owned his Leica R set for two years and shares his experience and thoughts on the investment.
• 💰 He considers the lenses a worthwhile investment due to their versatility and consistent use in various types of film projects.
• 🔥 The lenses have significantly increased in value, with Mateo suggesting they might be undervalued when he bought them.
• 🎥 Mateo has used these lenses for 99% of his work, including commercials, documentaries, corporate videos, feature films, and short films.
• 📸 The vintage character of the lenses, including a unique bokeh and 3D pop, is highly valued for its ability to enhance footage.
• 📈 Despite being vintage, the lenses are very usable and have been well-received by clients, often surprising them with their quality.
• 🛠 There are some cons, such as potential chromatic aberration when shooting wide open in high contrast, but this is mitigated by stopping down.
• 🧰 Maintenance is a consideration with vintage lenses, and Mateo had an issue with his 19mm lens that required servicing.
• 👍 Alternatives to Leica R lenses include Canon FD and Nikkor lenses, which Mateo also recommends for their quality and value.
• 💡 If you have the budget and plan to use the lenses, Mateo advises buying them now as they are discontinued and hard to find in good condition.

Q & A

What is the main topic of Mateo's video?

Mateo's video discusses his experience with his Leica R set, evaluating whether the investment in these lenses was worth it and exploring their versatility over the past two years.

How long ago did Mateo purchase his Leica R set?

Mateo purchased his Leica R set exactly two years prior to the recording of the video.

What types of projects has Mateo used the Leica R lenses for?

Mateo has used the Leica R lenses for a variety of projects including commercials, documentaries, corporate videos, feature films, and short films.

What are the focal lengths of the lenses included in Mateo's Leica R set?

The focal lengths in Mateo's set are 19mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 90mm.

What is special about the 28mm lens from Mateo's set?

The 28mm lens is praised for being a great focal length to work with on the Pocket 6K and Ursa Mini, making it an ideal travel film lens.

What is the significance of the serial numbers of the lenses in Mateo's set?

The serial numbers of the lenses are significant because they are all between 30 and 31, indicating that they are very close in production and thus color-matched perfectly.

Why does Mateo consider the Leica R lenses a worthwhile investment?

Mateo considers the lenses a worthwhile investment because they have been used extensively in his work, clients love the results, and they can be used on any camera to enhance the character of footage.

How does Mateo compare the Leica R lenses to other high-end lenses like Cooke or Panavision Primo?

Mateo compares the Leica R lenses favorably to the much more expensive Cooke and Panavision Primo lenses, noting that they offer a similar quality for a fraction of the cost.

What are some of the cons or downsides of using vintage lenses like the Leica R set?

Some cons of using vintage lenses include potential chromatic aberration and artifacts when shooting at wide open in high contrast situations, and the need for maintenance due to their age.

What advice does Mateo give for those interested in purchasing a Leica R set?

Mateo advises that if one has the money, likes the look of the lenses, and has work coming in, they should consider buying the set, especially since they are discontinued and finding them in good condition with close serial numbers is becoming increasingly difficult.

What alternative vintage lenses does Mateo recommend?

Mateo recommends Canon FD and Nikkor lenses as great alternatives to the Leica R set, noting that they are more affordable and still offer a vintage look and feel.

What issues did Mateo encounter with the 19mm lens from his set?

Mateo experienced an issue with the aperture of the 19mm lens closing by itself, which required servicing from the seller, Duklos.

Outlines

00:00

📸 Reflection on Leica R Set Investment

In this paragraph, the speaker Mateo shares his two-year experience with his Leica R set, purchased from Mark Manarella. He discusses whether the investment was worth it, considering the high cost of these lenses and their alternatives. Mateo highlights the versatility of the set, which he has used for various types of film projects, including commercials, documentaries, and feature films. He emphasizes the vintage character and usability of the lenses, even for professional work, and compares them favorably to more expensive lens sets from Cook, S4, and Panavision Primo. Despite the high price, Mateo believes the lenses offer exceptional value and would consider repurchasing them, given their comparable quality to much more expensive options.

05:01

🔍 The Unique Appeal of Vintage Lenses

The speaker delves into the special qualities of the Leica R lenses, focusing on their 3D pop effect, creamy bokeh, and the ability to separate subjects from the background, even at wide angles. He mentions the sharpness of the lenses when stopped down and their unique look that is almost recognizable. Mateo also addresses the cons of using vintage lenses, such as potential chromatic aberration when shot wide open in high contrast situations, but notes that this issue is resolved by stopping down to f2.8 or f4. He contrasts the vintage lenses with modern ones like the Sigma 18-35, which lack the personality and emotional impact that he finds in the Leica R set. Additionally, Mateo talks about the importance of maintenance for vintage pieces and his experience with a service issue, advising viewers to purchase from reputable sellers for support.

Keywords

💡Leica R Set

The Leica R Set refers to a collection of lenses made by the renowned camera manufacturer Leica. In the video, the creator discusses his experience with this set, which he purchased two years prior. The set is known for its high quality and is often used by professional filmmakers and photographers for its exceptional optics and image rendering.

💡Investment

In the context of the video, 'investment' refers to the financial commitment the creator made when purchasing the Leica R Set. The creator evaluates whether the purchase was a worthwhile investment by considering the value, usability, and return on investment in terms of the quality of work he has produced with these lenses.

💡Versatility

Versatility in this script denotes the ability of the Leica R lenses to be used effectively in a wide range of shooting scenarios. The creator mentions using these lenses for various types of video productions, indicating their adaptability and usefulness across different projects.

💡3D Pop

3D Pop is a term used to describe the effect of depth and dimensionality that certain lenses can create in a two-dimensional image. The creator attributes this effect to the Leica R lenses, which provide a sense of depth even in wide-angle shots, enhancing the visual appeal of the footage.

💡Bokeh

Bokeh refers to the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas in a photograph or video. The creator praises the 'super creamy' bokeh produced by the Leica R lenses, which contributes to the pleasing background blur that separates the subject from the background.

💡Vintage Lenses

Vintage lenses, as mentioned in the script, are older lenses that have a unique character due to their age and design. The creator appreciates the vintage nature of the Leica R lenses for their distinct look and feel, which adds a certain charm to the footage.

💡Chromatic Aberration

Chromatic aberration is an optical phenomenon where different colors of light do not converge at the same point, causing fringes of color in an image. The creator mentions this as a potential downside when using the lenses at wide apertures but notes that it is a characteristic of vintage lenses and is not a significant issue once the aperture is stopped down.

💡Canon FD

Canon FD is a reference to a series of lenses made by Canon, which are considered vintage and are known for their quality and character. The creator suggests these lenses as an alternative to the Leica R lenses, indicating that they offer a similar vintage look and feel at a potentially lower cost.

💡Nikkor Lenses

Nikkor lenses are a line of lenses produced by Nikon, which the creator recommends as another alternative to the Leica R lenses. He mentions that these lenses are still available for purchase and have been used by him with positive results on his Ursa Mini camera.

💡Maintenance

Maintenance in the context of the video refers to the upkeep and servicing of the vintage lenses to ensure they continue to function properly. The creator shares an experience where he had to send one of his lenses for repair, highlighting the importance of dealing with reputable sellers for such vintage equipment.

💡Color Match

Color match refers to the consistency of color rendering across a set of lenses. The creator notes that his Leica R lenses have a very close serial number, which contributes to their color match, ensuring a uniform look across footage shot with different lenses in the set.

Highlights

Two years since purchasing the Leica R set from Mark Manarella, sharing personal opinion on the investment's worth.

Discussing the current high price and alternatives to Leica R lenses.

The versatility of the Leica R set for various types of film projects over the past two years.

Introduction of the specific lenses in the set and their serial numbers for color matching.

Praise for the 28mm lens as a great travel film lens, especially with the Pocket 6K and Ursa Mini.

The 35mm f2 Samiron R lens being highly usable for commercial and corporate videos.

The value of vintage lenses for their character and usability in professional work.

Client reactions to the footage shot with Leica R lenses, emphasizing the impact of the lens over the camera.

Comparison of Leica R lenses to high-end Cook lenses, S4, and Panavision Primo sets.

The unique look provided by the Leica R lenses, including 3D pop, bokeh, and subject separation.

The sharpness and potential chromatic aberration when shooting at wide open with vintage lenses.

Acceptance of minor defects as part of the vintage lens character.

Recommendation of Canon FD and Nikkor lenses as alternatives to Leica R lenses.

The importance of maintenance for vintage lenses and the experience with Duklos for modifications.

Advice on purchasing Leica R lenses if the budget allows and the appreciation for their unique character.

The scarcity and potential future value of Leica R lenses, suggesting they may continue to appreciate.

Recommendation to buy from a reputable dealer and the potential benefits of doing so.

Transcripts

hey guys mateo here welcome back to a

new video and today i want to talk about

my leica r set again and the reason is

it's been exactly two years since i

purchased this set from mark manorella

so i just want to tell you guys my

opinion about my investment if it was

worth it if there are alternatives to

these lenses because i know they're

super expensive now what about the

versatility what did i shoot in these

two years i just want to go through some

of these points and just talk a little

bit more about this incredible set so

there are many versions of these they're

the samicron there's the el merit with

the 2.8 the samicron r2 and the sami

locks are 1.4

just to put it out there i just want to

give you guys an idea of what i bought

so the 19 is now married v1 serial

number 30 94 something my latest

acquisition the leica 28 millimeter is a

merit as well 30 93 something so very

close to the 19. but this 28 millimeter

is a great focal length to work with on

the pocket 6k the ursa mini i really

really like it and i think it's a great

travel film lenses that i bring with me

all the time i just brought it to boston

where i shot some pretty cool stuff so

i'm shooting with a 35 millimeter f2 so

samicron r that is i think a 31 serial

this guy 50 mil samikranar f2 this is a

31 3161 something and this is the 90 mil

f2 somicron r and this guy is a 30

73 something serial number so as you can

tell they're all between 30 and 31 so

very close serial number color matched

perfectly

let's start with the first point i want

to make were dislike

worth the investment of course i don't

want to talk about money and their

actual value right now which is crazy

because that doesn't make any sense with

actual filmmaking and uses these lenses

for work so in these years i shot pretty

much everything with these lenses from

commercial to documentaries to corporate

video feature films short films

literally you name it and they've been

great and the crazy thing about this guy

as i mentioned in my first video is that

yes they are vintage lenses and they

have the character but they're very

usable even for a commercial or

corporate videos so the fact that i use

these lenses for 99 of my work in the

past few years it's of course worth the

investment i've been charging clients

and they have been loving these lenses

every time we check the footage on the

big screen on the flander they're

shocked they're like oh my gosh what

camera is that i'm like it's not the

camera it's the lens and you can

literally throw this guy on any camera

and uh it's gonna completely change the

character of your footage i can assure

you that so yes in my opinion there

absolutely worth the investment and i

would probably buy them again would i

buy them right now for 15 grand

probably so yeah because when you think

about the fact that these guys are

absolutely comparable to cook lenses the

s4 or the panavision primo those set

they go for a hundred thousand dollars

we're talking about 15 grand here so

is it a lot of money yeah it's a lot of

money about 15 grand for five lenses

these are top players so when you think

about the real cost i think a 7 8 000

for a set they were probably under value

and now they're going you know up in

prices

now the second point i want to make is

what makes these lenses so special i

think to me is the 3d pop is that

combination of a

kind of green

the bokeh

which is super creamy and the separation

of the subjects from the background

what's crazy is that it gives you depth

even on a wide-angle shot when

technically everything is in focus but

the level of separation that you have

here it's not of course there's plenty

sharp because these lenses when you

close down to two eight to four they're

incredibly sharp at f2 they might be a

little softer and the look they have is

so unique they become almost like

recognizable in my opinion super

portable i can use them for anything i

can stack it on a photo camera take some

photos i can use it on my pocket 6k you

can use it on ursa they're simply

amazing now what are the cons because of

course these answers are great they have

some cons sometimes when you shoot at

wide open with these lenses in a super

high contrast situation you might see

some chromatic aberration some artifacts

something it's a vintage lens so i'm

absolutely okay with that the good news

is once you step down to 2.8 or 4 it's

gone and it's plenty sharp no defects

whatsoever it's just a perfect lens so

this is true also for the canon fd for

the nikon for all other vintage lenses

they have some defects and some problems

but that's what they make a vintage live

special so if you want the perfect lens

the super cynical lens get a sigma 18 to

35

perfect no artifacts nothing

that lsno is so flat it doesn't have a

character it doesn't hit me when i see

footage shot on the 18-35 can you still

get some really cool shot absolutely but

i'm at a point where i want something to

be special and i wanted to be able to

have a feeling every time i capture a

shot and these guys give me something

like emotion those sigma those rocking

others they don't they're just good

lenses no breathing nothing but they

don't have personality now let's talk

about something else because uh as any

vintage piece comes maintenance i bought

them modded from duklos and they came in

great condition the only problem i had

it was with the 19 mil

after a while the aperture closed by

itself so it happened a couple of times

that i was at 2.8 and then i was

checking out my footage i was like wow

it's kind of dark and i was looking at

it and it was at 4. i sent this to

duklos in may 2021 to get serviced it

came back and it was pretty much the

same so now i have to call nucleus again

it's not as bad to be completely honest

but i need to fix that this is something

you have to keep in mind guys there

might be some issues some troubles but

that's why you want to get this guy from

a reputable seller someone like mark

someone that can take care of you and

you know what it's doing now another

question that i keep getting from people

is what's a good alternative to like r i

never use the contacts zeiss lenses you

can find plenty of information on the

forums of line what i did use with the

canon fd which i love and i think it's a

great entry level lens for everybody in

order to use this canon fd on an ef

pocket for example you need to convert

them to ef you can't use any adapter

another vintage glass that i use and i

highly recommend are the nikkor lenses

those are awesome you can still buy them

new actually on ebay i think they go for

500 to 700 bucks a lens i use them on

the ursa mini too and i like them i

think they're great now to the final

point i wanted to make about these

lenses should you buy them now if you

have the money

if you like the look

if you have

works

coming in yes i will buy them now

they're discontinued it's not the leica

makes these guys anymore finding them in

good condition color match with a very

close serial number

it's almost impossible at the moment so

if you see a set for 15k

again

don't sell your house don't say your car

for them if you have the money parked in

your bank and you think you're gonna use

these lenses yes will they keep climbing

up yeah i think they will will they ever

go down

everything is possible but you have the

money you're confident you're gonna use

them buy them from a reputable dealer

again i'm gonna leave mark contacts in

the description below he's probably

buried with emails already and he told

me that he can't find his lenses but

every once in a while they come up send

him an email tell him i sent you he's

gonna waive you the shipping fee

probably going to give you some discount

good luck to everyone who want to

purchase a set of leica thanks for

watching guys and i see the next one

[Music]