Where to start with C Mount lenses?
Hello all,
I'm looking at getting into adapting C mount lenses on my Pentax Q and potentially other cameras. I see a ton of stuff out there, from vintage 16mm cinema lenses to modern CCTV lenses. I'm curious who has experience with C mount lenses and could point me in the direction of some real keepers, or just what to look out for.
Quote from James Warner on September 8, 2023, 1:44 amHello all,
I'm looking at getting into adapting C mount lenses on my Pentax Q and potentially other cameras. I see a ton of stuff out there, from vintage 16mm cinema lenses to modern CCTV lenses. I'm curious who has experience with C mount lenses and could point me in the direction of some real keepers, or just what to look out for.
I've only tried one, which is a 25mm f1.4 CCTV lens, on an M43 mount adaptor. These ones often come with a set of tiny extension tubes as well.Â
Centre of the image is just about sharp on mine, the edges aren't even close to sharp and can suffer from vignetting, sensors larger than M43 are going to make that worse. That said I quite like the effect you can get with it, as long as you know what to expect going in, they can be a good creative option.
This is the one I have: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pixco-Mount-Camera-Thirds-Adapter/dp/B07K9SD5M6?th=1
Reasonably well-built, clickless aperture, and tiny.
 
Quote from Gideon Liddiard Photography on September 8, 2023, 5:36 pmQuote from James Warner on September 8, 2023, 1:44 amHello all,
I'm looking at getting into adapting C mount lenses on my Pentax Q and potentially other cameras. I see a ton of stuff out there, from vintage 16mm cinema lenses to modern CCTV lenses. I'm curious who has experience with C mount lenses and could point me in the direction of some real keepers, or just what to look out for.
I've only tried one, which is a 25mm f1.4 CCTV lens, on an M43 mount adaptor. These ones often come with a set of tiny extension tubes as well.Â
Centre of the image is just about sharp on mine, the edges aren't even close to sharp and can suffer from vignetting, sensors larger than M43 are going to make that worse. That said I quite like the effect you can get with it, as long as you know what to expect going in, they can be a good creative option.
This is the one I have: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pixco-Mount-Camera-Thirds-Adapter/dp/B07K9SD5M6?th=1
Reasonably well-built, clickless aperture, and tiny.
Â
Those are really lovely shots, well done. I had read somewhere else too about fuzzy edges being a common occurrence, but maybe it's a bigger deal with M43. The sensors I'm thinking of will be much smaller so maybe fair better.
Quote from James Warner on September 9, 2023, 1:54 amQuote from Gideon Liddiard Photography on September 8, 2023, 5:36 pmQuote from James Warner on September 8, 2023, 1:44 amHello all,
I'm looking at getting into adapting C mount lenses on my Pentax Q and potentially other cameras. I see a ton of stuff out there, from vintage 16mm cinema lenses to modern CCTV lenses. I'm curious who has experience with C mount lenses and could point me in the direction of some real keepers, or just what to look out for.
I've only tried one, which is a 25mm f1.4 CCTV lens, on an M43 mount adaptor. These ones often come with a set of tiny extension tubes as well.Â
Centre of the image is just about sharp on mine, the edges aren't even close to sharp and can suffer from vignetting, sensors larger than M43 are going to make that worse. That said I quite like the effect you can get with it, as long as you know what to expect going in, they can be a good creative option.
This is the one I have: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pixco-Mount-Camera-Thirds-Adapter/dp/B07K9SD5M6?th=1
Reasonably well-built, clickless aperture, and tiny.
Â
Those are really lovely shots, well done. I had read somewhere else too about fuzzy edges being a common occurrence, but maybe it's a bigger deal with M43. The sensors I'm thinking of will be much smaller so maybe fair better.
Thanks. You are 100% right, smaller sensors will help with that.
Look for Bolex cameras in thrift shops. Kern Paillards are very sharpÂ
I am a big fan of Kodak Cine 16mm S mount lenses, you will need to convert them from S mount to C mount (not a big deal as Kodak made adapters and there are cheap Chinese adapters available on ebay).
I have been using them with M4/3 bodies, You will get some vignette on the shorter FOV lenses, but it is much better with the longer FOV lenses.
From my collection, my favorites are probably the Ektanon 63mm 2.7, Anastigmat 50mm 1.6 and the Ektar 25mm 1.4 - all three should not be as good as they are for lenses from the 30s to late 40s.
Example with the 63mm:
Example with the 50mm:
Example with the 25mm:
