Which 35 Adapter Should I Buy?

[mburgh]

I'm in the market for a 35mm adapter, and I'm interested to get some ideas from people who've used them.

1. Which 35 adapter is the best value?

2. Which 35 adapter functions the most easily?

3. Which lens adapter (i.e. Nikon, Pentax) is the most efficacious.

I have a DVX-100a, and I'm not getting rid of her soon.

Thanks for your help and Ideas.

Mark Burgh

[Huy Vu]

Please go into the 35mm adapter section and do some readings. These topics have been discussed ad nauseum, and there is even a comparison table that's sticked on the 35mm adapter section.

[robertwerden]

I would like to say my choice looks like the Redrock.

I want a adapter that has a lots of users, low price and many options, and Redrock looks like the right one.

I am about to make my purchase and I have gone back and fourth between all the adapters. I settled on red rock because it is in my $2000 budget, and if I buy all the components from the website not in a bundle I can get all the required elements as well as a flip unit and 1 zeiss lens for 1900.

[PaPa]

wow, redrock before sgpro.. thats a first lol. So you want the adapter that has the most light loss and worse edge to edge sharpness? And the adapter that has the longest setup time?

[btownproductions]

wow, redrock before sgpro.. thats a first lol. So you want the adapter that has the most light loss and worse edge to edge sharpness? And the adapter that has the longest setup time?

I bought the M2 not too long ago, and I'm not regretting it at all... The light loss can be a problem, but if you've got the right amount of lights it's not hard to work around, and you can produce a beautiful picture with it. I've heard a lot of the edge to edge sharpness problem, I find as long as you find the right balance between zoom and focus, you can still get clean edges... although it is a little difficult to get without a monitor. But it is definitly possible to get sharp edges.. I believe there is a thread on here somewhere detailing this exact discussion. And the setup time is really irrelivant if you don't plan on taking the adapter on and off.

Just my 2 cents

[doncamillo]

1. Which 35 adapter is the best value?

Well, certainly not the Redrock M2/SGpro/Letus-ex/Brevis (although if you compare them to the P+S and Movietube they all are :kiss:)
There are cheaper ones, like the RNG35 which only costs 550$, but hey you usually get what you pay for... (No idea how those perform though so there could be a gem among them)



2. Which 35 adapter functions the most easily?

None, 35mm adapters are not really 'easy to use', but if I had to choose I'd say the Brevis as it's a little quicker to setup.



3. Which lens adapter (i.e. Nikon, Pentax) is the most efficacious.

By lens adapter I assume you mean the lens-mount, not the adapter itself? The most used is the Nikon but any will do, as long as you have good glass. The most 'efficacious' would be a PL mount+lenses, but that is in a different price-range and not what you are looking for I think.


PS: For the record, I have an SGpro, which I love but in the end a tool is a tool, buy the one that does what you need it to do. But try not to cheap out too much, as you might end up regretting it. Personally, at this moment, I'd go for the Letus Extreme or the SGpro.

[mburgh]

Well, certainly not the Redrock M2/SGpro/Letus-ex/Brevis (although if you compare them to the P+S and Movietube they all are :kiss:)
There are cheaper ones, like the RNG35 which only costs 550$, but hey you usually get what you pay for... (No idea how those perform though so there could be a gem among them)


None, 35mm adapters are not really 'easy to use', but if I had to choose I'd say the Brevis as it's a little quicker to setup.


By lens adapter I assume you mean the lens-mount, not the adapter itself? The most used is the Nikon but any will do, as long as you have good glass. The most 'efficacious' would be a PL mount+lenses, but that is in a different price-range and not what you are looking for I think.


PS: For the record, I have an SGpro, which I love but in the end a tool is a tool, buy the one that does what you need it to do. But try not to cheap out too much, as you might end up regretting it. Personally, at this moment, I'd go for the Letus Extreme or the SGpro.
Thanks - very helpful. I'm going to look at your recommendations. I'd like the Letus or the SG, too.

[mburgh]

I bought the M2 not too long ago, and I'm not regretting it at all... The light loss can be a problem, but if you've got the right amount of lights it's not hard to work around, and you can produce a beautiful picture with it. I've heard a lot of the edge to edge sharpness problem, I find as long as you find the right balance between zoom and focus, you can still get clean edges... although it is a little difficult to get without a monitor. But it is definitly possible to get sharp edges.. I believe there is a thread on here somewhere detailing this exact discussion. And the setup time is really irrelivant if you don't plan on taking the adapter on and off.

Just my 2 cents
Thanks. I wasn't aware you could change the DVX focal length while using the adapter.

[mburgh]

wow, redrock before sgpro.. thats a first lol. So you want the adapter that has the most light loss and worse edge to edge sharpness? And the adapter that has the longest setup time?
Thanks - I want to emulate that 35mm filmlook, which wouldn't matter but for the sharpness of the focused image. I shoot mostly outdoors, so I don't depend on lights so much.

[mburgh]

Please go into the 35mm adapter section and do some readings. These topics have been discussed ad nauseum, and there is even a comparison table that's sticked on the 35mm adapter section.
Great - Thanks for directing me to that section.

[PaPa]

Mburgh, what i mean is that you are looking at spending the same amount on a lesser quality adapter. If you want a spinner, i would STRONGLY recommend getting the SgPro over the M2. SgPro also offers a flip modification which will get rid of the updisde down left-side right headaches and save tremendous time in post production. Edge to edge the image is sharper, and it has a more film like bokeh. I believe the price is in the same ballpark as well. It is also easier to setup and more user friendly. Just doesn't make sense these days to go with M2 when there are far better adapters out there for the same price. But it's your call, your money.

[btownproductions]

I recently read a review comparing the Brevis/SgPro/M2 from a filmmakers perspective and not an engineer. Sadly, I can't find it now though haha.

But it was pretty informative, it had example pictures taken at different f-stops to compare the light loss/bokeh on the different adapters, I'll keep looking to see if I can find it again and let you know.

Oh yeah, and redrock also has released the MicroX flip module now, which looks to be the least bulky of all the flip modules. Just something for you to ponder....

[btownproductions]

Hi, me again haha. I found that adapter shootout I was talking about, it's on Phillip Bloom's website:

http://web.mac.com/philip.bloom/Shootout/Intro.html

[mburgh]

Mburgh, what i mean is that you are looking at spending the same amount on a lesser quality adapter. If you want a spinner, i would STRONGLY recommend getting the SgPro over the M2. SgPro also offers a flip modification which will get rid of the updisde down left-side right headaches and save tremendous time in post production. Edge to edge the image is sharper, and it has a more film like bokeh. I believe the price is in the same ballpark as well. It is also easier to setup and more user friendly. Just doesn't make sense these days to go with M2 when there are far better adapters out there for the same price. But it's your call, your money.
Thanks again. I'm thinking hard about all these choices. I saw the RNG35 too. Much cheaper than the M2, Letus or Brevis, but offers no rod systems or lens supports.

[mburgh]

Hi, me again haha. I found that adapter shootout I was talking about, it's on Phillip Bloom's website:

http://web.mac.com/philip.bloom/Shootout/Intro.html
Thanks for the link. I like the M2's picture quality, but the Brevis wins the focus chart. Hmmm. Does my daughter go to a public or private college? Will this make a difference in eight years when we're short on food and fuel now?

[mburgh]

To All who answered me: I just bought the Letus Extreme, and I am waiting for its arrival. Reasons: Excellence of focus, price (including a flip module), and the quality of the video work I saw using the adapter. I asked for a Nikon lens adapter.

Thanks again for all your help.