Basic 35mm Adapter Questions

[Jordan Berry]

Hello,

I just purchased a used Brevis and I'll be setting it up for the first time tomorrow.

My humble setup is a HMC-150 + Cinevate Spacer + Brevis MP.1 + Nikon 50mm 1.4 AI.

I've got a few general questions if you don't mind.

1) As I understand it with a vibrating GG you're limited to how high you can increase the shutter speed. Is there a general rule of thumb? Can I safely go to 100 or 120? Does the frame rate change this?

2) I've read my lens (Nikon 50mm 1.4 AI) does best at 2.8. When shooting outdoors is it best to use the ND filter on the camera or to stop down the lens? I assume closing the iris on the camera would be a bad idea.

3) Is there any other rule of thumb or general knowledge stuff I need to know? Things to watch out for?

Thank you!

Best regards,

Jordan Berry

[trez]

1) As I understand it with a vibrating GG you're limited to how high you can increase the shutter speed. Is there a general rule of thumb? Can I safely go to 100 or 120? Does the frame rate change this?


If you increase your framerate to 60fps you usually want to use faster shutter, too. But, all in all, it's not the framerate but the shutter speed that matters - whether you're shooting 24, 30 or 60fps the shutter speed of 1/120 s will most probably be your limit (be aware that all depends on the 35mm lens aperture too)



2) I've read my lens (Nikon 50mm 1.4 AI) does best at 2.8. When shooting outdoors is it best to use the ND filter on the camera or to stop down the lens? I assume closing the iris on the camera would be a bad idea.


You can close down you camera lens within certain range. This is one of the advantages of shooting 35mm adapter (compared to the naked camera) - you can easily set your exposure without changing front lens aperture (and depth of field). I'm not sure about Brevis, but for some adapters stopping the camera lens down might positively affect edge to edge sharpness. However, don't close it too far, either. f8.0 is the limit I try not to exceed.



3) Is there any other rule of thumb or general knowledge stuff I need to know? Things to watch out for?


Be careful when stopping down the 35mm lens. The gg pattern might become visible, especially with vibrating adapter like Brevis. The rule of thumb is staying at <=f4.0, but it all depends on many factors - what you're shooting (sky, evenly lit surfaces are especially prone to this problem), the 35mm lens you're using and the exposure.

[Jordan Berry]

1) Alright so 120 is the max. And as I lower the aperture on the lens I will have to be careful because it might be too much.

2) Alright. Does anyone know if it will be sharper stepped down? I think I read somewere 2 stops down from brightest is sharpest.. *shrug*

3) Okay, thanks!