Lens Adapter for HD100 finished.

[Ted Ramasola]

Guys,

Just want to share that I finished modifying the medium format lens adapter for my DVX and made it fit the HD100.

The results were great. I'll just finish attaching the battery housing and I'll post photos or footage.

1st observation is. compared when it was on the DVX, the HD footage from the JVC is much much better. The resolution and low noise quality of the HD100 helped in producing great images.

The problem of lens breathing when racking focus is solved when using a lens adapter.

The shallow DOF is an added "trick up your sleeve" when using this camera which is otherwise hard to achieve.

For those who haven't seen my thread on this in the DIY section, this adapter is the spinning GG type.

[Ted Ramasola]

Ok,

Here it is;

http://tedramasola.9k.com/images/hd100_w_dof120_n_plywood_sktr.jpg

Shown mounted on the DIY plywood skater.

Here's a grab;

http://tedramasola.9k.com/images/80mm.jpg

I have the m2t sample, around 33mb, but it seems stickypod doesn't accommodate us anymore.

If you guys can't see the images above, click this link. (http://tedramasola.9k.com/photo2.html)

[Ralph Oshiro]

Looks great! Sorry, I guess I missed your previous threads! How much is the DIY Skater??? I WANT one! And why medium format? More light? More resolving capability with larger screen?

[mmm]

That's brilliant. The guy looks a little soft though.

[Ted Ramasola]

NBCshooter,

Due to my location and nature of my work, I haven't thought of selling the skater, our carpentry fabricated it out of necessity for our production needs. I am however giving the construction plans for FREE. PM me your e-,ail and I'll gladly send you HI-Res illustrator files that you can use to DIY. My other thread on this is VERY busy.plywood skater thread (http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=40901)

I used mid format since it casts a bigger image on the GG thus the stock lens doesnt have to "zoom or macro" too much.

mmm,

I had detail set to -6. Probably it would help to set it to normal or higher when using a lens adapter. I'll do some tests.

This is a jpeg file since I cant put a big sized bitmap on my site.

Also, I suggest to put that frame into your NLE to view it on your monitor.

Thanks for the observation. I'll do some tests.

[Ralph Oshiro]

I used mid format since it casts a bigger image on the GG thus the stock lens doesnt have to "zoom or macro" too much.Got it. I was sorta thinking the same thing about larger-format lenses. Good idea. Actually, you have a LOT of good ideas! Thanks for your generous contributions here!!!

[nateweaver]

I'm absolutely sure you've put a ton of work into your adapter, and it's been a hard road, but...

I have to point out for other users who aren't familiar with HD100/Mini35 images that the test image you've posted is very soft and seems to have most of the chromatic aberration issues present with the stock lens at wide open/full zoom. I myself having shot two projects with the Mini/HD100 combo have decided pretty much that it's too much money/hardship to go through for noticeably softer images, even with the best equipment currently available.

I think your idea of using medium format lenses is brilliant though, and could pay off big time if you just had a fixed focal length lens fabricated for your adapter and took the Fujinon out of the equation.

[Ted Ramasola]

Nate,

Thanks for pointing out the soft image, I have high respects for your experience, especially with HD work and adapters.

I went back and checked my detail settings and WB.

I changed the frame grab I posted previously to show this change.

I set the detail to 1

Everytime I change setup(lenses) I now white balance the camera.

below is a frame grab from 45mm.

http://tedramasola.9k.com/images/45mm.jpg

and heres a grab without the adapter.
http://tedramasola.9k.com/images/16xstock.jpg

All these setups used Paolo's true color scn file with Tim's gamma settings.

If no images are seen I posted them at this web page (http://tedramasola.9k.com/photo2.html)

[nateweaver]

Wonder where your CA is coming from? I see some off-axis that's yellow and blue.

Seriously though, your bigger GG image idea is great. One of the reasons I'm not so hyped on the Mini35/HD100 right now is because of the size of the GG grain vs camera resolution. Your setup effectively shrinks GG grain, and that's pretty clever.

[davide]

Nice work. I was just wondering how is it that the lenses don't appear to breath when using the adapter. I've seen footage from other adapters that definitely showed lens breathing whenever focus was pulled. Is this a function of the type of ground glass you're using?

[Ted Ramasola]

breathing is a characteristic found in certain types of lenses when you change focus settings, the mount for the adapter has been modified, see first pic, to accomodate the cinevate achromat and ti hit its sweetspot at slightly over 20 zoom and full macro on the standard 16x fujinon.
http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/6699/1180953434.jpg

Heres some grabs with subjects near the corners to show minimal corner softening.
Using mamiya 45mm.
http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/6699/1180953671.jpg

http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/6699/1180953714.jpg

Using 80mm

http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/6699/1180953782.jpg

http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/6699/1180953829.jpg

[davide]

Thanks for the reply. I think maybe I didn't word my question properly. I was wondering about a line from your original post where you say, "The problem of lens breathing when racking focus is solved when using a lens adapter." Are you referring to the stock lens on the camera or the medium format lens you put in front of the adapter? I've noticed that 35mm lenses that breath when attached to an SLR also breath when attached to a lens adapter like an M2. That's why I was unsure of what you meant.

Also, nice pics.

[Ted Ramasola]

Yes, the certain lens type that i'm using for my adapter, the mamiya, doesnt breathe as bad as the stock on the JVC.