Anamorphic adapter....yet again?

[skankib]

Sorry if this question has been answered a million times before. I did a search and couldn't find the exact answer i was looking for. Re-direct me if it has already been answered.

Right...I've been shooting in letterbox mode but have been advised against it for the obvious reasons - covering up footage, hence loosing those pixels. Not the best thing to be doing if you're trying to get as much quality as you can.

People have suggested Anamorphic lenses - Panasonic and Opics - but these tend to be a little pricey and i have heard of problems with framing when using them. But price being more the problem.

When I'm not using letterbox I sometimes gaffer tape up my lcd screen with strips at top and bottom simulating letterbox mode but without losing pixels...and then put the strips in in post. Bit of a pain to say the least! but it works.

What do you people suggest for a budget film maker?

Thanks
:a:

[araujofh]

From what I have been learning from Barry Green, I would say to buy the anamorphic adapter because it gives more resolution to your footage.
You should only shoot letter box if you are going to watch on a 4:3 TV.

If you don't have the budget, then use the squeeze mode, if you are planning in transferring it to 35mm or screening it on a big screen.

Hope I have clarified some of your doubts.

I guess Barry will come in an give his final touches.

All the best

Fidel.

[andre]

Want to see what you will get on a "big screen"? see http://users.pandora.be/andredeclercq/ (images 7 and 8)

[Barry_Green]

Andre, you had me scared there for a second -- might want to warn people that that first picture is NOT from the anamorphic adapter! Great comparison though, although to be fair the VX2000 has about the worst in-camera 16:9 out there...

Man, that anamorphic sure does look good though, doesn't it? :)

[andre]

You're right Barry, I just wanted to indicate that the original was an anamorphic picture (in camera uprez) from VX2K. I would love to see pics from other cams with uprezzed interlace pics. I think all cams use polyphase filters for the uprez process, and this filter, together with interlace mode pics inevitably leads to that kind of artifacts or serious deterioration of vertical resolution.

[araujofh]

Sorry Andre,

Why do you guys use those weird images? What do they mean?
I am sorry, I am a bit ignorant when it comes to this stuff.
I am trying to learn as much as I can.

Thanks in advance

Fidel.

[Cuppajoe_Films]

I know it's been said numerous other places on here, but one thing to be aware of with the anamorphic is the soft focus issue. The rental side of one of my local "DVX Houses" has stopped renting them due to this problem. Century Optics is currently in development on their own Anamorphic, still probably 6-9 months off, but in my mind worth the wait. Most people that are shooting 16:9 are doing so with an eventual end goal of film out. Realize that that soft focus gets more & more obvious the bigger the projection.

Just my 2cents (closer to a cent and a half after taxes)

[Barry_Green]

Soft focus can be an issue, but only if you don't know how to use the anamorphic to best effect. In the guide that I'm working on with Jarred it'll provide charts and techniques to guarantee 100% sharp focus all the time.

[andre]

Araujofh, test patterns are made for explicitly show one or more shortcommings in the image chain. This testpattern shows clearly (among other things) what can go wrong with some real pics contents w.r.t. vertical resolution and related artifacts.

[araujofh]

Thanks Adre.

All the best

Fidel.

[robeditor2003]

Barry,

Can you please tell me how I can get 100% sharp focus with this lens. I'm shooting a music video july 23 24 and I'm using this lens. If you could please give me some info on this.

Thanks

Rob

[Barry_Green]

The guide's almost done, just adding some pictures. It'll include tables and charts that'll show you exactly what aperture and focus setting to use in any given situation to ensure that you've got the sharpest picture possible. Stay tuned for an announcement.

[araujofh]

Can't wait for it.

All the best

Fidel