RedRock M2 versus Cinevate Brevis : A Review...

I noticed that you said the Brevis is the more-expensive unit.

Comparing the prices of the kits, it looks like the Brevis package is actually cheaper. Did you get some extra stuff?

THanks for the comparison. I think I will go with the Brevis.
 
The way I read it the basic price for the Brevis is slightly higher, but as a kit with the achromat, it's cheaper. I also noticed the first two pictures at the top don't show, at least for me.

Thanks for taking up the 35mm adapter challenge!
 
Thanks a lot for the comparison. This was what I was waiting for. It seems like the Brevis is the way to go, for me.
 
Thanks Richard, you put a lot of effort into the review, I appreciate that. The Brevis and M2 are great products, both have pros and cons, which you highlighted well. I am happy with my Brevis choice. :thumbsup:
 
Brevis is very slightly higher when you put the whole package together, but really its a minor negligable difference.
 
Actually no, Brevis is cheaper when you are comparing the rail system + achromat + imager to the M2 - $1214 as compared to M2's $1300 price tag

If you're only interested in buying the adapter, the M2 will be cheaper at $550, but you WILL need rails to support that sucka, whereas you don't really need them for the Brevis..
 
rgdfilms said:
Actually no, Brevis is cheaper when you are comparing the rail system + achromat + imager to the M2 - $1214 as compared to M2's $1300 price tag

If you're only interested in buying the adapter, the M2 will be cheaper at $550, but you WILL need rails to support that sucka, whereas you don't really need them for the Brevis..
Click to expand...

That's what I thought. Sorry, I misunderstood. Brevis looks like the winner, to me. Lots of light and a clean image.

Thanks again, Richard. Must purchase Brevis! Is it really a 10 week turnaround, though?
 
Thanks for the review and comparisons.

I am an owner of the M2 and love it. but am always willing to try out new gear.

A couple of things really do worry me about the Brevis. Wonder if you could answer them for me.

Noise issue. Yo say the Brevis is quite noisy. Noisy enough to be picked up by mics? Nothing worse than tryoing to shoot some actors with a faint buzz in the background which shouldn't be there.

Rails. no rails for the Brevis. Can you use rails with it? If I have the Brevis attached to the HVX200, and then use a Nikon 80-200mm 2.8, I am putting far too much weight on the cameras front thread and will damage it without doubt.

Do you get edge to edge sharpness out of the box with the Brevis? If so is the gg adjustable to improve the image?

Thanks
 
I'll jump in here with a few answers.

1. Turnaround times are steadily droppping, and will become about 5 days as we work through the backlog created by (now resolved with a new supplier) major issues with supply of our 72mm HD achromats. These new achromats are just outstanding with respect to distortion, CA, and quality control.

2. Yes the Brevis can be used on rails which are included in the "full package" Richard described: http://www.cinevate.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=186 The new rail supports for the Brevis itself are black..the one in this pic is not coated yet.

3. Our diffuser option 1 and 2 both offer higher diffusion with a corresponding "cost" in terms of light loss. Our latest diffuser option 2 has a cinematic feel that I suspect is going to be very, very popular. I will be releasing HD footage from it as soon as the XH-A1 arrives. There is a clip here from a dvx100b and the diffuser option 1. It became very apparent during beta testing that a full range of diffusers (GG's) would be required to keep everyone happy.

4. We are moving to a new, even quieter drive system, that will of course be backwards compatible. It will not be released though until I've spent a month or so with it on my own unit.

Edit: Richard's results with the adapter came despite not actually having read the user manual :-) Credit to his skills there.
 
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Thanks for the reply Dennis. Although I own an M2 and am very happy with it, I do like to try other products and will consider picking up one of your adaptors in the future. I like the idea of bolt on and go, something that can't be done very easily with the M2.
 
Noah, the new rail mount is available, but I won't be updating our online catalog until they come back from final coating (photo matte black).

Ian, Richard used the standard diffuser. We have two currently available, and a third due for release in December. The third option will see higher light loss, but is the best match yet for film at wide open apertures. I'll have HD footage from it up as soon as the A1 arrives. Option 2 is a merge of several technologies, and although it loses more light than the standard, and option 1, I am completely stoked on the look.

Steve, any feedback is good feedback! I've been fortunate to work with some great folks whose critiques have just made the adapter better. We are working with a very intimate production workflow which makes incremental improvements very easy to implement.
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Thanks for all the info, really appreciate it.

Is it just me or does the Brevis give the DOF a flat look. For example, when you have a small object in the foreground in focus, the whole background blurs evenly making it look almost like a picture was placed behind the object. Where as the M2 looks a little more smoothly blended from blurred "mid" ground to even more blurred background.

Also, the song that goes along with the test footage is fantastic. If the video was of paint drying that song would make it feel fast and energetic... who was the artist?
 
Camera tests can seem like paint drying to some.. at least to my non-tech girlfriend..

The song was by Rodrigo y Gabriela - Forget the name of the album but it is awesome if you have a chance to listen to it - They do a great rendition of Stairway to Heaven
 
I haven't seen the look of different diffusers but it seems to me that the DOF attributes of these units has to be identical - they are dependent on the 35mm lens.

The ground glass differences could affect the feel and the contrast quite a bit. though. Remember, its very hard to judge these things accurately on the web through mountains of compression, don't get carried away.
 
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