Need To Buy 35mm Adapter

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Phil Maker

Well-known member
Can someone suggest a good 35mm adapter for under a grand? I'm ready to increase the value of my HVX with a 35mm adapter. I've never used one, but I've seen their results and I'm sold on getting one. From what I understand the lenses are sold separate and the best ones are Zeiss primes, is this true? What is another way to go that's not too too expensive? Is there a good starter kit that will get me amazing results without sending me to the poor house?
 
I will sell you my brevis for slightly under a grand. PM me for more details if interested.
 
seems like more people are going with the letus these days. why is that? what's the advantage?

does anybody know the pros and cons of the redrock?
 
Do a search on this site. There are several opinions on this matter. The Letus is well priced. The Brevis is very portable and requires less light. The M2 has a very strong network of users in LA. Another good idea is to look at images on the manufactures web site.
 
More people are going with the Letus lately because it's new and people are suckers for new things.
I honestly prefer a spinner over a vibrating for several reasons so I would go with the SGpro.
 
Hi Phil:

I did months and months of research, looked at a lot of stills and footage and discussed various adapters with lots of people here and elsewhere.

The good news is that all of the adapters are great. They each have distinct advantages and disadvantages. I really like the Brevis and I bought a Cinevate matte box from Dennis, the founder of Cinevate. The SGPro seems like an amazing deal, it is less expensive than the Brevis or Letus Extreme although if you add the flip unit (sold in various ways/packages), the SG is probably close in cost to the Letus Extreme and the Brevis with it's flip.

I own a lot of Red Rock accessories and I am very impressed with their quality as well. That said, I have read a few comments that the M2 is a bit more challenging to setup and keep going than the Brevis or the Letus. The M2 is also a lot slower in exposure although Red Rock has announced a flip unit for the M2 as well. A lot of people really like the look of the M2 though.

One thing you MUST realize, buying an adapter is just the beginning, after that, you need rail support, rails, lenses, probably a matte box, probably a follow focus and you will definitely need an external monitor unless you have the new Sony PMW-EX1. Realize that you are leaping off of the pier that will cost you a lot more than $1,000.00 when all is said and done. I am in for almost $6,000.00 besides my HVX and P2 cards.

Also realize that with an adapter, you are essentially turning your camera into a digital film camera. Meaning that with shallow depth of field, you will have a whole new set of challenges in shooting. You may, at least most of the time, need an AC (assistant camera) to pull focus and iris when you have shots with a lot of movement in them of your camera and or the subject(s). Setup and breakdown time for your rig increases dramatically. There is a lot more to it than just the adapter and lenses.

I bought the Letus Extreme, although I feel that the Brevis flip is just as good. At the time I bought, Brevis had not yet introduced the flip module and I wanted an adapter right then, so the Letus Extreme presented itself. It's a great adapter but unfortunately you don't have the budget for one or for the Brevis flip.

I would urge you to consider the SGPro, I have seen the clips and read a lot of talented peoples experience with it on DVX User and it is a very nice rig. For $1,000.00, you might land a used Brevis (without flip - you can always add it later) as indicated above or you could consider the Letus Economy.

There are lots of ways to go. Yes, the Zeiss primes are excellent but as a beginner with an adapter, you probably won't notice the difference between the Zeiss and some good Nikon AI/AIS fast primes. Yes, the Zeiss look slightly better but are you shooting test charts or people/places? The Zeiss are also 3-5 times the cost of used Nikons, it's called the law of diminishing returns.

Just make sure that you know what you are getting yourself into. You will need a quality professional tripod, not a cheapo Bogen to support the 13-25lb weight of a fully loaded 35mm adapter rig. You need the monitor. You need 3-6 lenses. You eventually need a matte box and lots of expensive filters (at least Polarizer, ND grads and NDs). If you are doing a lot of moving shots, you really need a follow focus.

Best of luck,

Dan
 
Thank you Dan. I now realize I'm still not ready for an adapter yet. I will wait until I can afford the lenses, matte box, rails etc.
 
Another way to look at it though: Start with the adapter and one lens. Get familiar with it. Then start adding things YOU feel you need. If you wait and buy all these different accessories without ever having used the adapter, you may find that there are some you don't need, and you may decide that a different model or type(lenses, for example) would work better for you than what you already purchased. Waiting to get it all at once introduces too many variables. Learn to fly a Cessna before you buy a 747.
Regarding tripods, it's hard to imagine any full HVX package approaching 25 pounds, but even so, any of the higher end "cheapo Bogens" will handle that. I have a Bogen 3046 myself and I can trust it to 50 pounds, easily.
 
Phil:

I also just noticed this on Wayne's site, "The price of the flip module will be around £279 ex VAT for Rev3 users, and £294 ex VAT for Rev2 users (extra part needed for Rev2)."

So that SGPro combined with the flip will be about £680, which is about almost $1,400.00 dollars although I think Wayne may have a package deal that may be less. So the SGpro without the flip is very inexpensive but with the flip, it is right up there with the Brevis and Letus Extreme.

I mulled over getting the 35mm adapter package for about 6 months for the same reasons you are having. I now have bought it all because I need something to differentiate my look from all of the other XL-H1, HVX-200 and PMW-EX1 shooters out there. I am a good DP, my lighting looks good, I also have a jib arm but I needed something else to set my look apart and the Letus fits the bill. But if it weren't making me money, I wouldn't have spent the extra $$$, it was expensive. If add up the entire HVX-200 package plus the 35mm package, I am almost in HPX-500 territory and the HPX is a better camera than the HVX. So you have to think about that too. And if I had a tricked out HPX package, I would probably be approaching a RED dollar figure. It's too easy to talk yourself up in this business!

Dan
 
Dan Vance said:
Another way to look at it though: Start with the adapter and one lens. Get familiar with it. Then start adding things YOU feel you need. If you wait and buy all these different accessories without ever having used the adapter, you may find that there are some you don't need, and you may decide that a different model or type(lenses, for example) would work better for you than what you already purchased. Waiting to get it all at once introduces too many variables. Learn to fly a Cessna before you buy a 747.
Regarding tripods, it's hard to imagine any full HVX package approaching 25 pounds, but even so, any of the higher end "cheapo Bogens" will handle that. I have a Bogen 3046 myself and I can trust it to 50 pounds, easily.
Click to expand...

Good advice Dan, I only bought all of the goodies because I knew that I needed them. For me, the things that tell you if you need a certain accessory are:

1. Rails and rail mount - you cannot really use the Letus Extreme safely without support, it is a heavy mother. But if he had a Brevis without the flip or a Letus Economy, he could probably get away without rails and rail mount.

2. Lenses - Since I shoot a ton of interviews, I could get away wih just the 50mm 1.4 for those. But for tabletop, action, narrative stuff, your FOV would get pretty boring with just a 50mm. But I agree, he could start with just one lens and maximize it. It all gets back to the DPs eye and imagination, it's not always about having a lot of fields of view.

3. Follow focus - if you shoot stationary objects, you probably don't need one yet. But if you are doing a lot of moves, rack focuses, etc. it's pretty hard to get smooth focus moves without one.

4. Matte box. IMHO, you only need one for exteriors. Interiors are easier to control the light usually and you don't need light control filters for interiors. Other options are cheaper systems like Cokin, Lee, etc. or just use single screw-on filters. Matte boxes are great but not everyone needs one.

My HVX rig is pushing 22lbs now, all I have to is add a couple of more filters and a remote iris and perhps a bigger battery for the monitor and I am at 25lbs.

I am talking about Bogen 501 or 503 heads, they would not be safe with a 25lb package at all. I have used both for years at my old company, they are not safe for anything heavy. You would asking for an expensive accident when you forget the tilt lock and the entire rig comes crashing down. Most newbies think a 501 or 503 are "real" heads, which they aren't. I have even seen a fully loaded HPX-500 package on a 501 head, talk about an expensive accident wating to happen. A $25,000.00 package on a $150.00 'head'. yeesh. IMHO, you need a true fluid head with spring counterbalance to use a 35mm adapter rig, reagrdless of brand or cost.

best,

Dan
 
Makes sense. Yeah, I just had to come to the defense of my age-old Bogen. And it is better to error on the side of a sturdier tripod for sure. Sounds like you have a killer rig. Cool.
Just an aside, I also have an old O'connor-50 head and Mitchell sticks. The spring in it is such that, if you don't have at least 25 pounds on it, you can barely tilt it!
 
Hi Guys,

I just ordered a LEX and rods. I have a 503 head and just read your posts. So what will happen if i use my HVX/LEX/rods with this 503/351 tripod?
 
Phil Maker said:
Thank you Dan. I now realize I'm still not ready for an adapter yet. I will wait until I can afford the lenses, matte box, rails etc.
Click to expand...

Save up another $1k-$2k, then jump in.

It's true . . . you buy one thing, such as the HVX200, but there's a whole lot more accessories to buy to make it truly useful. Same with a 35mm adapter. Think beyond the initial cost; you've got to see the big picture. Be prepared for what you are getting into. Or at least don't be surprised with all the additional gear you'll likely need to buy.

I spent months hunting and buying lenses on eBay and Craigs List BEFORE I purchased my 35mm adapter. I planned it that way because I knew (sorta) what I was getting into. For the record, I shoot with the Brevis and have nothing but great things to say about it. However, all the adapters mentioned in this price range are excellent in many ways. Get what suits you best. Then get shooting! :)
 
benandaim said:
Hi Guys,

I just ordered a LEX and rods. I have a 503 head and just read your posts. So what will happen if i use my HVX/LEX/rods with this 503/351 tripod?
Click to expand...

Before buying more camera gear, IMHO, you should seriously consider upgrading to a better head but in the meantime, you should be fine. A camera and LEX isn't killer heavy, it's a camera, LEX, lens, rails, rail mount, monitor, matte box, follow focus, Anton Bauer battery, etc. that is really going to get you in trouble.My rig is at 22lbs so far but I have one of the bigger longer LEX rigs I have seen.

If you are at 10lbs or so, you are okay, but when you really start to load it up, you really owe yourself a better tripod head. Legs don't matter a whole lot but the head certainly does. I know lots of guys with Sachtler heads on $300.00 100mm Bogen legs, those cheap silver two stage ones, works great.

Enjoy your LEX!

Dan
 
I am finally seeing the light at the end of the financial tunnel, I don't think there are many more items I can add to my rig, it's pretty loaded up. Just need a nice big Storm case so I can build the rig at home before I leave for shoots. It will be nice to arrive to shoots and just unpack the whole rig in one piece instead of building it as I have to do now.

Supposed to resume shooting a theatrical doc I have been shooting for the past few months, can't wait to use the LEX for it. Shot the first four days on it without the LEX in the Fall, the producers are eager to shoot with some real film look!

Dan
 
Thanks for the advice. I should start shopping around for a head upgrade.

If you had to choose a head that wasn't crazy $$$ what you choose as an upgrade from the 503?
 
Hi benandaim:

Well, I did do exactly what you are proposing, I went from a crappy Bogen head with my DVX-100a to a Sachtler DV-6SB with my HVX-200. I used to own a Sachtler Video 20 with my BVW betacam and have always regretted selling it but I needed to sell the package at the time. The DV-6SB is a miniature version of the Video 20, I love it. I have dragged it around in a lot of different situations and it never disappoints me.

About U.S. $1,599.00 for the DV-6SB. If you have to go cheap, get a Libec or a Cartoni Focus. Personally I really dislike the Focus, but I will concede that it is the best head for around $1,000.00 and it is leagues better than a cheap Bogen. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/382480-REG/Sachtler_0605_DV_6SB_Fluid_Head.html

I think Bogen makes some decent heads but they cost almost as much as my Sachtler last time I looked and if you ask most camera operators/DPs, they would generally prefer a Sachtler to a Bogen.

Good luck!

Dan
 
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