LetusExtreme HVX Optmization Kit -- Is it worth it to you?

[Kholi]

IF YOU'RE A LETUS OWNER VOTE -- NO MATTER WHICH CAMERA YOU HAVE!!! No company makes camera specific achromats!!! This is a way to improve image quality on popular cameras!!!

While we're still waitin' on more EX-1 users to report back on their EX-1 Optimization kits, I wanted to actually Poll on whether or not this is something that HVXusers are interested in? Yeah, i'm basing my first impressions off of a Dollar Bill shot with the Ex-1 and I might eat my words later: The Fix is a Fix, though. I hope Lenny gets his soon so he can shoot charts and pace it to let us know.

1) Not an XY adjustment kit. Exactly like the EX-1 where the Achromat is specifically designed for the HVX.

2) The HVX image (to most users, with acceptions) with the Letus EX has been fine. It's good enough to rent for QUITE a pretty Penny and I know another user that can attest to this. Thus, the Achromat in the unit is doing well.

3) As an upgrade. We HVX users have had far far less to complain about that isn't standard with every adapter. And, let's face it: No adapter manufacturer creates CAMERA SPECIFIC ACHROMATS. This is insane to think about. It's one thing to create a new Ground Glass, it's another to start creating for specific cameras. So, because of the tiny uproar about the EX-1 (within reason) I state that this is just a test poll for myself and let's not get into an uproar about paying for something good.

So is it worth it to you to increase sharpness and image quality with your Letus unit by having an HVX200 specific achromat?

Again, this is just for my thoughts and maybe actually rallying the Le brothers to drop us HVXusers a reasonably priced acrhomatic upgrade to our units. XY adjustment has nothing to do with this.

 

[augenblick]

Hi Kholi

I buy one asap if comes out. The HVX together with the Letus Extreme is a winning team. But with this little add on it will even be "winnier" :thumbsup:

Peter

 

[Look 1st]

youre d@mn tootin its worth it.

After looking at the EX1 upgrade test with the dollar bill.. if it is possible to have a custom HVX acromat for BETTER/BEST edge-edge sharpness, the Letus team should feel compelled to offer that for the HVX.

I feel like its a no brainer.
Also, the trade-in idea (like what they are considering for the EX1 Optimization kit) would be ideal too.
I know there are alot of early buyers of the extreme that are standing by.

Hats off to Letus for the Ex1 Kit....please do something similar for the HVX (if its possible)

 

[Ted Spencer]

The HVX edge sharpness issues I've seen, both hands-on and in screen grabs here, are extremely troubling to me, so I would pay $200 for an HVX "fixer" kit/achromat exchange in a heartbeat. I should add that I have not yet received my LEX (due tomorrow) so I feel I should be entitled to the $200 pricing as opposed to the $350 which might apply to earlier buyers.

In some email exchanges with Aaron I was told pretty unequivocally that Letus plans to offer such fix-kits for various cameras, certainly including the HVX. I think it's just a matter of when, and for what cost to whom.

 

[Brian@202020]

I'd buy it, esspecially if it'll zoom in a little farther so I can open up to camera lens to 1.7 instead of 2.4 if I have to.

 

[Kholi]

Alright, so there are some votes.

IF YOU LOOK IN THIS THREAD VOTE! -- LET'S SHOW THEM THAT WE WANT ONE!

 

[Douglas Villalba]

I would like to see a centering and a back focus adjusting devise more than a new acromat.

I think that it would solve a lot of the softness issues often seen on some clips with the HVX200.

 

[philip bloom]

that wouldnt be fixed by a new achromat. i always the hvx was great edge to edge with the letus. thought it was just an ex1 thing

 

[Douglas Villalba]

It is sharp edge to edge in most cases.

It is only when you are trying to adjust your back focus (Nikon mount) that you may not have the mount perfectly square.

The offset image can cause a pronounce vignetting on one side when you are using wide angle lenses that usually vignette.

That is why I rather see these two changes to the design.

 

[Kholi]

The X/Y adjustment for all cameras is coming. It's already been stated on the forums. This will not take the place of X/Y adjustments.

This is a vote for a custom HVX200 Achromat.

 

[Matt Gottshalk]

I'd need both the X/Y adjustments AND the HVX-specific Achromat.

I would get both.

 

[Kholi]

^ That's the kinda response I'm talkin' about.

Matt how much did the XY adjustment help on your Brevis Unit?

 

[Ted Spencer]

that wouldnt be fixed by a new achromat. i always the hvx was great edge to edge with the letus. thought it was just an ex1 thing

No, it is a severe problem for many HVX/LEX owners as well, along with the imager centering issue. Tim Naylor sold his LEX recently for just those reasons. I've personally worked with an HVX/LEX setup with a high quality lens that had obviously bad e2e, and have seen many screen grabs here that corroborate it.

My LEX is due tomorrow, and I will be reporting on it and the Zeiss 50mm 1.4 I'll be fitting it with soon thereafter. Based on what I've seen so far, I'm pretty certain I'll want an HVX-specific fix for it, as Aaron has implied will be forthcoming.

Here's hoping it comes soon...

 

[Tim Naylor]

I inquired to Hien about whether the new achromat would take care of the E 2 E problems I had with my HVX. He said yes it would, that it should cover both cameras. They both suffer from aspherical aberrations (EX to a greater degree). I'll be ordering the whole kit tonight.

Now does anyone have any results from the SG flip on an HVX or EX?

Tim Naylor

 

[Douglas Villalba]

It would be great if they do, but it has to be a totally new model.

Without the BF adjustment and image centering there will always be a reason why it is not totally sharp.

Oh, and I forgot. The lens mount has to be improved also so it doesn't shift.

Here are some grabs.

Once you understand that there is a tiny bit of difference from center to outside, you can just focus in the middle. (edge & center)

 

[Dennis Wood]

Camera specific achromats are great, but keep in mind that the average engineering costs for a properly done achromat that compensates for both SA and CA are in the $10K range, and they cannot be produced cost effectively in low volumes. So if you're ok with an extra cost of $200 or so per adapter, it's doable.

Our experience with the Brevis flip unit is that edge to edge sharpness is excellent, for all cameras typically used, and remains very good as zoom-in is applied. One of our HVX users is testing the flip with S16 format lenses, and very happy with the results....that's a very small image frame! We've found that very significant edge softness is introduced by both video camera lenses, and 35mm lenses when they're used under f4...and we'll show you that "live" next week

The EX1 is the camera that requires corrective treatment...and for us, just that camera.

 

[Kholi]

Camera specific achromats are great, but keep in mind that the average engineering costs for a properly done achromat that compensates for both SA and CA are in the $10K range, and they cannot be produced cost effectively in low volumes. So if you're ok with an extra cost of $200 or so per adapter, it's doable.

Or, the R and D if you aren't an engineer. Pays to be one in that case.

Our experience with the Brevis flip unit is that edge to edge sharpness is excellent, for all cameras typically used, and remains very good as zoom-in is applied. One of our HVX users is testing the flip with S16 format lenses, and very happy with the results....that's a very small image frame! We've found that very significant edge softness is introduced by both video camera lenses, and 35mm lenses when they're used under f4...and we'll show you that "live" next week

That's true for all lenses, which is why Cine-Primes are...well... you know. We're using SLR glass and on Vibrating GG adapters we can't stop down beyond 5.6 (being very generous with that). Have you guys figured out a way to increase Taking lens sharpness and performance beneath the GG appearance threshold?

 

[Ted Spencer]

I inquired to Hien about whether the new achromat would take care of the E 2 E problems I had with my HVX. He said yes it would, that it should cover both cameras. They both suffer from aspherical aberrations (EX to a greater degree). I'll be ordering the whole kit tonight.

This is getting a bit confounding, with what appears to be conflicting "inside information" all over the place. I just sent yet another note to Aaron to confirm or deny your report above. My LEX arrives tomorrow. I certainly hope your story's the right one, Tim!

 

[Lenilenapi]

Ted and Tim, My own tests which I hope will be posted very soon did not show serious center to corner differences with the LEX on my HVX. Yes they are there, and if you focus only on the center you can get hosed, but if you overshoot your "center focus point" to catch the compromise position I think the focus was pretty good, but maybe my standards are too low for you guys. I'll post pics and let the viewer decide.

Lenny Levy

 

[Ted Spencer]

This is getting a bit confounding, with what appears to be conflicting "inside information" all over the place. I just sent yet another note to Aaron to confirm or deny your report above. My LEX arrives tomorrow. I certainly hope your story's the right one, Tim!

I got a response just now from Aaron (props to him for consistently responding overnight to this and every other inquiry I've made, and there have been several).

My question:

"Could you please provide me with the definitive word? Will the EX1 "fix-kit" (aside from the obvious need for 82mm threads) likewise fix the HVX's edge-to-edge and image centering sharpness issues or not?"

Aaron's reply (edited for the relevant content):

"The simple answer is yes but not optimally...testing needs to be done. Calculation made. Comparisons compared..."

So there you have it, or so it would seem.

I suppose the next step then would be to...um...try the sucker. I'd be happy to provide the HVX, LEX, Zeiss 50mm 1.4, lights, charts, and Manhattan venue for the test if there's anyone semi-local here who's got a hold of an EX1 fix-kit.

Any takers?