Why are So Many Adapters NOW Being Re-Sold?

M

musicprogirl

Member
I'm in the market for the ideal adapter for my price range
and I've researched Redrock, Cinevate and Letus.
In fact... as an excited newbie I first purchased a LetusFE,
then switched to a redrock M2 HD when I had really "originally" wanted a
Brevis.

Well, all of these units used to be hard to find second hand but now I seem
to see quite a few new listings almost daily.
Is there a reason that so many are dumping these units and/or is there something new on the horizon?

Any info would help. I haven't had a chance to use the Redrock yet and probably won't be filming with it in the next month or so. I'm still learning the camera.
Thanks in advance for any input.


My rig: HVX200, firestore, elipiz, redrock M2HD
 
I think most people get in over their heads and realize it takes much more than just having an adapter to get beautiful images.
 
You have to research these things in order to make a judgement about which one will best suit your needs and abilities and shooting style. There are, as far as I can tell 3 major types of adapters available in terms of design and mechanics. Each offer advantages and drawbacks and I'm guessing some users decide they either want an adapter than can do something theirs can't or they want one that offers better sharpness and bokeh.

It's inherent in the design of these adapters that they ALL reduce sharpness and there ARE some that offer less degradation of the image and a better looking image. In fact, after some considerable research, I may be selling my own M2 soon if the SGpro I ordered proves to be what I expect it to be.

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Or maybe they're selling their units to get a different adapter.

I see a LOT of Brevis units in the marketplace. And as soon as a Letus or SGpro hits the marketplace it vanishes the same day.

I don't think it has anything to do with getting in over your head, just that people may want something a little different.

Like Chris said above being an M2 owner. Although, if I were an M2 owner already (still) I probably would've just purchased the flip unit instead.
 
Something also to consider when thinking about the flip units is the Dr. Seuss style contraption you'll need to use in order to accommodate the height offset created by it.

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That's true. I haven't really seen a Redrock flup unit rig, I'm totally pleased with the LetusEx unit's build though. And I still us Cavision rods.
 
I sold my FE and bought a LEX and was blown away by the increase in quality. I think other shooters are experimenting and constantly moving up.

MattS is right; it takes more than just buying the adaptor to make great pictures. It takes greater knowledge, patience and ability to frame, focus and shoot with an adaptor.

I would compare it to the 35mm still photographer who fires off a number of shots while the large format photographer takes his time for each image but creates something special with each frame.
 
Hi T:

I agree with Matt above. You need the adapter, rod mount and rod system, various lens supports, the best lenses that you can afford, a monitor, a follow focus for some, a matte box and filters for almost everyone unless you only shoot interiors. I have af friend who is just jumping into all of this with an HV-20. He e-mails me every week asking which adpater he should buy, which lenses, which rod mount and rods, etc.

I am in almost $6,000.00 for my package which is more than I paid for my HVX, it's a large money and time commitment. I did a shoot yesterday with the Letus, it was worth all of the hassle and money when the client looked at the monitor and told me how amazingly great the image looked. But the road to getting here has been long and expensive. Too many users read this board and others and think you just buy an adapter and voila, you have filmic images. There is so much more to it than that.

That said, there are probably also a lot of good deals out there on 35mm adapters too! ;-)

Dan
 
not so log ago, adapters were rare. when i got my m2, there was a waiting list of several months. more manufacturers have entered the field, with some new approaches. there are a lot more adapters being made and a lot more out there being used. that's the big reason you're seeing more sold. frankly, i can't imagine shooting a dramatic film without one, if your camera is an hvx, or ex1, or dvx, or hv20. just look at all the shorts in the dvxuser fest--most were shot with some adapter. a year ago, fewer than half used an adapter, i reckon.

i myself have been shooting with a redrock plus a hacked hv20 that flips the image in the lcd for me, and my recent upgrade tp a red camera means i'll be selling my adapter too. it certainly served me well!
 
Chris Santucci said:
I may be selling my own M2 soon if the SGpro I ordered proves to be what I expect it to be.

.
Click to expand...

Please let me know what you "Really" think after you compare. I have a Redrock M2 also and pprior to purchase, I did internet research and video comparisons but in all honesty (right now) I'm to new to tell if any problem is because of the unit or because of me (the user).
I initially fell in love with the Brevis because of the ease of use and minimal loss of light. Thanks to this board I now realize loss of light and ease of use is not the reason for obtaining an adapter . if it was, you wouldn't need one since there is more light without it and the camera is definitely easier to use without it, so those positives seem to be almost irrelevant.
The reason for choosing and adapter is the Image it allows the camera to produce PERIOD! There is a subjective reason based on users but somethings are GLOBAL.
Like.... unsharp IS unsharp, dust is dust, etc.
I know sometimes it's hard to know what something isn't until something new comes around (in a similar price range)
BUT when you know.... You do KNOW! I hope (at least in this thread) we pass on the "real" knowledge without fear of being SLAMMED for telling the truth.
Only love,
T
PS
I'm admittedly aa "newbie" totally unexperienced with adapters and DEFINITELY not on the level of most videographers on this board. I am strictly here to gain knowledge and all advice IS appreciated.
 
matt s. said:
I think most people get in over their heads and realize it takes much more than just having an adapter to get beautiful images.
Click to expand...

That was my first thought and what I hoped was the answer. Then when I saw too many units for sale I remembered most people who get in over their heads stay in over their heads (self included) :)
When you're over your head you sell what you don't like first to get what you want.
This thought made me scared that maybe the companies had a Super HD model coming out or did a new model show a problem that wasn't noted before with the older models.
 
Kholi said:
That's true. I haven't really seen a Redrock flup unit rig, I'm totally pleased with the LetusEx unit's build though. And I still us Cavision rods.
Click to expand...

So far EVERYONE who owns either the LetusEx or SGPro are happy with their units.
And I have to say I haven't seen an SGpro for sale yet (admittedly I haven't been specifically looking for one but I have been on most boards daily and researched when something appears.
 
snp said:
I sold my FE and bought a LEX and was blown away by the increase in quality. I think other shooters are experimenting and constantly moving up.

MattS is right; it takes more than just buying the adaptor to make great pictures. It takes greater knowledge, patience and ability to frame, focus and shoot with an adaptor.
Click to expand...

That's why this board is so valuable. For those of us that are (knowingly or unknowingly) experimenting you are like the master teacher. You save us
major hours of exaperation and torment by telling us in advance problems and fixes for things that you have encountered. AND when we are totally lost some kind knowledgeable soul tells us if the problem is indeed us or the hardware/set-up we're using.

I truly thank you and a Letus EX is really looking like the way to go.
Only love,
T
 
puredrifting said:
I am in almost $6,000.00 for my package which is more than I paid for my HVX, it's a large money and time commitment. I did a shoot yesterday with the Letus, it was worth all of the hassle and money when the client looked at the monitor and told me how amazingly great the image looked.

Dan
Click to expand...

Hi Dan,

This is the sole reason I went the adapter route. First I saw footage shot just with the HVX and I was blown away UNTIL I saw footage with the HVX with an adapter. I am in for way too much money now also and my main goal is to shoot my personal music video's so most of the time I won't be behind the camera and since I've never been happy about renting (things always take longer than thought and cost more than you think) buying is the way to go for me yet with every purchase I do discover something new I need to buy in order to make it "really" work. :)
Yet, if my video's can look anything like film every purchase will be well worth it.
Thanks for repy.
Only love,
T
 
Have to backtrack on your post: a faster adapter is worth it.

That faster adapter needs to be as close to quality as possible, but half a stop of light in the field is still half a stop of light, that means more opportunity to stop down lens to control shallow DOF, get to the sharper parts of the lenses, and of course just a tiny bit less light.

It would be preferable that the faster adapter produce nice bokeh, edge to edge sharpness, etc... but do remember that having a faster adapter can be invaluable to those that can't afford to light much.

I also think that Redrock owners should invest in the flip option before deciding if they want to move to another adapter. I say this because the unit is already known to produce sharper edge to edge results, etc.

Then again, as always, it depends on what you want to do.
 
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