Letus Extreme35 for 2/3" - Test video with HPX500

This is the big question for me as well, to be honest I love the SLR size with the 17-35mm zoom.

Now all we need is for someone to make a nice grip with a servo zoom powered by a D-tap and we can do a ENG setup with this baby :evil:

Lenilenapi said:
Looks like a home run Hien, congratulations.

SLR or Acadamy size?

No capacity for zooming is there?

- Lenny
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Gonna have to say that most people investing in the unit or renting it won't be looking to use SLR lenses. There are also other factors to consider like low cost. You're basically building a lens, turning it into a Zoom lens of quality enough to handle the application throughout the zoom range pushes costs to a place where nobody would buy one but rental houses.

Case in point: P+S Pro35 Adapter.

With that in mind, what's the best thing to do? Optimize the relay for a frame size that will work with SLR and Cine Primes. Don't quote me, but I always considered that to be 24 x 18. If you were to optimize for anything larger, you can't use anything smaller due to vignetting.

Of even greater value, however, are the two unique options: Iris AND Backfocus adjustment and locks. You can't beat this kind of user control with a stick.

So, if it is (which I'm guessing it is) locked and optimized for a cinematic standard then I'm down.
 
I've been trying to figure out why this needs to have an Iris. Someone smarter than I, please enlighten me.
 
To control light. I'm not sure how it affects DOF between adapter and camera, however. My guess is that it acts just like the HVX lens between Ground glass and Camera, seeing as how that's what the relay is. I mean, if the HVX can be stopped down to achieve better edge to edge then it should be similar.

Remember, ENG lenses have iris control, once you lose that I don't think there's a way for most of these cameras to control light internally (see: Electronic Iris). So, the actual Relay itself now has an Iris control to compensate for that.

See the Relay as a lens all it's own now, with the addition of a backfocus option.
 
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Kholi's right - has to have an iris.

I disagree about no one wanting to use SLR lenses though but we've been through this one before.
 
Didnt' imply "no one". Just that most of your relay users will probably be renting CIne Primes as well. I'm probably wrong, just that the optimization for 24 x 18 frame size is a bit more practical than SLR. At least you can still use SLR lenses with no recoil, as opposed to the other option.
 
I still don't get it. The lens you put on the relay has an iris. Besides, the iris on this unit is not marked in any way - how would you ever achieve repeatable results?????
 
taormina said:
I still don't get it. The lens you put on the relay has an iris. Besides, the iris on this unit is not marked in any way - how would you ever achieve repeatable results?????
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Lenses like Zeiss Superspeeds work best at T1.3, therefore it sometimes is necessary to control exposure with the iris in the relay.
 
Adam,

You generally want to keep a 35mm lens on an adapter pretty wide open for minimizing depth of field.

If the iris on the unit is separate (as on a P+S) you can close that down for exposure while putting the 35mm where you want it for DOF.

On the adapters for 1/3" cameras the exposure is handled by the video cameras lens, but we don't have that with a B4 relay so it needs to be built in. You're right - It would be preferable to have f stop markings though. These are just pics of a prototype though.

Lenny
 
taormina said:
I still don't get it. The lens you put on the relay has an iris. Besides, the iris on this unit is not marked in any way - how would you ever achieve repeatable results?????
Click to expand...

Markings would be a nice addition to the unit.

If you're used to using your Letus Extreme and HVX200 then you probably already know that in addition to Taking Lens stop values (F/T Stops) the electronic iris of the HVX200 lends itself to helping to control the exposure.

On larger format cameras such as the HPX500 (someone tell me if I'm wrong here) you don't have the electronic iris, it's done with the lens/electronic lens or digital prime lens.

So, similar to an HVX200 + Adapter Mind Frame this unit allows you to further control light by enacting as the "Lens" for the HPX500 or whatever B4 mount cam you may be using.

On the HVX200 I'm used to trying to get the HVX down to F4~5.6 when shooting and the Taking lens to about 2.8. If the lens is a 2.8, then 3.4~4. It's primarily for improved sharpness between the HVX and the adapter and to negate the hyper-shallow effects of shooting closer to wide open with the taking lens.

In short: The Relay becomes the lens to the HPX500, as the built-in/non-detachable lens is to the HVX200. When dealing with adapters and the Frankenstein contraptions that they are you want to have as much control over controlling light as you can. Not just in camera, but in front of it as well o'course.

=P That said, I can't wait til production models are released. Count on being able to see a model in person here in Santa Monica.
 
Will definitely be looking for one of these around summertime. I personally am still very interested in using SLR primes on a unit like this.
 
So.... yeah just saw the ridiculous HPX500 pricing + rebate from panny. Naturally, the next thing I did was find this thread.

bump for info!
 
Its right at the top on the HVX section. I just mean the B&H pricing + rebate. Basically $8500 after rebate. That price would make me want to skip upgrading to an ex-1 and go straight to this bad boy (if I had the dough :) )

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=130662&page=2

*EDIT* actually based on post #23, on the above thread, it would be $7999 after rebate. But, the person he spoke to at B&H could have no idea what hes talking about.
 
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Ok, so i guess its confirmed. That price is amazing. Now bring on some B4 mount release info!!
 
Holy crap. 8k!?!?!

:O

Can't express how happy I am that EX-1 had issues. LOL. Now I can seriously go after an HPX500 relay setup.
 
LOL i knew your were gonna go nuts. I know you passed on the Ex-1.

DO IT, and shoot your timefest entry with this.
 
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