Cinevate's CF1/2/3 Imaging Screens..Exposed!

Dennis Wood

Dennis Wood

DVXuser Sponsor
At long, long last we've put together a detailed overview of our interchangeable imaging Elements CF1Le, CF2Le, and CF3Le. CF1, CF2 and CF3 look exacltly the same visually but of course are designed for smaller cameras like the HV20. The elements can be field swapped in about 2-3 minutes. This is the first clip produced, shot and edited 100% in house by the same Cinevate team members who take care of all optical assembly, quality control and shipping. The camera used was the EX1 with the standard picture profile, set between f8 and f11 during the outside shots. We've tested the bare EX1 lens to find out that it's best edge to edge sharpness is achieved at f8. Shooting without an adapter, this is where the camera should be too. We've tried to provide a full exposure range in these shots with the highs at about 103%.

The clips are split into two parts where part 1 is a technical analysis and part 2 has the pretty pictures.

Enjoy: http://www.cinevate.com/website/index.php/videouniversity/

 
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Thanks Marco :-) Our video series represents a large commitment in terms of time, resources and funds, but nice feedback like that from the shooting community certainly helps recharge us for the next session. We shot a short blurb on using a basic set of mattebox filters during the setup for part 2 and will have that clip up next week.

Hans, that's our own FF we're using. That's the field test unit with the new mod'd parts. There's a few of them floating around, but this one does not have the whip port installed. That port will be standard on the shipping version.
 
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ecking said:
Awesome video. Hans I've seen their FF, it's really nice with a great a build.
Click to expand...

When will this be released for sale? I was considering purchasing an IndieFocus (the newest one) sometime within the next couple of months. If there is not a definite release date for the Cinevate follow focus yet, could someone at least say if it will be out in the next three months or so? I'll wait if it will be released sometime soon.

Very nice videos on the image elements.
 
Dennis, nice work, how about other properties of the GGs like the 35mm aperture control is it linear on CFl2 and CFl3? The "brevis effect" of variable DoF (which is a very nice creative tool) with no aperture control below F4 - F5.6 on the front lens? That is my biggest problem, Varicam is being operated by DoP with ASA and a photometer only, so if they don't have precise aperture control they can't work with the camera...
That's why I forced to try other GGs... these are the benefits of exchangeable GGs... a new GG and you have a new adapter!

Vignetting in wide angle lenses in F4 and above? this is critical also...

Any new developments...

Please en light us...

P.S. Out of topic... Hmmm I have to send you my Brevis for MP upgrade... whats the cost?
 
I have all the diffusers. Cf2 and CF3 do not have the "brevis effect". However, you can't really close the aperture much on vibrating adapters without getting the GSE.
 
grainy screen effect.

It looks like a stocking stretched and held over the lens when using a CF3 when too closed down. It's pretty much the reason I went with CF2
 
From what I could tell the CFL2 loses about the same lightloss but doesn't have the Brevis effect and can stop down just as much? I guess I missed it but what is the lightloss difference between each.
 
Evangelos, the MP.1 update is in our catalog in the updates section with instructions on how to send it back so we can update for you :-)

The light loss of each can be clinically viewed as we stop down from f1.4 to f5.6 on each imaging element system (look at the waveform monitor in the clip). To summarize, and contrary to what many think, each imaging element is very close in terms of light efficiency with our 50mm lens at f1.4 with all three only showing .5 to .6 stops. What does vary is the usable aperture range and the total system loss as you stop the 35mm lens down 4 more stops to f5.6 With the 50mm lens at f5.6 (which most think would result in 5 stops of light loss) the camera still only loses ~1 stop with CF1Le, ~1.3 with CF2Le and ~2 stops with CF3Le. In other words, they are still incredibly efficient. With CF2Le and CF3le though we recommend lenses faster than f2.8 to avoid grain masking.

We're doing a shoot this week with a collection of Zeiss lenses, the EX1, and an imaging element system you've never seen before. It's got shallower DOF than CF3Le but with even tighter bokeh than CF1Le (meaning less grain)....and virtually the same light-loss as CF1Le. We're pretty excited about this is it's just like the flip...better everything in a drop in/on module. Because pretty much every feature we've introduced over the last two years has been subsequently "borrowed" elsewhere (eg. XY adjustment and micro-collimation) , this element will not be released without a patent. Projected cost for the drop-in imaging element system (meaning 100% compatible with every adapter we've sold)...$220 :-)
 
That is awesome news! I was wondering how far vibrating adapters could go. If it's got less grain does this let that element begin to enter the space of spinners as far as shutter speed and stopping down goes? And I'm sure it's pointless to ask at this stage but do you guys have have a timeframe for when it's gonna drop?
 
and will there be a discount for those customers that already have your full line of elements? hhehe, oh the can of worms you let open..
 
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