35mm DOF adapter on the cheap...

M

Matt Choules

Active member
Hi Everyone,

I know you must get this alot, but I appreciate any time you can spend to help me out.

I have looked into various HD cameras and loved the Canon EX1, but for the price of it (and the SxS cards) I figured I could probably put together a decent camera + dof adapter (with lenses etc).

I am set on wanting an HD camera and dof adapter, and have decided that I would like to try and go for a digital workflow.
I had a look about and while I know AVCHD cameras are not perfect the fact is that recording to SD cards just makes sense to me, as HDD based cameras still have moving components in them (and replacing the HDD with a SSD would be expensive and void the camera warrenty).

So, I kind of like the look of the Canon HF100 based on its performance against other cameras... And again, its cheap.

As for the DOF adapter, I have looked at the Brevis, Letus, RedRock, SGPro and many DIY adpaters (JJ’s DOF Adapter etc.)
The most affordable seemed to be the SGpro especially as I am based in the UK and the import tax would not be an issue.

But, is there a DIY or other adapter that I might have missed that will still allow for me to record in Full HD?

I have seen a few non GG adapters that are cheaper, but am not sure what the difference would be in quality or potential issues.

I don't mind if its not flipped, as the camera is so small that I will be trying to mount it upside down to save on buying a flip module.
With the money saved there I am hoping to include for an external monitor or viewfinder also, thus allowing me to focus properly and negotiate the lcd on the wrong side issue!

Can anyone give me advise about anything I have asked about? (e.g. the HF100, any other cheap yet decent cameras, DOF adapters, vibrating vs. static vs. rotary designs, building a cheap rig, quality issues).

Many thanks for looking, and for the replies I recieve.
Matt.
 
Matt Choules said:
I have looked into various HD cameras and loved the Canon EX1, but for the price of it (and the SxS cards) I figured I could probably put together a decent camera + dof adapter (with lenses etc).
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I presume you mean Sony PMW-EX1.

Speaking about Canon I think XH-A1 is a steal for the low price right now. HV20 and HV30 is a cheap popular choice if you want something cheaper.

Maybe you should wait for the new SGpro Blade. I prefer Letus, but I have never used the SGpro.
 
Markitto said:
I presume you mean Sony PMW-EX1.
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Yes, I did mean the PMW-EX1. Great camera, especially in low light conditions.

Markitto said:
I think XH-A1 is a steal for the low price right now.
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Yeah, it is a good price, but as I said I need a cheap set-up. The A1 is definately out of my league for now. I'm looking at around the £500 mark ($800). Depending on how much I spend on everything else.

Markitto said:
HV20 and HV30 is a cheap popular choice if you want something cheaper.
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As I mentioned, I am looking for a digital workflow, e.g. not using miniDV.

Markitto said:
Maybe you should wait for the new SGpro Blade.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've emailed shoot35 about this, but it will be at an even greater expense than the SGPro and as cost is the deciding factor I doubt it will suit my needs.

Thanks for your reply.
 
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well, typically the DIY-ish adapters won't provide the sharpness or bokeh of the real deal. I'm rockin a cheapo right now only untill the sgBlade officially comes out. Its really researching and making the decision that fits your budget.

I'd suggest a used letus or sgpro
 
I don't know, 35mm adapters aren't a cheap investment. You buy the adapter, then you buy the lenses and the rails and the follow focus and the lens gears and the tripod to support the rig etc. You can easily end up spending three times the cost of the camera, and you're more likely than not to be hampered by the cheap camera to start with. Adapters are the last thing you should buy when you don't have any support gear. It's such a huge investment in money and time on set that you shouldn't blow all your money on it when there are other things you can get that will get you much better results.
 
Well, I did think about getting an expensive adapter, but the truth is that I am not likely to be able to afford one.

At least with a cheap adapter I can get practising and making shorts and what not. I know the quality will not be perfect, but I obviously if you have a reduced budget something has to be compromised.

I mean, have a look here:
http://vimeo.com/jjdofadapter

Don't you think that some of these are relatively decent?
(Even if he should have used a tripod in most cases)
 
It's not really about getting an expensive or cheap adapter (although you do get what you pay for), it's about whether you already have the necessary gear and personnel in place to support getting an adapter. An adapter, any adapter, requires a good 1st AC to pull focus or else your shot ends up looking soft. It also requires you to light well for interior shots because of the added light loss. And then you have to factor in setup time and whether the tripod you have can handle the weight. So now the shot that you could have gotten in one minute sans adapter takes you five minutes because you have to measure focus mark (and then the actors keep hitting the wrong mark and go out of focus). That costs you time, and money, and your product ends up the worse for it. Like I said, an adapter is on the bottom of the list of things you need to get unless you already have the things that you need. Blow 2 or 3k on an adapter setup and only $800 on a camera just doesn't make any sense to me.
 
Well for work at my company we are still using Canon XL1s cameras, and they do nicely for the kind of work we do.
So, this is basically for me to use for personal work, and will rarely be used for client stuff.

I understand that a decent support crew would be needed in the event of a proper shoot, but as I am a camera operator (albeit a low end one), I would be doing all the focus pulling myself, as well as lighting etc.

As I said this is mainly for hobby work and showreel, with some occasional bits of paid work thrown in hopefully.

I'm figuring that if i put together a half decent rig (lenses, dof adapter, focus follow, camera, rails, 7" monitor etc.) using fairly cheap methods, if I decide I don't like it after a while or what something different, chances are there will be someone in the same position who will want to buy it. Lets face it, cheap DOF adapters are becoming more popular these days.

Here's what I am working towards so far:
eBay:
​
 
I have done some more research and found the Twoneil adapter to be very promising. The best results come from the Twoneil "HD" version:

http://vimeo.com/groups/297/videos/1717886

Although this is not the official HD version, as it is a staic adapter not vibrating, which includes a Zeiss acromat, unfortunately these are in short supply at the moment, and the HD version is not yet available.

Twoneil Adapters:
http://www.hv20.com/showthread.php?t=2825

However some people are showing some promising results with an Opteka 10x HD2 acromat...

http://vimeo.com/1550639
http://vimeo.com/1833967
http://vimeo.com/1715620
 
G35 looks ace, alas I have no where near that budget!
Not heard of the Handy35, thanks for letting me know about that one...
 
I did consider making my own, but I figured that I would spare the extra cost and get someone who knows what they are doing (or at least has tried it a few times and ended up with decent results), to do it.

At least that way it won't be a waste of my time and money.

Chances are that I'd mess it up anyway so...
 
Almost any or all of those DIY adapters you see that use Nikon or Canon extension tubes are using Daniel's (from jetsetmodels) parts. Rng, JJ, Bj's..all of em. Just different glass and what not. Just save your money up and get something that's worth getting. Don't rush into buying something for the sake of buying it. Or just buy a Nikon D90.
 
Car3o said:
Almost any or all of those DIY adapters you see that use Nikon or Canon extension tubes are using Daniel's (from jetsetmodels) parts. Rng, JJ, Bj's..all of em. Just different glass and what not. Just save your money up and get something that's worth getting. Don't rush into buying something for the sake of buying it. Or just buy a Nikon D90.
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Car30,

Actually the RNG35 does not use any kind of DIY parts at all. We have everything custom made and custom milled.
 
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