HDCAM or XDCAM HD.. which one?!!!

Yes, you will actually have to pick up additional lens(es.) The Letus Ultimate attaches to the end of the EX3 stock lens, then another lens is attached to the end of Letus. I know there was talk of a relay lens to replace the stock lens on the EX3, decreasing the amount of glass in the setup, but am not sure anyhting has been released yet. There are many options for lenses and mounts for the Letus...you can use manual focus nikon primes or zooms as well as canons and others. You can find used Nikons pretty cheap on Ebay.
Zeiss has a nikon mount lens set (ZF) which has been getting good reviews, but you will be looking at $3500-$5500 depending on what you get. I would suggest at least 3 primes. 25-50-85 for example.
Or if you really want to lay down some cash (and can find them) you can purchase purchase PL mount cine lenses. These can easily set you back over 20k these days. You may want to "cinevise" the still lenses by adding focus rings and removing the click stops on the iris, amongst other things.
I just purchased a Letus Elite set up. I already own a set of Zeiss cine lenses so my descision was pretty easy. You will also need to purchase a rod and baseplate support system, follow focus and while you wouldn't have to you would probably want to pick up a matte box. Maybe you already have some of this stuff.
Personally I'm not sure I would buy the Ultimate...I purchased the Elite and am very happy with it. I already had lenses, matte box and follow focus and I spent close to 4k for my Letus set up.
If you have to buy all of the lenses, accessories and the Ultimate I'm guessing you could easily top the 10k mark. I just couldn't justify the additional $2700 or so for the Ultimate. I'm not saying it's not worth it for some people...it just wasnt for me. I am very happy with the results I am getting out of the Elite. I would recommend spending the extra $600 for the back focus adjustment capabilities of the Elite over the Extreme. I would also purchase the optimization acromat. Good luck my friend. Jeff
Nik .. Since I already got an EX3, your idea is worth trying. I will be getting Wafain, and Letus35 Ultimate to be used with my EX3, and I will see the results.

By the way, do I have to use a new lens with Letus35 Ultimate, or I can use the factory EX3 lens? I am still not 100% clear on the setup and configuration :huh:

EC .. thanks, but I am a Windows person, not Mac.[/QUOTE]
 
spectrumfilms said:
Yes, you will actually have to pick up additional lens(es.) The Letus Ultimate attaches to the end of the EX3 stock lens, then another lens is attached to the end of Letus. I know there was talk of a relay lens to replace the stock lens on the EX3, decreasing the amount of glass in the setup, but am not sure anyhting has been released yet. There are many options for lenses and mounts for the Letus...you can use manual focus nikon primes or zooms as well as canons and others. You can find used Nikons pretty cheap on Ebay.
Zeiss has a nikon mount lens set (ZF) which has been getting good reviews, but you will be looking at $3500-$5500 depending on what you get. I would suggest at least 3 primes. 25-50-85 for example.
Or if you really want to lay down some cash (and can find them) you can purchase purchase PL mount cine lenses. These can easily set you back over 20k these days. You may want to "cinevise" the still lenses by adding focus rings and removing the click stops on the iris, amongst other things.
I just purchased a Letus Elite set up. I already own a set of Zeiss cine lenses so my descision was pretty easy. You will also need to purchase a rod and baseplate support system, follow focus and while you wouldn't have to you would probably want to pick up a matte box. Maybe you already have some of this stuff.
Personally I'm not sure I would buy the Ultimate...I purchased the Elite and am very happy with it. I already had lenses, matte box and follow focus and I spent close to 4k for my Letus set up.
If you have to buy all of the lenses, accessories and the Ultimate I'm guessing you could easily top the 10k mark. I just couldn't justify the additional $2700 or so for the Ultimate. I'm not saying it's not worth it for some people...it just wasnt for me. I am very happy with the results I am getting out of the Elite. I would recommend spending the extra $600 for the back focus adjustment capabilities of the Elite over the Extreme. I would also purchase the optimization acromat. Good luck my friend. Jeff
Nik .. Since I already got an EX3, your idea is worth trying. I will be getting Wafain, and Letus35 Ultimate to be used with my EX3, and I will see the results.

By the way, do I have to use a new lens with Letus35 Ultimate, or I can use the factory EX3 lens? I am still not 100% clear on the setup and configuration :huh:

EC .. thanks, but I am a Windows person, not Mac.
Click to expand...
[/quote]


Jeff .. thanks man for your detailed feedback, and for your time. :)

I learned that the Letus Ultimate attaches to the end of the EX3 stock lens, but did not know that another lens MUST be attached to the end of Letus, because I was thinking that the Letus35 Ultimate is adapter with lens built in!!

I like Fujinon brand, what model will work for my needs?

I already ordered the Letus35 Ultimate Bundle, which includes:
1- Sony PMW-EX1/EX3 Specialized 77mm ring
2- PL Mount
3- Rods V2 Complete System (30cm + 15cm) Stainless Steel Rods.

Is there anything else I should have from Letus?

I am very novice when it comes to lenses, and I really did not understand most of your comments :embarasse. For example, what do you mean by "I would suggest at least 3 primes. 25-50-85 for example"?? Would you explain in more details? :shocked:

I am no expert, so I would like to stay in extreme safe side, and I really want very very easy, and straight-forward configuration for my EX3, Letus35 Ultimate, and a new Fujinon lens. I appreciate you help.
 
No contest:

XDCAM HD is the clear winner. You can't beat its price/quality ratio. Only the most trained eye will se the difference between that and HD CAM plus it's easy to handle, easy to edit and you don't have to worry about outrageously expensive and heavy tape stock. If you want my opinion XD CAM HD made all tape formats OBSOLETE!
 
jujufactory said:
No contest:

XDCAM HD is the clear winner. You can't beat its price/quality ratio. Only the most trained eye will se the difference between that and HD CAM plus it's easy to handle, easy to edit and you don't have to worry about outrageously expensive and heavy tape stock. If you want my opinion XD CAM HD made all tape formats OBSOLETE!
Click to expand...

You have got a very valid point, and I am starting to lean more towards XDCAM HD, especially the 700 model. Any idea if the 700 do slow/quick motion in full HD?
 
By the way .. if I understand correctly, 2 lenses will be attached to the EX3 with Letus35 in between them. So, there will be separate lens control for each, such as zoom, focus, etc. Which one should I use, the EX3 stock lens, or the one attached after the Letus?!!! I am 100% confused!!!!
 
The controls on the stock lense are focussed and zoomed to configure the Letus and then left alone - even taped in position

Any focus or zoom changes are done on the lens attached to the letus
 
There must be a lens between the camera and the adapter. That can be a dedicated relay lens, or it can be the stock lens.

Then there's the adapter, which is not a lens. So there has to be a lens on the front of it.

The lens in front focuses the image onto the adapter's ground glass. The lens on the camera photographs the ground glass image.
 
Will the PDW 700 do this or this?

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

The PDW 700 is the top of the line XD CAM HD camera running at 50MB/S, FULL HD, All Frame Rates, 2/3 inch, 4 channel digital Audio, which can handle anything its predecessors did including slow motion and various things the 900 can't even do. There is nothing this thing can't do and Forget HD CAM! HD CAM is totally obsolete. You will NEVER see the difference between the image of a 50MB/S XD CAM HD and HDCAM except the outrageous 144MB/S HDCAM bitrate which has to be downconverted anyways during editing and which adds nothing except extra expenses, weight, hassle, time waste etc. Mark my words: The PDW 700 is the only camera you will ever need and I don't care what you plan on shooting.

The reason I know this is because SONY put on a show here in Paris where they projected all their formats on a giant screen. XD CAM HD outperformed anything I have ever see in terms of functionality, ease of use and quality for such a reasonable bitrate. The difference between HDV and XD CAM HD is visible. The difference between 35MB/S XD CAM HD and HD CAM is really really subdle and most of it is due to lenses. 50MB/S XH CAM HD was created to eliminate that slight difference. The visible difference between 50MB/S HDCAM and XD CAM HD is nonexistant except on paper. In fact I can't think of a single reason why one would still use HD CAM 4:4:4 144MB/S bla bla for something nobody will notice. From my point of view XD CAM is the final solution to the camera problem and the PDW 700 is the top of the line XD CAM HD camera. The F900 is a vintage camera and with its MattBox and extended viewfinder it is great for getting girls excited. But when it comes to getting the job done without bullshi*, the 700 is the best choice. And you may quote me on that. NOBODY WILL SEE THE DIFFERENCE!!!! NOBODY (Except your bank when they see what money you wasted on HD CAM and the editor who will pull his hair out when he realizes you still use tape)!!!
 
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There is no lens in the Letus, it is merely an adapter to use between the camera and whatever lens you decide to use with it. As far as I know the only lens mounts available on the Letus are Canon FD,EF/Eos, Nikon A1 and PL mount. My gut feeling is a Fuji lens will not work with the adapter. What mount does the Fuji lens have, is it 1/2 inch lens? If it is a 1/2" lens you may be able to use it directly on the EX3, but you would be bypassing the Letus adapter at that point.
I'm not sure but don't think the Fuji will have a PL mount, which is the mount you ordered with the Letus.
The reason you would want 3 different prime lenses is for more options for focal length, the 25 being a wider angle lens, the 50 a "normal" lens, and the 85 would be your longer telephoto lens. Unfortunately you may need to rethink your Fuji lens purchase. Good luck
Jeff


Jeff .. thanks man for your detailed feedback, and for your time. :)

I learned that the Letus Ultimate attaches to the end of the EX3 stock lens, but did not know that another lens MUST be attached to the end of Letus, because I was thinking that the Letus35 Ultimate is adapter with lens built in!!

I like Fujinon brand, what model will work for my needs?

I already ordered the Letus35 Ultimate Bundle, which includes:
1- Sony PMW-EX1/EX3 Specialized 77mm ring
2- PL Mount
3- Rods V2 Complete System (30cm + 15cm) Stainless Steel Rods.

Is there anything else I should have from Letus?

I am very novice when it comes to lenses, and I really did not understand most of your comments :embarasse. For example, what do you mean by "I would suggest at least 3 primes. 25-50-85 for example"?? Would you explain in more details? :shocked:

I am no expert, so I would like to stay in extreme safe side, and I really want very very easy, and straight-forward configuration for my EX3, Letus35 Ultimate, and a new Fujinon lens. I appreciate you help.[/QUOTE]
 
Check out this video, it may shed some light on what you are trying to do here.
Jeff

http://exposureroom.com/members/philipbloom.aspx/assets/7e1a0a3099b14d758a2f50b2e4fa876b/


aboammar said:
By the way .. if I understand correctly, 2 lenses will be attached to the EX3 with Letus35 in between them. So, there will be separate lens control for each, such as zoom, focus, etc. Which one should I use, the EX3 stock lens, or the one attached after the Letus?!!! I am 100% confused!!!!
Click to expand...
 
Morgan, and Bary .. thank you for your feedback.

JuJuFactory .. thanks for your detailed reply. I know that the 700 is one of the best camera now, but I wanted to check if it dose slow and quick motion with full HD? I could not find such information in Sony website!!! Can you provide a link about that (Slow/Quick)? Thanks ..
 
spectrumfilms said:
There is no lens in the Letus, it is merely an adapter to use between the camera and whatever lens you decide to use with it. As far as I know the only lens mounts available on the Letus are Canon FD,EF/Eos, Nikon A1 and PL mount. My gut feeling is a Fuji lens will not work with the adapter. What mount does the Fuji lens have, is it 1/2 inch lens? If it is a 1/2" lens you may be able to use it directly on the EX3, but you would be bypassing the Letus adapter at that point.
I'm not sure but don't think the Fuji will have a PL mount, which is the mount you ordered with the Letus.
The reason you would want 3 different prime lenses is for more options for focal length, the 25 being a wider angle lens, the 50 a "normal" lens, and the 85 would be your longer telephoto lens. Unfortunately you may need to rethink your Fuji lens purchase. Good luck
Jeff
Click to expand...
[/quote]


Man .. you have been so helpful .. thank you very much for your help and for the links :thumbup:

I contacted Letus about the same subject, and this was his reply:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello,
Thank you for contacting us and for your previous order. If you are needing lenses, I would highly recommend looking at getting the Nikon mount for your adapter and consider the Zeiss ZF lenses that we offer. We have a complete set of Zeiss lenses available here: http://www.letusdirect.com/cart/zeiss-pro-bundle.html These lenses will fit on the Nikon mount we offer for the Letus adapters: http://www.letusdirect.com/cart/letus-nikon-ai-mount.html

That would be the best option if you want extremely high quality, new lenses. If you are on a tighter budget, you can simply purchase the Nikon AI mount and look for used Nikon lenses. Either option would provide great results.

If you have any other questions, please let us know.

Thank you,
Aaron
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What do you think: should I go with their Carl Zeiss - Prime Lens Pro Bundle which costs $3,442, and $99 for Letus Nikon AI Mount? :huh:
 
I would agree with Aaron, the Zeiss ZF lenses are probably your best bet. Have these lenses been cinevized?? I would recomend getting focus gear rings installed and purchasing a follow focus unit. It makes life a lot easier.
Jeff
 
spectrumfilms said:
I would agree with Aaron, the Zeiss ZF lenses are probably your best bet. Have these lenses been cinevized?? I would recomend getting focus gear rings installed and purchasing a follow focus unit. It makes life a lot easier.
Jeff
Click to expand...

Thanks, then I am going with the Zeiss ZF lenses ...

Cinevized!! What dose that mean?!
Could you provide a links for focus gear rings, and follow focus unit that will work with my setup?
 
But how did you get your information in the first place when you said the 700 has slow motion?!!

If the official Sony website dose not mention that the 700 has that feature, then most often it dose not have it!!

Thanks for the link ..
 
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