yea its got some ca, but it seems to lessen when you stop the 35mm lens down. so I think its coming from the nikons. gonna test with my canons next week. my blade is rented out already...
SGBLADE - Review
- Thread starter TimurCivan
- Start date
more footy....
Leo Versola
Well-known member
Your slomo stuff looks really good, TC; nice and clean... Can you share the following?
1) Record format (720p, 720pn, 1080p, 1080pa)?
2) Workflow (capture with Raylight) -> Intermediate format?
3) Final render settings in preparation for upload to ER?
Also, looks like you were able to zoom out to Z78 while mine is at Z79/Z80 before showing internals. I'm assuming it's the difference in stock lenses between the HVX and the HPX (slightly wider) that would account for this, no?
Thanks!!
1) Record format (720p, 720pn, 1080p, 1080pa)?
2) Workflow (capture with Raylight) -> Intermediate format?
3) Final render settings in preparation for upload to ER?
Also, looks like you were able to zoom out to Z78 while mine is at Z79/Z80 before showing internals. I'm assuming it's the difference in stock lenses between the HVX and the HPX (slightly wider) that would account for this, no?
Thanks!!
PaPa
Major Contributor
stuff looks good Tim!
When you want to shoot 60p at 720p but you're editing in a 1080 project, do you just upscale the footage?
Also, i notice that on the far right side of the frame, there is some edge softness, not extreme but it caught my eye ( the side of the building trees. Is the GG flush/straight?
When you want to shoot 60p at 720p but you're editing in a 1080 project, do you just upscale the footage?
Also, i notice that on the far right side of the frame, there is some edge softness, not extreme but it caught my eye ( the side of the building trees. Is the GG flush/straight?
Thanks for footage, Timur! The e2e looks good, but it's no surprise as the camera lens was at f5.6. I wonder what'd it look like when wide open - this would be the ultimate e2e test. It's not often that you can afford to stop down your camera lens loosing another 2 or more stops of light...
Dino
Veteran
If only there was a resolution chart that could show edge to edge and CA effortlessly.....oh wait, there is, just can't get anybody on this forum to use one!
yea yea hold your horses....
the problem with NYC is all the rooms are only 7 feet wide..... a 4' chart is difficult to work with....
the problem with NYC is all the rooms are only 7 feet wide..... a 4' chart is difficult to work with....
Dino
Veteran
Lol. But you've got rent control! My biggest charts are only 17"X11" and work fine. It really is the best way to evaluate individual lenses, of course the wide ones have to be brought pretty close to the chart if not 4'.
Tim Naylor
Veteran
Timur, post the link on this thread please.
Also note to all: the 24mm is a 24mm 2.0 not a 24mm 2.8.
So I took a look at the tests we shot and can deduce a few things. The right side vignettes more than the left. Probably more a function of the HVX offset. To my eye (not chart measured) it doesn't appear as sharp as an Ultimate and perhaps not even the Extreme. Edge fall off on HVX is more noticeable on right side. I'm neither disappointed or nuts about the image. Doesn't have the whoa wow factor of the Ultimate and seems less contrasty than the Extreme. I was hoping to blown away. The bokeh is nothing to write home about. It's alright. Neither dull or magical (like the Sg REV 3). We'll test the other diffuser when time allows to get that magic back. It loses more sharpness than the Ultimate when zoomed in. It an zoom out fairly wide before vignetting (about 77-78 on an HVX). That's a good thing for me. I don't like to restrict my square to pana 1:85.
Definitely has a texture to it that I like that reminds me of the random grain of film.
What do I like? I love being able to shoot past a 5.6 or 1/1000th without grain. I think the build is overall excellent (though the support bracket design can be improved). I like the x/y adjustment. It's Nikon mount is one of the few that doesn't have any jiggle. I like the fact that it mounts into threaded screws rather than the pin into metal method.
That said, I think it's solid for 1400-1500.00 or whatever it's going for now. If people were hoping for an Ultimate Killer this ain't it. Far from it. I think it has a few design/build advantages but falls way short of the Ultimates silky smooth, uber sharp image, IMO. It's more than good enough for small screen work, music videos, docs, etc. I would hesitate to do a feature with theatrical dreams with it. That said, for the $ it's a big step up from anything around it in terms of build/feature set.
I wonder how it'll stack up against the the RR. Hopefull we can test it with it an EX1. I know we'll the chorus of folks asking why we didn't shoot this chart or that, or this stop or that and we appreciate the input. Hopefully we'll get around to more. The next tests I'd like to do are low light (wide open on camera and a stop above on the lens - I stay away from shooting still lenses wide open).
That's all folks.
Also note to all: the 24mm is a 24mm 2.0 not a 24mm 2.8.
So I took a look at the tests we shot and can deduce a few things. The right side vignettes more than the left. Probably more a function of the HVX offset. To my eye (not chart measured) it doesn't appear as sharp as an Ultimate and perhaps not even the Extreme. Edge fall off on HVX is more noticeable on right side. I'm neither disappointed or nuts about the image. Doesn't have the whoa wow factor of the Ultimate and seems less contrasty than the Extreme. I was hoping to blown away. The bokeh is nothing to write home about. It's alright. Neither dull or magical (like the Sg REV 3). We'll test the other diffuser when time allows to get that magic back. It loses more sharpness than the Ultimate when zoomed in. It an zoom out fairly wide before vignetting (about 77-78 on an HVX). That's a good thing for me. I don't like to restrict my square to pana 1:85.
Definitely has a texture to it that I like that reminds me of the random grain of film.
What do I like? I love being able to shoot past a 5.6 or 1/1000th without grain. I think the build is overall excellent (though the support bracket design can be improved). I like the x/y adjustment. It's Nikon mount is one of the few that doesn't have any jiggle. I like the fact that it mounts into threaded screws rather than the pin into metal method.
That said, I think it's solid for 1400-1500.00 or whatever it's going for now. If people were hoping for an Ultimate Killer this ain't it. Far from it. I think it has a few design/build advantages but falls way short of the Ultimates silky smooth, uber sharp image, IMO. It's more than good enough for small screen work, music videos, docs, etc. I would hesitate to do a feature with theatrical dreams with it. That said, for the $ it's a big step up from anything around it in terms of build/feature set.
I wonder how it'll stack up against the the RR. Hopefull we can test it with it an EX1. I know we'll the chorus of folks asking why we didn't shoot this chart or that, or this stop or that and we appreciate the input. Hopefully we'll get around to more. The next tests I'd like to do are low light (wide open on camera and a stop above on the lens - I stay away from shooting still lenses wide open).
That's all folks.
Last edited:
Tim Naylor
Veteran
CA ? Where?
Avenger007
Well-known member
Tim, excellent review and updates. Short and concise. You speak my language.
I'm hoping they deliver a proper C/Y Mount so that I can finally ditch the wanky EOS to C/Y adapters. I love mounting Contax glass directly onto the Extreme and Ultimate. I didn't think the blade would be an ultimate killer, but it looks to be a great entry for more budget minded productions. If the SGPro GG delivers similar performance to the old Box, then it looks to be a great upgrade just from it's improved build and features. I finished shooting an SG film a couple weeks ago and those battery pods are just an absolute mess. I'd love to start using the variable motor, X/Y, and Collimation as well.
That SG Look is hard to beat. I consistently take it over the other more light efficient adapters. I'm very interested to see the Encore. I think RR may be on the rise again, especially now that its much more modern in its electronics, mounting, and optics.
Which achromat did you guys have? Did you try adjusting the X/Y for better edge focus (as in purposely pushing it in one direction)? Have you compared side by side with SG Pro for sharpness, color, and lightloss?
I'm hoping they deliver a proper C/Y Mount so that I can finally ditch the wanky EOS to C/Y adapters. I love mounting Contax glass directly onto the Extreme and Ultimate. I didn't think the blade would be an ultimate killer, but it looks to be a great entry for more budget minded productions. If the SGPro GG delivers similar performance to the old Box, then it looks to be a great upgrade just from it's improved build and features. I finished shooting an SG film a couple weeks ago and those battery pods are just an absolute mess. I'd love to start using the variable motor, X/Y, and Collimation as well.
That SG Look is hard to beat. I consistently take it over the other more light efficient adapters. I'm very interested to see the Encore. I think RR may be on the rise again, especially now that its much more modern in its electronics, mounting, and optics.
Which achromat did you guys have? Did you try adjusting the X/Y for better edge focus (as in purposely pushing it in one direction)? Have you compared side by side with SG Pro for sharpness, color, and lightloss?
powervideo
Well-known member
Wayne has a direct Contax mount coming shortly. There were some manufacturing holdups apparently.
Peter
Tim Naylor
Veteran
I should be getting a cinemek G35. Will definitely test it head to head with SG. Personally, I like shooting non-flipped adaptors the most. The rods/riser setup I find to be so ad hoc. Would love to check out the SG non-flip. Anyone out there who has one?
Leo Versola
Well-known member
I bought the non-flip option as well, but just don't have any time to doing any testing with it right now...
I too can't wait to see the non-flip Blade footage... With RR mattebox, fast primes and follow focus my rig has become quite heavy - getting rid of the flip would be good.
More written in first post...
thomas alexander mikel
New member
Has any of you guys used (long term) a 35mm adapter such as Blade "successfully" with EX3's viewfinder, without an external monitor?
Nomalz
Member
I can't include myself in the "long term" category of 35mm users since I only have used our SG Blade for a few days. However, I did the focus with our Ikan V8000HD and the EX3 viewfinder, and I found them both great for focusing. EX3 LCD is really smaller but has a great peaking function which helps a lot.
Lenilenapi
Carbonite Member
The peaking function on the Ex3 and Ex-1 is great for use with an adapter and the EX-3's viewfinder is great. i haven't done it myself yet, but I think if you needed a small profile it would work.
I do check focus of the EX on the adapter screen itself often just by looking at something relatively flat with lots of detail - can even be foliage in trees - and you will quickly see where you are focused.
lenny levy
I do check focus of the EX on the adapter screen itself often just by looking at something relatively flat with lots of detail - can even be foliage in trees - and you will quickly see where you are focused.
lenny levy