Test of $50 Achro 2X Adapter

NoNoob

NoNoob

Carbonite Member
Real short video I threw together after shooting out my window here.

I like this adapter- works pretty good.
Thought some others might like to see what footage looks like going through it:

http://tinyurl.com/ae9yww
 
Good stuff! Where did you buy the adapter from? So all you used was the stock DVX and the adapter and FCP?
 
Nice shots NoNoob. I know how it feels with the battery always running out when a good shot happens, or somebody comes and chases you away or stands in front of the camera.

Can you give us some more info on this 2x Achromatic adapter? Is there a website that you purchased from?
 
NoNoob, I like the footage! I would also like to know more information about this adapter. What exactly is a 2x Achromatic adapter? Does it differer from a 2X Tele-converter? I tried googling, but I just didn't find anything.

Thanks.
 
RebelD said:
Good stuff! Where did you buy the adapter from? So all you used was the stock DVX and the adapter and FCP?
Click to expand...

Yep. No Magic Bullet, no COLOR, just the footage- unadulterated.

I sprung for a combo deal on eBay (can I even say that word here?).
Got a wide angle and telephoto adapter in the same bundle.

Interestingly enough, the wide angle is comprised of two pieces.
If I unthread the outer part and just shoot through the base unit, I get really good, shallow depth-of-field results without further aberration or affectation.

I'll be shooting some with that soon, and post later (maybe even on the same page as this piece is on).

Haven't shot any line charts to test for resolution or linearity- but, just looking at this footage, it's not bad at all.
For the money- hell, it can't be beat I don't think!

*I'll post snaps of the pieces later. (seems there's lots of choices when you search eBay for 72mm adapters!) My package was less than $100 delivered for the two lenses, draw string bags, and a lens cleaning kit (like I need another one of those!)
 
seven.b said:
NoNoob, I like the footage! I would also like to know more information about this adapter. What exactly is a 2x Achromatic adapter? Does it differer from a 2X Tele-converter? I tried googling, but I just didn't find anything.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

It is a 2X tele-converter/adapter, as you are familiar with.
This one is coated.

It's a shoot through type- not the elegant and expensive full range type of adapter.
*whereas you need to zoom in to avoid the barrel (shooting down a barrel) effect.
Barrel effect is seen (when the camera lens is wide) in the frame- you are picking up the tube the lens elements are in.

Since the idea (principally) is to get LONG shots with a telephoto lens- then you just zoom in all the way, avoiding the barrel effect.

I was shooting through double pane glass (not to clean I'm embarrassed to admit), on a rainy day. The results were satisfactory I believe.

For a throw down, cheap, functional piece of glass- to be used on rare occasions for special effect videography- it's perfectly acceptable.
Comes with a drawstring pouch, and doesn't weigh too much.
I'll post snaps of it (them) later. Please standby.
 
Nektonic said:
Nice shots NoNoob. I know how it feels with the battery always running out when a good shot happens, or somebody comes and chases you away or stands in front of the camera.

Can you give us some more info on this 2x Achromatic adapter? Is there a website that you purchased from?
Click to expand...

I'll try to dig up the specific sales outfit on eBay that sent me the lenses (been looking, can't find it at this moment.)
Give me a couple hours to attend to it- check back.

I tried to show the 'reach' of the adapter, and thereby what detail it could render.
Just used Scene 1, unmodified.

When i saw the color reproduced in the prayer flags I knew it was a keeper!
That's exactly what they look like- no affectations from the lens.
Turned out pretty good I think.

It was a tele and a wide, in the same bundle, $100 delivered.
Keep an eye out for the source- I'll have it posted here by noonish.

*Somebody PM'd me about the music- it's a 'bed' on Studio 2, Soundtrack Pro.
Birds chirping and stuff was just grabbed in a short walkabout outside with my DAT, then laid in randomly (and repetitively !) in post.
 
nice footy....interested in this...looking forward to your pics and additional info

btw wats a "DAT"? clearly some audio recording device from what u posted...but can u tell me more plz :)?
 
jambredz said:
nice footy....interested in this...looking forward to your pics and additional info

btw wats a "DAT"? clearly some audio recording device from what u posted...but can u tell me more plz :)?
Click to expand...

Digital Audio Tape.
About the size of a DV tape (4mm tape width to be exact).
Sony invention.
Mine is the TCD100.

I used a pair of PZM's to record the birds and ambient.
Flop sided with boundary card between them.

In the 1980's RIAA tried to get DAT banned from importation.
Claimed the machines were TOO GOOD at copying stuff!
Dumb asses. Typically looking the wrong way and not into the future.
Look what's happened since!

It's a funny read on the history of DAT.
And yet, it's still a common piece of equipment in pro audio kits.
That and HDMD/MD (of which I have both!)

Thanks for comments everyone.
Will get to specifics and pics later today. Pardon delay. Working (and futzing around here....)
 
Okay, here's what we have:

Go to the same link as in the first message in the thread.
I've added in a short vid that shows stills and video of the items and some wide angle stuff here at my desk.

It's SEE ME stuff- just so you can put an EYE on the items.

The Wide Angle is a Tokina item.
It is described as thus on the lens itself:
"Tokina 0.5X AF High Definition Digital Wide Angle Lens Made in Japan"

Now, it's got ALL the catch words in there:
Autofocus, High Def, Digital
That crap reels 'em in- and it ain't got crap to do with what the glass is all about (you know that).

Tokina makes okay stuff. In some circles it is considered quite good.
I can see some aspherical aberrations - however quite minute- in the WA.
It's not an issue.
There is no distortion (bending of lines) to speak of.
It's a pleasing, inexpensive, special effects adapter.
*The Leica Dicomar is pretty wide as it is.

What I DO especially like about this adapter is when you take the outer element off.
You can get down to some interesting, shallow DOF images- even at a distance beyond the Macro phase of the thing.
I didn't have the opportunity to share here (now) anything that shows this off- just touching on it a bit. You might be able to fathom what I'm talking about without it.

The TELEPHOTO adapter is described as thus:

"Digital High Depfinition 2.2X Telephoto Lens"
The bag has this on it:

"Digital Concepts"

That's the dude I used to shoot that bit "Birds & Squirrels" (seen on link above).


I obtained these adapters from Digital Concepts Inc., Brooklyn, NY.
That is their seller name on eBay.
Here's a link to something currently listed in their eBay Store- that appears to be the same item as the one I have:

http://tinyurl.com/aqjr2e

When I bought my set I kept them on my 'watch' list and jumped in on an offer they made to get both adapters for low dollars.
I bid the minimum and prevailed in the auction.
So, for about $50.00 each, I got some good, functional, Special Effects adapters.
Simple.

Hope this is helpful to you. Any questions- fire away.
Here's that link again:

http://tinyurl.com/ae9yww
 
Thanks for the info NoNoob! This is going to be a great help when I'm shooting skiing in a couple weeks. And even more so for shooting wakeboarding off the shore this summer.

Is there any reason why this wouldn't work on the HMC150? It's 72mm also.


Thanks.
 
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