Which 35mm adapter would you buy?

yea I think not only does dan's footage look great but the design is pretty sexy but damn...I can get another dvx with that :(. The g35 was my fist pick at 1st when I 1st saw some of those demos for it but the increased price and the wait has got me looking for an alternative. Especially since the go35 so far seems somewhat promising...hopefully. I'm just waiting for the footage.
 
Are most people using 50mm lenses with their adapters? Do the adapters do anything that is changing the representitive focal length? I remember my old Nikon 50mm lense attached to my EM body was basically the same shot as the naked eye. Is the same true when using an adapter? i.e. Would you look for an 80mm or 135mm lens to use for CU?
 
50mm is just a VERY common lens that's still quite economical to get at a fast, 1.4 Apeture (HIGHLY desired when working with adapters, as you're already getting some degree of light loss with the adapter) . The further you go in either direction (wider to a 28mm for example, or zoom with 135mm, etc.).

I've got a 100-300mm zoom lens that I still haven't tested out, but it's already at 5.6, so it'll be bright sunny days that I'll have to use it ... or staring straight into a 1K light, as the original Letus35 already has 1+ stops of light loss.
 
I know that with my Nikon D70 digital camera, that a 50mm lens actually gives the visual image that a 75mm lens would on an old 35mm camera. This is due to the way the digital imaging occurs. The ratio is 1.5x

That's kind of what I was wondering when using an adapter. Does a 50mm lens give you a viewpoint similar to the naked eye as in an old 35mm camera, or is it more like a telephoto lens as when used on a digital camera.
 
The digital camera probably has a CMos or CCD thats smaller, thanthe 35mm frame. hence teh multiplying. Bt in theory, the 35mm adpters should give you the same field of view as the lens naturally creates, cause the DVX optics are reading a full frame projected image off the GG.
 
Also depends on how far you have to zoom in so you don't have the edges of the GG/glue showing, etc. One note, never trust your LCD to tell you if you're zoomed in enough ... check it on your NLE, monitor (DVRack works really well for this), etc. ... then for me, I take Gaffer tape and wrap that zoom ring down so it won't budge, and obviously turn the servo off (put it in manual), so I won't have the chance of accidentally stripping the servo out.

If you used black gaffer tape, and do it wisely, it's not too noticeable ... otherwise, I'm more concerned about the end picture/results than if someone sees tape on my DVX.
 
Envision, I wish you were going to be testing the micro in this test because I, like other members here, could rationalize spending $1000 if we were going to get the results we are looking for. Also, as others have said, the 50mm is popular because of price and availability. I am really excited to see your results. The SG35 is still in the running for me, but I hope that you show some raw footage with no colorcorrection or cropping so we can see how it really looks. Can't wait to see the tests.
 
Yep - I'm looking forward to it as well - and I'm also already in line for an SG35. #16 - placed order last week!
 
There's some new information on the SG35 that I don't know if you guys are aware of yet or not ... I'll be sharing it in the article, based on what Wayne's given me.

EVERYTHING will be NON-CC'd. No one's going to care about how pretty we can CC something, so why bother. Eh, just for kicks I MAY punch a few things up, but I'll have the raw stuff as well, if I do.

Yankee, the Micro/M2 just was simply not an option. 1.) It goes against our original vision of this which was a shoot out of SUB $1K adapters ... more inline with the DIY community. 2.) Redrock wants to be compared agains the more expensive ones (i.e. MPIC, Mini35, Movie Box, etc.).

If people like what we've done with the shoot out as far as unbiased information, as well as extremely informative, then perhaps we'll be able to do others with some of the more expensive units ... which by then hopefully the G35 would be available as well.
 
A DOF adapter would make almost anything look filmic. Has anyone seen the footage of the HC1 + Letus35? I'm starting to wonder why I didn't just purchase the HC1 or A1U over the DVX -- it's F#$*@ing HD!
 
So have you got a monster computer that can handle the HD? I've got a fairly robust system, but not enough to really handle HD ... so until it's upgrade, HD's kind of moot ... besides, unless you're blowing up for film, there's still not that much consumer demand to support it (i.e. HD DVD players, etc.).
 
TheYankee said:
Envision, I wish you were going to be testing the micro in this test because I, like other members here, could rationalize spending $1000 if we were going to get the results we are looking for. Also, as others have said, the 50mm is popular because of price and availability. I am really excited to see your results. The SG35 is still in the running for me, but I hope that you show some raw footage with no colorcorrection or cropping so we can see how it really looks. Can't wait to see the tests.
Click to expand...


Just wait for the comparison. because honestly you cant judge these things by small 320 x 240 .mov and .WMVs....

i have seen DV footage of the SG35, ( wayne was supplying a 10 secong DV clip for a while) and it looks great. Thats why i bought one.

but honestly, the rezolutıon in the adpter isnt everything. when they compare, you gotta look for things like, chroma abbrasion, VIgnetting, light loss, size weight, etc. theres more factors than just pure rez, just like any camera. If rez was all that mattered we,d all be shooting XL2s... but were not.
 
Hey all!

Just wanted to take a second to comment on this 35mm adapter thread with a repost FYI.

I ordered the IFocus adapter created by DVX user twocik23 for my DVX100A, as we already have the Letus Flip and have had some buddies bring over Redrock and (Finally) the G35......

Here's what i find-

Each adapter gives it own "look", if you’re searching for a magical device that provides all the attributes of film on the DVX100's 1/3" chips and the restrictions of the mini DV format , by simply attaching a bit of glass.... FORGET IT!!!!

The truth is, 35mm adapters are a unique way for indie filmmakers to get the type of depth of field seen only with cinema prime lenses. And the results have stepped up the game of what we can expect from images captured by fixed-lens video cameras.

Yes, some adapters add grain, noticable softness of focus, or create unique changes in highlights...but so do filters and film emulsions.

If you look at these adapters as a tool to add a "unique look" to your images, instead of a way to mimic "FILM", then the comparisons with emulsion-based media that seem to endlessly appear on boards like this, might simply disappear.

After comparing the adapters, my group of DP friends and folks i work with, found twocik23s adapter to be the easiest to use.clean and upgrade, able to focus clearly and create images that have a uniquely beautiful look and feel.

The spinning/vibrating adapters that model themselves on the P+S 35 adapter (+ $10.000), have their own set of limitations not restricted to batteries,light loss and a noticeable flicker or "hot spots" in highlights.

The current "flip" adapter, uses mirrors and other optics to create video that is recorded to tape the way it is viewed ,making shooting work-arounds and post production easier, however the loss of light and sharp focus inherent to the adapter, can result in images that are substandard.

The static adapters depend on "trade secret" ground glass, focus screens or wax based elements to provide their results.... the object here is to find an adapter that uses the best solution to the "grain/focus problem", and can be cleaned of dust.

We found the G35, while beautiful to look at, might be difficult for an end-user to resolve problems like degradation and dust occurring inside their sealed unit.

The IfOCUS adapter created by twocik23 is easy to clean and maintain, and its "grain pattern" is visually very subtle to virtually invisible depending on light situation.


In conclusion:

These adapters are variations of first generation solutions to a very specific problem.
The adapter you choose should provide you with the look YOU find aesthetically pleasing, (think of it like selecting a sound system...one man's PERFECT speaker is another man's least favorite.)
 
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Hey guys... saw this post while searching on google, and noticed mention of the a1u w/ 35mm adapter. Just thought I'd post my samples I've done with my setup here. As good as it looks, I'm actually far from happy with my results... I've seen better. The thing I'm stuck on right now is the difference in latitude my a1u has compared to some equally priced 3ccd camcorders. Maybe I don't know the correct settings, but I'd really like to see my camera have my latitude/range, instead of exposing a foreground correctly, but having the background completely blown out.

Clip 1

Clip 2
 
Wasn't the G35 suppose to be taking orders in January? I think the G35 is a bit overrated, I mean the price seems to bump up every now and then, and they always push the date back on the release. I like the redrock, because its around $300-400.00 cheaper and its complete with everything.
 
im seriously concidering the redrock one as well, seems to have the nicest footage, except they dont havea flip version of it yet do they? hrmph.

and then there is the question of which lens to purchase with it with the right mounts and son on. man, need more time and information. Seems to me it might be best to give this product tiem to evolve.
 
Waltind and I completed the testing this past weekend for the SG35 and Letus35Flip. The results were interesting, to say the least, and we hope to have the article up & published with Jarred on here in the next 1 - 1 1/2 weeks as we go through all the footage & do the side-by-sides, stills, etc.
 
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