16mm lenses with the HVX200 + 35mm adapter

[jac pk]

Hi all.

I am a student and am going to study Film Production in September at a university that films entirely on 16mm. For the first year (Year 0) of the course however we learn using digital because for some members it may be one of their first experiences in filmmaking and it is simply a lot more accessible.

I own an HVX200, but I would love to have the chance to get familiar with the equipment (e.g. the lenses, filters, etc..) that I'll be using in the later years of the course (it's a four year course). I'm considering buying a 35mm adapter so that I'll be able to use their lenses with my camera but I wanted to check if there's any advice I should know if I'm going to buy a 35mm adapter for 16mm lenses - is it even worth it with the vignetting from zooming in on the screen?

Also I currently use a fluid head tripod (MANFROTTO 503HDV) that supports up to 8kg. Will this be adequete once all the other requirements for the adapter, like the rails, are taken into consideration?

 

[PatrickLawler]

What 16mm lenses will you be using? Most lens adaptors come with PL and OCT19 lens mounts, so if your school has some nice arriflex lenses or something that would be a great tool, (make sure there is a lens mount made for the lenses you want to use before you buy anything) ! I don't think 16mm lenses would crop too much, if at all, but zooming in a little bit more on the groundlass to avoid vignetting or cropping never hurts me, just make sure you have fresh batteries and maybe a lens adaptor with spinning instead of vibrating groundglass, so there isn't too much grain. I have a Letus Extreme and I zoom in on the groundlass all the time and I can't tell that much of an increase in grain.

I'm sure the head your using will be fine, just get rails to support your lens adaptor and balance out the weight.

Even if you're not going to use the 16mm lenses all the time a lens adaptor is one of the nicest things you can treat yourself to.