35mm Adapter Comparison Table

Jared Meyer

Jared Meyer

Veteran
EDITED BY JACK TO ADD: Verify any information you see here by going to the manufacturer's website and/or emailing them before you make a purchase.

Looking to buy a new adapter soon and as you all know there are many great options out there now! Props to all of the awesome guys out there making affordable gear for the rest of us.

I made a table to break down some of the differences, as I saw them, to help me with a decision. Of course the adapter I finally picked is the one whose image I like the best, but tallying up the numbers/facts never hurts. Maybe this will help someone else out there.

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I think some of the info is off. For example, the M2 loses considerably more than 2/3 stops of light. My guess would be closer to 1.5 stops; I know that light loss was a major issue when I used the M2, not so much the Letus. Plus the M2 has a hardmount as well as softmount option. Redrock's MicroX flip unit has already been announced as ready for shipping, and I think you should include that as well since you already did it for the SGpro and Brevis flip units.

With the Letus Extreme you do not "need" a rail system, but one is essential anyway. The unit itself is fairly heavy, and I certainly would not trust my camera thread to hold under that kind of weight. I didn't even use the Letus until I got my rod system.

And I'm not sure why you put "Warranty/Support" only for the M2 and not for any of the other three manufacturers. Letus I know for a fact gives excellent technical support (including a 1 year warranty) and I'm sure that Brevis and SGpro are the same.
 
By the way as Brevis shows no difference in light loss till the f4-f5.6 range you can get really nice filmic-bokeh at f4 and really sharp images with most SLR lenses - that could be considered an advantage I guess.
Plus the Field Of View (Crop factor) issue with SLR vs Cine lenses.

T
 
Toenis said:
Plus the Field Of View (Crop factor) issue with SLR vs Cine lenses.
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I wasn't aware that this is an issue for any adapter. There is a crop factor only in the sense that for wider lenses it's necessary to zoom in more to avoid vignetting, but this has more to do with the lens themselves than with the adapter design. Otherwise it's quite possible to attain a full 35mm Academy FOV with SLR lenses.
 
Huy Vu said:
I think some of the info is off. For example, the M2 loses considerably more than 2/3 stops of light.
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Redrock doesn't advertise the amount of light loss anywhere that I could find so I based it on this this.

Plus the M2 has a hardmount as well as softmount option.
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Yeah, but it's an extra option. Just for simplicity's sake I compared each company's basic image flip package, no other extras.

Redrock's MicroX flip unit has already been announced as ready for shipping, and I think you should include that as well since you already did it for the SGpro and Brevis flip units.
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I did, it's there. But as far as I know it's not included in the standard $1370 Redrock package. The other three companies all include the flip module for the prices I listed.

With the Letus Extreme you do not "need" a rail system, but one is essential anyway. The unit itself is fairly heavy, and I certainly would not trust my camera thread to hold under that kind of weight. I didn't even use the Letus until I got my rod system.
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You're right, I was probably thinking about the lighter Letus when I wrote that. I'll change it.

And I'm not sure why you put "Warranty/Support" only for the M2 and not for any of the other three manufacturers. Letus I know for a fact gives excellent technical support (including a 1 year warranty) and I'm sure that Brevis and SGpro are the same.
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Yeah I knew from the get go that I wasn't really interested in the Redrock..for me it was a choice between the other 3. Honestly nothing about it appeals to me. It's more expensive, it's large and kind of clunky, takes longer to set up, there's no flip, the image has never thrilled me...So I couldn't think of any other advantage other than that Redrock is a larger and more established company with good support. And I didn't want to leave it blank. I'm anal-retentive that way when I'm making a spreadsheet, ha ha. :)
 
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Heh!

Something got to be wrong here..

I am almost 100% sure that SGpro loses less light than Redrockmicro M2..

:Drogar-Shock(DBG):
 
Q6: Does the SGpro loose light?
A6: Yes, all 35mm adapters/converters loose light, some more than others. The SGpro loses only 1 stop of light. This is without the 35mm lens attached. The 35mm lens will lose some additional light; this is determined by the lenses 'F' rating.
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with flip, it loses another .2 of a stop. that's 1.2 stops for the sgpro w/out the light u lose from the lenses.
 
I have never heard of DUST being a problem with the extreme. It is a TANK and you couldn't possibly have a better build quality. That should probably go off your chart. The EX is a metal beast and just as airtight etc as any other adapter. The dust problem you are reffering to is a letus trade off in models OTHER THAN the extreme.
 
I just want to point out that the SGpro flip module bundle is $1,090

Including rods support and Nikon mount it is $1,378
 
Hi Wayne, when I made as if to place an order for the SGpro flip module bundle, I used the total, which included the $140 shipping. That's where I got the $1200 from. My mistake. The other prices I listed don't include shipping costs, so I'll change it.
 
Keep the bit about needing rods for the LEX. YOU NEED THEM. Sure you can mount it without it. But since its weight puts your camera's lens in peril - you need rods. I'd feel safer going rodless with my SG.

Anyway, it's a good table and perhaps it can be used a sticky down the road. Warranty/Return policy should be up there for all. Also, perhaps add a column about whether the GG is sealed or not, achromat optimization for the EX1, and construction.

Nice work.
 
Thanks Tim! Yeah, I didn't realize/had forgotten how heavy the LEX is. I'll leave it as a rod mandatory adapter on the chart. I'd like to have the adapter weights up there too but I haven't found all of them yet.

Good ideas, I'll try to add the extra rows.
 
portability

portability

Not sure if this is the right spot for this but since the thread is comparing adapters which ones lend themselves for handheld. I realize the Brevis might be the obvious choice due to weight but has anyone had decent success off of a tripod, rails and all with any of the other adapters?

I'm leaning towards the Letus EX, but it may be the heaviest of the bunch. I just wouldn't mind the option to go handheld but its not my top priority.

Thanks,

Tai
 
The idea of this chart is great but if its going to be a sticky it needs to be accurate and the light loss information is way off in my experience. It spreads disinformation.

I've written a lot about this. The problem with making light loss info a sticky is that people are still arguing about it. Additionally any light loss information has to take into account the f stop of the 35mm lens.

My experience is that the the Brevis is probably slightly the fastest at f1.4 (.5 - .7) and much faster @ f2.8 (still .5 - 7) , Letus and the SG are very similar (.7 - 1.2 at f1.4 only), and the Redrock loses much more light .

Jared, did you base this information on actual personal experience and face to face comparisons. or just on what you've read on the boards. The latter can be very inaccurate. As an example - "Jack" earlier says that dust is never a problem with the extreme and you said you would change it - but people have posted here with dust problems in their Letus Extremes. I don't thinks setup on the Redrock is so hard by the way.

I think it would be an interesting idea to consider modifying this though getting consensus would be hard and it would need to be modified often.

As for Bokeh - "adaptery" - what does that mean exactly.
DOF could be added as well as amount it diffuses highlights.

Lenny Levy
 
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To see what my fairly exacting exposure tests indicated look here

http://www.leonardlevy.net/Adapter_stills_master_Final.htm

to summarize - to reach a 90 IRE exposure on the test chart ( These numbers are only approximations - all with a Nikon 50mm f1.4 on an HVX wide open unless its says 2.8)

HVX no adapter - 12FC
Brevis w/ flip CF1L - 20 FC
Brevis w/ flip CF1L Nikon at 2.8 - 20FC
Letus - 24FC
Letus Nikon @ 2.8 - 38FC

SGPro (Rev 2 should be same as Rev3) - 32FC
SGPro w/ Brevis Flip - 24FC
SGPro w/ Brevis Flip , Nikon @ f2.8 - 34FC

The reading for the SG without the flip seems a little illogical so I will try to double check it when I get a chance.
My memory of the Redrock was even more than 2 stops loss, but that's a guess only.

Lenny Levy
 
I'm fine with this being a list of manufacturer specs. If you buy an adapter and it's not up to the specs the manufacturer lists (not this thread in other words) then return it.

Verify any information you see here by going to the manufacturer's website and/or emailing them before you make a purchase.

Having said that I will add a note to the first post and unsticky this for the time being until the chart has had time to be checked by members and manufacturers.

If you know about these adapters and see inaccuracies chime in as others have.
 
Jack Daniel Stanley said:
I have never heard of DUST being a problem with the extreme. It is a TANK and you couldn't possibly have a better build quality. That should probably go off your chart. The EX is a metal beast and just as airtight etc as any other adapter. The dust problem you are reffering to is a letus trade off in models OTHER THAN the extreme.
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Im sorry but this is NOT TRUE.

Dust CAN be an issue for the Letus Extreme, and believe me, if you are unlucky enough to have dust in your unit, you have to send it back to Letus to have it cleaned out (on your dime)

Im not the only one (though there werent too many that Im aware of) that had dust in their extreme.
Mine was delivered that way. Dusty and hairy as heck INSIDE the unit.

That being said~ I LOVE my Extreme and am on course to buy a 2nd one soon !
 
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