35mm adapter rig photos
- Thread starter ryvac
- Start date
Btown... before you buy anything else... get a real tripod. All that money you spent on your camera is going to go down the drain when your tripod legs snap and your camera goes boom boom.... your camera is more than functional right now, but it wont be if you don't get a real tripod!!! I wouldn't be caught dead putting all that gear on a $30 tripod, eek.
that's just my 2 cents and I'm sure you think the same.
that's just my 2 cents and I'm sure you think the same.
btownproductions
Well-known member
Oh don't you worry, it's definitly the next thing I'm buying, I just started a new job, so I should have enough within the next 2 weeks. oh, and to set the record straight... it was a $160 tripod haha
Finnegan
Well-known member
Yea me to.
Here is my setup!
can you tell me about what exactly I'm looking at here? I've been really interested in picking up a letus35 extreme and I have a canon xh-a1, and that very same tripod. so, if you could tell me a little about what lens that is mounted to the front and what rail support system that is that'd be much appreciated! also....is that tape I see on the focusing ring?
ecking
Veteran
It looks like he's using cavision rails with very (in my opinion too short) rods. He's taped his focus ring so he doesn't hit it by accident even though you can program your focus point in on the a1 and save it. The lens on the end is a nikon non-ai lens from the 60's. And it looks like he's using the letus support bracket.
His setup is fine with the small lens on but a heavier lens could cause unto stress on his mount, also with rails that short he's go no room for expansion if he wants an ff mattebox, shoulder mount or anything.
To be on the save side he should pick up a pair of 45cm rails and throw them in there.
btownproductions
Well-known member
Finnegan, how confident are you with that riser under your camera? I don't think I'd like my camera hovering like that without any real support underneath it. My RR rod support goes right underneath my camera with a pretty solid riser block. That one doesn't seem like it would have a significant amount of support for the camera...
hoarp001
Veteran
Yeah I agree it looks pretty precarious perched up there on such a thin support. My system has a proper platform under the camera with the rods and everything is properly supported, its very solid
http://www.peter-hoare.co.uk/Z71.jpg
http://www.peter-hoare.co.uk/Z71.jpg
Finnegan
Well-known member
well first off that's not my setup, I just had a few questions about it since it seemed to be like a cost efficient setup - not too much gadgetry, seemingly. and the reason I asked is because I have an xh-a1 and want to pick up a letus extreme 35mm adapter, and I plan to use nikon lenses.
however, now that you guys mention it, I don't really like the idea of having my camera sitting atop that thing, hovering there. while I'm sure it's safe, I'd rather just have it mounted directly over a tripod somehow, with the rail support system just holding up the lens and 35mm adapter combo. that can be done, right?
btownproductions
Well-known member
Sorry about that, I wasn't really thinking when I directed that comment to you I guess...
Finnegan
Well-known member
it's cool, you brought up some good points about the setup as a whole anyway, so that's good. like I said, I since I have an xh-a1 and the manfrotto 503 tripod (which are both in that picture) and I plan on getting the same lenses and 35mm adapter, I just wanted to know what I was looking at so I could see what different options I had when I actually got around to purchasing the thing.
DELTA_Rotary
Active member
Well finally got our Zacuto/Letus extreme rig together. Still need a few more pieces (donut and zip gears). I will say its been rather interesting learning to shoot with this thing. I'm new to the whole adapter thing and its been hit or miss with footage so far. Barry you need to do a 35mm adapter bootcamp video. 
If theres one thing I've come to dislike about 35mm Adapter rigs (my own included) is how long these things get. Seems like no matter which way you build it out it just keeps stretching and stretching.
I think the cleanest Adapter setups end up being well rigged HV20 sized cams.
I guess that's where removable lenses or the RED ONE aesthetic appeal comes in.
I think the cleanest Adapter setups end up being well rigged HV20 sized cams.
I guess that's where removable lenses or the RED ONE aesthetic appeal comes in.
DELTA_Rotary
Active member
No doubt this thing can be a bear to setup, use, and take down. You obviously arent very mobil or flexible with it. I find myself scaling way back with it and taking a bunch of the extras off of it.
I totally agree with you. It's just a nightmare thinking that I now have to add a MicroPod to the system. I've been trying to figure out the easiest way to adapt all of this stuff into a more "compact" package and to be dead honest the variables that have the most impact are:
1) Fixed Lens Cameras. A removable lens would drastically reduce the length of the setup naturally. This is why the EX-3 seems like such a nice camera. Especially with a Letus Relay and it's physical dimensions. I.E. Short and Compact.
2) Flip Units. I love 'em, but it's no secret that the trade-off lies in the size of the unit getting that much longer/larger. I don't feel comfortable mounting my camera upside down, as I assume most people wouldn't but y'know there's something there. If the Letus Extreme and Ultimate only lose HALF a stop of light with Built-In Flip prisms, how much less light would they lose if the flip units were taken off and you simply mount the camera itself upside down? Food for thought.
That's why Easom Aerospace's cage idea (which I admittedly had many moons before him! So HA!) is very welcomed. You grab two of his well-machined and very solid brackets then you can immediately move the Micropod to the TOP of the camera instead of hanging beneath it (which most people are doing) and reduce the length of your camera setup by several inches without sacrificing power.
Also, the cage idea lets you mount the camera upside down, so okay, if you're comfortable with that then no flip unit needed and there's another 2 to 4 inches (for all manufacturers) knocked off of the length of the unit.
Just thinking here.
1) Fixed Lens Cameras. A removable lens would drastically reduce the length of the setup naturally. This is why the EX-3 seems like such a nice camera. Especially with a Letus Relay and it's physical dimensions. I.E. Short and Compact.
2) Flip Units. I love 'em, but it's no secret that the trade-off lies in the size of the unit getting that much longer/larger. I don't feel comfortable mounting my camera upside down, as I assume most people wouldn't but y'know there's something there. If the Letus Extreme and Ultimate only lose HALF a stop of light with Built-In Flip prisms, how much less light would they lose if the flip units were taken off and you simply mount the camera itself upside down? Food for thought.
That's why Easom Aerospace's cage idea (which I admittedly had many moons before him! So HA!) is very welcomed. You grab two of his well-machined and very solid brackets then you can immediately move the Micropod to the TOP of the camera instead of hanging beneath it (which most people are doing) and reduce the length of your camera setup by several inches without sacrificing power.
Also, the cage idea lets you mount the camera upside down, so okay, if you're comfortable with that then no flip unit needed and there's another 2 to 4 inches (for all manufacturers) knocked off of the length of the unit.
Just thinking here.
EDIT-XTREEM
Well-known member
I should have mine together by the end/middle of june, I'll post a picture then. Anyone using the indiRAILSpro?
Adam J McKay
Veteran
im currently using the indi rails with the shoulder mount. I absolutely love it. Mind you, I dont own a 35mm adapter, I plan on picking one up soon so I figured I would go the indie rail route. Currently have it setup with just my dvx and their follow focus, not all that practical, but as I said, preparing for the future.