35mm Adapter vs DSLR

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philhoyt

New member
If you are to lazy to read I have created a video describing my dilemma.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtqiI2gHfx8

So I own a Canon XH A1, I want to get a better depth of field, more lens variations and an overall better look to my work. But what is the better route? Buying a Canon 7D or a T2I and getting some lenses or buying a 35mm Adapter, some lenses, and rail system for the camera I have now?

Hope to hear all your opinions!
Phil
 
Everyone here reads.

You can get the same results with a DSLR that you can get with an adapter.

There are pluses and minuses with both.

7D, 5D, K7, Letus, Blade, Encore, it doesn't really matter if you know what you're doing.
 
For what it's worth, i have owned both xha1 with letus elite, and sgblade pro.

pro's of the adapter, is that the camera will generate a much sharper image, with no skew, much less, if no aliasing, and moire is not an issue.

However, i find it to have less dynamic range, less flattering to skin tones and the bokeh is always slightly hazy. There is light loss which is a huge disadvantage and the more parts you carry around, the more things there are to go wrong.

the 7D, on the other hand, doesn't record sound, so you'll need to get used to sync'ing in post. Much better on skin tones and a more accurate bokeh and naturalistic colours. It's also very light, compact, better compression and records to CF cards.

Love the 7D right now.
 
philhoyt said:
If you are to lazy to read I have created a video describing my dilemma.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtqiI2gHfx8

So I own a Canon XH A1, I want to get a better depth of field, more lens variations and an overall better look to my work. But what is the better route? Buying a Canon 7D or a T2I and getting some lenses or buying a 35mm Adapter, some lenses, and rail system for the camera I have now?

Hope to hear all your opinions!
Phil
Click to expand...


Man, I would most likely go for the Canon T2i. It is going to be $899 with the kit lens and they are saying it is going to pretty much equal the 7D in video. With a 35mm Adapter on the HA1 you have to worry about too much vignetting, an upside down image (unless you pay out the wazoo for one that corrects it with a prism), light loss, etc.

Watch these two sample movies from the Canon T2i:

VERY LOW LIGHT:

http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/samples/eos550d/player_circle/movie.html?high


DAYLIGHT video of a young girl:

http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/samples/eos550d/player_book_of_days/movie.html?high



Man, for a 35mm DOF adapter that would invert the image properly you'd pay as much or more than the cost of the T2i. I would either sell the Canon HA1 or use it in conjunction with the Canon T2i. Forget about that adapter. Your low light won't be anywhere near the T2i and you have to really zoom in a lot on the ground glass to get rid of that vignetting.

I suggest getting the T2i with the kit lens and add a couple of good fast primes over the DOF adapter. These DSLRs are going to put the nail in the coffin for DOF adapters.
 
thisisapocalypse said:
Please stop calling them DOF adapters. That isn't what they are and it further confuses the already confused.
Click to expand...

35mm Adapter, 35mm DOF Adapter, DOF Adapter.....what difference does it make? Most people who are interested in one know what each of them are by now and to me they are all three.

A name is just a name and that "35mm DOF Adapter" or "DOF Adapter" or even "35mm Adapter" (although I think this is actually the least descriptive of the three for the intended purpose in case someone isn't aware of what adapting a 35mm lens does) describes exactly what most people use it them for (to adapt a 35mm lens to achieve shallow depth of field).

What should we call them? Since it is so important. :) How is "35mm Adapter"....or should I say "35mm Lens Adapter", or "35mm Lens to Video Camcorder Adapter"?
 
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I sold my Letus after I used my 5d on a pro shoot. I like things lightweight, small, easy to setup and use and versatile. 5d gave me all that. If I wanted best quality imagery I'd stick with the Letus, but I'm willing to get 90% the way there and compact my setup down to a tiny DSLR than have everything else to lug about.
 
the camera will be that cheap huh?

might be a good B camera to go along with the 7D. But now can we use canon picture profile's on the new guy as well? Cause if i can get my custom curve in there, then it's definitely worth picking up a little brother for the 7D.
 
PaPa said:
the camera will be that cheap huh?

might be a good B camera to go along with the 7D. But now can we use canon picture profile's on the new guy as well? Cause if i can get my custom curve in there, then it's definitely worth picking up a little brother for the 7D.
Click to expand...

From everything I have heard you can. That will be useful.
 
Not sure how much newer that camra is compared to the XL H1A, but we compared that one against the 7D in a test in teh studio, and man the 7D came out way ahead. Everyone who was looking was amazed at how much better it looked. (GRANTED this was without a 35mm adapter).

The 7D had a 50mm 1.8 mounted

I have some of the footage from the 7D if you care to see it. I think the video guys were really surprised how much richer the 7D footage was (they are used to shooting on an HVX200 with RR adapter and were even impressed)

We did several lighting tests, flourescent, really low light (bumped the 7D up to 3200 iso, without much grain really), and with 3 1k lights pointed at our subject.

The A1 might be better, but i would look around for footage.

Maybe you can mix them depending on the type of shot?
 
BTW, George Lucas and Quentin Tarantino viewed some 7D & 5D Mark II footage on a 40ft screen at Skywalker Ranch were very impressed, especially considering the price. If those guys were impressed these DSLR cameras must be pretty damn good I'd say. lol.
 
Go DSLR.

The biggest thing to understand here is to spend your money on equipment that is less likely to go out of style in 18 months. (or drop in price)

A decent rail system, Canon Lenses, Quality audio gear and tripods are really important. the T2i looks great, but in less than 2 years you WILL want a new body. So spending $900 on the camera is a great deal... and probably the best strategic decision.

35mm adapters put you in the category of needing a full cinema setup and a full steady cam to shoot anything... DSLRs are versitile... I can shoot with a merlin style rig (the blackbird looks awesome), DIY camera supports, a shouldermount with carbon fiber rails, to steady cam, etc. Smaller will be cheaper in the long run.

Since your young... (I watched the youtube vid) Im guessing that you are not yet charging clients thousands of dollars to shoot commercial video. So what if you have moire and aliasing in your footage... within a few years everyone will be shooting with RED or DSLR in RAW... Video cameras will go the way of the dodo.
 
This:
picture.php


vs this:

picture.php


Here's a hint, the first setup isn't around any more.
 
PaPa said:
For what it's worth, i have owned both xha1 with letus elite, and sgblade pro....
However, i find it to have less dynamic range, less flattering to skin tones and the bokeh is always slightly hazy....
Click to expand...

Is this true? About the dynamic range? That 35mm adapter rigs have less DR than DSLRs? I always thought it was the other way around and its the main thing that has been keeping me from switching.
 
I've gone from an HV20 rig to an XH-A1 rig to a 5D MkII. I'm happy with the switch and it works great for my productions. But that's just me :)
 
At the end of the day, the most important thing is story. With all this hub-bub about shallow DOF, let me just say, the average person just wants to watch a good story. Believe me, most people don't care about random test shots that people post on vimeo.

So, do THAT with whatever tool works best for you....
 
ikander said:
At the end of the day, the most important thing is story. With all this hub-bub about shallow DOF, let me just say, the average person just wants to watch a good story. Believe me, most people don't care about random test shots that people post on vimeo.

So, do THAT with whatever tool works best for you....
Click to expand...

no one argues that story is or not the key element. that is a given.
what is being discussed is potential of different image making devices as to better serve the plot and ergonomics for the operator.
got a 5D + 7D, sold the 35 adapter but kept the camcorder for behind the scenes, when critical moiré/aliasing issues appear and for establishing shots where deeper dof rules.
 
The best thing about getting a T2 for the price of an adapter is you end up with

A video camera for those shots where you need deep DOF, AF and onboard sound

AND

A cinematic camera with issues too

BUY an adapter and you just have a single cam with issues - mass, backfocus , poor light aquisition

Taking that adapter off my EX1 has really liberated it for me as a Quick RNG tool and a great telephoto camera

S
 
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