A little help please?

S

SaintDemure

Member
First of all, I apologize in advance for my lack of knowledge on this subject.

I am planning to purchase a HVX200 within the next couple months or so. I would also like to purchase a Redrock Micro M2 DOF Adaptor. Anyone know how much these run or where to buy?

Also, would I need special lenses to compliment this? Does the DOF adaptor only provide the shallow DOF look? Also, for a standard look with the Redrock, would I need a different adaptor?

Im very sorry if this doesn't make sense. I am very new to using these and I want to assure I purchase everything I need.

Just wondering what lenses I would need and how much it would cost.
Basically I want to acheive the DOF look seen here.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1ElVxB8a93U


As well as have the adaptor to provide a more filmlike look.

Sorry again, thanks.
 
dont get too hung-up on redrock. there are other (and some would say better) adapters out there. if you have to ask this question, the redrock may be the wrong choice for you.

unless you already know something about standard photography - there is going to be a pretty STEEP learning curve. and even if you do - there is much more to be concerned with here than just the adapter itself...

id suggest that you look at letus, brevis and sgpro. all the adapters have their strong and weak points and there is no single "best" choice. and ive found a LOT of it has to do with personal preference and your degree of experience. probably the biggest concern with a 35mm adapter is light. ALL of them require more light than youd typically need using the standard HVX lens. this is referred to as "light-loss" and every adapter has some degree of it. search this and various other forums and you'll learn a lot very quickly

and YES you will need lenses. not as a "compliment" to, but as a REQUIREMENT of the adapter (the adapter is just a way of attaching and converting 35mm SLR lenses to a fixed lens video camera) - not special lenses per se, but specific lenses. in general what you want are manual focus, NON DIGITAL, fast (low fstop) prime (fixed focal length) lenses. you need to specify what lens mount you want at the time of adapter purchase (nikon, canon, etc..) most newer adapters have interchangeable mounts, but at this point in the game its probably best to pick one and learn. you'll need a variety of lenses for different uses. i have a mix of 35, 55, 85, and 105 that pretty much covers most of my needs. you might also look into a zoom. zooms get a bit more complicated and pricey (for a good fast zoom you'll get into $4figures quickly) as youll probably also need a rails mount to support their added weight. a fun thing about adapters is that you'll become a pawnshop/used camera store nerd, always looking for some cool rare gem!

also - MOST adapters result in vertically flipped footage, so you'll need to get an external HD capable monitor that either has flip functionality or one that can be mounted upside down for framing and focus.

another thing. ALL the adapters out there (except for the brevis) REQUIRE a rails setup to attach to your camera (the sgpro is the only one that comes stock with a rails package). and you will soon discover that a follow focus will make your shots better - if you plan to ever change focus during the shot.

so, let's look at basic pricing here:
adapter: no less than $1000
lens(es): no less than $500 for a VERY basic setup
rails: $200ish minimum
follow focus: no less than $300
external monitor: no less than $300

so were at a minimum of $2300 just to get into the game (and id call these numbers QUITE conservative...)
and we havent even talked about cables, mounts, filter frames, sunshades, and other little nut-and-bolty stuff that you will NEED

the film-look/DOF path aint just a matter of slapping on an adapter and shooting - there is a LOT more to it!
TRUST ME. i learned the HARD WAY!
 
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Yeah I am willing to spend 3 grand or so for a sweet set up. I was looking at a video of a guy on YouTube who uses the redrock with fd lenses. I really liked the look he achieved but I am also aware of many of the drawbacks of the redrock.

I know there will be a learning curve, but I am willing to practice until I reach perfection.

If you could suggest 3 basic lenses to get started with, what would they be?

Thanks!
 
a well rounded set of lenses would be a 24, 35, 55, 85, 105, and a zoom of some sort.

however, you could do well with just a 35, 55 and 85.

as far as brands go. i find that nikon (and nikon compatible) are the most available. but its largely a matter of taste and budget. i say start with nikon or canon then if your budget affords - try zeiss.
 
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