About to ditch the adapter

[scorsesefan]

I have been shooting a feature length doc with the dvx's anamorphic adapter and I've been having major problems, among them: 1) it's very difficult to achieve manual focus in CU. I know that there is a focus chart in Barry's book, but when you're shooting run 'n gun this is rarely an option. I have tried auto focus and it has performed a little better, but it looks kind of cheap (and amateurish) 2). The adapter lens has many imperfections, including mounting and the fact that it's not sealed properly and dust gets in. If you point the camera anywhere near the sun, the particles are very visible. And the lens is difficult to align, put on, and remove... I have shot a good deal of footage with the adapter and plan to switch to squeeze mode. Any thoughts about combining the footage, etc.?

 

[cyclone]

Can't answer regarding combining footage, but I feel your pain. I ended up keeping my Super16 camera by my side for all close ups, since the adapter allowed me to get no closer than a 'head & shoulders' shot (unless I shot at around f16). And if I shot any more open than f5.6, all those imperfections you mentioned became visible in the lens. When the film is completely in the can, my crew and I are going to put the lens under the front wheel of my car and run over it. (We would have been lost without Barry's book, though.)