Adapter setup

M

marcthegator

New member
I have info overload combing through these awesome threads, and still can't seem to get my list finished.

I have:

- HVX200
- Letus Extreme (ordered, coming soon; with Pentax K-mount - my mother-in-law told me she had a bunch of old PK mount lenses; turns out she has only one)
- Bogan 501 tripod head
- Lots of good lighting, and getting (building/buying) more
- More stuff (audio, Firestore, laptop, clapboard, PA's, location, script, etc)

I think I need to add a rail system, follow focus, and matte box. Price is a consideration, of course, especially because I now have to purchase lenses. I don't want to just buy stuff to look cool (although I could use the help), I only want to get what I need for a half-decent indie look.

Any suggestions on the railing (which I'm sure I need), the follow focus (which I think I need), the matte box (which I don't think I "need"), or any other necessary components?

MARC
 
I am in the same boat as you are... but I have the rails already and you are definitely correct in your assessment that you need them, if for no other reason than to reduce the stress on your hvx lens when hanging the letus and 35mm lenses off of it.

I made a feature once (as the director, not DP) and we had a great Chroziel FF and mattebox. I can't imagine shooting without a FF if I have a camera crew, but it can be done without if you are shooting by yourself. It's very, very tough, but it can be done. That said, I don't have one yet because I just can't afford to get one right now. It's my next purchase in 2008.

Re: the matte box... I don't know what to say, but I expect others will.

You should definitely consider filtration - ND, polarizer, maybe more.

And finally, you just can't pull accurate HD focus, with or without a FF, unless you have a better monitor than the 3.5" LCD. I have a 17" monitor that doubles as my 2nd computer monitor - it sucks being tethered to it, but I also can't afford to drop $1200+ on a 7" that mounts to my camera. On the other hand, my focus is super sharp when I use a monitor that big.

I am assuming that, like me, you are building a rig for indie shorts and maybe features, with the odd commercial or corporate gig in between. Maybe a little more insight into what you shoot will encourage more advice from people with bigger rigs (and more experience).
 
I definitely have the indie/feature focus. Being the "many-hat-self-trained" filmmaker, I have a lot still to learn about shooting with the adapter.

Most of my work to date has been commercials (local-type look), corporate-type videos, and shorts that look like video. I have only been shooting 24p for 2 years. The HVX200 is new to me, and we are using it to shoot 1080i for a state-funded doc trailer.

Once I get proficient with the adapter I want to go for higher-end commercial productions to fund indie productions.

We received funding for the doc trailer, so we can afford to invest a little into the setup.
 
marcthegator said:
I think I need to add a rail system, follow focus, and matte box. Price is a consideration, of course, especially because I now have to purchase lenses. I don't want to just buy stuff to look cool (although I could use the help), I only want to get what I need for a half-decent indie look.

Any suggestions on the railing (which I'm sure I need), the follow focus (which I think I need), the matte box (which I don't think I "need"), or any other necessary components?

MARC
Click to expand...


MARC - I am using the IndiFOCUSpro and IndiRAILS 18" with a GearDear Matte Box. Everything works very well and I believe its the least expensive configuration out of all of the major vendors for similiar gear.

www.IndiFOCUS.com
www.GearDear.com

I shot a bunch of outdoor footage this past week and I highly recommend a Matte Box to control the amount of light that hits your lens.

Hope this helps :costumed-smiley-047

-Kris
 
Kris - you the man!

I'm CS3 with you to the bank. Abode did a nice job with that package.

I super appreciate the reply and will get on it this weekend.

MARC
 
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