AF100 vs HPX170 + SGBlade + Nikon glass

EDV

EDV

Well-known member
Just wondering what the difference as far as being able to use a range of lenses. I know the AF100 is a slightly more advanced camera, and it's obviously more convenient to use a range of lenses without a 35 mm adaptor, but besides that, is the AF100 really that much better? Can a client spot the difference?
 
I used an HVX200 with a Letus 35mm adaptor for a few years and the AF100 is just better in every way. The Letus was cumbersome, easily broken, heavy, took ages to put together and the picture was soft and you lost a lot of light.
 
Good point Gary, but I'd just like to address the light loss issue. The RR3 SGBlade has only 0.4 stops of light loss, with much improved sharpness, the RedRock M3 claims even less light loss and can be put together in about 5 minutes apparently.
But getting back to the light loss, I plan to use the SGBlade with a Nikon lens for events, which in my experience are either very well lit, or out in broad daylight where sometimes too much sun becomes an issue and you end up using ND Filters.
I don't really see the problem unless you're shooting a TV commercial and intend to use no lights at all. But it is assumed a proper TV commercial will be excellently lit too.
 
The HPX170 has a much better codec, it grades much easier, has less noise, and is more accepted in the industry.
 
I've never actually compared these two cams side by side, but yes, I believe a properly rigged HPX could give almost any B cam a run for their money.
My rig , once I get my Nikon lens, will end up looking something like this, except with a HPX:



 
I have the HMC150, which has the same lens and chips as the HPX170, and the AF100. In terms of light loss, The HMC wide open at the wide end of the lens is roughly like the AF100 at f/4. Add .4 stops, and you're now looking at around f/4.8-5 (if the rough math off the top of my head is close.). In terms of light loss, the AF100 would trounce an HPX170/SGBlade combo.
 
By the way......... what type of lense would you guys use to match this Nikon marvel? Or would you be able to use it on the AF-100?


 
I briefly toyed with the idea of using a AF100 or GH2 with a 35mm adapter to have full-frame width and DOF with better light handling when necessary/desired. I haven't moved forward on the idea because I'd have to buy a 35mm adapter, even as cheap as they've become. Curious to see the results if someone had both handy.

That said, after trying a few green screens with the AF100 in-camera codec, my HVX will still be getting those jobs. That codec is the old camera's biggest advantage.
 
You sound like you don't want to stop using your adapter. That's cool. Then don't, but 'concerts are well lit' just don't cut it. More photons is more options, I loved my letus but stick a lens in front of ground glass then aim other lens at it is a lot of lost light, you say it loses .4 of a stop, add the light loss up from front of lens to image sensor...indoors just enough light to expose at f1.4, well now I have the tip of your nose in focus. I kept my adapter cos gg looks lovely, just had enough of lugging a fragile heavy torpedo around. Enjoy.
 
EDV said:
By the way......... what type of lense would you guys use to match this Nikon marvel? Or would you be able to use it on the AF-100?


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AF-D lenses work great on the AF-100... big'uns like that just need some rails to support both camera and lens, and your resulting FOV will be 160-400 equivalent, and it won't autofocus or any of those things, of course.

The current top dog for a full-frame equivalent ~70-200 FOV is the Olympus 35-100 f2. Similar fast legacy zooms in the ~35-100 range from various makes exist that aren't quite as bulky and won't need support. I use a Vivitar Series 1 28-90 2.8 for similar duties as I might use an 80-200
 
I bought an SGBlade 35mm adaptor after been inspired by some of the footage I've seen from SGBlade / HPX users in this forum. Buying a 7D or an AF-100 was out of the question for me, due to P2 incompatibility. Actually, the only thing that really bothered me about my HPX 170 was the fixed lens. The 35mm adaptor, while cumbersome, adds a lot of value and functionality to it.
 
EDV said:
By the way......... what type of lense would you guys use to match this Nikon marvel? Or would you be able to use it on the AF-100?
Click to expand...

Able to use it!? I had to go back and find this! Check out this thread. http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?269693-AF100-Air-Show-film-Challenge! This is some excellent footage with the AF-100 and the Nikon 80-200mm. I have this one on the list. I don't do a lot that needs it right now, but I'd like to add it for outside, nature, sport stuff.

More to the point of this thread: I think that if you mostly do event stuff or ENG that you'd be well served by the combination you describe. I used to use an adapter. The biggest problem is setting it up and light loss, but they work pretty well. You just can't "swap them out" very easily. I find the AF-100 to be much better for the narrative type stuff I do.
 
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