Anamorphic lens - thumbscrew issue

D

direktor

Member
I've already posted my "yikes" post regarding my problems witht the thumbscrew on the Panasonic anamorphic adapter.

The reason for this additional post is to see how many of you out there have or have heard of this problem.

I guess for the money - I can't let it go.

I would like to hear from any of you that own an anamorphic lens, or who are thinking about buying one.

Thanks!

-Declan
 
Re: Anamorphic lens - thumbscrew issue

Dear Direktor:

While I understand your frustration, I posted a response on your original thread " Help Anamorphic attachment keeps spinning", the short version of which is that the Panasonic attachment is a reasonalble value for the money, and a better design would simply raise the price-- but I recommend reading my complete post on the other thread.

Bill Turner
Century Division
Schneider Optics
 
Re: Anamorphic lens - thumbscrew issue

Bill:

I have read your responses. Forgive me if I seem slighted by Panasonic's choice to offer a lens so poorly designed - from a material's POV. Regardless whether it is private-label or not - it is a rip off. I feel and I am ripped off - it's plain and simple. The “you got what you paid for” does not offer me any comfort.

I am not going to get into why I feel Panasonic chose to offer such a half-assed effort to independent filmmakers, regardless of 24p. At this point if widescreen was not in the equation and 4:3 was all we had to exhibit to, then I wouldn't have an argument - no one would. If we had a world where 4:3 was king, then the DVX would be the camera to end all cameras for independent filmmakers!

Widescreen is the format of choice for filmmakers, or at least it is for me. Panasonic manufactured AND marketed a camera for filmmakers/documentarians and to me “skimped” on the one feature that attracts us; widescreen! It is almost as if it was an after thought.

If there was ever a time that Panasonic could lose market share to Canon, it is now, because I am personally on a mission - REGARDLESS of the "you got what you paid for" mentality - to point out the obvious after thought oops!

I mean seriously! I am really interested in hearing their reasoning for offering a camera - KNOWING DAMNED WELL Canon would launch a counter camera to compete with them - that is so limited and dependent on poorly-designed and manufactured accessories.

I am going off on tangents here and it is turning in a tirade. I really don't mean any disrespect Bill, but I am very jaded right now. The XL2 does look awfully desirable, but I dare not invest in it because there has GOT TO be limitations to it as well. I know damned well there is.

Let's face it unless you have $70,000, the little cams are what we have. Panasonic knows this and cares little. They will continue to design cameras with only half the features you really need to do your work, and then offer private label after market accessories that cost a lot and are poorly designed. It’s a crap sandwich and I have already taken my bite.

And are you suggesting – not forgetting your expertise here – are you suggesting a metal housing for that lens would cost twice as much? Or is it just you’re lens; the century lens is going to cost twice as much?

Yeah, I’d say I am a little frustrated!
 
Re: Anamorphic lens - thumbscrew issue

direktor, you have every right to be frustrated. I would be too if i was in your situation. And anyways Bill, since when did $800 become "a good value" for something that doesnt work well? I know as a student, 800 bucks is a huge chunk of change and would expect quality for that price. I'll tell you why Panny is selling it at that price...because they can. They know people will buy it. I find it surprising that Panasonic would market something flimsy like this... I've been pretty loyal to Panasonic way before the DVX and they dont produce garbage.
 
Re: Anamorphic lens - thumbscrew issue

The last thing I want to do is add "fuel to the fire" or knock another manufacturer's product.

Would we at Century make and market an anamorphic attachment with the inherent short comings of the Panasonic Unit? -- no. It is clear to me that the designers of that unit did not understand how it would be used - hence the difficulty in filtering leading to cutting off the lip of the housing etc.

I have seen many posts that attest to the fact that there are many users who have been more than pleased with the final results.

I acknowledged that while $800 is a significant sum, I imagine that some one at Panasonic was convinced that they did not want an attachment that sold for more and so a unit was designed that could be manufactured, marketed and sold profitably at that price point.

Is it perfect, heck no, does it have a couple serious weakness yes, but they have the foresight to realize an anamorphic was needed and did get it to market in a timely manner and it does work.

Bill Turner
Century Division
Schneider Optics
 
Re: Anamorphic lens - thumbscrew issue

[glow=red,2,300]Read Below! UPDATE ON ISSUE![/glow]
lens.jpg


After I received my lens from ZGC (www.zgc.com) and discovered the lens had a stripped-out thumbscrew hole for installation, Chris Brnic at ZGC recommended a retro-repair she has a company in NYC (Du-All Camera) do for her. Apparently she and Du-All have run into this problem before with the Panasonic anamorphic lens and have done many retro-repairs to their rental lenses.

I sent the lens to her and they sent it on to Du-All. I just got it back today and the repair is awesome! Inside the old thumbscrew hole is a new metal threaded barrel. The thumbscrew now has metal-on-metal threading versus the metal-on-plastic.

I just wanted everyone to know that if this happens to you, Du-All can do a repair for you, and the turn around was less than a week, and I live in Florida. I bought the lens through ZGC, so they were gracious enough to pick up the tab for the repair.

If you are having this issue, look into it. I am really glad my lens has this new insert.

Thanks!

-Declan
 
Re: Anamorphic lens - thumbscrew issue

Direktor- How much did that new thread cost?

Bill- As I understand it, the Century anamorphic lens has a focusable element to it, how is that going to work if you have a mattebow over the lens?
 
Re: Anamorphic lens - thumbscrew issue

I feel your pain - the design is an ass backwards design. Especially when considering the fact that the stock hood has a sound locking mechanism (perhaps Leica was responsible for that). The funny thing is all Pana needed to do was issue the damn thing with a plastic screw. The problem is due to the relative hardness of the materials in question. A plastic screw would have threaded well enough and probably never stripped threading of the plastic whole.

How much does the metal sleeve cost?
 
Re: Anamorphic lens - thumbscrew issue

I will have to contact ZGC.com (Chris) or Du-All and find out what it costs. As I said, ZGC picked up the tab because they had just sold me a brand new lens with clearly a defective installation thumbscrew. I can imagine it probably cost somewhere around $50 due to the labor involved. Something like this has got to take a while to do right. I will ask though and let you know.

I've already heard of a few shooters in my area that are having the metal threaded-barrel inserted the same time they get the lens hood shaved for the Matte box. Sort of a complete retro-repair/fit operation...
 
Re: Anamorphic lens - thumbscrew issue

Yes - this is after the operation. Forgive the photo - my digital camera doesn't have a very good lens. But inside you can kind of see the metal threaded insert.
 
Re: Anamorphic lens - thumbscrew issue

Threads like that cost a mere pittance. Possible even less than a pittance. The trick is finding them. And in quantities less than too damn many.

You could probably diddle with a Pop Rivet thread (not its real name...but I don't remember...oh, hell. Like this http://www.emhart.com/products/pop/popnut.htm ) and DIY.

Dan
 
Re: Anamorphic lens - thumbscrew issue

To answer the Director's question first, the new larger focusable anamorphic will be very much like our current focussing unit for the Sony PD150/170 and similar cameras. Just like a lens it will have a focus ring on the ouside of the housing but behind the very front where the Matte Box/Shade will slip over .

Secondly, yes the metal insert (called a helicoil) is a relatively cheap item. The two problems are that to use the original thumbscrew it must be metric and the proper thread- not always easy to locate in the USA, but they are available.

You have to drill out the existing hole and re-tap (put new larger threads in) using a special tap made for that size helicoil and insert the helicoid with a special tool.

You must disassemble the unit to avoid getting debris from the drilling and tapping into the lens and do the paper work and handling. We at Century do not do this particular repair, but from long experience it is how installing a 50 cent helicoil can become a $100 job (and I have no idea what Do-All charges- just making a point) when done right by a legitimate business.

Bill Turner
Century Division
Schneider Optics
 
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