Article: Letus35 Flip Enhanced

good write up.

just a quick note about the shutter speed issue, spinning adapters, M2, WDR35, and Sgpro, are less succeptible to the GG freezing issue. Not by alot, but they handle it better. 1/120th a second is "safe" with this GG configuration.

just throwing it out there.
 
Very interesting but there is an error: the lens attachment HAS a locking mechanism. You can mount the lens in 2 different positions, one rotated 180 degrees from the other, and one locks the lens. To release the lens you have to push the screw/button.

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Great article. I just wanna add that some Letus users have modified their battery pack to include 3 or even 4 batteries for faster vibration. For those wondering, do a search on these forums. I'll bet that should resolve high-shutter problems.

I've used the LetusFE before, and it's a simple and great product to use.
 
Luzer said:
Great article. I just wanna add that some Letus users have modified their battery pack to include 3 or even 4 batteries for faster vibration. For those wondering, do a search on these forums. I'll bet that should resolve high-shutter problems.

I've used the LetusFE before, and it's a simple and great product to use.
Click to expand...


Quyen personally recommended to NOT add batteries.
 
The best solution is opening it (warning: the mirrors could detach and you will have to re fix them with glue) and cleaning it with lens cleners. and air pressure sprays. (spray it near a CRT monitor or TV and the dust will be attracted by the tube).
Once cleande you could sometimes find some dirt on the GG. You have to open it (2 screws" and spray it.


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hi

i am the owner of the l35fe i shot with it over 50 music video and small commercial (hand held , stadycam, crane)
and let me tell you its great toll

i was happey to see the charts and to know by fact that it is sharp and also to know that it is not falling from the mini35

in time i add a few small improvments like add 2 more scrow to the gg atachment to the flip (more stady in changing focus)

a small light bulb to the battery pack

and sacoure the canon/nikon lens atachment

got so use to it that when i shoot my last music video with dsr-970 and hd zoom lens i cuoldn't stand the look of it !!!

i shoot with sony v-1 which from my expriance is the best cam to use with the l35fe
 
Barry, Steve-
Thanx for taking the time to do the write-up. I purchased the FE based on Steve's footage and Barry's earlier positive comments and couldn't be more pleased.
One question, do you know of a way to mount Leica lenses of the kind that fit on the M6 to either the Canon or Nikon mount of the FE?
 
What happened to that thread a while back wherein Barry praised Caesar before burying him? (ie, the Letus FE)
 
I praised him, then I said "er, hold on, I found a problem". I then verified (as stated in the article) that even the $11,000 mini35 has the same problem (the static grain effect on higher shutter speeds). And therefore, if the guys with the premium "best" adapter on the market can't fix it, and ever vibrating adapter has the same issue, then I decided that it isn't anything to worry about with the Letus either. Just be aware of it, know when it happens, and if you can't avoid it, then the Letus (or any other vibrating adapter) is not for you. But as long as you avoid faster shutter speeds the problem becomes a non-problem.
 
SamKam said:
Barry, Steve-
Thanx for taking the time to do the write-up. I purchased the FE based on Steve's footage and Barry's earlier positive comments and couldn't be more pleased.
One question, do you know of a way to mount Leica lenses of the kind that fit on the M6 to either the Canon or Nikon mount of the FE?
Click to expand...

Sounds like you are talking about some kind of adapter that would allow you to connect that kind of lens. Not sure where to direct you....maybe speak to someone at a place like B&H Photo or your local photo shop.
 
I was just worried about a the vibrating motor, when on a tripod doing a still video shot if the adapter is on is there any noticible shaking due to the adapter? anything at all that will be noticed in the footage?


that is going to be the deal maker for me personally
 
No noticeable shaking whatsoever. I could feel the slightest tremor in the tripod handle, but the picture was rock steady.

I guess it depends on your tripod too; a lightweight (i.e., flimsy) tripod is more likely to be susceptible to something like that. Even so, I doubt the very mild vibration of the L35FE motor would cause any visible effect on any reasonable tripod.
 
The FE is a great adapter for the price. The Extreme is a better adapter, for a higher price. Can't comment on the Economy because I haven't seen one of those; from the specs it sounds like it delivers most of the benefits of the Extreme for only a small increase in price over the L35FE.
 
Some important tips that can make your short film the best it can be
Here is a list of some of the most important elements to keep in mind when making a short film. Following these guidelines will help you avoid the more common pitfalls. While these are only suggestions, they will almost certainly improve both your film and your filmmaking experience.
Make sure you have a story worth telling
Would you sit through the short film if someone else had made it? The answer for a surprising number of shorts is No. Ask yourself this question before you even start writing the script.
Don’t start production without a budget
Films, no matter how simple, cost money -- and money is always limited. By making sure you have a budget (a simple spreadsheet will do), you can decide in advance where you want to spend whatever money you have. Without a budget, you can almost guarantee that you will either spend more money than you plan, or end up without the finished film.
Get all clearances before shooting
You need, need, NEED releases from actors, music/artwork contributors, and anyone else who produces content that appears in the film. Getting clearance signatures before the shoot is simple and takes you moments. After the shoot, it can be difficult to impossible. Don’t get caught, do it now.
Make the film shorter than you want
Writer/directors always often leave things in the movie that the audience can really do without. It’s so painful to trim away things that were difficult to shoot. Make sure you do it. Your audience will thank you.
When using non-professional actors, cast with personality
I believe bad acting is so common in short films because people are asked to play characters that don’t resemble their personalities. A dirt-poor professional actor can portray the swagger and confidence of a billionaire – but most amateurs can’t. If your lead is an anal-retentive tightwad, don’t cast a slovenly slacker to play him.
Invest in good sound
Bad sound makes many short films (even ones with good stories) unbearable. There are no real replacements for a decent boom mike. Beg, buy, or borrow one and it will triple the chances your film will be watch-able.
Fix it now, not in post-production
Without Digital Domain or WETA working for you, most post-production fixes don’t look/sound very good and take A LOT of time. If you have a mistake in framing, dialogue, or anything else that can be fixed on the shoot, do it!
Don’t zoom in a shot
Don’t touch that zoom switch! A really good cameraman can make a zoom look OK. In almost all cases, though, using zooming is the hallmark of a sad effort. If you need to push in on a subject, use a dolly, camera glider, or a cut.
Know the indie/short film clichés
The most common clichés include using dream sequences, many dissolves/wipes, long credit sequences, or waking to a ringing alarm clock. There even seem to be a few websites devoted exclusively to citing indie/short film clichés. Know what the clichés are so you can make an intelligent choice on whether to use them or not.
Unless you’re shooting on film, avoid night exteriors
Darkness is the enemy of most camcorders. You’ll become acquainted with noise, color shifting, definition drop-out, and more if you choose to shoot at night without a medium size lighting package. It’s usually a lot easier to change the script than deal with all these problems
compiled Engineer Evon
 
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