Best 35mm adapter w/ HVX200

J

jsstring

Member
I've been reading a lot of threads about these adapters. I'm leaning towards the SGBlade, but I haven't read much about using it with an HVX. So thats my question; What do you, more educated users think would be the best 35mm adapter/setup for the HVX.
 
Any High quality adapter would work fine with the HVX. I run the HVX200 with the Letus Extreme-Nikon Glass. The Blade is a fantastic piece and it will work fine with the HVX. Of course you have to have some idea what you're doing when it comes to working with any adapter. To answer your question simply. There is no best. Each has positves and negatives.
 
The vibrating ground glass adapters don't allow for the use of high shutter speeds.

Each adapter has its own unique (albeit subtle) differences with respect to bokeh and gamma and "look".

Really, they all provide about the same results as far as I can tell.

.
 
Chris Santucci said:
The vibrating ground glass adapters don't allow for the use of high shutter speeds.

Each adapter has its own unique (albeit subtle) differences with respect to bokeh and gamma and "look".

Really, they all provide about the same results as far as I can tell.

.
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My favorite feature of our Letus Ultimate is the ability to stop down as far as we want. It's nice to have that kind of DOF control and to not have to worry about seeing ground glass grain no matter what f-stop. There are times, especially with long lenses, that being wide open is not the first choice.
 
Dino said:
There are times, especially with long lenses, that being wide open is not the first choice.
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Yea I've found that when using my 200mm and wanting to rack between two objects VERY far apart. It's almost impossible to do a really really quick rack with a lens that big, especially an old Nikon. They're a bit bulky.

I never plan on using my Letus Extremes on a feature ever again. I've had about 600hrs use with them and I love what we've been able to pull off but I'll take the SGBlade over the others anyday. The price is right, the bokeh is excellent, high shutter speeds, stop down ability, etc.
 
jsstring said:
I've been reading a lot of threads about these adapters. I'm leaning towards the SGBlade, but I haven't read much about using it with an HVX. So thats my question; What do you, more educated users think would be the best 35mm adapter/setup for the HVX.
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The one i like for my style ( very cinematic ) after trying a Letus Elite, SG Blade was soft on my EX1, (though i understand they are fixing that issue }was the CINEMEK G35.
Very filmic, i have seen a lot of HVX200 footage and it also looked great.

Different animal then the Blade, Letus (no flip. static screen like the Movie Tube but wow it looks like film!
 
Phil,
i just checked out some of your clips. Scared the hell out of me and they are beautifully shot.
You guys do a incredible job.
What did you shoot those on?

Lenny
 
I actually disagree with the idea that they all of them produce similar results.

I used a Brevis35 adapter, and its performance on set (dying on me for entire scenes) was horrific. From the research I've done, the Letus brand is the trusted source for 35. I shot on a Letus Extreme on some ghetto old Nikons, and got great results on a really fast-paced shoot. I mean, we shot the whole music video in a day!

I just posted it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaFxQZhfZXM&fmt=22
 
My only caution with using a Letus is buy two. Have a backup for the one you'll be using, especially if it's a critical shoot. Don't play the odds. It can break very easily. It's a little cell phone motor with some glass, rubber, two mirrors, and little delicate wires that can break easy. I'll never use the Letus again unless I have a backup for each one. Heck I would even say have a backup for your backup so when the other is sent to Letus for fixing your not out in the open. Sounds like overdoing it but take it from someone who's spent more than one shooting day hunched over the thing while an entire cast/crew waits around and wastes their day.

However, the reason I mentioned the Blade earlier is the SG adapters are built like tanks and are much more durable, like the M2 adapter from Redrock. They are much more solid and the failure possibilities are a lot less. The insides of a Letus Extreme are pretty flimsy to be honest. I love the adapter but as I said, I'll always have two on set just in case.
 
Lal, your experience with our adapter is not typical. The MP.2 and MP.1 before it are microprocessor controlled and the only moving part (motor) is user swappable (plug n play) with a spare included in every case. The onboard power cells are user swappable in a similar manner...and external power with our power pod is optional. Combined with the onboard integrated circuit breaker, the Brevis MP.2 is about as reliable as any adapter could possibly be. In terms of our earlier units like the REV2 (units over 15 months old), we strongly encourage our customers to take advantage of our upgrade program which is a very cost effective way to bring their units up to our latest specification.

It's too bad that we didn't figure out the mircroprocessor based control system right from the get-go 4 years ago...but we've constantly worked to improve the system. The launch of our retrograde-friendly MP.2 last month is evidence of that committment.

Cheers,
Dennis Wood
 
Lenilenapi said:
Phil,
i just checked out some of your clips. Scared the hell out of me and they are beautifully shot.
You guys do a incredible job.
What did you shoot those on?

Lenny
Click to expand...

Thanks Lenny, Thats a montage and some trailers for Sony Pictures, hmmm...all 24p 1/48 shutter . So that would be a Sony F900, a Canon XLH1s, a JVC 110U Pro 35 adapter , PS Teknik mini 35, HVX200& Sony EX1. We just got the Cinemek adapter at NAB so we will be adding to the reel and trailers as we shoot for SCI FI Channel with in the next few months. You have a great eye, because that is exactly what are going for, "Scary and Beautiful " We chose the Cinemek mainly because it looks moody and surreal (david lynch) and adds beauty to average shots. Also it looks the most like film to us without going the expensive Movie Tube or PS TEKNIK rentals. Just light like film, shoot it like film and voila!

Adapter are like women or cars some are fast, some are beautiful, some do the job.
But occasionally you find that special one that makes YOU FEEL ALIVE!
Peace
 
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