Check out this cheap HD Achromat I found on Ebay

T

The Evil Mariachi

Well-known member
Hey Guys,

I've been fiddling with my diy adapter and in the quest to find an affordable upgrade to the Hoya macro I'm currently using, I found this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220150463855&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=012

The next best thing would be the Sgpro achromat, but even that's twice as much as this. Who knows, maybe the quality's comparable--if so, it would mean a big saving for the budget conscious.

I'm currently experimenting with using the lenses in an old pair of binoculars to make my own cheap achromat (check out Daniel's tutorial at jetsetmodels.info), so I won't be buying this anytime soon. But maybe someone out there feels brave enough to be a guinea pig and report back to the community.
 
Did you check out thier REDROCK copies Follow Focus rings for $50 for a set of 4.

This is really cheap.
 
Y'know, and it may be just my inexperience with the way a follow focus works, but all the options always struck me as extremely overpriced. I mean, the gears themselves cost a good chunk of change, and--it's just gears! Not to mention everything else...all that for a seemingly simple mechanical setup.

I'm also very tempted by their rod support, but with that particular item, I know I'll get a great product and outstanding support by buying from someone like Joel over at hyson films. So I'll be saving my pennies for a hysonfilms setup.
 
I suggest you to either stay with binocular achromats or just go for the SGPro one. SGPro's achromat are custom designed for 35mm adapters and with all the AR coatings. All of these needs a very professional and specialized manufacturing process. Which I don't think this cheap indian seller will/can afford to do. I'd bet they would just sell you some cheap magnifier lens and claim that they are high quality achromat. BTW. Binocular achromats are actually good quality optics just that it is not designed for 35mm adapters. I owned a SGPro achromat and the glass are simply flawless. The only thing I have to compliant is the aluminium mount looks cheap, which contradict with the high quality glass...
 
Guys

This is somewhere between gray market and black market stuff - they have lifted the designs from

We originally found out about this operation when a "customer" wrote to us about the poor quality of the follow focus and gears, only to find out they had purchased from these guys.

They stole designs from us, do a poor job replicating our gear, and I have no idea how customer service works from India.

I hope in our film community we support manufacturers who are upstanding members of the indie filmmaking community

Thanks

Brian
 
I honestly don't see how you can steal a design of an achromat lens. It's a piece of glass inside a 72mm ring. I have actually used this lens and it is of the same quality as those put out by Redrock and Cinevate. A good alternative.
 
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