Couple of emabarrasing 35mm adapter questions

mdslammer

mdslammer

Well-known member
Hi Guys,

I'm considering the Brevis35 MP.2 adapter w/rails. I'm completely ignorant about
using a piece of gear like this but I was hoping some of you wouldn't mind
answering a couple of newbie questions.

First off, whether or not the adapter (or camera's LCD monitor) has a flip feature
or not, does the image get recorded upside down when using any adapter?
I think it does and you would have to "flip it" in post but wasn't sure.

Also, I'm not quite sure which kind of lens to go with. I keep hearing Zeiss is the
best but Nikon is a good brand, accessible and affordable. What do you guys
recommend for a general overall lense, tele and wide angle?

Finally, I know that the camera should usually move in or out to frame your shot
but what about the times where you can't move the camera in/out? You need
to zoom in/out? Would specific lense is there that lets you zoom in/out?

Sorry for these really basic/newbie questions guys but I've learned so much from
people on this forum in the past and was hoping for the same help for this.

Thanks in advance.

Best.

Mark Dalzell
 
If you have a flipped version of your adapter, the image recorded onto tape is indeed flipped. If you do not and you are using something like an upside down monitor, you need to flip in post.

I like Nikons for their affordability. Plus I can grab a fast Nikon zoom or prime that has autofocus and use it on both my adapter and my D200. Plus I really like using Nikon's 2.8 zooms - fast enough in daylight to use and they are really sharp. I use a 17-35 2.8 which is a little pricey and a 35-70 2.8 which you can find for really cheap. You can't use them like you would your zoom on your camera as they don't necessarily hold focus as you zoom, but they are great when you are setting up an interview and decide, "I want to be a little tighter." Just zoom in, instead of picking up your rig and moving it.
 
Mark,

If you don't want to contend with having to flip the image in your NLE, then you'll need an adapter with a flip module. Although I've not had to do it, it sounds like flipping in the NLE is not a major undertaking, just time consuming.

Nikon glass is fine, affordable and available.

The best way to understand what is involved with this gear is to rent. I did just that 3 weeks ago and it really added a perspective about how cumbersome this stuff can be with the adapter and rails etc. And I didn't even use a matte box, monitor or follow focus! It can become a money pit, big time. That's not meant to discourage, just to reinforce the need to try it out before you commit.

I'm sure there's a rental place somewhere near you (or an individual on this board) that would be happy to rent a rig for a day.

Good luck.
Bob
 
Zeiss lenses are generally considered the best, but they're very, very expensive. Nikons are quality lenses that are abundant, relatively cheap, and don't have compatibility issues. Nikon cams have been using the same mount (F-mount) forever, so you'll never run into an issue of different mounts like you would with Canon (who use FD or EOS mounts).

The mechanics of a 35mm adapter reverse the image unless a flip module is used in conjunction with the adapter or if the flip module is built into the 35mm adapter, like the Letus.
 
I have another question related to those situations where you can't move the camera... just how far is it necessary to zoom into the imaging element with the camera? And how much zoom range do you have and are able to still maintain focus on the element?
 
Hey Mark,

It is good to do some good research here. DVXuser and the Cinevate forum does provide a lot of help for newbies like us. I would suggest you to get the Brevis35 MP2. with a flip module. It works great. No worries about flipping it in post which could take up some unnecessary time. The beauty of a 35mm adpater like the Brevis is that you can use an amazing range of lens.

Prime lens generally has the best quality and are F stops are lower. That is great for adapter usage. I bough the Zeiss lens from Cinevate too. 50mm and the 85mm. With a tight budget on my hand i realize i made a wrong decision to buy the 85mm when a Zeiss 100mm is more suitable for my needs as it has macro and is also great for portrait. Then again the result from the 85mm zeiss is just amazingly sharp, will definitely hold on to it . I also got a 24mm f2 Nikon Manual AIS. The 24mm is pretty wide and slightly fisheye. But it is a very sharp lens. I know very little about prime untill I had intrests in the 35mm adpaters and I amaze by how good they are. Old manual nikon lens are usually great to have as you can control your aperture. Heard the E series are not that good for adpter usage, it would be wise to stay away from it. Haven't tried AF though.

I am considering to get a zoom lens. Not sure which is good though. You can try using Vimeo view some test footages that others has done and consider which would be best suit your filming needs. I believe there are lots of help here at dvxuser, vimeo and even the cinevate forum. Definitely our fellow friends here will give us some tips.

My advise for lenses get a 50mm as your priority, a Zeiss 100mm or Nikon 105mm macro for tele and macro, a 28mm for normal wide. But if you got to capture images of Buildings maybe a 24mm will be good.

Some stuff that you may like to know are stated in a thread here and I have some pictures of my rig that I absolutely adore. http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=173565.
 
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