Do I even NEED an adapter ???

Randall_Oelerich

Randall_Oelerich

Veteran
I am ready to buy a Canon XH-A1s and a Letus Extreme adapter, but now I am asking myself if the Letus would really add much of anything to the Canon XH-A1s? Can anybody help me reason this out? I see that the XHA1 lens can open up to f1.6 and damn that is quite a wide aperature-- combined with some zoom, and keeping the camera closer to the subject(s), couldn't I just pull focus for selective depth of field without resorting to the expense of a Letus? What would attaching a Letus with an f1.6 lens provide as a benefit compared to just opening up the iris of the Canon XHA1 to f1.6?
 
Good question.


Even with the camera wide open, the DOF is still pretty deep.

True, you can manupulate DOF to a limited extent. You could move the camera father away from your subject and then zoom in. That will cause you to have a shallower DOF. I've used that technique. However, this is very limiting and not always possible.

The adapter gives you much better control of the DOF. Changes in aperture on the 35mm lens combined with an adapter makes noticible differences.

Take a look at these shots. They are from the A1 with an adapter. first is with the 35mm lens at f8. Notice that the DOF causes the background to be slightly out of focus. Now notice the second shot with the 35mm lens at f4. The DOF is much shallower. You just can't get that with the bare A1 simply by changing the fstop.
 

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The Canon wide open is 1.6, zoomed in is 2.6. And an adapter would still provide much shorter DOF than can be obtained with just a stock lens.
 
oops, you're right, Huy. I was remembering from being zoomed in to the GG. I've corrected the first post.
 
What I would love to see is a side by side comparison thumbnail/photo/video of the canon or other prosumer at wide open aperature, with some zoom, the same scene with the use of an adapter and 35mm lens. If anybody finds something like that do share, I will google a bit too and share if I find something. Regardless, thansk guys for sharing your expertise on this. Lousy economy, my savings have tanked as a result, so it is really hard for an amateur filmmaker like me to spend money on all this, but I will if it is needed, i really want to get that shallow DOF on my subsequent shorts.
 
This is not the A1, but if you scroll down toward the end of this article you will find side by side grab of what the stock lens is like vs. an adapter. It's an HVX which produces approximately the same DOF as the A1. Clearly when the object is framed at the same size, the adapter produces a much more shallower DOF.

http://dvxuser.com/jason/Letus/

I wouldn't worry too much about adapter. There are much more useful things that you can buy.
 
Even with 2/3" cameras, controlling DOF on small interiors is difficult, never mind 1/3". I would recommend renting an adapter/lenses first to see if it is worthwhile. I find 1/3" cameras for interiors to be frustrating. Exteriors not as bad.
 
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