dof adapter for a comedy!!

Read some sticky's/posts in the 35mm adapter section. Just about every adapter now is as good as another in one way or another. It depends mostly on your personal preference. As for the fact that you're filming a comedy, it doesn't really matter what you're shooting, any adapter well basically do the same thing for you, it just depends on different personal factors.. ie. Budget, Which adapter's bokeh you like better, will you be filming in low light? (although, now all the popular adapters claim to have basically equal light loss), etc. Do some research, watch some test footage from the different adapters, and decide which one YOU like the best. Just about everyone on this site will have a different opinion on which adapter they like the best...
 
No, I haven't used the Letus. The only adapter I have any experience with is the M2, I don't regret buying it at all. I will however, be upgrading to the Encore edition for the increased low-light performance. (Once I get enough expendable money together haha)

All in all, I'd say it's definitely up to personal preference, and I'm sure anyone on this forum would agree with me on that. Obviously everyone is going to be able to say "I think (so and so) is the best adapter" or "I think (this adapter) is better than (that adapter)", but again... Do some research on the specs for the different adapters, watch some footage from each one, and decide which one suits you better. It's possible to get great footage from any adapter.
 
The M2 does look nice.... I feel like if I have brightened wardrobe and background colors I will be fine... I do have a couple of outside night shots that I'm alittle worried about. I'm not sure if it is more benificial to go with the dof adaptor or a flycam right now.. ( I hate budgets)
 
Yeah, budget's a big thing with me too... I seem to have a never ending list of more gadgets I "need", but not enough money to afford all of them haha
 
just looking for a cinematic look .... it really didn't have anything to do with the story of the film... are you implying that it doesn't matter?
 
If it doesn't have anything to do with the story, I would avoid it. Comedy is (typically) high key, deep focus, and performance driven. A DOF adapter seems like it would complicate things.
 
Ya know, I think I might have to agree with Taylor. We have a comedy feature also planned and I've been considering which adapter to purchase, and then I thought perhaps I really shouldn't use one for a comedy. It greatly adds a lot more work since focus is so much more critical. Do I trade-off a cinematic look?...Not really. We can do great cinematic looks with 1. the EX1's Picture Profiles, 2. the lighting, and 3. Final Cut Pro's Studio II's "Color" program.
But if I did use an adapter... I'm now attracted to the RedRock Encore.
 
yeah, I just can't see an audience noticing DoF - it's great lines and great performances that make a comedy. I'd suggest simple clean clear 'invisible' cinematography, unless there's something very unusual about the script and the director needs a special look.
 
Nowadays sitcoms offer the shallow DOF look.. It will look just more professional..


I would go with DOF adapter, with no question..


I have SGpro r3 and 10.9 DIY LCD and crutical focus is not problem at all..


I use mostly Vivitar Series 1 f2.8 35 - 85 mm for wide and Tokina AT-X f2.8 60 - 120 mm.. one-touch focus design..

Cheers..

It is on you
 
leteeci said:
Nowadays sitcoms offer the shallow DOF look.. It will look just more professional..
Click to expand...

Assuming lighting, blocking, acting, set design and composition are good, then it may look more professional.

Generally when someone asks which 35mm adapter they should buy, I suggest they don't. At least not until they've lurked the 35mm adapter forums and understand - at least on a very fundamental level - how they work/which ones may be appropriate for their application.

I say this only because adapters can be hell to work with and everyone's work on a film may be shot because of a "cool look," especially when the operator lacks knowledge of how to use it exactly.

Unfortunately this comes from my own experience! I'm not doubting the OP's competence, but vague questions merit blanket answers.
 
I hope everyone realizes there is a proper usage of Shallow Focus for narrative and other cinematic expression. The talk i'm hearing suggest some learning needs to take place. I suggest one learn when to use Shallow Focus (DOF) rather than just running off and doing it. If a tool fits the cinematic requirement use it; if not, don't. Given that, you need to ask yourself, what should the production look like? and why? Once you know the purpose & look, then you can figure out the tools & technics.


Things to think about:

Hint: Shallow Focus guides the audience's eye to the in-focus regions.
  • Why do you want to do that?
  • In what portion of the show will you do that?
  • What audience reaction do you anticipate?
  • How much will you do it?
  • Will it distract or fatigue the audience?
 
35mm adapters aren't only useful to get a shallow DOF, even with the iris almost closed and a large DOF I still think you get nicer, more filmic looking footage than with a stock lens. (depending on the camera and what glass you're using of course...) A lot of people seem to think that the only thing a 35mm adapter is good for is getting that shallow depth of field, and then tend to over use it. You need to know when to have your background out of focus and when it really isn't necessary. But that doesn't mean the adapter is useless if you're using a higher aperture setting.
 
OK, so what's the filmic look these adapter provide if it's not the Shallow Focus look?

If you're suggesting stacking lenses makes it more filmic, well I don't know about that. It could be, but it doesn't seem likely, from my experience with these.

The Filmic Look is often the result of: frame rate, progressive scanning, shallow focus here & there, saturation levels, resolution and dynamic range and we can include the toe and shoulder roll off at both ends.

What do additional lenses offer? It seems to me that putting superior glass in front of inferior stock glass does not improve it, how can it, the weak link is still there. Help me understand.

Thanks
 
I haven't had the opportunity to handle a 35mm lens and adapter this project would have been a first ... It wasn't a very long time frame may be about 10 -15 minutes... so I thought about putting it in the budget , I have watched a decent amount of indie comedies to see what the DOF can do .... I do need equipment to score with , I'm weighing the value of each in the "need right now" way.
 
10s said:
OK, so what's the filmic look these adapter provide if it's not the Shallow Focus look?
Click to expand...

I understand where you're coming from, and to be honest I don't know enough about the technical side of the adapters to give you a full explanation. But from my (limited) experience, I've found that even at higher aperture settings, I tend to get a nicer looking image while using an adapter than I get from using just the camera alone.

Obviously, the main use for a 35mm adapter is to be able to get a shallow depth of field without having to use the long end of your stock camera lens, but I've found even while using, say a wider lens (I like to use my 24mm), outdoor shots while stopped at around f/8 or 11 (which lets me have my focus set at infinity), gets a considerably nicer image than using just the camera alone. I'm sure some of the users on here that are more familiar with 35mm lenses could explain the technical side a little better than I can. But personally. I think it gets a much nicer look than my stock HVX lens does. Even while using a 50mm (which many consider to be a "normal" lens, even though the HVX actually has a wide angle lens), the same applies. But I guess, as with everything... to each, his own.

I know you can get beautiful footage from the camera alone, but I just think the footage you get with a 35mm adapter (almost) always seems to look a little better.
 
make sure you got enough light to shoot w/ an adapter.

if you're going to shoot w/ adapter, use something else besides Redrock M2. even w/ the new Encore model M2, their design is still "inside the box." pun is intented of course....LoL

I highly suggest letus. they're far the best adapter you can buy at low price. the super low-profile adapter doesnt look flashy as others but it is very superior. there is no guess work, just PnP. sharp and no vignetty.

shot w/ both letus and m2/microx.
 
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