Has anyone tested a SD lens on the HPX500?

You can add a microforce zoom controller, but not a lens handgrip servo. You could add a follow focus on the zoom gear though...

I can get you one of those lenses for $8200 (I gotta import it)
 
Hey Hunter
thanks for all the good tips. Im just about to buy a hpx500 and a 2nd hand SD lens, convinced by your sweet-ass stills.
you mentioned earlier in the thread that the hpx500 suffered in wide angle because of noise? I was thinking of doing some really close up stuff like a 2 inch area with diopters or macro lenses. Do you think I should avoid the hpx500 if I hope to get a good image with close up?
I was also considering the 2nd hand Varicam option to get the best image I can but having a hvx200 I thought the similarities and P2 cards would compliment each other, and warranties help me sleep.
any advice would be much appreciated.
thanks, a
 
aidancry:

About the hpx500 on the wide side of things. Let me first say, its not bad at all! Its just not to be compared to an hpx3000. On the hpx500, Its not the noise (it has pretty low noise actually), there just isn't enough resolution in the chips to resolves all of the fine details that show up on a landscape. (It definatly looks good-enough though!) I personally don't have a problem with the crispness from the hpx500 and when you watch your footage from a normal viewing distance you cant perceive that level of detail anyways.(And neither will your clients)

But on the medium to close-up (and macro) it's great. Really good! I actually prefer the images I get out of my camera vs cameras with a sharper picture. Its just enough crispness for skin, and it produces a look very similar to super16 (Just with finer grain). See the picture of my Daughter's eyes!

On buying a used Varicam vs Hpx500:
I wouldn't mind having a used Varicam, but tape is really on its way out. Also keep in mind that there inst a firewire i/o on the varicam, you need a DVCPROHD deck which will cost you more than the used varicam. Also, the varicam is power hungry @ something like 38watts vs 23watts for the hpx500. There can be tape problems, jams, ect. P2 is really the way to go.

If you can afford to and having an extremely sharp image is very important to you, get the hpx2000 (Then later you can throw an avc-intra board in it)
 
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thanks hunter

thanks hunter

thanks man, that really helps.

the new hpx500 option- with local support and an immediate replacement if it breaks. second hand sd lens makes it more affordable.

So Im going to look for an sd lens. You mentioned some lenses already - but do you know what lenses are good for wide angle? I have no idea what to search for or even where to search for it (except here and ebay) . any advice much appreciated.

I saw you were selling a good looking canon earlier- do you have or know of any to sell?

a
 
I still can't figure out a solution for a wide zoom at a reasonable cost for the HPX500.
I've been renting the 500 with the standard fujinon and I've tested a few SD lenses.
I've also read most of the white papers at the Abel site (thanks Barry) and there're some strong considerations why not go with a SD lens and use CAC.
Cine lenses are not for me, heavy, servo zoom, etc...
My problem with the available standard CAC lenses is their limited wide capabilities.
I shoot docs, almost entirely, and I really don't like adaptors. They're heavy and in many situations I don't even have the time to attach to the lenses.
It's run and gun with constant adaptations, a lot of traveling and limited $.
Anyway, I'll keep reading and testing whenever I can.
 
hunter richards said:
Hunter's FILM16 Recipe

Ingredients:

1 Hpx500
1 Lens
1 Beer


Step 1: Open beer and drink.

Step 2: Take your hpx500 and input the following.

Detail -2
V Detail +4
Coring -4
Color (not the phase) -2
Master Ped +8
Gamma: Cine D
Matrix norm2

(everything not listed set to 0)

Step 3: Now shoot something nice. As you shoot click though all of the other factory scenefiles for comparison.

Step 4: View your footage at full-resolution. Notice how all of the other factory scene files look like crap now.

Step 5: Give me a high-five!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The purpose of this scene file is to give you a low-contrast, neutrally saturated image, for maximum potential in post and a real "film-look". Yes, its really a +8 on the master pedestal.
Click to expand...
Understand where you are coming from, just not entirely sure I agree. I did read the "purpose", but post manipulation tells me theres no real gain. (just IMO remember)

Anyway I took these grabs as a comparison. First is your preferred second is my preferred. These are compressed jpeg files so they do show some signs of this.

1080 images.

electric.jpg

electric1.jpg

note.jpg

note1.jpg
 
I want to add, there need to be some caution here. When shooting anything above f 5.6 your really dropping sharpness in any respect. So SD glass above 5.6 or below 2.8 may look good. At optimum sharpness of f4 to f5.6 you may notice a difference. This is where the comparison should be made. My shots above where all F4.
 
Noel Evans said:
Understand where you are coming from, just not entirely sure I agree. I did read the "purpose", but post manipulation tells me theres no real gain. (just IMO remember)

Anyway I took these grabs as a comparison. First is your preferred second is my preferred. These are compressed jpeg files so they do show some signs of this.

1080 images.
Click to expand...

Noel,
Those look pretty sweet! What settings did you dial up? They really pop, and the saturation is just right.

-Brad
 
Your grabs look good Noel! I just prefer a lower-contrast look in camera. Thanks for posting those, I like the grungy electrical scene.
 
Hi Noel,
I too am interested in your settings. I have been using Hunter's settings, except I did not shift the color like he has. We have been getting very nice images off our cheap ol lenses...
 
NorthernFilmMaker said:
Noel, what lens where you using? and what were your settings?
Click to expand...

Using the pretty standard fujinon CAC lens.

Settings were

Detail -2
V Detail +4
Coring +4
Master Ped -5
Gamma: Cine V
Matrix cinelike

I change these depending on what I am shooting. But, most of the scene files I use I have stored on an SD for quick reference including my VFR settings like 2 fps.

BTW Hunter I am totally jealous of the that Canon lens. Where did you find it?
 
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Hi,
We are just going to buy the HPX500 and we are going to follow your recomendatios and use SD lenses.
Do you know anything of the A16x9BRM FUJINON?
I am getting crazy around the 18 pages, It would be nice if you will do a revision of all the SD lenses tried until now.
Thanks
 
Lenses tried and OKed:

Fujinon:

A14x9 (pegasus 2)

Angenuiex:

12x5.3 AIFHR

Canon:

J8x6
J11x4.5
J15x9
J15x9.5
J14x9
J9x5.2 ECT2.0

-------------------------------------------------------

I think there were more lenses tried too, I bet the A16x9 would be fine. There hasn't been a lens tested yet that didn't produce an acceptable image on the hpx500.
 
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Pablo Lozano said:
Hi,
We are just going to buy the HPX500 and we are going to follow your recomendatios and use SD lenses.
Do you know anything of the A16x9BRM FUJINON?
I am getting crazy around the 18 pages, It would be nice if you will do a revision of all the SD lenses tried until now.
Thanks
Click to expand...

Pablo, I have the Fujinon A16X9BRM (12 pin)... I just received it yesterday, initial observations of the lens are: it works!, it looks pretty sharp, it breathes quite abit, its very similar to the lenses that Kit has posted some stills on... but i think it might be a little better quality lens!? I think... new they'd run for $1000-1500? not sure though.... All in all it is a very inexpensive way to get going, until you can drop a few thousand on a high end SD or a decent HD lens.... I've got my eye on ebay, looking for The lens!! hope this helps
 
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