HPX170 + Letus Ultimate Test Footages

K

Kholi

Section Moderator
http://www.vimeo.com/2075303

Nothing special. Might be my last with this camera... but, now it's a huge might because I've found some decent settings in CineD, for one, and I've had a bit more personal time with the camera's functions. Namely my new favorite... 1/4 ND Filter!

This is a REALLY freakin' great camera for 35mm Adapter users. All of the subtle additions can't be denied:

1/4 ND Filter -- Gives you the chance to slow the camera's Iris down to a sharper point. One example would be: 1/16 ND and F2.8 on Camera. Now it's more like 1/4 ND and F5.6 on Camera. Eckin' out every lil' bit of sharpness is great for 35mm Adapters and I prefer to start at the camera end, at least when using glass that's already sharp from the get-go

IRIS Switch -- No more bumping the Focus Setting! Admittedly, you could still knock the auto focus button but it's least likely to happen. Walkin' around all day with the cam on a Monopod I didn't bump the focus once. The IRIS Switch is yum.


Cleaner Gain -- You definitely shouldn't be afraid of using 3dB or 6dB. 9dB, err, nah. But that just means a faster core system all around.

SD Downconvert -- This should have been on the original 200, can't fathom WHY it wasn't but okay.. moving on. It'll come in handy, truly when you jump into using a small SD monitor for framing or cobble together a "viewfinder" to use while feeding SDI or Component. You could have done it before, the stretch made framing weird.

There are some other odds and ends, of course the LCD flip function, etc, but that's what I can think of now.

Just wish they would have matched the 200A's image to an exact. =T
 
why do you say you wish they had matched the 200a's footage to an exact? Aren't they the same? What does the 200a do better?
 
They're largely the same, from my experience with the 200A and now the 170 the 200A is slightly cleaner and the grain pattern is more luma than chroma. Also, the midtones in the 170 image seem to be a bit more noisier.

It's not proven yet, however. Just what I know of an extended period using the 200A and now using the 170. Can't match the image to exacts but it's so close I doubt anyone else will notice. Maybe.
 
I kinda see what you're saying here Kholus... yes that's right I called you Kholus... about the midtones. However, I think your pro arguments are dead on. Which is why this is really a great camera for adapter users.

I thought you were going to keep the 170 to rent out and stuff?
 
Toenis said:
Everybody will buy a 5D MKII as second cam till Scarlet comes out, don´t they?

T
Click to expand...

Not going to happen. Scarlet is set to announced November 15th and once it's announced... there's no turning back on these first generation DSLRs. I think people are willing to wait 2 weeks to see what RED has in store.

The 5D Mk II and the D90 both seem like more of a hassle than an advantage to most users. For photographers, it a stellar device. For cinematographers, I think we're going to have to wait for some more advanced controllability and functionality.
 
kholi,

are you finding that you have to adjust the ground glass completely to the camera left side of the adapter in order to center the image to the 170's sensors? and that it puts you at about 26mm on the 170's lens to clear the barrel of the adapter?

mine's so close to the edge it's rubbing the ground glass slightly, although i can't see that there's been any real problem thus far...
 
I've got a step up ring on the ultimate's hvx ring so my zoom is a little off. However I haven't done an x/y adjustment yet. Didn't even cross my mind as it seemed centered with the hvx setting. I'll check.

Right now my zoom is at 28.8 and hopefully when I get the proper ring it'll be at 27.3. Extra speed indoors and all.
 
Toenis said:
Everybody will buy a 5D MKII as second cam till Scarlet comes out, don´t they?

T
Click to expand...

I wouldn't trade an HPX170 + Ultimate for a 5D MKII by any means. I'm sure it'll produce great content but, like Joseph points out, the lack of manual controls isn't appealing at all.

That, and it doesn't record to a professional, standardized format which doesn't make it very viable for commercial work.

If anything, I would go back to a 200A. I loved that camera and now it seems like I'm back to square one with the HPX170. Well, not totally square one but one foot on and one foot off.
 
yeah, i miss the extra few mm of zoom space i had on the 200. i can't remember exactly, but think it was somewhere like 23.7mm on the HVX. using the camera lens to do quick INT pushes, i'd love to have all the room i can get. keep me posted on your x/y adjustment, i'm curious if you have the same observation on your 170 if you get to that before you sell it.

btw, that's great you're getting that much stop on the camera re: your 1/4 ND and 5.6... you must be shooting mostly exteriors? while i haven't been disappointed, i'm typically at a 2.8 - 4 split on the and a 2.0 or 2.8 on the zeiss lens, depending which lens i'm on (1.4 or 2.0) - for interiors. i can typically get off wide open and see very negligible light loss, so i generally go for that.

are you still on the zeiss contax lenses? i had mine all dolled up by paul and michelle duclos in your neck of the woods... highly recommended!
 
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I did notice that the E to E's better on the 170 than the 200A with the Letus Ultimate. That's another reason it's going to be hard for me to go back. =T
 
Look at the +12dB comparison I just posted. You're saying that your production unit differs from a 200A more than that clip shows?
 
Kholi man, just let go of the 200a lol. I know it's hard, but you have to.

(I had to)

It's not really taking a step back, I mean with the HDI-SDI out and the expanded features, and the 1/4 nd, you get a whole new set of options.


The noise really isn't terrible at all on the 170. I mean I know what you're saying, about midtone noise, but I think you and I and other techie types on here make it worse and more of an issue than it is.

My first client with the HPX actually said "wow, the image is much cleaner this time around"
(he was used to my HVX content)

:)
 
I posted in the other thread, but, yes. They're different. I'm actually a lot more certain looking at that clip than I was before.
 
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