It's 2010: Letus Extreme + EX1 vs. Canon 7d/5d

Mister Big

Mister Big

Well-known member
I have an EX1 and love it. I use it for paying jobs that air on certain cable networks. I have an opportunity to buy a Letus Extreme at a very reasonable price. I have a bucket full of Nikon manual focus lenses with aperture rings.

Yes, I know that the EX1 has XLR and the audio is better, etc. I know the 5D/7D would do better in low light.

My question is in terms of ease of use, practicality, and most importantly quality results which would be better in 2010?

Is the Letus too much of a kludge at this point or would the EX1's features overcome the kludginess? Is the HDSLR too much of a pain to use with their useability short comings?

Discuss, please.
 
I have an hvx and just invested in a redrock m2 setup instead of selling everything and getting a 7D. I really like the idea of staying with my same workflow and the higher quality, actual video camera. One thing you could consider if you're on a high level, wait for the af100 to come out and get an adapter for your nikon lenses. Either way, you won't be disappointed with any of the three (7d/5d, ex1+35mm, af100) its just do you want to learn a whole new system or keep your old one.
 
Well, I'd definitely keep the EX1 no matter whether I get the Letus or a DSLR. I definitely need a dedicated, real video camera.

If one wanted that shallow DOF look, it is better for me to get a Letus or to get a 7D/5D. That's my quandary. I think the EX1 would have the better codec and things like a great LCD and XLRS, but the 7/d would be a more direct solution plus give me another capture device if I wanted to run two at once. Hmmm.
 
Don't even think about going the DSLR route now. DSLR has always been a gadget compromise and by the time you add all the gizmos, you spend way more than what an adaptor will cost you (and you'll still be left with a substandard codec). Either you stick with your EX1 and put an adaptor on it (Which gives you a professional solution). Or if you must upgrade to the next technology, wait for the upcoming SONY and PANASONIC products which will essentialy have all the features of a professional camera with a Shallow DOF.
 
yaounderespire said:
Don't even think about going the DSLR route now. DSLR has always been a gadget compromise and by the time you add all the gizmos, you spend way more than what an adaptor will cost you (and you'll still be left with a substandard codec). Either you stick with your EX1 and put an adaptor on it (Which gives you a professional solution). Or if you must upgrade to the next technology, wait for the upcoming SONY and PANASONIC products which will essentialy have all the features of a professional camera with a Shallow DOF.
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Totally agree, the Canons would make a great second camera. But have far too many issues to make it your dedicated camera. The thing shouts down when hot, the sensor freaks out sometime with detail causing a "rack focus" effect, etc. These camera are very cool but have some growing to do. I'm taking business away from DLSR's with my Letus/relay and EX-3 because they want that DLSR look, but without the hassle.

And the client is never going to see the difference, all they is the wow factor of DOF.
Plus wouldn't you rather have a camera rental rate of $500.00 vs $175.00 or less.
 
I want to be extra clear. I am not talking about replacing my EX1 with a DSLR. I'm talking about whether I pickup the occasional shallow DOF shot with a Letus or DSLR. What do you think?
 
Mister Big said:
I want to be extra clear. I am not talking about replacing my EX1 with a DSLR. I'm talking about whether I pickup the occasional shallow DOF shot with a Letus or DSLR. What do you think?
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Ahhhh okay. I think it really depends on what you're shotting with your dslr. There are alot of situations where you'd want a letus setup vs a dslr setup.

Another things to consider is the cost. Do you have the money to buy a good hddslr setup? You say you already have nikon lenses that you could use on the letus and you could use those on your canon with a 10 dollar adapter.

If you want to buy canon lenses, plus stabilization, view finder, matte box, etc the cost of a hddslr setup is going to be more than a letus setup. With nikon lenses on say a 7d, you could cut costs alot but if you're getting a letus for under 1000, thats all you have to spend. With a t2i (lowest cost) you'll spend over 1000 on the body and extras.

its really up to how much money you want to spend. A hddslr would be easy and handy if you're just going to use it for some shots, but if you're planning on using it for more than 50% of your shots, id suggest the letus and sticking with your "video" camera.
 
I think the best adaptors (Extreme, Blade, PS Tech,) on an EX1, HPX or HVX gives a much more cinematic / better image than any 7D, Lumix or 5D. I've owned all but the Lumix and find HDSLR's take great still pictures but really stink for motion pictures. Their best selling point is their size (before they get kitted out). Once people have built their "rigs" I find them more cumbersome then my RED. Without monitors and SDI signal and then using skinny codecs with a two dollar color space, line skipping, and a 7 stop latitude, I think the HDSLR craze will be shorter lived than the adaptor phase. The problem with adaptors always comes to light penalty and reliability. Otherwise, I think they look amazing. I still include adaptor footage alongside RED and Film footage on my DP reel as where I feel HDSLR images just look cheap.

Aside from PS Technik, I will not use a 35mm adaptor for a client job unless I have back up camera built and ready to go. At this point it no longer is as cost effective. What I like the most about adaptors is that they've always had a texture to them that took the edge off the video signal and you could zoom out to an almost vista vision size imager with some adaptors. It'll definitely become a fashionable retro look in ten years like reversal, pixel vision or super 8.

Perhaps because of all its analogue methods of capture and degradation, I find adaptors result in an inherently more organic and beautiful image as where I find nothing pleasing at all about HDSLR images.
 
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I've also found that the adapters give a much more filmic feel to my eye. DOF and lighting still only gets you so far IMO. I'm a purist in a way I guess because I don't like super-clean images. I like a bit of softness with the pleasing grain pattern. I've been experimenting a lot with my 5D's footage and adding extremely complicated post-grain effects to give it a really great filmic feel (controlling grain in the mids, highlights, and shadows independently) but the render times are horrendous. The adapters can give you that feel straight away (or similar feel). I find the majority of video people now have been indoctrinated so much into the digital feel that most would see most films shot on film and think "ew that's grainy" or "ew that's too soft...my 5D is sharper."

I've seriously considered the Canon XF300 (the footage is VERY clean, 422, etc...regardless of the 1/3) and an SGblade for my next feature and possibly a 5D for my B-cam (with post needed to match). Yes size is an issue, but next time around I plan on having an actual budget, AC, etc. so the setup won't be any more difficult than a RED or any other heavy/decked out setup.

I still think theres room for 35mm Adapters, especially those who really like them and enjoy the look. I would be using one again instead of a 5D or AF100 for the same reason someone might shoot film instead of using a RED. Big differences there, but you get my point.
 
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