Letus 35 enhanced question!

jgastelb

jgastelb

Well-known member
I'm in the market to buy an adapter. I have been looking at the letus 35 enhanced. I've seen some really good footage on this website.
I was wondering if anyone knew just how exactly do you attach the adapter to the camera. Does the Leica labeled lens protector (squared) thingy bopper unscrew out of the camera? And does the adapter stay in place without the use of rods well enough? Is all of this pretty easy to do? I'm definitely a beginner and I would really like any help or comments regarding the actual set up. Supposedly this enhanced version fixes the flip upside down image...
Jgastelb
 
Its supposed to just screw into the front of the camera. It would be a good idea to remove the lens hood. Quyen, the one who builds these, says no rod support is necessary, but I think it would be best, especially when you go to focus it because I've heard there's a little play in it from the weight. Which is another good reason to get the rod support. I personally don't own one yet, but have done LOTS of research. I plan to buy it soon enough. By the way, it is the Letus35 Flip that flips the image not the advanced. For The advanced model, you won't need rod support. I would just pay the extra $250-$300 for the flipped version. I can't imagine the hassle of having to compose a backward/upsidedown image, then waiting for it to render out in post. Hope this helps!
 
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Yes my thinking now is that rods are absolutely necessary for any 35mm adapter.

My reasons.
1/ Remove weight from the 72mm dvx thread.
2/ More focusing stability.
3/ Option to use ff.
4/ Option to use matte box.

Last two are good to haves but can live without out them (shoot carefully though)
but 1 and 2 are essential.
 
rods are also great because if something bumps or bangs the unit, there's a chance it would hit the rods instead, protecting the adapter/cam thread.
 
Kyle.presley
You said the advanced version doesn't have the upside down image issue. Did you mean the enhanced? I didn't see the advanced on his website. Are you referring to the $700 one?
Does anyone know which rods (and how much) to get for this adapter?
Do most people take the adapter off everytime they're done shooting. I don't think I can fit my camera and the adapter in the hard case I have. I know - full of questions!!!

Jgastelb
 
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Letus first Impressions

Letus first Impressions

I had time to spend with an associate's Letus. The version he purchased is the flip version, and we mounted it on a Panasonic HVX 200. Here are my observations.

1. Setup: It takes a bit of time to set it up, the adapter has to be positioned- oriented rotateed correctly, there are no directions that came with the adapter to help with this. Trial and error.

2. Zoomed HVX 200 to #73.3 to fill the frame to get rid of any vignetting. Shooting a white evenly lit foam core aided in this.

3. Focused the HDX200, then focused the attached lens sort of back and forth back and forth until optimal focus is achieved.

4. The Letus DOES NEED a rod support system. Not that it is heavy, but the way it attaches to the step-down ring with a aluminum adapter that just slides into main Letus unit without a set screw. So the downside is that it does rotate, it does pull out, if you do NOT have a rod system in place. (see attached zip file of pic)


My advise to the Letus team


A. Create a setscrew type fastening system that allows the rear aluminum adapter to freely turn to set rotational alignment and a locking mechanism for this.

B. Create a set of instructions that gets shipped to the user with the unit.

C. Provide better packaging for shipment of the unit. Wrap it in bubble wrap in a zip lock bag.

D. Update website with better information and ordering options. (I believe you would sell more units). This does not seem to be the company’s strong area, Marketing. Though emails get answered quickly with out too much detail.
Hire someone in exchange for a Letus to update your site and post mores pics and FAQ's

E. Anodize the adapter ring I spoke of at the rear of the Letus

F. Anodize the lens mount at the front of the Letus

H. Why anodize? When inserting and configuring the Letus small microchips of aluminum from rubbing- or just the fit of the unit get deposited inside the Letus. NOT Good.

I. Create a longer wire to the power supply switch, with connector so a user can extend the battery pack to perhaps also attach it to a rod system, or other area of interest.

J. Create a power led for this power pack so you know its running, more to tell to turn it off. Very very quiet, hard to tell its on. Uses a vibrating motor on the Beattie ? screen, though it saws "Garmin" on the screens mounting plate.

K. Better machining of the lens mount adapter, note it is reversible for both a Canon and Nikon lenses, clever. I had a very hard time mounting and getting off the Nikon lens. I though at one point that I had a permantely mounted Nikon lens to the lens mount adapter ring. The Canon lens was not a problem.
I would strongly advise if you have multiple lenses you purchase a lens-mounting collar for each lens, so you can quickly change lens, as the front of the Letus DOES have a setscrew to lock in the mount adapter and lens. Which is a good thing; this should have been echoed in the rear as well.

NOTE: These comments come from a Mini 35 user. The Mini 35 unit is so over engineered, stainless steel screws and very tightly machined parts.

So all in all the results are excellent, and for this price range and out on the Market today it fill’s a need that the other adapters cannot as they are NOT shipping. It should be interesting to see if the camera manufactures create their own optional equipment to do what this underground movement is creating. Hopefully the makers of these units listen and implement user feed back on these units, for better products for the community at large.

I have attached a URL of the Letus showing the rear ring that needs set screw to secure to Letus. Hense the need for support system.


http://betacamsp.home.comcast.net/letus/letus.jpg


Regards
Steve
 
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Does anyone know what kinda of rod support system will work with the Letus 35 Flipped Enhanced? I was looking at the Cavision that works with the standard Letus35 but the Flipped Enhanced version is way more bulky. Does anyone have any ideas?
 
Well I think the Cavision rods will work but getting a matte box on there is a whole other issue. I just don't want to have to spend $500 on a matte box to find out it won't fit. Does any one have this type of a setup?
 
D. Update website with better information and ordering options. (I believe you would sell more units). This does not seem to be the company’s strong area, Marketing. Though emails get answered quickly with out too much detail.
Hire someone in exchange for a Letus to update your site and post mores pics and FAQ's
Click to expand...

I had talked with him about this, he is pretty swamped with orders to go through with it though

I just don't want to have to spend $500 on a matte box
Click to expand...

you dont need a matte box - but if you were looking for a cheaper one, i see an ad for the indiesnap matte box on the forum every so often

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=49505 -- review
http://indiesnap.com/index.html - site

and for this one

http://www.cinetactics.com/StoreFront.bok

as for the enhanched version - there SHOULDENT be a problem with rods - since a 35mm needs to have the option of useing a follow focus, and you need rods for that... but to be safe, email [SIZE=-1]Quyen - he responds incredibly quickly

[/SIZE]
 
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