Letus dropped price on relay lens for EX3
- Thread starter Kenny_G
- Start date
Dino
Veteran
As Letus has reduced pricing on most of its products and the 1/2" relay is a fairly new product, just a matter of months, I would assume there isn't another 1/2 relay version. It would be best to check with Letus Corp. or Letus Direct to make sure.
I have the B4 Pro and have been testing with the 1/3" relay and am happy with the results, therefore I would expect the 1/2" relay to work well on an EX3. I think the EX3/Ultimate/1/2" relay should be a great setup--it's expensive, but less than it was a little while ago.
I have the B4 Pro and have been testing with the 1/3" relay and am happy with the results, therefore I would expect the 1/2" relay to work well on an EX3. I think the EX3/Ultimate/1/2" relay should be a great setup--it's expensive, but less than it was a little while ago.
Jason Davenport
Well-known member
The "Academy" 1/2 relay has been out for a while. It's priced a little higher.
What you are referring to is the new "Full Frame" 1/2 relay. It allows full frame SLR lens to be used with no magnification factor. An 85mm is a 85mm. But you can't use 35mm motion picture lens because there would be massive vignetting. Unless removal of relay and use standard camera lens.
Ordered mine last week or so, got ultimate in, relays are on a 8 week or so build time at moment. Collecting ZF's now.
What you are referring to is the new "Full Frame" 1/2 relay. It allows full frame SLR lens to be used with no magnification factor. An 85mm is a 85mm. But you can't use 35mm motion picture lens because there would be massive vignetting. Unless removal of relay and use standard camera lens.
Ordered mine last week or so, got ultimate in, relays are on a 8 week or so build time at moment. Collecting ZF's now.
Evangelos Achillopoulos
Well-known member
The SGblade combo with the GG.relay can give both frame sizes for 2/3 without the need to buy two relays... just by chenging the setup of the relay you can have the other configuration, so depending on the job you can configure your setup with just a 1K$ extra cost. Its comming also a 1/2 convertion kit that will allow the owners of the relay to reconfigure the relay for 1/2 cameras with again just a 1K$ extra cost. Additionally will be supported the Scarlet 2/3 when it will come out for the same amount.
So one relay many setups = future proof investment.
The Letus is f1.4 wide open and the SGBlade combo is f2.4(2.8?)
That's a big difference or not?
Evangelos Achillopoulos
Well-known member
Have you seen the performance of 1.4 with the Letus relay? if its not stopped down to past 2.8 its not even close to SGblade/GG.relay... also a major role in light performance is being the ground glass... the RR3 is by far more efficient...
The starting aperture are exactly that "starting". I could put F1.8 on mine... the image would be similar to the Letus compact if its set to 1.8... totally defocused... not just soft... what is the point? just marketing? just to say that is F1.8?
Pro 35 wide open is just a bit soft, Letus compact to be compared to Pro35 it has to stop down past 2.8... so if you knew that Pro 35 is F2.8 wide open you will thing that the Letus is better?
Have you seen a single res chart anywhere with F stops for Letus relays?
Or should I put like Pro35 ND's insted of aperture numbers to hide the truth?
All I have done is public and posted on this forum res charts, images and footage so if you think is better just publish your chart with F stops.
My relays are as fast (or a bit faster) as Letus compact, a half to 2/3 of a stop slower from Letus Pro/ultimate and Pro 35 when compared with same lenses on S35 and SGblade with RR3.
With the same amount of money that you buy just a Letus compact relay you will be able to buy a bundle from Shoot35 with relay and SGblade thats about 3,3K$. If you consider the environment and how fast thinks are changing and what you can buy with 9K$ or with 14K$ instead of just an adapter... I thing our investments in this environment should be very wise. And that is the design philosophy behind my relays the best for the less possible money, for a market that changing fast, really fast...
The following is a test shoot from Chris, Its with available light just two 50W GU10 lamps from top of the kitchen bar and some diffused light from the rest of the room. All in FF35 the front lens is a 24mm F1.4 Canon FD L wide open with the relay at 2.8 1/2... all with RR1 which is not so bright as the RR3 is... sorry for the compression artifacts but thats a triple compressed Jpg... as you see the Dof is super thin with FF35 and F1.4.
Last edited:
Hi,
Don't get exited, Iam just asking. Indeed a compairing test would be nice for the potential buyer. Keep on the good work!
Dino
Veteran
Personally, I don't understand the attraction to shooting full frame 35mm. The idea of being wide open or close to it in full frame 35mm is not very practical. Shane Hurlbut is the first to say f4.0-5.6 is recommended for the Canon 5D Mk II.
Most of the wide open videos I see with the 5D are static camera, static talent. Might as well shoot stills. I don't get the nose out of focus, eyes in focus, ears out of focus look. When I shoot with the Letus Ultimate framed at ff35 with a palmcorder, I get very concerned about a simple head shot that moves forward or backward. I only do it because a client says "they want that 5D look".
Academy framing has worked for motion pictures for decades and it works for me.
YMMV.
Most of the wide open videos I see with the 5D are static camera, static talent. Might as well shoot stills. I don't get the nose out of focus, eyes in focus, ears out of focus look. When I shoot with the Letus Ultimate framed at ff35 with a palmcorder, I get very concerned about a simple head shot that moves forward or backward. I only do it because a client says "they want that 5D look".
Academy framing has worked for motion pictures for decades and it works for me.
YMMV.
Lenilenapi
Carbonite Member
Jeff,
Think full frame is great for interviews. I can understand that it gets dicey with movement.
Lenny Levy
Think full frame is great for interviews. I can understand that it gets dicey with movement.
Lenny Levy
Dino
Veteran
Lenny,
I also think the background looks so soft that it seems phony--like a green screen. But it's purely an aesthetic call, no right or wrong. I saw a piece by Honda on Failure that had super shallow DOF, and I liked it very much.
There's just something odd about the concept of having a very small footprint camera that can't actually be moved or shoot moving objects because the DOF is so incredibly shallow.
I also think the background looks so soft that it seems phony--like a green screen. But it's purely an aesthetic call, no right or wrong. I saw a piece by Honda on Failure that had super shallow DOF, and I liked it very much.
There's just something odd about the concept of having a very small footprint camera that can't actually be moved or shoot moving objects because the DOF is so incredibly shallow.
Jason Davenport
Well-known member
How do you assume what f stop one will be shooting at. Everything is not shot at a f1.4. And the iris is not the only thing to effect the image.
Last edited:
Evangelos Achillopoulos
Well-known member
Yes exactly, most of the time when we put two lenses in the same adapter set up, I found big differences in light levels I have seen a full stop difference...
To have lets say an adapter with PL mount and test a Zeiss MKIII F1.3 lens on the same camera we can measure the Gray card at 45 IRE when we put a Canon FD 50 1.2 L and measure on exactly the same setup all in the same aperture we can get 37IRE... so its a light transmission issue that underlies in such comparisons... Also a GG change can affect the image and the light efficiency greatly.
I agree with Jeff about the FF35 DoF, as you see in the above image the focus is almost a point... so you need to stop down to get something in focus... that has a result that you need more light... BUT in a daylight environment or a controlled light the beauty shots in FF35 are unbelievable...
In my opinion you have to be able to have many options and use them artistically as the job requires it.
So because I didn't want to spend a fortune in relays and adapters I build a relay that can be adapted easily in all frame sizes and select SGblade that I can exchange GG's so I can have all the setups available with the minimum expense...
Especially in times that a Scarlet S35 is around the corner or a Canon APC video camera is rumored to roll out and all that for 15K$...
Dino
Veteran
So, if you're shooting at f4.0-5.6, what is the advantage of ff35 over Academy? Is it the increased field of view with wide angle lenses?
Evangelos Achillopoulos
Well-known member
There are two things.
First is the geometry distortion on wides that is far less on FF35, that alone makes the images more 3D. A 24mm on S35 can have the FoV of the equivalent 16mm on S35 when used with a FF35 frame size.
Second is the thicker DoF, if you was aimed to shot with an S35 at wide open (F1.4 i.e.) to get the DoF effect, which puts most of the lenses that you can use on a difficult position in terms of performance, with FF35 you can go with F2 or F2.8 and get the same results but with much more technically proper result. Is a matter of aesthetics.
Click on the two links below, open each on a new tab on the browser maximize them and switch between the two and tell me which is looking more appealing.
http://www.motionfx.gr/Files/ggrelay/A.jpg
http://www.motionfx.gr/Files/ggrelay/B.jpg
Its from two totally different systems on their maximum and have the same (as possible CC) and the same FoV. (even thought one of them wasn't on the sweet spot).
Lenilenapi
Carbonite Member
Interesting example and a little tricky.
I prefer A which looks sharper to me on the face and as not as wide a lens so I'm guessing that its the FF35 with a longer lens and less DOF because the BG is softer and slightly larger. Is it also at a higher f-stop ( for sharpness) while still maintaining lower DOF?
On the other hand the lettering on the shirt looks sharper on B and the face looks like it was shot a little more Wide angle than B which looks more compressed - could just be the pose though - maybe he jut his face out more in A.
Have I shown myself to be an idiot and gotten everything wrong?
I prefer A which looks sharper to me on the face and as not as wide a lens so I'm guessing that its the FF35 with a longer lens and less DOF because the BG is softer and slightly larger. Is it also at a higher f-stop ( for sharpness) while still maintaining lower DOF?
On the other hand the lettering on the shirt looks sharper on B and the face looks like it was shot a little more Wide angle than B which looks more compressed - could just be the pose though - maybe he jut his face out more in A.
Have I shown myself to be an idiot and gotten everything wrong?
Evangelos Achillopoulos
Well-known member
I cant answer yet... tomorrow the answer...
I will hold...
I will hold...
Dino
Veteran
I cant answer yet... tomorrow the answer...
I will hold...
Evangelos, you're such a tease! You and Lenny--two of the wisest gentlemen around. I've learned a lot! First pic definitely has a shallower DOF, but foreground sharpness is pretty similar to my eyes. The shape of the face is a bit different on each, plus color balance, black level. Overall, if the FF35 is closed down to match Academy wide open for DOF, then the only advantage, assuming field of view is matched, is better contrast and sharpness.
So, if the absolute most shallow DOF isn't wanted, still not sure what the big deal about FF35 is.
Evangelos Achillopoulos
Well-known member
Haha, Jeff... So vote... on the polls...
Jeff... So vote... on the polls...
Jason Davenport
Well-known member
From what I understand, full frame vs cropped image will have the same depth of field, it's just a myth.
The 2 lens switch and light change you are talking about seems to have a lot more factors involved than FF vs Academy, concerning light lose.
The 2 lens switch and light change you are talking about seems to have a lot more factors involved than FF vs Academy, concerning light lose.
Lenilenapi
Carbonite Member
JD,
I would suggest reading Evangelos' posts carefully. He knows far more about this subject than the average bear, after all he designs this stuff. Likewise I wouldn't be so dismissive of his little A/B test - it has a point.
BTW - Don't know where you got your info but its not a myth at all. Same FOV requires a wider lens on cropped image thus greater DOF. Basic principle.
Lenny
I would suggest reading Evangelos' posts carefully. He knows far more about this subject than the average bear, after all he designs this stuff. Likewise I wouldn't be so dismissive of his little A/B test - it has a point.
BTW - Don't know where you got your info but its not a myth at all. Same FOV requires a wider lens on cropped image thus greater DOF. Basic principle.
Lenny