Letus Ultimate - RELEASED!

Jason, you deserve a RED ONE just for that post. A lot of people have no idea how accurate all of that is, man.
 
Well the price seems like the only thing that a discussion can really be carried on about at this point. I think most of us here agree that this is the best adapter that money can buy and its going to be super sharp and film-like in most atributes. We've all seen the test clips and have spent plenty of time drooling over them. At this point though, the adapters are just not out there yet so who can really say much about them or post the standard sharpness type tests that come with every adapter. If its as amazing as everyone seems to expect it to be then the discussion is going to be pretty boring anyway as everyone will just be agreeing about how beautiful and sharp and well made it is. Its like a discussion on whether or not you like the sky.

At this point it will probably all go back to the discussion on price all over again as there's nothing else to talk about besides how they wish for an adapter with all the same atributes that they can actually afford. Then there will be speculation about who is going to actually bring it into being. Its really going to be a teriibly exciting discussion. I can hardly wait for the endless posts.
 
You're right waefre. It's one-sided of me to think that price wouldn't be an issue but it's still sort of disheartening in the sense that everyone asks for all of these great features, better sharpness etc etc but when someone gives it to them it's chaos.

Ah well. It'll wear off soon.
 
I for one would not trade a red for a small camera. In it's stripped down mode it weighs less than my HVX with full Zacuto LEX setup. Its also more compact and better balanced on my shoulder. The clips play immediately in quicktime unlike P2 clips and the QT proxies are easily edited in FCP. The minimal amount of light you can get away with using is astounding and also is a factor in bringing down the price of production. Its also a very hot camera and the one we use is half paid off by the rentals.

So Jason, if someone does give you one I'll trade you straight up for my HVX/LEX setup. I'll even throw in some lenses ;)
 
You would rarely ever use it in stripped-down mode, though. Outside of that, it's definitely more compact as far as length goes, better balanced, etc. That's one thing I absolutely abhore about 35mm Adapter Rigs. They're terribly balanced and nothing can be done about it.

The minimal light isn't so different than an EX1 and 200A with Letus Ultimate strapped on. They both roughly the same amount of light wide open when the RED is at 320ISO(which is what RED is optimized for.) However, Dyanmic Range is a different story, along with resolution.

RED is definitely not for every project and it costs more to use it if you don't own every single thing (lenses included) to use it. With a 35mm Adapter setup you have the ability to own really outstanding lenses plus a PL mount for those that call for more.

It is indeed a very hot camera, I can tell ya that. :D When someone can afford it the sucker gets worked. I still make just as much with my 200A and Ultimate setup, though.

Different animals.
 
Well, actually, I guess I shouldn't use a RED because it might be too sharp and video like but with DOF.
 
Kholi said:
it's still sort of disheartening in the sense that everyone asks for all of these great features, better sharpness etc etc but when someone gives it to them it's chaos.
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Saying that it's been given to anybody is misleading. In fact, the whole hubub seems to be about the fact that it's not being given but rather that there are heavy fees.

EIther way, I don't care. I'd be happy if adapter makers made all the adapters more like professional equipment and maybe this will help move things in the right direction.

It's nice that the Ultimate is introducing things that other adatpers don't have, but things like the backfocus adjustment are a long time coming IMO. I'll be interested to see how well made the lens mounts are as well because that's another thing I think has been a long time coming, particularly for the Canon FD where adapter versions have been pretty shoddy in my experience. And the fact that it still uses set screws for the lens mounts makes it less than "Ultimate" in my mind anyway. And is the XY adjustment done with set screws as well? If so, there are definitely more super special "Ultimate" ways to do that.

Small steps in the right direction, big price jump along with it. Worth it or not? That's up for the market to determine but hopefully these kind of advances in production will raise the quality of adapters across the board.
 
The best way to speak to a manufacturer is with your wallet. If you dont like something about a product. DONT BUY IT.
 
TimurCivan said:
The best way to speak to a manufacturer is with your wallet. If you dont like something about a product. DONT BUY IT.
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I find the best way to speak to a manufacturer is usually with a telephone. And if I don't like something about a product, I let them know by adding my bullhorn into the mix :D
 
Happy 4th of July guys...

Just to add some more educating skepticisms...

A bit shocking...

Fact's:

A. if ultimate with the quality that introduces was selling for 2000$, we all know that it immediately going to sell in the first four months more than 200 units.

B. Manufacturing costs are drooping heavily when quantity rises.

For example to build a camera with 35mm sensor today in Greece.
I will need a team of 8 engineers for 18 months.

1 piece = 2.000.000$ ---- Very ugly camera only prototype
5 pieces = 2.500.000$ = 500.000$ cost per piece ---- Very ugly camera only prototype
50 pieces = 3.750.000$ = 75.000$ cost per piece ---- Looks like box camera
100 pieces = 4.400.000$ = 44.000$ ... ----- still looks like box
200 pieces = 5.700.000$ = 28.500$ ... ----- starting to taking shape
500 pieces = 7.600.000$ = 15.200$ ... ----- same
1000 pieces =10.000.000$ = 10.000$ ... ----- starting to look like RED
3000 pieces = 17.000.000$ = 5.600$ ... ----- looks better than RED!

So Imagine the complexity of a camera like RED...

Its 500 times more complex than a DoF adapter.

So to build a proper 35 adapter (like Ultimate is) you need two engineers for five months and to build one piece no more than 70K$, the parts that needed to build 200 pieces cost are 70K$:

200 pieces = 140.000$ = 700$ cost each
500 pieces = 170.000$ = 340$ cost each

and so on

So, now look your HVX that is 2000 times (yes quad as RED is, it has also a VTR) more complex than DoF adapter...

Now imagine how match overpriced is Ultimate.

Since cameras are getting to the computer era (they starting to be a computer with sensor) the Moore's law is starting to apply, so expect the unexpected...

Disclaimer: The above Camera example its a real one with the new 4K sensor from Aptina (Micron)...
http://www.aptina.com/news/press/ap...or_high_definition_broadcasting_video_camera/

A bit more expensive with a Panavision 37Mp sensor thats coming soon... http://www.panavisionsvi.com/imagers_DMAX.htm
 
Kholi, does the Ultimate need any of the opimisation kits for different cams like the Extreme did? My guess is no as one can not order it with Ultimate but I'd like to know for sure.

BTW does the Ultimate have the same GG size as the Extreme did?

Thanks,
T
 
Steve

Thanks for the Autopsy. I can not believe how much nicer the production model is from the prototype. It has a very sleek design.
 
Evangelos Achillopoulos said:
Happy 4th of July guys...

Just to add some more educating skepticisms...

A bit shocking...

Fact's:

A. if ultimate with the quality that introduces was selling for 2000$, we all know that it immediately going to sell in the first four months more than 200 units.
Click to expand...

Not saying that what you're saying isn't right, but how do you know they won't sell 200 units in the first four months at the price that it's at?

And can you prove to any of us exactly how much it costs to build a Letus Ultimate? Without that information it really just sounds like you're out to get someone. The information you present sounds accurate, but you're still speculating on how much it costs another company that isn't yours to build such a device.
 
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Toenis said:
Kholi, does the Ultimate need any of the opimisation kits for different cams like the Extreme did? My guess is no as one can not order it with Ultimate but I'd like to know for sure.

BTW does the Ultimate have the same GG size as the Extreme did?

Thanks,
T
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I think that it's just the optimization rings for each camera. I have the Optimization ring for EX-1 and HVX200 and both exhibited the same hyper clarity. Should be getting the EX-1 back today to shoot with.

Woohoo

And the GG is completely different from the Extreme. Extreme is vibrating, Ultimate is rotating/spinning.

Did you figure out which part of that video was the naked HVX200?
 
Kholi said:
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The widest I could go on the 200A is 25.6mm which equates to 23.2mm on the HVX200. I'm not sure what that lines up with in the NUMBERS measurement... I haven't used NUMBER in gahd knows how long.

I also keep the HVX200A set at 31.6mm and further because that's about 35mm FOV (need to redo it again). It's the proper setting for a set of Cooke S4's, so I don't really move out any further than that.
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Z 25.6mm on the 200A = Z80.

For some reason I can't get 31.6mm on my 200A - only 31.4 or 31.8. 31.4mm = Z86.

I've been using Z80 on mine with an LEX, which exactly agrees with your minimum (25.6mm).

It's interesting to note that I found that the 200A's wider lens forced a higher zoom level with the LEX than it did with the 200, and as a consequence, with the same taking lens it has a *narrower* maximum FOV than my 200 did. Bit of an odd reversal there, but of course once you add 35mm lenses the FOV is determined by them, not the camera.

Just to be clear, what I'm saying is that with, let's say, a 50mm taking lens, the maximum FOV without adapter vignetting is actually narrower on the 200A than it was on the 200.
 
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Hey Ted, thanks for clarifying.

You're right, it's 31.8mm. Those numbers get confusing when you try to memorize them. So 31.8mm is what I use for Academy/35mm FOV and 25.6 (Z80 thanks to Ted) is the max frame size.
 
Avenger007 said:
.. I also feel as though the lens mount system should have been redesigned to work without the use of set screws. .
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That is the weak link on my LEX, the whole set screw thing. At 4500.00 that should have been replaced with something more secure. Hanging PL mount lenses or heavy zooms held by three set screws biting into aluminum and paint is not the best scenario. I'll be patient this time around as my LEX still has a shelf life and wait to see what maks the Blade tick.

re: Cinebuddy and Evangelos - Yasoo! Break bread and drink... CB, you never know when you have to shoot in Greece. Stunning country. Loads of sun. Perfect for an F22
 
Has anyone ever had an issue hanging heavy lenses from that mount? I've not had a single one and I've used heavy lenses before with NO support mounts for lenses. There's proof of such on my vimeo page. I would like to hear of situations where the set screws have been an issue, though. If it's been hurting the performance of the adapter in a significant way I think it should be brought up with examples so that it can get changed.

I may not have any issues with it NOW but it could come up if it's happening to others and that's not something I want to happen.

Do any of the other mounting systems for these adapters allow you to roll the lens mount so that the lens markings are visible for your AC instead of locking you into the upside down lens situation? I find that to be a good thing.
 
Tim Naylor said:
re: Cinebuddy and Evangelos - Yasoo! Break bread and drink... CB, you never know when you have to shoot in Greece. Stunning country. Loads of sun. Perfect for an F22
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Hey Tim I can be passionate, and a jackass...even a passionate jackass! But Evangelos has class and you never bite the hand that extends the olive branch. Neither of us has a stake in Letus although i'm happy for them...and I could sure use some of that beautiful Greek sun...its rained 40 days and nights here.
 
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