Letus35 FE first impressions and questions

S

shortnstout

Well-known member
Finally got the chance to try out my new Letus35 FE. I'm using the fixed nikon mount version on an HVX with an 82-72 step-down ring. First off, the packaging was horrible, with peanut dust inside the unit.
I screwed it on and am a little concerned about the silver metal piece that screws to the step-down ring being so loose. Its not snug enough and moves. Any way to fix this? I assume it has to be able to move so you can get a squared off/lined up image, but I feel it should be able to stay snug and not move when pulling focus!
I have questions about framing and focusing. To get the view of the mirror out of the frame I have to zoom into z81. Is this normal? I remember reading Barry Green saying it was more like z44 or something. I'm confused. My focus is about at 61 to focus on the GG I think, but my monitor hasn't arrived yet so I"m not sure that is perfect. Any tips for focusing?
If I'm setting F-stops on my nikons, what should I have the HVX at? Wide open all the time?
Finally, any advice on how to get a step-down ring or filter off when it is screwed into your HVX too tightly?:huh:
 
Easy Fix

Easy Fix

Shortnstout,

We all feel the same way about the packaging. I bought a cap for a few bucks for the lens mount but have to make something for the other end. I do like the fact that I didn't have to pay for a fancy (expensive) box to impress me upon arrival since I have something for it and lenses already.

Any way, the loose thing can be fixed easily. Mount your step down ring to the unit and gently work the silver piece out and off of the unit. It's easy to do with the step down ring attached. Once it's off you can snugly attach the step down ring back onto your camera. Make sure the silver part (sorry I don't know the names of these parts) is screwed on snug to the step down ring as this will be your new stop point. Then you can put the Letus back on in the exact position you'd like it to stop at when you screw it on.

This brings me to your next problem/question. Many people are having trouble with that part coming loose (not the threaded part but the silver thing and the Letus), especially with the long and heavy lenses. I was making a lens support for the rods I bought and had an epiphany. I took the silver thing out again and just put a thin coat of glue (super glue-be very careful!) and let it dry. I even smeared it with a cloth so it wouldn't be too thick. I just wanted to add a smidge (that’s a metric term) of thickness to it so that the silver thing would fit tighter yet still allow me to take it off if necessary. That's all it took. It fits very tight, I have the threads stop where I want it to when screwing it on tight and I don't need the support even with the long heavy lenses.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Going now to do some tests for a shoot in a couple of weeks and I’ll tell you how I faire. Don’t be discouraged, these are easy fixes and the Letus is half the price of everyone else with very similar results (and right side up).



:beer:
 
I zoom into 44.0mm, not Z44. Change your zoom/focus graph to ft/mm instead of "number" and you'll see. In number terms I'm zooming in to more like Z94.
 
Oh okay! Thanks Barrry and iDV8 :dankk2:. I'll let you know how my next testing goes. Just picked up some Krazy glue to try that fix out.
Hey, think we could use these to protect the silver screw in thingy side... http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/125299-REG/Kaiser_206972_72mm_Push_On_Lens_Cap.html
One last thing: Since I have the Nikon locking mount, there is nothing I have to do to check for proper back-focus, correct? I read that thread and it doesn't seem to apply since there is nothing I can change on the mount part.
Thanks!!!
sns
 
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I have a follow-up question to this discussion. I'm hoping someone can answer. When you aren't in full zoom or close to it, and you can see the black outline in the frame caused by the letus, is it off-center? When I am not in full zoom on my dvx100b, the image is either too far to the left or too far to the right and never exactly in the center. I am using the FE and have even adjusted the placement of the aluminum screw ring that attaches to the DVX so that the image is horizontal when tightened at maximum. However, the image is still either too far left or too far right.
 
Flip the letus upside down.

Flip the letus upside down.

Try mounting it with the nikon/canon lens is above the camera. This may line up the CCD's to the adapter. This is the way i mounted it on my Canon A1 when I had the adapter.
 
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