Modo35. Anyone?

The modo35 seemed promising, however I have opted for the much more "popular" handy35 and I must say I have always remained entirely satisfied by the product quality and by the excellent customer service. Now my handy35 is up for sale but this is another story.
Adriano is indeed very available but the fact that the modo is custom made only upon request and that it is not a much "proven" solution has put me down at the moment of my choice.
Good luck with your new adapter.
 
I agreee Kostas, Handy35 is a proven unit thats built with precision c&c milling. For the small price increase the handy 35 is a much better deal. Im not saying the modo 35 isn't a nice unit, it is. I have seen it up close and have tested it. the pain is mounting it to a rail system. maybe they have changed it but the unit I saw had no easy way to mount it.
 
Well, Handy35 is a great and eye catching unit, as everything I have found so far shows so.
But what made me turn to the modo-U was the ground glass for it's very unique. Instead of random grains it has slightly curved lines.
I am no expert and I don't know why (though I attend to find out) but it makes the image very bright and unbelievably sharp. And if you shoot in low light conditions it is crucial.
 
Well, I wouldn't consider any adapter under literally low light conditions. You need to light well your scene, because there is a lot of light loss with any of these adapters.
Personally I find there is some chromatic aberration with the modo.
Anyway, please post your results!
 
george pada said:
Well, Handy35 is a great and eye catching unit, as everything I have found so far shows so.
But what made me turn to the modo-U was the ground glass for it's very unique. Instead of random grains it has slightly curved lines.
I am no expert and I don't know why (though I attend to find out) but it makes the image very bright and unbelievably sharp. And if you shoot in low light conditions it is crucial.
Click to expand...



The GG grain and lens choice is what will decifer the bokah, And Handy35 with 50mm 1.2 lens is stunning. This is why I have decided to keep my xha1 and Handy35 setup. It's so creamy and organic looking. Much more than my t2i. Though I like that look too, it's more synthetic looking if that makes any sense.:)

Im willing to bet it would be even better connected to an hvx200a or a 170.
 
kostas said:
Well, I wouldn't consider any adapter under literally low light conditions. You need to light well your scene, because there is a lot of light loss with any of these adapters.
Personally I find there is some chromatic aberration with the modo.
Anyway, please post your results!
Click to expand...

Very good point about the low light conditions. Anyway I have the 5dmk2 for extreme conditions. I just want the dof to add a cinema feel to my A1.
I sure hope that there is no chromatic aberration with modo-U!!! That would make sad:(
 
maranfilms said:
The GG grain and lens choice is what will decifer the bokah, And Handy35 with 50mm 1.2 lens is stunning. This is why I have decided to keep my xha1 and Handy35 setup. It's so creamy and organic looking. Much more than my t2i. Though I like that look too, it's more synthetic looking if that makes any sense.:)

Im willing to bet it would be even better connected to an hvx200a or a 170.
Click to expand...


Isn't Handy's image a little too soft?
I attend to use it with an old nikkor 55mm 1.2 which I have used with the 5dmk2 and it has an amazing bokeh. I hope that the adapter will display it (the bokeh) as close to the 5d as possible...
 
Ok, I got the mount.

Mounted the adapter on the camera and to my surprise I cannot get pass the vignetting area without losing focus on the gg.

I've shot some footage in my office then packed the adapter and sent it back for a full refund (since the company has that kind of policy).

It really isn't a bad unit on the contrary is a very sharp and bright adapter!
But I don't thing that it can fit the Xh-A1 without vignetting.

One other thing is that if I zoom too far even if it could escape the vignette without going out of focus on the gg it could result a huge amount of crop factor!
I mean that the 17mm tokina that I used looked like 50mm lens!!!!!

I believe though that a cam with 37mm to 48mm filter thread would be just fine!!!

So, I'm sorry to tell you guys there is no review but I can upload the footage if you like. :happy:
 
I'd say as a rule of thumb you have to zoom in at about 40% of the zoom range of your camcorder to go past vignetting of dof adapters. Once you have eliminated vignetting then you never touch again the zoom on your camcorder. You have now to focus your camcorder. It is better to focus manually (no autofocus). The best thing is to set your slr lens to infinity and focus your camcorder to the ground glass so that you have sharp focus of a very far object. Another way is to point the adapter on a light source without slr lens and with the adapter not spinning and focus the camcorder so that you see the structure of your ground glass. Then you lock focus on your camcorder and never touch it again. Put your slr lens and go.
I wouldn't send the adapter back before having tested it thoroughly.
Let me know if you need more help. It is not straightforward the first time :-)


george pada said:
Ok, I got the mount.

Mounted the adapter on the camera and to my surprise I cannot get pass the vignetting area without losing focus on the gg.

I've shot some footage in my office then packed the adapter and sent it back for a full refund (since the company has that kind of policy).

It really isn't a bad unit on the contrary is a very sharp and bright adapter!
But I don't thing that it can fit the Xh-A1 without vignetting.

One other thing is that if I zoom too far even if it could escape the vignette without going out of focus on the gg it could result a huge amount of crop factor!
I mean that the 17mm tokina that I used looked like 50mm lens!!!!!

I believe though that a cam with 37mm to 48mm filter thread would be just fine!!!

So, I'm sorry to tell you guys there is no review but I can upload the footage if you like. :happy:
Click to expand...
 
It can be rather tricky setting up a DOF adapter on the A1. The most important part is the achromat. You need a large size. Im using a 72mm achromat, and I can use the entire zoom on the camcorder if needed, without degrading the image. This is ofcourse after you zoom in enough to get past the vignetting. but I still have half the focal range of the A1 lens. I usually dont use it. but if I need it, it's there. I normally use the fd lenses to get where I need to be when it comes to focal length. Make sure to use the A1'S FOCUS AND ZOOM LOCK to remember your setting, it's much easier in the field. good luck
 
kostas said:
I wouldn't send the adapter back before having tested it thoroughly.
Let me know if you need more help. It is not straightforward the first time :-)
Click to expand...
Thank you kostas for your reply.
Really, I don't think that the adapter will do for me because I did the procedure you described.
I'm not a beginner in optics and lenses and i have red a lot before deciding to buy the modo-U.

I agree with maranfilms that it's an issue caused by the achromat lens size beacause it's too small.
I even tried to unscrew the tube that holds the achromat on the camera side in order to put the camera further way for a couple millimeters.
The effect i get is that as i move the focus ring of the A1 it focuses in the center of the gg while the edges are out of focus. And when i try the other way i get sharp edges and soft center. And that is something you get when lens sizes don't match the course of light from the gg to the camera's ccds.

But because of the fact that the adapter is very bright i believe it would be great for a camera with threads at the size of the achromat lens.

So, i've returned mine and i will try something more professional. (And expensive)
 
george pada said:
Ok, I got the mount.

Mounted the adapter on the camera and to my surprise I cannot get pass the vignetting area without losing focus on the gg.

I've shot some footage in my office then packed the adapter and sent it back for a full refund (since the company has that kind of policy).

It really isn't a bad unit on the contrary is a very sharp and bright adapter!
But I don't thing that it can fit the Xh-A1 without vignetting.

One other thing is that if I zoom too far even if it could escape the vignette without going out of focus on the gg it could result a huge amount of crop factor!
I mean that the 17mm tokina that I used looked like 50mm lens!!!!!

I believe though that a cam with 37mm to 48mm filter thread would be just fine!!!

So, I'm sorry to tell you guys there is no review but I can upload the footage if you like. :happy:
Click to expand...


Just out of curiosity, did you test it with a 17mm lens? I would expect some vignetting from just about any adapter and the XH-A1 with a lens that wide. Did you test it with a 50mm and also got vignetting?
 
For a good quality cheaply priced achromat, google DHG +5 72MM. This will connect directly too the camera, then you will need a fairly long tube that will connect the dof adapter, there should be a condensor in the adapter. mine is before my GG. here is a pic of my setup.

So, i go from 72mm, then step down to 52mm all the way to the adapter. hope this helps some.
 

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@teddybear
I did not measure the diameter of the achromat. But the tube was 52mm and the lens was about 20mm smaller.
 
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@maranfilms

your setup looks awesome!!!
But I don't have the time or the skills to remove an achromat lens and replace it with another.
My only DIY stuff is a skater dolly which works fairly well.

I was really hoping that i would get away with a few adjustments and wouldn't have to radically modify the unit.
 
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