Schneider PL to m4/3 adaptor?

I don't know a thing about their PL to M4/3 adapter, but there are already a number of PL mount adapters available now.
As for the lenses, They might be worth the investment if you had an extra $25K handy.
 
I had time to play with a Schneider Cine Xenar on an AF100. Gorgeous and luscious lens, but it was so huge and heavy that it really would demand rails and a fully built-out rig. I've got a set of Compact Primes and I was quite jealous of how pretty the Schneider was, but on a pure functionality basis I didn't like just how huge (and I mean huge) their primes were. Appropriate for bigger cameras that are already on rails, but for a lightweight handheld camera like the AF100, it kind of takes away some of the advantage of the small form factor cine camera. The lenses probably weighed at least 2x as much as the camera did. But by all reports they produce a gorgeous image.

I didn't see the Schneider PL adapter, but I guess we should add it to the list. There are so many PL adapters for the AF100 that it's almost not even funny. There's the Optitek, the Atomic, the Letus, the Hot Rod, the Ciecio7 without foot, the Ciecio7 with foot, the Ciecio7 with flange back adjustment, the Vocas, the Solid, the MFT, the $199 cheapo ebay one that I don't remember the name of, and now the Schneider - that's a dozen that I can name off the top of my head. PL-mount adapters for the AF100 are big business!

I saw a few new ones that I really liked. Will probably do a bit of a report on some soon.
 
I have to wonder what it is about the modern primes that make them so huge. I mean the classic schneider xenar's and cooke panchro's in arri mount were tiny by comparison, smaller than typical slr lenses, and not really any bigger than 16mm versions, other than that the wider focal lengths didn't cover 35mm. I know that super speeds need to be big, and retro-focus wides need to be big. Are they just making the standard ones that big to match the complete set. I mean some of those lenses are bigger than the short angenieux zooms. Even the so called compact primes are much bigger than they need to be, the ZF's are about the right size for digital production.

A set of classic schneiders would be perfect for the AF100, nice and small and not as sought after as they only cover standard 35mm, not super. If only someone would put modern coated glass in the old housings instead of the other way around.
 
I've got a set of classic schneider 35 mm lenses from about 50 years ago. Something in that size with modern coated glass would be really sweet. The old Schneiders are definitely "a look" on the AF.
 
The mount dchutinaton listed as a Schneider mount I believe is the one made by Horseman. I saw it for a moment or two at NAB, looked extremely simple. I did not see an adjustable flange or support. They don't adhere to Arri specs for their base plate. Horseman has been around for years although they have not had much of a presence is this country, I think that they are trying to change that now. The Horseman color also matches nicely with C-X lenses :-) they have been selling the system in Japan for a couple months, but I understand from my representatives in that country, that the Horseman is not particularly popular.

Barry_Green said:
There are so many PL adapters for the AF100 that it's almost not even funny.
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I think there is a bunch of manufacturers who will very shortly realize that the market for putting PL mount lenses on m4/3 size cameras is no where near the same as the $20 DSLR mount adapters, and that the number of people using PL lenses on m4/3 cameras is relatively small when compared to the number of m4/3 cameras sold/in use.

Thankfully for Hot Rod Cameras, the number of people who will reject a shoddy PL mount is quite high. Many of the companies hoping to move a lot of units will also shortly learn that when it comes to a PL mount, cost alone is seldom the number one factor.

I saw some of the poorest knock-offs of the Hot Rod PL system at NAB this year. And undoubtedly a few people will purchase them who clearly don't know what they are buying.
It's also worth mentioning here the extremely unprofessional behavior on the part of one such manufacturer who believes that their hacked up knock-off mount is my legitimate competitor.

Evidentially, this person thought it would be a good idea to go to the most premiere booths showcasing Hot Rod Cameras products during NAB, trash talk me (once to someone I've known for 10+ years), and then try to dump stacks of flyers for their own product on top of the Hot Rods, when backs were turned. No class.

I am pleased to report that these tactics had what is likely the exact opposite of the intended effect. I've been told by all the companies that this sociopathic behavior will not be tolerated, and this person has just "burned their bridge" with each company; and while I tried to stay indifferent to this person before, their bridge is now burnt with my company as well. This person should start looking into building something else, as ripping off Hot Rod Cameras is (now more than ever) going to be a futile, time wasting effort for them.
 
I have tried the Atomic, a bit. I really liked some of the design choices they made, when applied to a certain mentality. When I tried it, I at first didn't "get it" just by looking at it (and the weird textured rails didn't help that perception) but you just have to turn the mount ring before you have a huge ol' "ah ha!" moment. And then it becomes really cool. And the Letus and Vocas both offer that same kind of workflow. I mean to put together a bit of an article discussing these. I had a prototype of the original baseplate Letus model and I'm going to get a chance to try out the non-baseplate-supported unit here soon, and I really, really liked the Vocas also. They're three different approaches that all solve one fundamental problem I have with other types of PL adapters (which, for someone with a different perspective, they might prefer the other kind; I prefer this kind). I'll probably start a different thread of "The PL Adapter Chronicles" or something, with a page for the Ciecio7, the Atomic, the Vocas, and the Letus, and I'll pester Chris Clifton to get her Hot Rod from her so I can do a page on the original too. Maybe video reviews? Would you guys prefer a page with photos and text, or just a two-minute video overview?
 
Hey Barry, what ever is easier for you. I don't know how you even find the time to do this stuff!



Barry_Green said:
I have tried the Atomic, a bit. I really liked some of the design choices they made, when applied to a certain mentality. When I tried it, I at first didn't "get it" just by looking at it (and the weird textured rails didn't help that perception) but you just have to turn the mount ring before you have a huge ol' "ah ha!" moment. And then it becomes really cool. And the Letus and Vocas both offer that same kind of workflow. I mean to put together a bit of an article discussing these. I had a prototype of the original baseplate Letus model and I'm going to get a chance to try out the non-baseplate-supported unit here soon, and I really, really liked the Vocas also. They're three different approaches that all solve one fundamental problem I have with other types of PL adapters (which, for someone with a different perspective, they might prefer the other kind; I prefer this kind). I'll probably start a different thread of "The PL Adapter Chronicles" or something, with a page for the Ciecio7, the Atomic, the Vocas, and the Letus, and I'll pester Chris Clifton to get her Hot Rod from her so I can do a page on the original too. Maybe video reviews? Would you guys prefer a page with photos and text, or just a two-minute video overview?
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