Smallest moving GG solution yet???

guskersthecat said:
I have a lens manufacturer waiting for my specs on size and strength for an achromat..which I've mentioned before in this thread. These are a 2-3 week lead time and will be made available to any customer who owns a Brevis, at my cost (under $100). Alternatively you can purchase a Century achromat for $300. In the interim, a $30 set of ebay macros will do the job. Rawfa, do not spend money an an achromat. You will spend $300 or more to get one, that I can have made for under $100. By all means, pick up a cheap $30 set for testing. I will be provding quality coated achromats to existing Brevis users, for well under $100.
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Dennis, you are prooving to be a true master of costumer care. :D From the begining I could tell you are not trying to rush your product to the market unless you have everything covered. I can't tell you how much that calms me down (I have my share of bad adapter choices and money down the drain). I'll take you on that quality achromat under 100$ offer. I have to be up and ready to rock in May.

4 days until the big day (oh, how are the Canon FDs doing?)
 
The Canon's are definitely delayed, but in progress. That one is out of my hands, but I'm being assured they will be sent to me April 12th. The adapters will be done, however they will be waiting for mounts :-(

So my original estimate of 1 week delay for the FD mounts, is realistically more like two.

The issues with macros etc. are just a matter of understanding. I assume incorrectly that everyone understands the issues, when in fact it is only those who have their heads buried in this, who would get all of the technical stuff.

I've been doing systems consulting for seven years....business is not new to me :)
 
Great news. The XL1s test went great...pics and footy tonight. The production version will need a +6 macro for this camera on the 16X lens. It is snowing/raining today, so it's inside footage, but you'll get the picture fairly quickly.

XL2 tomorrow, and expect VX2100, DVX100 and HVX100 tests this week. It turns out our local film school is well equipped, with some enthusiastic instructors to boot. I'll have pics/footage up as soon as the tests are done :)

With the XL1, XL2, DVX, HVX and VX2100 tests out of the way, I can spec the achromats, and speed this process up several weeks. When you order an adapter for these cams, the ecommerce client will automatically include the achromat and step rings required. You beta guys got a better deal than you think :)

So tonight, you'll get GS400 footage, and the XL1s test on the production adapter/diffuser posted up.
 
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Virum said:
We beta testers will get a *finished model* and report back to dennis on what macro we needed to use to be able to focus as close as needed. He'll then update his site so buyers no upfront which acromat they'll need and maybe make his ecommerce program have "bundles" where you can select which camera you have and it'll ship with the adapter and the appropriate achromat + rating.
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So the adapter still is in beta testing, good. I got the impression the adapter was almost ready for sale and it was simply up to the buyer to find the right solution to fit it on his camera...
Should have read more thoroughly...

Virum said:
The adapter is finished, it's just a matter of finding out what each camera needs to work with it. Some will work out of the box, others will need macros. The only way around this would be to make a Brevis model for every single camera out there....prohibitively expensive and silly when a macro lens fixes the "issue" (whcih really isn't one IMHO).
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cat will offer quality achromats for sub 100$ - doesn´t sound silly in my ears...
 
Dennis, I didn't mean to sound alarmist, sorry. I was aiming at, more or less, a bullet point of clarity, I didn't want to sound of any bells.

I'm looking at things as how they apply to me. Like many, I have been teetering on where to spend my hard earned and limited cash on a 35mm adaptor. I focused in on you because you're threads show that you care and are attentive to the customer. You take personal pride in your product. That, and you plan for modular upgrades for the Brevis, it's small, loses very little light, and has a screw on mount. These are all big pluses to me.

On the flip side, the one thing that I really want to see out of a beta group (I have some experience in business too) is the results of their tests WELL BEFORE the product goes on the market. I want a bullet point list of what cameras you have tested and what needs to be done to get them to work. I understand that you are working on this. But it seems like your results will be clearly posted on the date of sale, if not even a little after.

So that worries me. Because I think there will be a rush to get your product, and then the first 25 units will be out, but I want to wait to make sure I can get an assurance of quality from my specific camera. I want to know what achromat or macro I need, I want to know that you have tested it. Heck, I'de like to see a picture of the mount on my camera and some test footage, like other sites. I know you can't do every camera, but I'de say there are at least 5 "popular" cameras out there that you could show examples of.

Since I can't come into a store and test the product, I have to rely on your word and reputation. Not only that, I have to make sure I buy a product that can work for me. Again, I sense integrity from you, more than any other I have seen, but it's still wise to be cautious, especially at an 800+ price point for those of us poor film students :)

One thing I like that you are saying, is that you will have an achromat available soon. But will that come after the first 25 units are sold? So I have to wait another month or so before the unit will work for me? etc.

It's just the anachronisms of beta testing versus release that are confusing me. I feel like I was the first one to actually publish any footage that shows anything technical like that. I wish more people could do it. I wish I could do anything to help speed up the process of you having an acromat and adaptor kit :) I really do! Because I think your product is good, but I am shooting very soon!
 
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In response to someone's previous post, what Dennis is saying is absolutely correct, with a big barrel like the Z1U, it is impossible to focus in on such a small area. Even if you pull back the camera two or three feet away, then you can obtain focus, but the area will not fill the screen.

If you'll notice, that's why the M2 comes with an acromat, and for the Z1U it even requires you to get a spacer tube to further distance the camera from the projection plane.
 
guskersthecat said:
With the XL1, XL2, DVX, HVX and VX2100 tests out of the way, I can spec the achromats, and speed this process up several weeks. When you order an adapter for these cams, the ecommerce client will automatically include the achromat and step rings required. You beta guys got a better deal than you think :)
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No, I'm well aware what a great deal I just got. :D

I'm glad to hear I won't have to buy cheap macros that I'd never use....I would have but I'm pretty poor (I buy everything myself; my parents can't afford it and there's only so much a part time teenage worker can bring in)....

I'm so grateful for the great deal I got with you. :D Thanks guskers, your the best. I'll be pimping your adapter on my site once I get it up.
 
I've got a cheap set of macros coming from Ebay. I'll post the results for everyone from my DVX100A when they arrive. This is getting exciting!
 
Very exciting... my friend, who I'm shooting a short for, told me he scheduled his shoot day for April 19! Hoping to use the Brevis!
 
eh, what the hell, just got me a cheap pair of macros of Ebay! One step closer to the brevis :) still want that achromat tho Dennis!

I just thought of something though. Would it be better to get 72mm macros and then a step down ring? or a step down ring and 58mm macros?
 
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Get the 72mm to match your camera filter threads. Why? Most lenses are not designed to have outer edges used..and can be very much out of spec in that region. Getting 72mm macros will also eliminate any vignette issues.
 
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