the hassle with using 35mm adapters...

J

j8jweb

Active member
I have been really impressed with some of the footage I've seen from various 35mm adapters, including Brevis and Redrock. But to make the adapter usable, you need to flip the image.

Every method I have come across just seems to be quite a big hassle. It eliminates the potential for recording very simply, i.e. just point and shoot, which is sometimes very useful to be able to do. It seems that you need to either connect a laptop, use a paperclip stuffed into your hvx lcd hinge (hoping you don't damage anything!), use a separate bulky flipped monitor, i.e. the marshall... (with all the time it takes to set up...) or use a substandard 35mm flip adapter with loads of light loss.

What is the best solution for free and easy shooting? It would be so much easier if panasonic allowed you to flip the screen with a menu option.

This is really impacting my decision to get any adapter at all, which is a big shame since I love the images that I have seen. I consider the workarounds described above (because that's basically what they are) very counter-productive in terms of creativity and spontaneity.

What is the simplest solution? Perhaps there is a top quality adapter that shows a right-way-up image with very little light loss out there somewhere? If so I would love to hear about it... I would pay a lot for something like that. Will panasonic maybe introduce a screen flipping option as a menu item? Many other cameras, even way cheaper than the hvx200, allow you to do this.

Look forward to hearing others' thoughts on this.
 
I don't like having to do all the work setting up the camera as well, but the outcome completely overshadows that. The images are amazing and well worth the time to set up. I've started planning more in advance how I shoot though, because some stuff is good with an adapter and some stuff is good without it. It just depends how much time you want to use preparing your shoot I guess.
 
The Marshall is not a hassle at all. You can mount on the camera and you need a bigger image for focusing with the low DOF anyway. It the expense that's a drag, but so much cheaper than other options that I would stop complaining. No pain no gain.
 
The footage youve seen has been so nice because of the time they took to set the shots up. And you will need to setup your lighting and what not anyways. The adapters are not easily portable in the first place, and youll want to protect them by putting them away before and after setting up.

Like Lenny said just now as well, you would want a marshall or something similar anyways, because the focus youve seen in the shots on here is almost impossible without an eagle eye and mainly alot of LUCK if you dont have an external video source.

Even if you got the adapter and went to shoot spontaneous stuff (what do you plan on shooting with it anyways?) the focus and lighting would be huge issues still.
 
I'm truly tired of all the 35mm talk around here, as if the optics adapters are the last step, or that "magic bullet" to making video look like film. I got news for you, even if you shoot on a nice 35mm camera, your film won't look like a movie unless you toook the time to set up your lights properly, frame your shots, use proper equipmen(more on this) t, and color correct later on.

If you want to make your film look like a movie, invest in lots of lights, and some camera equipment like cranes, dollies, and steadicams. Hey, you can even build this stuff relatively cheaply. On my feature I built my own dolly which worked great, and after purchasing a crane and a steadicam, I realized it would have been soo easy to make them too. Do a little research, and use these tools in the right places, it'll go miles towards giving you the images you want.

If you want to trick the depth of field so badly, pull the camera far back from the subject, and zoom in tight. Instant shallow dof.

-Steve
 
Anything else I was going to say has already been said, so I'll just add this: the more expensive adapters DO in fact flip the image internally, so you don't have to deal with it. So if you want to splurge for a P+S Teknik, you can get that. Of course, it's even larger and more unsuitable for handheld run-and-gun, but you get what you ask for.
 
fleaguit said:
I'm truly tired of all the 35mm talk around here, as if the optics adapters are the last step, or that "magic bullet" to making video look like film. I got news for you, even if you shoot on a nice 35mm camera, your film won't look like a movie unless you toook the time to set up your lights properly, frame your shots, use proper equipmen(more on this) t, and color correct later on.

If you want to make your film look like a movie, invest in lots of lights, and some camera equipment like cranes, dollies, and steadicams. Hey, you can even build this stuff relatively cheaply. On my feature I built my own dolly which worked great, and after purchasing a crane and a steadicam, I realized it would have been soo easy to make them too. Do a little research, and use these tools in the right places, it'll go miles towards giving you the images you want.

If you want to trick the depth of field so badly, pull the camera far back from the subject, and zoom in tight. Instant shallow dof.

-Steve
Click to expand...

Its more than the trick of depth of field, its the aesthetic the adapter creates and pulling the camera back does not give you the same characteristic (bokeh) of a nice ground glass. If you followed what Cynic said we are well aware of proper lighting etc. If you're a diy guy then do what floats your boat some of us have niether the time or inclination to build every device we need.
 
dougspice said:
Anything else I was going to say has already been said, so I'll just add this: the more expensive adapters DO in fact flip the image internally, so you don't have to deal with it. So if you want to splurge for a P+S Teknik, you can get that. Of course, it's even larger and more unsuitable for handheld run-and-gun, but you get what you ask for.
Click to expand...
Not true, the Letus XL and HD100 flips and has a relay for under $1100 and provides some incredible footage.
 
I have it Barry...it needs some more enhancement for the HVX:) The grain is far too visible, but on any other camera it is lovely.
 
I own the Letus35 flip. Its great. A lot of time you can even shoot in doors with out any special lighting, if you mess with the shutter. but I would say it would be stupid not to use lighting indoors. and when you shoot outside you have much more light then you even need.

once you get past this, you realize that if you plan to move the camera your useless without a follow focus.
 
Look, I have the Redrock M2 35mm adapter and an HVX.. Basically as a DP you go for a look, thats within your budget.. You do what you can afford and make it the best you can..

I personally love the way the HVX looks on its own, It doesn't look like video, nor does it look like film.. It has it's own amazing look..

I love the way the HVX looks with my redrock M2 adapter.. and once again, maybe it looks close to film.. But I tend to think it has a better look... a different look you don't get with film..

I don't shoot "video" with my HVX, because that would involve video tape.. I shoot P2 :-) Boys we have a new medium.. It's call data...

No matter what adapter, camera, or budget you can make wonderful images if you know what you are doing..

EASY? No, but nothing in this business or life for that matter is "easy"..

- - Justin
 
Justin Marx said:
Boys we have a new medium.. It's call data...
- - Justin
Click to expand...

my qoute of the day! LOL.

I've shot with PS and have seen redrock...great tools if you need shallow DOF.
(that is one draw back of 1/3 chipsets). Sometimes being 75' away to zoom in just isn't practical.
 
Lenilenapi said:
cinebuddy, what's wrong with the Letusflip?
Have you compared it to the redrock or the Brevis?
Click to expand...
The mechanism in the flip does not disperse the grain quickly enough for it to not be captured by the HVX. Shooting with the flip and a DVX vs the HVX is night and day for resolution, and the flip just introduces too much grain...it looks like rotating dirt on the footage. I have a Brevis and I love it, but the trade is it does not flip....yet
 
Well, my two cents is that the absolutely best approach is to have the camera manufacturers put flip into the product. Technically it is not difficult to do (they already do it when you have "self shooting" mode where the lcd flips the image when you aim it back at the subject). It is simple, clean, involves no compromises or additional cost.

JVC has already heard this loud and clear and has this in their new HD200/250 cameras. Panasonic has been quiet on this topic. Canon has it, but inexpicably only works for non-stock lenses.

My suggestion is that if you think it's important, help by lobbying your favorite camera manufacturer to add this feature. While I'm not privvy to the details of how these cameras work, I imagine you could do it with a firmware update.


Brian
 
bvalente said:
Well, my two cents is that the absolutely best approach is to have the camera manufacturers put flip into the product. Technically it is not difficult to do (they already do it when you have "self shooting" mode where the lcd flips the image when you aim it back at the subject). It is simple, clean, involves no compromises or additional cost.

My suggestion is that if you think it's important, help by lobbying your favorite camera manufacturer to add this feature. While I'm not privvy to the details of how these cameras work, I imagine you could do it with a firmware update.

Brian
Click to expand...

how do we do this lobbying? could it be as easy as a firmware update?
 
"What do we want? LCD Flip! When do we want it?! NOW!"

picket%20line.jpg
 
LOL!

so then, I suppose panasonic be the one getting hammered? you carrying the stick?

a firmware update would offer panny no financial reward. my guess is, if it will listen, they'll put in the next version of HVX200.


Cynic821 said:
"What do we want? LCD Flip! When do we want it?! NOW!"

picket%20line.jpg
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top