Updated Brevis 35mm Adapter praise

Paul Nordin

Paul Nordin

Active member
I just have to say how impressed I am with both Dennis and his awesome customer support at Cinevate, and the Brevis unit. Sept '06 I purchased the unit in it's then current state of design and used it successfully on a feature in late 06 in the wild dusty Mexican desert. I just received a new unit with all the updates to the design that Dennis has put in since September, and I'm frankly blown away. Every nit I had with the unit has been either improved or completely redesigned for the better. Quiet, solid Nikon mount, extremely minimal vignetting, no flicker, solid rails mount, great image, and options with alternate Ground Glass inserts.




I don't often do this sort of thing, and I am definitely not associated with Cinevate. I just think that Dennis has done something special and wanted to acknowledge it.
Dennis, you may think the new brevis is a "refinement" but to me it is now the best 35mm adapter on the market. (OK, so I haven't used them all so that may be an unfair statement, but I have used the the P+S -too heavy, too bulky, too expensive, and the Red Rock). If my HVX could just flip it's bloody image I would be in Nirvana.

Thanks for the new unit, and all the hard work. I'm putting this one right into service on a feature tomorrow shooting b-roll and CUs along side a Sony F900R.

Cheers,
Paul
 
I just ordered my Brevis as well and look forward to recieving it. I have shot with the Letus35A for about a year and have loved working with the 35mm adapter, but unfortunatly the Letus's image is just not up to par with the HD stuff I am shooting now. After seeing lots of great examples from Dennis and others the Brevis looks like a hard one to beat.
 
Paul Nordin said:
If my HVX could just flip it's bloody image I would be in Nirvana.
Click to expand...

Well I guess the next thing Cinevate is coming with for the brevis is a flip unit add-on, so you should be in Nirvana pretty soon...
 
Dennis
I am so thrill to start this new year of the Pig with such good news on the Brevis evolution
…Can’t wait to receive mine
 
Ordered my Brevis about a week ago. I'm trying not to think about it being that I have a while til its manufactured/shipped. Its kinda hard not to think about it when you guys are making posts about how great your new brevis is! I just got my HVX200 so I'm keeping myself busy with that as well as Barry's bootcamp dvd. But you guys just made me antsy again!!!! damn u. My Zeiss lens arrive next week, at which point I will probably be going crazy without a Brevis to play with.

Anyways, Paul, thanks for reinforcing my purchase even more. I was so close to getting a redrock m2, and while I'm sure I would have been happy with the m2, I think the brevis is a better fit for me, my lenses, and my hvx.
 
I'm interested in the Brevis, a rails system, a follow focus, and a matte box.

What compatibility concerns will I have with the above gear?

How is the rails system by Cinevate as compared to others?

Studio4 makes the "indiFOCUS" and the "indiRAILS"...are these rails recommended with the indifocus+brevis or the cinevate rails?

Is the indiFOCUS a preferred follow focus in that price range?

I hear people raving about the IndieSnap Matte Box for $289, but others complain since it can't hold filters.

Basically, my overall concern is if I want to use a matte box, a follow focus, and a rails system with the Brevis, then what gear works well together?

Thanks guys.
 
All rail systems are pretty much standard, it's a question of personal choice and budget. Obviously the most expensive such as Zacuto's will be more precise and better made. As I say often, you usually get what you pay for... That said, I am sure the indirails will do... As far as matte boxes, I never get the point of buying one that doesn't have filter trays, the whole point of the matte box is the fact that you can add filters.... And filters you WILL NEED if you buy a 35mm adaptor. A good 4x4 filter cost between $150 and $300. You'll want at least one poralizer (most likey the circular kind), a couple of ND's, and a MD grad. Keep in mind that with a 35mm adaptor you CANNOT use you built-in Camera's ND filters...
 
That's the type of stuff I need to know...thanks.

With the above gear, what length rails is recommended?

You have any follow focus recommendations?
 
A mattebox is a fine purchase, but you absolutely do not need it with a 35mm adapter.

Any still lens can be equipped with step up rings to a standard filter size you decide on - such as 82mm the same size that will screw into the front of the HVX.

These filters will function just as well as a 4x4 and are far far cheaper. Of course you would need a round lens shade and miss the better shading of a a mattebox and the ability to use grads which in my book are the main reason to get a matte box other than to look cool.
 
Leni, agreed on the 4x4's although a set of decent 72mm filters (I have step rings to fit my 35mm lenses) is not cheap either. If I was buying them again, I'd do what you suggested and standardize at 82, not 72mm. I picked up Cavision's 4x4 filters with a graduated .6 ND, .standard .9ND, and polarizer for about $170 or so. To me, the ability to drop them in, rotate, while swapping lenses in, is a major advantage. There's no question that image quality from a 35mm lens is at its best when non image forming light is blocked from the optical surfaces. Most lens flare is very obvious, but the hazing variety can be hard to spot while shooting.

Spike, we have rails systems, matteboxes, universal focus gears (for 35mm lenses) and very soon a very trick follow focus. We've finally sorted out a logo, so some swag gear is coming too.
 
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