Using Aperture on Camera w/ 35 Adapter

Slinkii

Slinkii

Active member
When shooting with say the DVX100 and a 35 Adapter are there any issues if the aperture on the camera is stopped down to control light? I want to get a shallow DOF with the 35mm lens so I might use f2.8 but outside I'd need to stop down so not to peak out the image. Are there any problems with controlling light using the cameras aperture in conjunction with the ND filters or is there a "set camera" aperture that should be used when shooting with a 35 adapter??
 
I have not seen any problems with my Brevis when stopping down the cameras aparture. On a DVX100, the sharpness of the 35 lens isn't that visible, but when shooting HD, it's good to use F8.0 when outside, because that is the sharpest you get with any lens.
 
On many 35mm adapters you may see the grain of the adapters screen if you stop down the 35mm lens below f4. however there is no problem stopping down the video camera's f-stop or using ND's.
 
The only problem I've had with the camera's ND's is that they suck (at least on the HVX). They don't suck with Panny's ENG cameras. They probably use some cheap resin. I've done tests and using glass in front of the lens yeilds noticeably sharper results than using the 1/8 or 1/64th. You will not notice this on the camera's LCD or viewfinder. In fact, a client pointed it to me on a job where we had the BTH 1700 hooked up. We couldn't figure out why the image looked slighly muddier than the previous shot. I took the camera's ND off and voila - it was tack sharp again.

A few folks here contest me on this, but just do an A/B test and the results are frightening with the HVX - dare say, criminal. Shortly after, I invested in a matte box 4x4's and 82mm screw ons. I just can't in good conscience use the HVX built in ND.

Tim Naylor - DP
www.timnaylor.com
 
tim,
Just saw this thread after discussing the issue on another. Sounds convincing. I'll check it out on my HVX as well.

What brand ND's did you go for and how strong did you get them. I though the built-in was a pretty heavy ND filter.

Thanks for posting your experience.

- Lenny Levy
 
I buy my filters from the Filter Gallery in NYC. Small shop with alot filters and prices that compete with B&H. The guy there will engrave your filters (so no one can do the swap) and he actually makes an array of custom grads.

I use Tiffen for my ND's and Schneider for my Pola. The Schneider is the strongest Pola out there. I hear it can see through brick walls. Bought my 4 x 4's used. They looked new to me but the price break was good. There's definitely a difference in quality from resin to glass and from brand to brand. Harrison, Schneider, and Tiffen all rock. Harrison, perhaps makes the coolest grads out there.
 
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