Yes I'm afraid I have another adaptor.

ChrisLyon said:
this thread seems dead. can i get some help here to understand how the first piece goes together?
Click to expand...
Sorry the thread seems dead, I have a job and we have been busy.

I have made a support arm that attaches to my Cavision rail system. Cavision makes a lens support, but it seemed simple enough to build so I did :) It takes the weight off the DVX (which was never really a problem if you're gentle and only have the 50mm lens. If you have some crazy zoom, then it can get too heavy). Anyway it was an easy build and adds to the stability.

support.jpg
 
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1temp.JPG


#1 is the PVC adapter
#2 is the cokin P ring
#3 is a plain UV filter ring (take out glass)
#4 is the 58mm macro +10
#5 is the DVX

Take the PVC and snap it into the cokin.
Then take the cokin/pvc and screw it into the empty filter ring.
then place the macro inside the pvc flush with the empty ring.

my advice is to use rtv sealant (avail at checker auto or Autozone) to glue the pieces together if you dont want to bolt. It will hold well while you get the handle of this, and will allow you to pull apart if not right and try again.

If you want it permanent, either use JB weld or drill small holes like I did in the empty filter ring and tighten some screws inside. This can doulble as the way to hold the macro inside.

Hope this helps....

Ed
 
to answer questions I have been getting (alot of PMs and emails) about selling them, I can say this: I have all the parts except the Nikon screens, they are on a long backorder.

Once they are in we will see. If the interest is till there then I will make a few and see how it goes.

I am still commited to helping those out who want to build it themselves, to inlcude a short series of instructional web videos on how to build it or maybe a DVD.
 
hey man you are a god among men. thanks so much. We had worked out something extremely similar in trying to figure out that whole first piece, but this makes total sense now. Great! We almost have all our parts. Again, we are subsittuting the focus screen for a camera backing piece of ground glass. It's essientially the same thing. Hopefully it will do the trick!

What really kept us from doing the desin you based yours on (and so many others) was the f-mount. Taking it off another piece of equipment. Me and luke just about shot ourselves for not thinking of that. :D

We had also thought about a mount and rail system, just for safety. We are going to try to cook something up of our own. We are going to take a trip to a few dept stores today and see what we might need.

Again, thanks so much.
 
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Edweirdo said:
to answer questions I have been getting (alot of PMs and emails) about selling them, I can say this: I have all the parts except the Nikon screens, they are on a long backorder.

Once they are in we will see. If the interest is till there then I will make a few and see how it goes.

I am still commited to helping those out who want to build it themselves, to inlcude a short series of instructional web videos on how to build it or maybe a DVD.
Click to expand...
if you made a dvd I would buy or do a pay site with the instructional videos on it and use paypal. :)
 
If eddie doesnt find the time in the next few weeks, me and medialuke will be building ours late next week/weekend and we are planning on documenting it as well. Hopefully we wont mess up. But I think that edweirdo posted enough images and we have planned enough that we will get it right.
 
Would you mind posting more footage since you tweaked the design (however minorly). I decided to build your design and, while the initial test footage was great, I would like to see what you mean when you say it's sharper and has less abberation. Also, how much do the support rods from Cavision cost? It seems like they're merely a precaution, but if they're reasonably priced, I might purchase them.
 
Yes. Here are the differences:

My original design only called for one 58mm macro +10 inside (with the threads facing the DVX- its normal orientation)

the tweak or redesign was taking that macro +10 and turning it backwards (its threads facing away from the DVX- the curved front facing the DVX). Then I added a 72mm macro +4 to the DVX before attaching the adapter. This allowed me to zoom in closer to the screen, thereby cutting down some of the abberation at the edges.

I actualy have uncompressed resolution chart footage showing before and after.

I will post this later on tonight when I get back from class...

Ed
 
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ALBASIC Dude, the Cavision 15mm dv support rods (Product ID: RS-1520) cost $150. I'm thinking about buying them myself.
 
oh yes I did forget that part of your question. Yes I believe the Cavision system to be worth the money, not so much for weight as its not that heavy, but you find yourself moving the focus so much if going handheld that you need that extra security in case you bump it or somthing. Plus it looks cooler :)
 
Ed, first of all....thank you so much for the great plans and ingenious design.

- Anything done with the DVD of this? You mentioned it a while back - I know you're busy, but a tutorial would be a first :)

- Do you know or have any ideas on how this might mount on a Sony HDR-FX1? What about the picture on a high definition system?

THANK YOU ENDLESSLY!!!!!!
 
Since the FX1 is 72mm just like the DVX and the Canon XL cams, it should mount exactly like it does on the DVX. Also, if you have fine enough ground glass or a great focus screen, there shouldnt be a difference.
 
forsammyray: you are welcome :)

re: the Z1, thats a good question as it also uses 72mm filter thread. The question then become will its minimum focusing distance be short enough to get to the focusing screen AND because of the higher resolution how much grain from the screen could it pick up. I dont know, but I will look into borrowing one for a bit to record some footage. I will look around, or if anyone in the Phoenix area owns one and would like to do a test with me let me know.

I have had many questions as how to make the groundglass section of the adapter. A few posts above you will see how the mount/macro is made. Below is a graphic that shows how I made the housing for the Nikon F3 screen. I encased it in 49mm filters to keep dust away from the inside of the glass. The F3 screen is notorious for letting small bits of hair and dust between the condensor and the screen.

sandwich.jpg


1) take the F3 screen and place 4 small dabs of silicone adheasive on the very edges (on the metal frame- NOT the ground glass)
2) gently place it inside one of the 49-52mm step up ring
3) put a small ammount of adheasive around the lip of the 52mm side of the other stepping ring
4) gently bring the two rings together
5) let it dry for 1 hour
6) then screw the 49mm uv filters on the male ends of the stepping rings.

This will give you what I call the sandwich. The screen is now safe inside the housing and will snugly plug into the threaded end of the PVC mount from earlier.

Now, I also shot some more footage with the adapter; some lower light outdoor stuff and some indoor stuff with my friend. Its slightly compressed, but once I get H.264 from the new Vegas update, I can post some higher res stuff. It is located below.

http://www.imperialrabbit.com/Truck and Paul 2.wmv

And I also have an uncompressed 5 second AVI of a resolution chart. You can download it and import it into your NLE and watch it through your monitor. You should right click and save as. It is HUGE cause its uncompressed, but its there if you need to see it.

http://www.imperialrabbit.com/reschart3.avi
 
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macro placement..

macro placement..

im building this same adapter.. i just bought all my parts from ebay/ hardware store..
how hard is it to find out where to place the macro according to the focus screen. for some reason i cant focus my dvx through the +10 macro. im lost as to where to place it
-zakaree
 
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