Fall Colors with XHA1 the Letus Extreme at DVinfo.net

Steven Dempsey · October 20th, 2007, 05:16 PM

Camera XHA1 - 24f 1/48th shutter
VIVIDRGB Preset
Handheld and on borrowed wonky tripod
Letus Extreme (pre-release model)
Random footage loosely sewn together
Shot outside my office featuring fall colors.
Used Nikons:
28mm f2.8
50mm f1.8
100mm f2.8
200mm f4 (mostly used this lens)

http://www.pinelakefilms.com/XHA1/fallcolors_720.wmv

204mb.... almost 2 mins, downrezzed to 720p

Jonathan Gentry · October 20th, 2007, 08:02 PM

I get the distinct impression that you would rather not be at the office, but rather on assignment filming. Am I wrong?

Steven Dempsey · October 20th, 2007, 11:07 PM

LOL, you are so not wrong my friend :)

Marty Hudzik · October 23rd, 2007, 09:33 PM

Beautiful footage. If I didn't know any better I would think this was shot on film for sure. I do have one question. Several of the shots are a little shaky. It looks like the same exact shake I get with my XLh1 with the manual lens when I am doing a handheld zoom shot. There is no OIS on the manaul lens.

When using the Letus Extreme adapter, do you have to turn off the OIS on the A1? Or does it not function with the same efficiency with a Letus on the end?

Thanks....and great stuff. I am considering getting a Letus for my H1 and I'm on the fence over the Letus Extreme and the Letus XL.

Peace.

Steven Dempsey · October 23rd, 2007, 09:52 PM

Marty, thanks for the comments. This footage was truly grip and rip. I had about 15 minutes until it rained for the day and I knew it was coming. The tripod I have in work has a loose head so it is not at all ideal for steady shots. Also, focusing with a 200mm lens requires a rock steady support (didn't have that day).

Using the OIS is an absolute no-no on 35mm adapters. The reason is this...
The camera's lens sees the ground glass and says "Hey, this thing is gyrating all over the place, I should steady it". So, instead of steadying the picture on the ground glass, it tries to stabilize the moving ground glass. The result is that the outer edges of the ground glass begin to show in a fluid in and out motion in your recorded image. So basically forget OIS.

By the way, the lens doesn't really talk, that was just a dramatization.

Marty Hudzik · October 23rd, 2007, 10:42 PM

"By the way, the lens doesn't really talk, that was just a dramatization"

Steven, your comedic skills are starting to catch up with your shooting skills! My next HD camera has to have a talking lens....it's a requirement!

By the way, I completely understand the grip and rip thing....I was not commenting on your camera skills, just simply noting that the shots looked virtually identical to hand-held XL-H1 shots with the manual lens....from a steady-ness point of view that is.

Peace.

Steven Dempsey · October 23rd, 2007, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty Hudzik

By the way, I completely understand the grip and rip thing....I was not commenting on your camera skills, just simply noting that the shots looked virtually identical to hand-held XL-H1 shots with the manual lens....from a steady-ness point of view that is.

Peace.

Yeah, I got that. I wasn't trying to defend anything, just making sure the right context was observed.

Thanks for the comments.

Roland Oeller · October 26th, 2007, 12:17 PM

Beautiful. I have to try out that color-preset myself soon.

If have only now through your post learned about the Letus Extreme. How do you like it so far? Sounds great that it delivers an upright image and I couldn´t really tell that it was shot with an adapter apart from a slight blur around the edges of the screen. Must depend on the lens, I think.

The depth of field doesn´t seem that shallow. I wonder why that is. Maybe because you shot with a very closed iris? I like that, since it´s not exaggerating the dof as most people do when they get a 35mm adapter.

I am a little confused as to what is the difference between the 35 Extreme and the Economy.

John L. Miller · November 19th, 2007, 11:52 PM

On the contrary to the last post, the DOF is beautiful and plenty shallow on these shots Steven. I cannot help myself but watching your work when I have the opportunity. When I actually get through with school this year and summer comes, I plan to do some shooting with my extreme and A1. I just have not had time to even take it out of the box yet. Your work always inspires me! Later. J

Brian Findlay · November 25th, 2007, 08:38 PM

I'd be really interested if you've ever used the Redrockmicro M2 or the Micro35, and I'm not looking for anything technical, just your impressions..

If you didn't have any type of DOF enhancement box, and you were going to buy one, what would you get and why.. please base that on two counts..

(1) Money no object
(2) Best bang for the buck..

If for any reason you do not want to post online, please email me and let me know.. I'm in the process of choosing something, and I really am running a bit blind as I have had NO experience with any of these products..

Thanks!

Brian

October 20th, 2007, 05:16 PM	#1
Steven Dempsey Disjecta Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 937	Fall Colors with XHA1 the Letus Extreme Camera XHA1 - 24f 1/48th shutter VIVIDRGB Preset Handheld and on borrowed wonky tripod Letus Extreme (pre-release model) Random footage loosely sewn together Shot outside my office featuring fall colors. Used Nikons: 28mm f2.8 50mm f1.8 100mm f2.8 200mm f4 (mostly used this lens) http://www.pinelakefilms.com/XHA1/fallcolors_720.wmv 204mb.... almost 2 mins, downrezzed to 720p __________________ Try my Digital Therapy: http://www.pinelakefilms.com/digital_therapy.html Films on ExposureRoom: http://exposureroom.com/members/disjecta.aspx/videos/

October 20th, 2007, 11:07 PM	#3
Steven Dempsey Disjecta Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 937	LOL, you are so not wrong my friend :) __________________ Try my Digital Therapy: http://www.pinelakefilms.com/digital_therapy.html Films on ExposureRoom: http://exposureroom.com/members/disjecta.aspx/videos/

October 23rd, 2007, 09:52 PM	#5
Steven Dempsey Disjecta Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 937	Marty, thanks for the comments. This footage was truly grip and rip. I had about 15 minutes until it rained for the day and I knew it was coming. The tripod I have in work has a loose head so it is not at all ideal for steady shots. Also, focusing with a 200mm lens requires a rock steady support (didn't have that day). Using the OIS is an absolute no-no on 35mm adapters. The reason is this... The camera's lens sees the ground glass and says "Hey, this thing is gyrating all over the place, I should steady it". So, instead of steadying the picture on the ground glass, it tries to stabilize the moving ground glass. The result is that the outer edges of the ground glass begin to show in a fluid in and out motion in your recorded image. So basically forget OIS. By the way, the lens doesn't really talk, that was just a dramatization. __________________ Try my Digital Therapy: http://www.pinelakefilms.com/digital_therapy.html Films on ExposureRoom: http://exposureroom.com/members/disjecta.aspx/videos/

November 25th, 2007, 08:38 PM	#10
Brian Findlay Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 40	Steve... You never really expressed your oppinion about this I'd be really interested if you've ever used the Redrockmicro M2 or the Micro35, and I'm not looking for anything technical, just your impressions.. If you didn't have any type of DOF enhancement box, and you were going to buy one, what would you get and why.. please base that on two counts.. (1) Money no object (2) Best bang for the buck.. If for any reason you do not want to post online, please email me and let me know.. I'm in the process of choosing something, and I really am running a bit blind as I have had NO experience with any of these products.. Thanks! Brian

October 20th, 2007, 08:02 PM	#2
Jonathan Gentry Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 183	I get the distinct impression that you would rather not be at the office, but rather on assignment filming. Am I wrong?

October 23rd, 2007, 09:33 PM	#4
Marty Hudzik Trustee Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canton, Ohio Posts: 1,771	Beautiful footage. If I didn't know any better I would think this was shot on film for sure. I do have one question. Several of the shots are a little shaky. It looks like the same exact shake I get with my XLh1 with the manual lens when I am doing a handheld zoom shot. There is no OIS on the manaul lens. When using the Letus Extreme adapter, do you have to turn off the OIS on the A1? Or does it not function with the same efficiency with a Letus on the end? Thanks....and great stuff. I am considering getting a Letus for my H1 and I'm on the fence over the Letus Extreme and the Letus XL. Peace.

October 23rd, 2007, 10:42 PM	#6
Marty Hudzik Trustee Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canton, Ohio Posts: 1,771	"By the way, the lens doesn't really talk, that was just a dramatization" Steven, your comedic skills are starting to catch up with your shooting skills! My next HD camera has to have a talking lens....it's a requirement! By the way, I completely understand the grip and rip thing....I was not commenting on your camera skills, just simply noting that the shots looked virtually identical to hand-held XL-H1 shots with the manual lens....from a steady-ness point of view that is. Peace.

October 26th, 2007, 12:17 PM	#8
Roland Oeller New Boot Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Austria Posts: 13	Beautiful. I have to try out that color-preset myself soon. If have only now through your post learned about the Letus Extreme. How do you like it so far? Sounds great that it delivers an upright image and I couldn´t really tell that it was shot with an adapter apart from a slight blur around the edges of the screen. Must depend on the lens, I think. The depth of field doesn´t seem that shallow. I wonder why that is. Maybe because you shot with a very closed iris? I like that, since it´s not exaggerating the dof as most people do when they get a 35mm adapter. I am a little confused as to what is the difference between the 35 Extreme and the Economy.

November 19th, 2007, 11:52 PM	#9
John L. Miller Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Huntington, WV Posts: 260	On the contrary to the last post, the DOF is beautiful and plenty shallow on these shots Steven. I cannot help myself but watching your work when I have the opportunity. When I actually get through with school this year and summer comes, I plan to do some shooting with my extreme and A1. I just have not had time to even take it out of the box yet. Your work always inspires me! Later. J