Sony HDR-CX7 + Letus Mini "AK47" Setup. at DVinfo.net

Kevin Lee · May 6th, 2008, 12:48 AM

Letus Mini unit arrived today. Here's some pics of a (rarely seen) CX7 + Letus Mini combo setup.

"AK47" Setup includes Sony HDR-CX7 Camera, Letus Mini, Nikkor 50mm F1.4 MF Lens, Cavision Rails, UN Tripod Spacer & Cheap Shoulder Mount.

(Photos taken with an iPhone)

Ram Shani · May 6th, 2008, 01:12 AM

look cool with the black finish of the cam

post same video to see how it works

why you chose this cam over the hv-20 every one talk about?

Yang Wen · May 6th, 2008, 07:12 AM

What kind of handle/shoulder pad contraption is that?

Benjamin Richardson · May 6th, 2008, 09:47 AM

Hey, that looks really cool. I'd like to see how well that setup works, and where I can get one!

Christopher Drews · May 6th, 2008, 05:54 PM

Dude. Is that toilette paper on your desk?
-C

Kevin Lee · May 7th, 2008, 01:26 AM

Yes, that is toilet paper. I'm a lazy boy. And cheap.

That shoulder mount with the handle was a really cheap "brandless" gear i bought ages ago from B&H. I just checked their site, they don't seem to stock them anymore. Had a quick go with it, seems ergonomic enough to use with small lenses like the 50mm, 35mm and an old Sigma 15mm fisheye i had. One hand on handle below, one hand on focus ring/barrel. Tried it with a big and heavy 105mm, wouldn't recommend it.

Bought the CX7 cause i wanted a really small camera with great quality, and the CX7 was the smallest, best built camera i saw. The tapeless option was a draw too. I had a look at the hv20, and just couldnt get myself to like the build quality. I like tossing my gear around.

The CX7 build, size, form and finish almost leads you to think the letus mini was custom-made for it. Or vice-versa - that the CX7 was an accessory custom-made for the Mini. hah... If only the CX7 was full manual capable...

Gonna focus on footage over the week and weekend.

Cheers.

Here's a few more iPhone pics...

Yang Wen · May 7th, 2008, 08:27 AM

In the last pic, you're holding the rig by the area where the letus and the cam meets. I've been leary of holding my setup at that part, fearing any pressure applied will mess up the lens thread and/or throw off the alignment. Have you found that to be the case?

Kevin Lee · May 7th, 2008, 05:23 PM

That's a colleague. I was taking the pic.

I can understand why you might be cautious holding it there. Mine feels solid and the CX7 is very very light.... but i dont always grip it that way.

Kevin Lee · May 8th, 2008, 04:39 AM

FOr anyone who's interested...

Test footage of the Letus Mini on the CX7, with a Nikkor 50mm F1.4 AIS Lens, in natural day light.

http://www.vimeo.com/988862

Yang Wen · May 8th, 2008, 02:01 PM

Kevin.. the footage shows quite a bit more vignetting than I usually expect from a 50mm 1.4 lens.. do you have to zoom further with the Sony than I'm used to seeing on the HV20? Or is the Sony's sensor more off-alignment?

Kevin Lee · May 8th, 2008, 10:55 PM

It is zoomed in quite a bit. Not sure if it's the wide aperture or actual vignette from the lens.

How much is your hv20 zoomed in?

Weekend's here, so i'll have a bit more time to play with diff lens, at different settings, apertures and zooms. etc.

Yang Wen · May 9th, 2008, 01:20 PM

My HV30 is zoomed enough to still allow f2.4 max aperture.. I don't think there's any way of comparing the amount of zoom between our cameras..

Kevin Lee · May 10th, 2008, 05:46 PM

Nikkor 35mm F/2.0 on the CX7 + Letus Mini
http://www.vimeo.com/998146

Kevin Lee · May 14th, 2008, 06:50 AM

Nikkor 24mm F/2.8 on the CX7 + Letus Mini
http://www.vimeo.com/1010710

Shot with B/W Preset on the CX7.

Yang Wen · May 20th, 2008, 09:37 AM

Hey I liked the 35mm one.. such nice location! What compression settings did you use for that clip?

May 6th, 2008, 12:48 AM	#1
Kevin Lee Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 224	Sony HDR-CX7 + Letus Mini "AK47" Setup. Letus Mini unit arrived today. Here's some pics of a (rarely seen) CX7 + Letus Mini combo setup. "AK47" Setup includes Sony HDR-CX7 Camera, Letus Mini, Nikkor 50mm F1.4 MF Lens, Cavision Rails, UN Tripod Spacer & Cheap Shoulder Mount. (Photos taken with an iPhone) Attached Thumbnails

May 6th, 2008, 01:12 AM	#2
Ram Shani Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: tel aviv israel Posts: 107	look cool with the black finish of the cam post same video to see how it works why you chose this cam over the hv-20 every one talk about? __________________ ram shani-cinematographer www.ramshani.com

May 7th, 2008, 01:26 AM	#6
Kevin Lee Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 224	Yes, that is toilet paper. I'm a lazy boy. And cheap. That shoulder mount with the handle was a really cheap "brandless" gear i bought ages ago from B&H. I just checked their site, they don't seem to stock them anymore. Had a quick go with it, seems ergonomic enough to use with small lenses like the 50mm, 35mm and an old Sigma 15mm fisheye i had. One hand on handle below, one hand on focus ring/barrel. Tried it with a big and heavy 105mm, wouldn't recommend it. Bought the CX7 cause i wanted a really small camera with great quality, and the CX7 was the smallest, best built camera i saw. The tapeless option was a draw too. I had a look at the hv20, and just couldnt get myself to like the build quality. I like tossing my gear around. The CX7 build, size, form and finish almost leads you to think the letus mini was custom-made for it. Or vice-versa - that the CX7 was an accessory custom-made for the Mini. hah... If only the CX7 was full manual capable... Gonna focus on footage over the week and weekend. Cheers. Here's a few more iPhone pics... Attached Thumbnails

May 7th, 2008, 05:23 PM	#8
Kevin Lee Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 224	That's a colleague. I was taking the pic. I can understand why you might be cautious holding it there. Mine feels solid and the CX7 is very very light.... but i dont always grip it that way. Last edited by Kevin Lee; May 8th, 2008 at 03:01 AM.

May 6th, 2008, 07:12 AM	#3
Yang Wen Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 991	What kind of handle/shoulder pad contraption is that?

May 6th, 2008, 09:47 AM	#4
Benjamin Richardson Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 143	Hey, that looks really cool. I'd like to see how well that setup works, and where I can get one!

May 6th, 2008, 05:54 PM	#5
Christopher Drews Major Player Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 628	Dude. Is that toilette paper on your desk? -C

May 7th, 2008, 08:27 AM	#7
Yang Wen Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 991	In the last pic, you're holding the rig by the area where the letus and the cam meets. I've been leary of holding my setup at that part, fearing any pressure applied will mess up the lens thread and/or throw off the alignment. Have you found that to be the case?

May 8th, 2008, 04:39 AM	#9
Kevin Lee Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 224	FOr anyone who's interested... Test footage of the Letus Mini on the CX7, with a Nikkor 50mm F1.4 AIS Lens, in natural day light. http://www.vimeo.com/988862

May 8th, 2008, 02:01 PM	#10
Yang Wen Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 991	Kevin.. the footage shows quite a bit more vignetting than I usually expect from a 50mm 1.4 lens.. do you have to zoom further with the Sony than I'm used to seeing on the HV20? Or is the Sony's sensor more off-alignment?

May 8th, 2008, 10:55 PM	#11
Kevin Lee Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 224	It is zoomed in quite a bit. Not sure if it's the wide aperture or actual vignette from the lens. How much is your hv20 zoomed in? Weekend's here, so i'll have a bit more time to play with diff lens, at different settings, apertures and zooms. etc.

May 9th, 2008, 01:20 PM	#12
Yang Wen Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 991	My HV30 is zoomed enough to still allow f2.4 max aperture.. I don't think there's any way of comparing the amount of zoom between our cameras..

May 10th, 2008, 05:46 PM	#13
Kevin Lee Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 224	Nikkor 35mm F/2.0 on the CX7 + Letus Mini http://www.vimeo.com/998146

May 14th, 2008, 06:50 AM	#14
Kevin Lee Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 224	Nikkor 24mm F/2.8 on the CX7 + Letus Mini http://www.vimeo.com/1010710 Shot with B/W Preset on the CX7.

May 20th, 2008, 09:37 AM	#15
Yang Wen Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 991	Hey I liked the 35mm one.. such nice location! What compression settings did you use for that clip?