Here's a clip from my $50 mini35 at DVinfo.net

Rokta Bija · March 15th, 2005, 08:06 PM

It has a non-moving plastic fresnel lens, but it's surprising how little grain there is. It shot through a GS400 in pro-cinema. Just put it together so I still need to tweak it some. I am using to much glass, three close-up filters in a row to get to +6, I need a +7 in a single filter. Lens is a 55mm Pentax.

http://rapidshare.de/files/886450/DOF2.wmv.html

To download, click the link. Scroll to bottom of the page, click "free". Scroll again to bottom of the page and watch the countdown timer, it's usually about a 50 second wait. When it's done, click download at the bottom and it will load.

(opps- make that $75 mini, I forgot the add the $25 m42 adapter)

Shannon Rawls · March 15th, 2005, 09:13 PM

can we get a photo of the unit mounted to your camera?

- Shannon W. Rawls

Jim Lafferty · March 16th, 2005, 08:32 AM

That looks alright. Hopefully you'll take my criticisms in stride:

The colors seem a bit washed out -- what cam are you using? Objects "in focus" seem to be slightly unresolved. There's no real way to see the grain as there aren't any pans/tilts in your footage.

Otherwise, you could certainly shoot with it and your average viewer would never be the wiser -- it looks good, and pretty damn good considering the cost :D

- jim

Oscar Spierenburg · March 16th, 2005, 11:07 AM

I'm having some trouble with my connection. Any chance of a still frame? I'm very interested.

Rokta Bija · March 16th, 2005, 01:00 PM

The WMV file is pretty soft, the orignal capture is sharper.

This morning I adjusted the focus to GG on my computer monitor and was able to squeeze more sharpness out of it. The grain is still pretty decent considering the plastic fresnel screen but the fresnel lines are much more noticeable.

I'll try to get another clip on tonight.

Steev Dinkins · March 16th, 2005, 02:32 PM

I'd say you're definitely not completely focused on your focus screen, and hence its softness. Upping the contrast in post could help with the colors, but probably best to improve the design to get better colors without post. It looks like light leaking in, making it looked washed out. Hard to tell. Post pics and documentation of how you have constructed your device.

Rokta Bija · March 16th, 2005, 07:38 PM

Here's a sharper clip. Didn't have time to set up the tripod so excuse the shakes.

http://rapidshare.de/files/897101/DOF3.wmv.html

http://users.adelphia.net/~jp1/dof3.jpg

Here's a pic of the adapter.

Steev Dinkins · March 16th, 2005, 09:09 PM

There ya go. Quite usable for a lot of different projects. All that's required now is good concept, lighting, shots, actors, editing, etc. Definitely great for proof of concept/ability stuff :)

Kyle Edwards · March 17th, 2005, 12:17 AM

Yes, the 2nd clip is much better. Looks good.

Leo Mandy · March 17th, 2005, 08:08 AM

Rokta Bija,

Do you have a detailed picture of the setup of you static adapter?

Jim Lafferty · March 17th, 2005, 10:30 AM

Looks great! Congrats.

Rokta Bija · March 17th, 2005, 06:29 PM

Here's a breakdown of it so far.

http://www.fortvir.net/albums/album1...35_adapter.jpg

I will probably replace the m42 extension tube with 55mm spacers and then move the m42-55mm adapter next to the Pentax lens. I will replace the close-up filters with a single +7 or I might try a +10 and then shorten or eliminate the 55mm tube if I can.

Leo Mandy · March 17th, 2005, 07:22 PM

Where did you get the plastic fresnel focusing screen? That setup looks great!

Rokta Bija · March 18th, 2005, 03:34 AM

I bought everything on ebay, except for the m42-55mm adapter which I got from Joshua Provost.

Leo Mandy · March 18th, 2005, 08:12 AM

If I am to understand everything correctly, the focal range from the GG to the lens has worked out perfectly with one of the extenders?

March 15th, 2005, 08:06 PM	#1
Rokta Bija Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 61	Here's a clip from my $50 mini35 It has a non-moving plastic fresnel lens, but it's surprising how little grain there is. It shot through a GS400 in pro-cinema. Just put it together so I still need to tweak it some. I am using to much glass, three close-up filters in a row to get to +6, I need a +7 in a single filter. Lens is a 55mm Pentax. http://rapidshare.de/files/886450/DOF2.wmv.html To download, click the link. Scroll to bottom of the page, click "free". Scroll again to bottom of the page and watch the countdown timer, it's usually about a 50 second wait. When it's done, click download at the bottom and it will load. (opps- make that $75 mini, I forgot the add the $25 m42 adapter)

March 16th, 2005, 08:32 AM	#3
Jim Lafferty Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 636	That looks alright. Hopefully you'll take my criticisms in stride: The colors seem a bit washed out -- what cam are you using? Objects "in focus" seem to be slightly unresolved. There's no real way to see the grain as there aren't any pans/tilts in your footage. Otherwise, you could certainly shoot with it and your average viewer would never be the wiser -- it looks good, and pretty damn good considering the cost :D - jim __________________ Realism, anyway, is never exactly the same as reality, and in the cinema it is of necessity faked. -- J-L G

March 15th, 2005, 09:13 PM	#2
Shannon Rawls Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 853	can we get a photo of the unit mounted to your camera? - Shannon W. Rawls

March 16th, 2005, 11:07 AM	#4
Oscar Spierenburg Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: (The Netherlands - Belgium) Posts: 735	I'm having some trouble with my connection. Any chance of a still frame? I'm very interested.

March 16th, 2005, 01:00 PM	#5
Rokta Bija Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 61	The WMV file is pretty soft, the orignal capture is sharper. This morning I adjusted the focus to GG on my computer monitor and was able to squeeze more sharpness out of it. The grain is still pretty decent considering the plastic fresnel screen but the fresnel lines are much more noticeable. I'll try to get another clip on tonight.

March 16th, 2005, 02:32 PM	#6
Steev Dinkins Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 613	I'd say you're definitely not completely focused on your focus screen, and hence its softness. Upping the contrast in post could help with the colors, but probably best to improve the design to get better colors without post. It looks like light leaking in, making it looked washed out. Hard to tell. Post pics and documentation of how you have constructed your device.

March 16th, 2005, 07:38 PM	#7
Rokta Bija Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 61	Here's a sharper clip. Didn't have time to set up the tripod so excuse the shakes. http://rapidshare.de/files/897101/DOF3.wmv.html http://users.adelphia.net/~jp1/dof3.jpg Here's a pic of the adapter.

March 16th, 2005, 09:09 PM	#8
Steev Dinkins Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 613	There ya go. Quite usable for a lot of different projects. All that's required now is good concept, lighting, shots, actors, editing, etc. Definitely great for proof of concept/ability stuff :)

March 17th, 2005, 12:17 AM	#9
Kyle Edwards Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: LI, NY Posts: 274	Yes, the 2nd clip is much better. Looks good.

March 17th, 2005, 08:08 AM	#10
Leo Mandy Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 749	Rokta Bija, Do you have a detailed picture of the setup of you static adapter?

March 17th, 2005, 10:30 AM	#11
Jim Lafferty Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 636	Looks great! Congrats.

March 17th, 2005, 06:29 PM	#12
Rokta Bija Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 61	Here's a breakdown of it so far. http://www.fortvir.net/albums/album1...35_adapter.jpg I will probably replace the m42 extension tube with 55mm spacers and then move the m42-55mm adapter next to the Pentax lens. I will replace the close-up filters with a single +7 or I might try a +10 and then shorten or eliminate the 55mm tube if I can.

March 17th, 2005, 07:22 PM	#13
Leo Mandy Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 749	Where did you get the plastic fresnel focusing screen? That setup looks great!

March 18th, 2005, 03:34 AM	#14
Rokta Bija Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 61	I bought everything on ebay, except for the m42-55mm adapter which I got from Joshua Provost.

March 18th, 2005, 08:12 AM	#15
Leo Mandy Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 749	If I am to understand everything correctly, the focal range from the GG to the lens has worked out perfectly with one of the extenders?