Review of Quyen Le's Letus35

Quyen Le · September 17th, 2005, 12:56 PM

I think Ben's unit is defective. Does any other unit have the same problem? If any unit shows any abnormal sign, please let me know so we can take care of that, thanks.

Quyen

Ben Winter · September 17th, 2005, 02:54 PM

Boy I crack myself up...

Turns out that it's just my whole tripod assembly that's not too stable. Any slight touch of my camera on my tripod sends it shaking, so pulling focus is very difficult for me. Just make sure your camera is securely fastened to the tripod and make sure the tripod is heavy enough, and you should be OK.

Sorry Quyen! I thought it was the adapter but it's just my setup.

Bill Porter · September 17th, 2005, 09:17 PM

You can check just by using the camera handheld. With the first adapter I built I thought I had a real flexi-flyer until I realized I had the image stabilization on! Once I turned it off I saw that my homemade adapter was indeed quite rigid.

Eric Brown · September 18th, 2005, 02:54 PM

I am unable to post footage as of now but will try to clearly explain the situation. It seems that even after the vibrating GG on my Letus35 is switched on, I still get a static pattern of some sort that moves with the camera lens as I track.
This is not to say the grain doesn't noticeably disappear once switched on, as it does.
Is this the result of the GG not being adequately ground down? I've double checked to make sure it is not in the lens of the Canon FD I shot through.
The pattern is not horrible but is definitely noticeable in tracking shots. On my 20" monitor the effect is is glaring.
Thoughts from anyone on that maybe the glass needs re-grinding?
I'll do my best to get footage up.

Wayne Kinney · September 18th, 2005, 03:55 PM

Eric,
Do you notice any dirt on the glround glass when it is not in motion? It maybe the case and the dirst is not disappearing? Is the effect uniform over the entire frame, or just one area?

Wayne.

Obin Olson · September 18th, 2005, 03:58 PM

entire frame, I have the same issue, much worse with a 2.8 24mm then it is with a 1.4 50mm on the front, I am trying to track down and help with the cause of this issue, I am thinking if we have the vibrations faster/bigger it will help..not sure yet...

Jonny Dee · September 18th, 2005, 04:02 PM

You could check the shutter speed on your camcorder. If its set to fast it could pick up the grain of the glass. But in this senario the grain shouldn't be static or uniform...

Eric Brown · September 18th, 2005, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne Kinney

Eric,
Do you notice any dirt on the glround glass when it is not in motion? It maybe the case and the dirst is not disappearing? Is the effect uniform over the entire frame, or just one area?

Wayne.

Yes, all the optical/glass elements are clean.
The pattern is fairly uniform and covers the entire image. Interesting point with shutter speed, however, Jonny.
I did run through a gamut of shutter speeds with nearly identical results, the pattern still remains.
Would any of you suggest swapping out the GG with one of a finer grain?

I'd like to get this footage up. Any suggestions on where to upload video files so eveyone, including , Quyen, can take a look?
( Sorry, I've been making DV projects for a while now but have never put anything on the web). Thanks.

Craig Bellaire · September 18th, 2005, 07:55 PM

Well give www.yousendit.com the video... It will take a gig...
As far as the GG. I got a 1500 grit 2 inch GG from, Thorlabs for 15.00 I believe. The image looked good BUT I understand Optsigma has even a better 1500 grit GG. Not sure of the price...

Eric Brown · September 18th, 2005, 08:10 PM

Thanks, Craig. If this is the problem I'll look into that.
Also, I want to say that this problem aside, the adapter, for the money, is promising.
Considering Quyen got something out for purchase as opposed to talking about it (my forte) I think he did a very decent job.
I'm sure we'll be seeing a pitch perfect Letus35a? Sometime in the near future. Good job, Quyen.

Quyen Le · September 18th, 2005, 10:05 PM

Eric Brown

Thank you for bringing this up. I will look into that. Any video footage yet? One of possibilities I can think of is one or more of the white parts is too tight or trapped in the rubber parts. You can try this:
Take out the front part then use your fingers gently move the GG plane around about 3mm off center for about 4,5 times.
Also use clean water to gently rub the glass using your finger, then use soft cloth to clean it if the glass has any dirt.
Put it back and try again.
I don't see any grain if I use shutter speed of 180 or less with DV. I don't think HD will affect grain problem but I can be wrong.
Please post let me know if you have any success.
Also your macro size is 72mm, so you should use the cardboard mod on the other Letus35 thread. Thanks.

Quyen

Quyen Le · September 19th, 2005, 12:39 AM

Eric, Obin,

Did you turn the image stabilization off? I think you did but it won't hurt to ask, thanks.

Quyen

Obin Olson · September 19th, 2005, 07:17 AM

it's off

It really looks like the gg is not moving fast enough and the camera is "seeing" the grains that are now much larger in size and softer then if the gg motor is off...I don't know how to fix this, would weight on the gg make it better? I have used 4 AA cells on the unit and it's better, but still doing the same thing, and this is somthing you can see at 1/48 shutter...it really shows up on a wall or sky shot, less detail in the image shows the "screendoor" effect....the spinning units don't do this because the gg is spinning at a high speed?

lets get this issue fixed, as this adaptor is amazing, and very good for HD

Quyen Le · September 19th, 2005, 11:31 AM

This video is made using XL1-s and Letus35.
http://www.passouno.net/SPOT.ZIP
Thanks Giuliano Parodi.

Quyen

Riley Stearns · September 19th, 2005, 12:17 PM

That looks really good.

September 17th, 2005, 12:56 PM	#76
Quyen Le Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 356	Defective Unit. I think Ben's unit is defective. Does any other unit have the same problem? If any unit shows any abnormal sign, please let me know so we can take care of that, thanks. Quyen __________________ Affordable Adapter http://www.adapterplace.com

September 17th, 2005, 02:54 PM	#77
Ben Winter Trustee Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 1,675 Images: 1	Just Kidding. Boy I crack myself up... Turns out that it's just my whole tripod assembly that's not too stable. Any slight touch of my camera on my tripod sends it shaking, so pulling focus is very difficult for me. Just make sure your camera is securely fastened to the tripod and make sure the tripod is heavy enough, and you should be OK. Sorry Quyen! I thought it was the adapter but it's just my setup. __________________ BenWinter.com

September 17th, 2005, 09:17 PM	#78
Bill Porter Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ventura, California, USA Posts: 751	You can check just by using the camera handheld. With the first adapter I built I thought I had a real flexi-flyer until I realized I had the image stabilization on! Once I turned it off I saw that my homemade adapter was indeed quite rigid. Last edited by Bill Porter; September 18th, 2005 at 09:39 AM.

September 18th, 2005, 07:55 PM	#84
Craig Bellaire Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 422	Gg Well give www.yousendit.com the video... It will take a gig... As far as the GG. I got a 1500 grit 2 inch GG from, Thorlabs for 15.00 I believe. The image looked good BUT I understand Optsigma has even a better 1500 grit GG. Not sure of the price... __________________ Craig Bellaire www.VerticalVideoSolutions.com

September 18th, 2005, 10:05 PM	#86
Quyen Le Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 356	Eric Brown Thank you for bringing this up. I will look into that. Any video footage yet? One of possibilities I can think of is one or more of the white parts is too tight or trapped in the rubber parts. You can try this: Take out the front part then use your fingers gently move the GG plane around about 3mm off center for about 4,5 times. Also use clean water to gently rub the glass using your finger, then use soft cloth to clean it if the glass has any dirt. Put it back and try again. I don't see any grain if I use shutter speed of 180 or less with DV. I don't think HD will affect grain problem but I can be wrong. Please post let me know if you have any success. Also your macro size is 72mm, so you should use the cardboard mod on the other Letus35 thread. Thanks. Quyen __________________ Affordable Adapter http://www.adapterplace.com

September 18th, 2005, 02:54 PM	#79
Eric Brown Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 427	I am unable to post footage as of now but will try to clearly explain the situation. It seems that even after the vibrating GG on my Letus35 is switched on, I still get a static pattern of some sort that moves with the camera lens as I track. This is not to say the grain doesn't noticeably disappear once switched on, as it does. Is this the result of the GG not being adequately ground down? I've double checked to make sure it is not in the lens of the Canon FD I shot through. The pattern is not horrible but is definitely noticeable in tracking shots. On my 20" monitor the effect is is glaring. Thoughts from anyone on that maybe the glass needs re-grinding? I'll do my best to get footage up.

September 18th, 2005, 03:55 PM	#80
Wayne Kinney Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Brighton, East Sussex, UK Posts: 938	Eric, Do you notice any dirt on the glround glass when it is not in motion? It maybe the case and the dirst is not disappearing? Is the effect uniform over the entire frame, or just one area? Wayne.

September 18th, 2005, 03:58 PM	#81
Obin Olson Trustee Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 1,414	entire frame, I have the same issue, much worse with a 2.8 24mm then it is with a 1.4 50mm on the front, I am trying to track down and help with the cause of this issue, I am thinking if we have the vibrations faster/bigger it will help..not sure yet...

September 18th, 2005, 04:02 PM	#82
Jonny Dee New Boot Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 16	You could check the shutter speed on your camcorder. If its set to fast it could pick up the grain of the glass. But in this senario the grain shouldn't be static or uniform...

September 18th, 2005, 08:10 PM	#85
Eric Brown Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 427	Thanks, Craig. If this is the problem I'll look into that. Also, I want to say that this problem aside, the adapter, for the money, is promising. Considering Quyen got something out for purchase as opposed to talking about it (my forte) I think he did a very decent job. I'm sure we'll be seeing a pitch perfect Letus35a? Sometime in the near future. Good job, Quyen.

September 19th, 2005, 12:39 AM	#87
Quyen Le Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 356	Eric, Obin, Did you turn the image stabilization off? I think you did but it won't hurt to ask, thanks. Quyen __________________ Affordable Adapter http://www.adapterplace.com

September 19th, 2005, 07:17 AM	#88
Obin Olson Trustee Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 1,414	it's off It really looks like the gg is not moving fast enough and the camera is "seeing" the grains that are now much larger in size and softer then if the gg motor is off...I don't know how to fix this, would weight on the gg make it better? I have used 4 AA cells on the unit and it's better, but still doing the same thing, and this is somthing you can see at 1/48 shutter...it really shows up on a wall or sky shot, less detail in the image shows the "screendoor" effect....the spinning units don't do this because the gg is spinning at a high speed? lets get this issue fixed, as this adaptor is amazing, and very good for HD

September 19th, 2005, 11:31 AM	#89
Quyen Le Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 356	This video is made using XL1-s and Letus35. http://www.passouno.net/SPOT.ZIP Thanks Giuliano Parodi. Quyen __________________ Affordable Adapter http://www.adapterplace.com

September 19th, 2005, 12:17 PM	#90
Riley Stearns Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 94	That looks really good. __________________ i can't yet see Productions