Review of Quyen Le's Letus35

Obin Olson · September 19th, 2005, 05:12 PM

I forgot, it had 6db of gain, that mames HD really grainy..I think outside footage will be really nice as you have so much light to work with

I can also tell you that the micro35 Achromat is MUCH MUCH better quality then the standard one that ships with this unit, I could not shoot HD with the standard Achromat.

Michael Maier · September 19th, 2005, 05:22 PM

Somehow all the footage I have seen from the Letus35 has been the most soft of all adapters. I have a real issue with sharpness. In my opinion, the sharpest of all these home built adapters, was the one made by the guy who converted the FX-1 to exchangeable lens. I think he was an Italian guy. The clips he posted were INCREDIBLY sharp. Neither the Micro35 or the G35 and certainly not the Letus35 produce nicer or sharper images. But I don't think he's selling them. I wonder what he got right.

Obin Olson · September 19th, 2005, 06:27 PM

I can tell you why it was sharp, he removed the stock lens!! that is the ticket, and what I will do soon on our dvx.

It's a SOFT lens, trust me.

Michael Maier · September 19th, 2005, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Obin Olson

I can tell you why it was sharp, he removed the stock lens!! that is the ticket, and what I will do soon on our dvx.

Yeah, he had some other lens in there. What was it?
Do you think that lens was better quality and made the difference? The thing is he shot with a FX-1, which is HD, and his adapter held up great. You said the Letus35 doesn't. So the FX-1 guy did something different. Was really just the removal of the stock lens making the whole difference? If so, one could get similar results with a XL2 or HD100, which are exchangeable lenses.
I wonder how he got that lens to work with the whole system. It wasn't a zoom. I wonder what focal length etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Obin Olson

It's a SOFT lens, trust me.

You lost me here.

Quyen Le · September 19th, 2005, 08:41 PM

Michael,

Obin means the original lens on the DVX is soft. Hope this helps.

Quyen

Obin Olson · September 19th, 2005, 09:37 PM

can you shoot me a link to the guy that has the lens off the Fx cam? I want to talk with him about his relay setup for that system

Eric Brown · September 19th, 2005, 09:51 PM

[QUOTE=Michael Maier]Somehow all the footage I have seen from the Letus35 has been the most soft of all adapters. I have a real issue with sharpness. In my opinion, the sharpest of all these home built adapters, was the one made by the guy who converted the FX-1 to exchangeable lens. I think he was an Italian guy. The clips he posted were INCREDIBLY sharp. Neither the Micro35 or the G35 and certainly not the Letus35 produce nicer or sharper images.

The production G35's will be shipping with a bayonet mount for those cameras without a fixed lens, (XL2, HD100..) and threaded (obviously) for those cameras with a fixed lens.
As an XL2 owner I'm hoping this will help increase sharpness as I don't have to worry about "stacking' glass.
the Letus35 does produce great depth of field but does run short in the area of sharpness. No matter how much I try I am unable to produce a sharp picture with my camera and lenses.
But, this is a first run production. Perhaps Quyen will go to a different achromat eventually?
In the meantime I am patiently awaiting the G35.
But, yes, that FX-1 footage was indeed sharp! HD seems to love these adapters.

Bill Porter · September 20th, 2005, 12:08 AM

Obin, did you see Sean Porter's problem that cropped up when he replaced the stock DVX lens on his camera? What do you think the problem was with Sean's design?
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=39420

He never posted a response so I'm wondering whether he resolved the issue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Brown

The production G35's will be shipping with a bayonet mount for those cameras without a fixed lens, (XL2, HD100..) and threaded (obviously) for those cameras with a fixed lens.

Are you sure? Maybe Jonathan will verify and clarify...

Steven Fokkinga · September 20th, 2005, 10:13 AM

Obin: http://www.eidomedia.com/hdve/ziess_fuji.htm and:
http://www.eidomedia.com/hdve/index.php for contact info

Cheers,
Steven

Marius Luessi · September 20th, 2005, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven Fokkinga

Obin: http://www.eidomedia.com/hdve/ziess_fuji.htm and:
http://www.eidomedia.com/hdve/index.php for contact info

Cheers,
Steven

Wow, thanks Steven for the links.
So what's exactly involved in this conversion? Do you know?

Bill Porter · September 20th, 2005, 01:29 PM

The links still have some pics up in the gallery but not all. The conversion consisted of removing the stock lens, grinding off a couple of little plastic bits that were in the way, machining and installing a metal adapter plate, and mounting the new lens.

Obin Olson · September 20th, 2005, 03:48 PM

it's amazing the image quality of the new lens, and that's an SD lens?

shot a professional 30sec tv spot today with teh Letus35, really really nice footage from it, I will post some when I start to edit.

Eric Brown · September 20th, 2005, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Porter

Obin, did you see Sean Porter's problem that cropped up when he replaced the stock DVX lens on his camera? What do you think the problem was with Sean's design?
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=39420

He never posted a response so I'm wondering whether he resolved the issue.

Are you sure? Maybe Jonathan will verify and clarify...

I read it at the source. It's one of the newer posts. Hopefully I'm not mistaken but I 'm positive bayonet mounts are indeed available.

One of the reasons I have not bought the redrockmicro.

Here's the thread:

http://www.guerilla35.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=106

Bill Porter · September 21st, 2005, 03:20 AM

Eric, I read the entire thread again and I think you are misunderstanding Jonathan, or I am misunderstanding you, LOL

I got the impression you meant that the G35 would allow you to omit the original XL-2 lens and mount the G35 directly to the camcorder without a lens on the camcorder. If this is what you meant then I think you are mistaken.

Maheel Perera · September 21st, 2005, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Obin Olson

it's amazing the image quality of the new lens, and that's an SD lens?

shot a professional 30sec tv spot today with teh Letus35, really really nice footage from it, I will post some when I start to edit.

Obin,

Are you refering to Matteo's lens or the lens you used with the LETUS 35 for your TV spot?

September 19th, 2005, 08:41 PM	#110
Quyen Le Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 356	Michael, Obin means the original lens on the DVX is soft. Hope this helps. Quyen __________________ Affordable Adapter http://www.adapterplace.com

September 19th, 2005, 05:12 PM	#106
Obin Olson Trustee Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 1,414	I forgot, it had 6db of gain, that mames HD really grainy..I think outside footage will be really nice as you have so much light to work with I can also tell you that the micro35 Achromat is MUCH MUCH better quality then the standard one that ships with this unit, I could not shoot HD with the standard Achromat.

September 19th, 2005, 05:22 PM	#107
Michael Maier Trustee Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,269	Somehow all the footage I have seen from the Letus35 has been the most soft of all adapters. I have a real issue with sharpness. In my opinion, the sharpest of all these home built adapters, was the one made by the guy who converted the FX-1 to exchangeable lens. I think he was an Italian guy. The clips he posted were INCREDIBLY sharp. Neither the Micro35 or the G35 and certainly not the Letus35 produce nicer or sharper images. But I don't think he's selling them. I wonder what he got right.

September 19th, 2005, 06:27 PM	#108
Obin Olson Trustee Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 1,414	I can tell you why it was sharp, he removed the stock lens!! that is the ticket, and what I will do soon on our dvx. It's a SOFT lens, trust me.

September 19th, 2005, 09:37 PM	#111
Obin Olson Trustee Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 1,414	can you shoot me a link to the guy that has the lens off the Fx cam? I want to talk with him about his relay setup for that system

September 19th, 2005, 09:51 PM	#112
Eric Brown Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 427	[QUOTE=Michael Maier]Somehow all the footage I have seen from the Letus35 has been the most soft of all adapters. I have a real issue with sharpness. In my opinion, the sharpest of all these home built adapters, was the one made by the guy who converted the FX-1 to exchangeable lens. I think he was an Italian guy. The clips he posted were INCREDIBLY sharp. Neither the Micro35 or the G35 and certainly not the Letus35 produce nicer or sharper images. The production G35's will be shipping with a bayonet mount for those cameras without a fixed lens, (XL2, HD100..) and threaded (obviously) for those cameras with a fixed lens. As an XL2 owner I'm hoping this will help increase sharpness as I don't have to worry about "stacking' glass. the Letus35 does produce great depth of field but does run short in the area of sharpness. No matter how much I try I am unable to produce a sharp picture with my camera and lenses. But, this is a first run production. Perhaps Quyen will go to a different achromat eventually? In the meantime I am patiently awaiting the G35. But, yes, that FX-1 footage was indeed sharp! HD seems to love these adapters.

September 20th, 2005, 10:13 AM	#114
Steven Fokkinga Major Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 204	Obin: http://www.eidomedia.com/hdve/ziess_fuji.htm and: http://www.eidomedia.com/hdve/index.php for contact info Cheers, Steven

September 20th, 2005, 01:29 PM	#116
Bill Porter Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ventura, California, USA Posts: 751	The links still have some pics up in the gallery but not all. The conversion consisted of removing the stock lens, grinding off a couple of little plastic bits that were in the way, machining and installing a metal adapter plate, and mounting the new lens.

September 20th, 2005, 03:48 PM	#117
Obin Olson Trustee Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 1,414	it's amazing the image quality of the new lens, and that's an SD lens? shot a professional 30sec tv spot today with teh Letus35, really really nice footage from it, I will post some when I start to edit.

September 21st, 2005, 03:20 AM	#119
Bill Porter Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ventura, California, USA Posts: 751	Eric, I read the entire thread again and I think you are misunderstanding Jonathan, or I am misunderstanding you, LOL I got the impression you meant that the G35 would allow you to omit the original XL-2 lens and mount the G35 directly to the camcorder without a lens on the camcorder. If this is what you meant then I think you are mistaken.