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-   -   The Letus35 Redesigned :) (https://www.dvinfo.net/forum/alternative-imaging-methods/58599-letus35-redesigned.html)

Andy Gordon January 21st, 2006 08:27 PM

With my set up I have the GG about 55mm from the GS400, with 2x 120mm FL PCX lenses between GG and cam (back to back next to the GG) and no achromat. You can see very slight vignetting if you push the contrast in post but it's good enough for me. The image size is 50mm diagonal (the full size of my tube), but that is after the condensers magnify it a little so it's round about 36x24mm.

Ben Winter January 21st, 2006 09:11 PM

I originally wanted to use the non-achromat setup, but with my Century Optics there's no reason, really, other than to make the adapter smaller. There's no chroma aberration and for some reason the macro helps with the vignetting.

If you guys just want low-light test footage, here's some stuff that I shot indoors with it. I made it nice and big so you can see how crisp the images are.

http://www.frozenphoenixproductions....attie/test.mov

That last shot of the cat was in very low light.

Aww...you guys want pictures of the inside? You mean I gotta take this thing apart? Yawn...ok, fine.

http://www.frozenphoenixproductions....attie/pic1.JPG
http://www.frozenphoenixproductions....attie/pic2.JPG

And a pic showing what I mean by pulling out the stoppers, plus adding some glue so they don't go anywhere:
http://www.frozenphoenixproductions....attie/pic3.JPG

I'm a really good mood. this screen made my day. $94? Worth every penny.

Francois Poitras January 21st, 2006 09:26 PM

Thank you, Ben!

Leo Mandy January 22nd, 2006 12:08 AM

That is some beast you have there Ben. Great job, it looks good. I didn't know the Beattie was convex - I thought it was flat!

Michael Maier January 22nd, 2006 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Winter
I originally wanted to use the non-achromat setup, but with my Century Optics there's no reason, really, other than to make the adapter smaller. There's no chroma aberration and for some reason the macro helps with the vignetting.

If you guys just want low-light test footage, here's some stuff that I shot indoors with it. I made it nice and big so you can see how crisp the images are.

http://www.frozenphoenixproductions....attie/test.mov

That last shot of the cat was in very low light.

Aww...you guys want pictures of the inside? You mean I gotta take this thing apart? Yawn...ok, fine.

http://www.frozenphoenixproductions....attie/pic1.JPG
http://www.frozenphoenixproductions....attie/pic2.JPG

And a pic showing what I mean by pulling out the stoppers, plus adding some glue so they don't go anywhere:
http://www.frozenphoenixproductions....attie/pic3.JPG

I'm a really good mood. this screen made my day. $94? Worth every penny.

Looks great! This I much better than the plastic thing.
So this is a Bettie or an Interscreen or they are the same thing? If it’s an Interscreen is it really the part number 82430 (for the Contax RTS II) that Francois mentioned? Otherwise could you give us a part number?
You say it’s possible to use it without an achromat, but does it vignette?
Very well done Ben. Maybe Quyen could offer this as an option for Letus35 customer who want to pay a little more for quality. By the way, which version of the Letus35 are you sing? Is this possible with both flip and no flip?

Francois Poitras January 22nd, 2006 06:57 AM

Michael:

www.intenscreen.com

Dennis Wood January 22nd, 2006 07:51 AM

Looking good Ben. How much gain (if any) was your cam dialing in? Can you comment on light loss? Any hope of an EIA1956 with and without the cam? They are nice tools to evaluate any distortion too.

How can you tell my spinner is in grave danger?

Andrew Todd January 22nd, 2006 08:56 AM

is there a way to order that screen online? It doesnt have a canadian option for dealers. how much did you pay ben?

Ben Winter January 22nd, 2006 10:04 AM

Akkk! Bombarded with questions! :)

Whew...ok...

1. Yes, the one I'm using is the Contax RTS whatever. This is where I ordered it from:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

2. I tried holding the screen up to the camcorder without an achromat, and it didn't appear to vignette, so I would have high hopes for anyone who wanted to try to build a non-achromat version of the Letus. Maybe in the future I'll pick up again on that design I had going.

3. I'm not really sure which version of the Letus I have--I don't have the flip version, if that's what you mean. I had the original Letus (back when Quyen sold them on ebay), and then when I sent it in last month to get the mount replaced with the metal version, he switched out the vibration mechanism with the shorter sticks and different plate. So I suppose I have the newer Letus version, but the only thing that I've kept from the original design is the metal housing pipe, the vibration mechanism and the mount. All the optics have been switched out. Therefore I would assume this is possible to achieve with the flip version also.

4. This footage was shot with zero gain. I hate gain, I never use it--if the shot is too dark, I either bump it up a little in post or go find some lights ;).

5. Dennis, I'll get on that res chart today. I have a lot of test footage to shoot...whew. Better get started.

Feel free to fire any more questions my way.

Dennis Wood January 22nd, 2006 10:33 AM

Ah, the price of early adoption! We've been discussing the use of the Contax for a few weeks now, to supercede our spinners, and have both disc and cylindrical pager motors. My plan was not to use Quen's design at all, but to do it with an aluminum plate and the same bushings used to suspend cd player motor/slider assemblies. These bushings isolate the units, but can be tightened to reduce or increase compliance (vibration frequency) So Ben, your success makes spending the $100 bucks for an intensescreen a bit more palatable. I also have some concerns about z axis movement using this setup.

Due to my spinner design, I can't the cam close enough to test for vignetting (1.6") so I'll have to do this with another setup.

Thanks very much for your work posting your results. It's very much appreciated!

Michael Maier January 22nd, 2006 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Winter
All the optics have been switched out.

Thanks Ben. I know you're using a Century achromat, but what PCX/Condenser are you using if not the one that comes with the Letus35?

Mark Wisniowski January 22nd, 2006 10:45 AM

I've posted a few questions here : http://pana3ccduser.com/showthread.php?t=7056

Ben Winter January 22nd, 2006 10:53 AM

Michael, you don't need a PCXL when using the Beattie.

Jim Lafferty January 22nd, 2006 01:35 PM

Does the Beattie show grain at all? I thought it was etched in concentric circles, without grain.

Ben Winter January 22nd, 2006 03:57 PM

The Beattie has very, very little grain. It does have concentric circles, but on the fresnel side. The ground glass side is just a dull matte texture, like the Nikon D but much more refined.


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