The Letus35 Redesigned :)

Daniel Rudd · February 6th, 2006, 12:57 PM

RE: the question for Dennis (noise issue being a by product of DV compression + low level vibrations)

Here is some footage from a Letus Flip. I've seen the same issue in my HDV footage. Here is a clip that is compressed to DV AVI but it looks the same as it does in HDV (if anyone wants me to do something with the HDV in Premiere/Cineform, just send me instructions and I'll upload it).

Anyone want to download it and take a look? (about 190mb)

www.danielrudd.com/media/cleanedletus.avi

here's a shorter clip in a different setting (smaller download but very short content). Also DV AVI:

you can see the problem particularly in the areas where light meets dark and the cam. is in motion
www.stock20.com/media/letus/tony_in_chair.avi

Leo Mandy · February 6th, 2006, 07:10 PM

Ben,
I just finished my own set of rod/rails and noticed that it still requires a delicate touch to get the rack focus without shaking - much easier than without the rod/rails, but still careful movements. Did you notice this with the Cavision rails?

Ben Winter · February 6th, 2006, 07:54 PM

Negative, Leo. I tighten the support while it's pushing upward so it puts tension on the adapter's threads, which solidifies the whole setup. Also, the Century Optics adapter is a much tighter fit so I've found that I can use many of my smaller primes without the rod system at all.

Try wrapping the adapter and the support together with a piece of wire.

Leo Mandy · February 6th, 2006, 08:26 PM

I have to tighten everything and put some corkboard under the camera base as well to really tighten it up. I will try again. Thanks

Dennis Wood · February 6th, 2006, 08:32 PM

Daniel A., I missed your question there. My question (and I don't have the answer) is related to how DV compression handles noise in bokeh areas. It's a fine point, but I notice it particularly on my 51" HDTV. I've spent a great deal of time tuning bokeh...so I find myself quite distracted by grain patterns. The pattern that I see from Ben's and MPIC stuff is what I would describe as "angry bees"...in other words pretty active.

In the both your clips, there's a lot of what looks like stationary grain and dust. Is this a static adapter?

Leo, your rig should be rock solid on rails if it's mounted properly. Assuming the letus is supported properly, try 1 inch velcro strap around the whole thing. It's just easier to apply and remove.

Leo Mandy · February 6th, 2006, 08:37 PM

Yeah, I already have the velcro around the Letus35 - it actually looks like the Cavision in design. I do notice that my camera is not perfectly mounted to the base, so that is why the cork board is next to give it something to bite into.

Alain Bellon · February 6th, 2006, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo Mandy

Yeah, I already have the velcro around the Letus35 - it actually looks like the Cavision in design. I do notice that my camera is not perfectly mounted to the base, so that is why the cork board is next to give it something to bite into.

A mouse pad rubber will give you a better grip than cork. :)

Leo Mandy · February 6th, 2006, 09:09 PM

I've done a few things since then and it is much better. I was also experiencing the vibration from the Letus35A against the aluminum hold it up, so I put some soft foam there. My tripod isn't great either so I am experience so all over movement from it. I think I need to invest in a good one to eliminate all of these problems, but the rail system seems to work fine for now.

Daniel Rudd · February 8th, 2006, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis Wood

In the both your clips, there's a lot of what looks like stationary grain and dust. Is this a static adapter?

No it is a letus 35 flip. Not modified.

When the motor is off you can see a significant difference, but I agree.
It looks like you can see the gg grain. The bigger dust spots are just by products of the last time I took it apart and I haven't cleaned them yet.

I've tried all of Quyen's tricks (moving the support sticks out, cleaning the gg), and I'm still waiting to hear back from him.

Any thoughts?

Dennis Wood · February 8th, 2006, 09:33 PM

Hard to say without some uncompressed footage in good light. Given what you've spent though, I'd be dealing with Quen directly on this one. My guess is that something's not right there.....

Bob Hart · February 8th, 2006, 10:22 PM

Daniel.

A wild and woolly suggestion so ignore at will.

Try adding some resistive mass around outside of the Letus bodywork. This could as simple as some discarded wheel balance weights from your local tyrefitter or service station and strapped firmly around the Letus body with some stout elastic bands or inner tube or gaffer tape.

The failure of the gg to de-resolve grain may be an opposite motion of the case if it is not firmly mounted.

As I say - a woolly thought to be ignored.

Daniel Rudd · February 12th, 2006, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Hart

Daniel.

The failure of the gg to de-resolve grain may be an opposite motion of the case if it is not firmly mounted.

As I say - a woolly thought to be ignored.

hmmm... When I tighten down the adapter, I don't use very much force at all. It is only lightly screwed in - mostly because that aligns the frame properly.

Does your theory suggest I should tighten it all the way?

Ben Winter · March 1st, 2006, 07:53 PM

Hey guys--
didn't want to start a new thread, so I figured I'd shove this in here. I recently completed a film shot completely with the Letus modified--The diner scene was shot with the original Letus GG, everything else was basically shot with the Beattie installed. The only shot that isn't using the Letus is the very last shot at the end.

I know it's not a large frame size, but it's 10 minutes long, so I wanted to make it playable.

http://media.frozenphoenixproduction...rokenminds.mov

Let me know what you think.

Steev Dinkins · March 1st, 2006, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Winter

Hey guys--
didn't want to start a new thread, so I figured I'd shove this in here. I recently completed a film shot completely with the Letus modified--The diner scene was shot with the original Letus GG, everything else was basically shot with the Beattie installed. The only shot that isn't using the Letus is the very last shot at the end.

I know it's not a large frame size, but it's 10 minutes long, so I wanted to make it playable.

http://media.frozenphoenixproduction...rokenminds.mov

Let me know what you think.

You're a prodigy! What did you use to compose the music?

Andrew Todd · March 1st, 2006, 09:10 PM

nice stuff ben.. good to see something other than test shots on these. really liked it

February 6th, 2006, 12:57 PM	#121
Daniel Rudd Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: North Muskegon, MI Posts: 213	grain issues RE: the question for Dennis (noise issue being a by product of DV compression + low level vibrations) Here is some footage from a Letus Flip. I've seen the same issue in my HDV footage. Here is a clip that is compressed to DV AVI but it looks the same as it does in HDV (if anyone wants me to do something with the HDV in Premiere/Cineform, just send me instructions and I'll upload it). Anyone want to download it and take a look? (about 190mb) www.danielrudd.com/media/cleanedletus.avi here's a shorter clip in a different setting (smaller download but very short content). Also DV AVI: you can see the problem particularly in the areas where light meets dark and the cam. is in motion www.stock20.com/media/letus/tony_in_chair.avi __________________ Daniel Rudd Digital Storyteller (Sony HDV, Aspect HD) Soundtrack Creation & Royalty Free Music Production www.stock20.com Last edited by Daniel Rudd; February 6th, 2006 at 01:53 PM.

February 6th, 2006, 07:54 PM	#123
Ben Winter Trustee Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 1,675 Images: 1	Negative, Leo. I tighten the support while it's pushing upward so it puts tension on the adapter's threads, which solidifies the whole setup. Also, the Century Optics adapter is a much tighter fit so I've found that I can use many of my smaller primes without the rod system at all. Try wrapping the adapter and the support together with a piece of wire. __________________ BenWinter.com

March 1st, 2006, 07:53 PM	#133
Ben Winter Trustee Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 1,675 Images: 1	Hey guys-- didn't want to start a new thread, so I figured I'd shove this in here. I recently completed a film shot completely with the Letus modified--The diner scene was shot with the original Letus GG, everything else was basically shot with the Beattie installed. The only shot that isn't using the Letus is the very last shot at the end. I know it's not a large frame size, but it's 10 minutes long, so I wanted to make it playable. http://media.frozenphoenixproduction...rokenminds.mov Let me know what you think. __________________ BenWinter.com

March 1st, 2006, 09:10 PM	#135
Andrew Todd Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Saint John, CANADA Posts: 633	nice stuff ben.. good to see something other than test shots on these. really liked it __________________ video : xl2 / letus35xl / bogen 503 photo- canon 1dmkII - bronica etrsi

February 6th, 2006, 07:10 PM	#122
Leo Mandy Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 749	Ben, I just finished my own set of rod/rails and noticed that it still requires a delicate touch to get the rack focus without shaking - much easier than without the rod/rails, but still careful movements. Did you notice this with the Cavision rails?

February 6th, 2006, 08:26 PM	#124
Leo Mandy Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 749	I have to tighten everything and put some corkboard under the camera base as well to really tighten it up. I will try again. Thanks

February 6th, 2006, 08:32 PM	#125
Dennis Wood Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 916	Daniel A., I missed your question there. My question (and I don't have the answer) is related to how DV compression handles noise in bokeh areas. It's a fine point, but I notice it particularly on my 51" HDTV. I've spent a great deal of time tuning bokeh...so I find myself quite distracted by grain patterns. The pattern that I see from Ben's and MPIC stuff is what I would describe as "angry bees"...in other words pretty active. In the both your clips, there's a lot of what looks like stationary grain and dust. Is this a static adapter? Leo, your rig should be rock solid on rails if it's mounted properly. Assuming the letus is supported properly, try 1 inch velcro strap around the whole thing. It's just easier to apply and remove.

February 6th, 2006, 08:37 PM	#126
Leo Mandy Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 749	Yeah, I already have the velcro around the Letus35 - it actually looks like the Cavision in design. I do notice that my camera is not perfectly mounted to the base, so that is why the cork board is next to give it something to bite into.

February 6th, 2006, 09:09 PM	#128
Leo Mandy Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 749	I've done a few things since then and it is much better. I was also experiencing the vibration from the Letus35A against the aluminum hold it up, so I put some soft foam there. My tripod isn't great either so I am experience so all over movement from it. I think I need to invest in a good one to eliminate all of these problems, but the rail system seems to work fine for now.

February 8th, 2006, 09:33 PM	#130
Dennis Wood Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 916	Hard to say without some uncompressed footage in good light. Given what you've spent though, I'd be dealing with Quen directly on this one. My guess is that something's not right there.....

February 8th, 2006, 10:22 PM	#131
Bob Hart Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PERTH. W.A. AUSTRALIA. Posts: 4,477	Daniel. A wild and woolly suggestion so ignore at will. Try adding some resistive mass around outside of the Letus bodywork. This could as simple as some discarded wheel balance weights from your local tyrefitter or service station and strapped firmly around the Letus body with some stout elastic bands or inner tube or gaffer tape. The failure of the gg to de-resolve grain may be an opposite motion of the case if it is not firmly mounted. As I say - a woolly thought to be ignored.