Static Adapter at DVinfo.net

Riley Harmon · June 11th, 2006, 12:50 AM

Has anyone started making static 35mm adapters for sale? Is anyone willing to?

Tim Johnson · June 11th, 2006, 02:20 AM

this may seem like a pointless post but, why buy one? a static one would be pretty simple to build...

Bill Porter · June 11th, 2006, 03:21 AM

I think there are two or three... Indie35 is one. Also Jim Lafferty says he will release a couple varieties as well. Tim Johnson does make a point, too.

Riley Harmon · June 11th, 2006, 04:21 AM

mainly a time restraint and not knowing exact measurments or having to look through all the forum posts

Tim Johnson · June 11th, 2006, 04:35 AM

well the measurement between the gg and the 35mm lens is easy, you can find the info on google. I know for the Nikon F mount its 46.5mm :). the distance between the gg and dv lens is pretty much down to trial and error.

Riley Harmon · June 11th, 2006, 06:11 AM

http://www.rileyharmon.com/temp/DOF_test.mov

used ae to create animated depth maps using masks, opacity, and alpha channels, then used DOF Generator to batch. will do a longer clip when i have more time. stock vx2000, 24p using my own recipe

i like simulating it because then i have more control over the image and no loss of light or grain, sure it takes longer, but i guess i like the control.

Jim Lafferty · June 11th, 2006, 12:56 PM

That's right, I will be selling two models of static adapters soon -- the Go35 "SD" and "Pro." I'm in the home stretch of developing them -- it has been a far longer time in coming than I hoped and expected but I am just waiting now for the custom achromats to be machined and shipped. ETA is about 7 weeks.

You can see test footage from earlier beta units of the Pro here:

http://go-35.com/vids/outside1-h264-2pass.mov

http://go-35.com/vids/outside2-h264-2pass.mov

http://go-35.com/vids/outside3-h264-2pass.mov

http://go-35.com/vids/go35pro-dvxtest-setup.mov

http://go-35.com/vids/go35pro-dvxtest-cat.mov

http://go-35.com/vids/go35pro-dvxtest-bh.mov

http://go-35.com/vids/cowbell.mov

http://go-35.com/vids/bongoband_nosound.mov

http://go-35.com/vids/dogs.mov

http://go-35.com/vids/gypsy.mov

Nearly every clip above has some sort of issue, whether it is that the clips were shot interlaced; or shot with my GL1 which has dust in the lens chamber; or shot using an inferior PCX lens versus a good achromat and suffer from edge issues or chromatic aberration. They're just tests -- so, while they're not a completely accurate indication of the final adapter's performance, they should give you a good idea of the grain and diffusion.

Speaking personally, if you're looking to be a filmmaker, and not a hybrid machinist and optical engineer of modest experience and training, then I suggest purchasing a prefab unit. Not just one of mine, I'm speaking as a matter of general principle -- while a single DIY unit could save you money, the mistakes made assembling one (time and financial) generally shrink the assumed savings considerably.

Then again, it is an interesting experience and you may (like me) enjoy learning by breaking and building things :)

Riley Harmon · June 11th, 2006, 02:25 PM

just kinda skimmed through and that top clip was pretty good

Tony Relph · June 23rd, 2006, 07:36 PM

I must say that I agree with Jim. We are near the completion of the DiGi35 static adapter and let me tell it has not been an easy ride. To produce the perfect static adapter takes a helluva long time to perfect and requires a substantial amount of finance to do it right.

Precision engineering, flawless optics and the perfect GG is needed to make the perfect static adapter. In the long run you'll probably save money buying one is you want the perfect footage.

Note: Sample footage and stills from our new DiGi35 static adapter will be available soon at www.digi35.co.uk.

Rene Hinojosa · June 23rd, 2006, 09:15 PM

Not bad, Riley. I can't beleiev that you actually pulled it off with such great depth of field. Was it time consuming to produce that effect. I'm thinking that if someone develops the right software/plugin to be able to reproduce good DOF, they are sitting on a pretty good chunk of change. Great job!

June 11th, 2006, 12:50 AM	#1
Riley Harmon Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 424	Static Adapter Has anyone started making static 35mm adapters for sale? Is anyone willing to?

June 11th, 2006, 12:56 PM	#7
Jim Lafferty Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 636	That's right, I will be selling two models of static adapters soon -- the Go35 "SD" and "Pro." I'm in the home stretch of developing them -- it has been a far longer time in coming than I hoped and expected but I am just waiting now for the custom achromats to be machined and shipped. ETA is about 7 weeks. You can see test footage from earlier beta units of the Pro here: http://go-35.com/vids/outside1-h264-2pass.mov http://go-35.com/vids/outside2-h264-2pass.mov http://go-35.com/vids/outside3-h264-2pass.mov http://go-35.com/vids/go35pro-dvxtest-setup.mov http://go-35.com/vids/go35pro-dvxtest-cat.mov http://go-35.com/vids/go35pro-dvxtest-bh.mov http://go-35.com/vids/cowbell.mov http://go-35.com/vids/bongoband_nosound.mov http://go-35.com/vids/dogs.mov http://go-35.com/vids/gypsy.mov Nearly every clip above has some sort of issue, whether it is that the clips were shot interlaced; or shot with my GL1 which has dust in the lens chamber; or shot using an inferior PCX lens versus a good achromat and suffer from edge issues or chromatic aberration. They're just tests -- so, while they're not a completely accurate indication of the final adapter's performance, they should give you a good idea of the grain and diffusion. Speaking personally, if you're looking to be a filmmaker, and not a hybrid machinist and optical engineer of modest experience and training, then I suggest purchasing a prefab unit. Not just one of mine, I'm speaking as a matter of general principle -- while a single DIY unit could save you money, the mistakes made assembling one (time and financial) generally shrink the assumed savings considerably. Then again, it is an interesting experience and you may (like me) enjoy learning by breaking and building things :) __________________ Realism, anyway, is never exactly the same as reality, and in the cinema it is of necessity faked. -- J-L G

June 23rd, 2006, 07:36 PM	#9
Tony Relph Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Canary Wharf, London E14 Posts: 166	I must say that I agree with Jim. We are near the completion of the DiGi35 static adapter and let me tell it has not been an easy ride. To produce the perfect static adapter takes a helluva long time to perfect and requires a substantial amount of finance to do it right. Precision engineering, flawless optics and the perfect GG is needed to make the perfect static adapter. In the long run you'll probably save money buying one is you want the perfect footage. Note: Sample footage and stills from our new DiGi35 static adapter will be available soon at www.digi35.co.uk. __________________ Tony Relph. anthonyjohnrelph@hotmail.com

June 11th, 2006, 02:20 AM	#2
Tim Johnson Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: London, England Posts: 101	this may seem like a pointless post but, why buy one? a static one would be pretty simple to build...

June 11th, 2006, 03:21 AM	#3
Bill Porter Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ventura, California, USA Posts: 751	I think there are two or three... Indie35 is one. Also Jim Lafferty says he will release a couple varieties as well. Tim Johnson does make a point, too.

June 11th, 2006, 04:21 AM	#4
Riley Harmon Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 424	mainly a time restraint and not knowing exact measurments or having to look through all the forum posts

June 11th, 2006, 04:35 AM	#5
Tim Johnson Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: London, England Posts: 101	well the measurement between the gg and the 35mm lens is easy, you can find the info on google. I know for the Nikon F mount its 46.5mm :). the distance between the gg and dv lens is pretty much down to trial and error.

June 11th, 2006, 06:11 AM	#6
Riley Harmon Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 424	http://www.rileyharmon.com/temp/DOF_test.mov used ae to create animated depth maps using masks, opacity, and alpha channels, then used DOF Generator to batch. will do a longer clip when i have more time. stock vx2000, 24p using my own recipe i like simulating it because then i have more control over the image and no loss of light or grain, sure it takes longer, but i guess i like the control.

June 11th, 2006, 02:25 PM	#8
Riley Harmon Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 424	just kinda skimmed through and that top clip was pretty good

June 23rd, 2006, 09:15 PM	#10
Rene Hinojosa Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 37	Not bad, Riley. I can't beleiev that you actually pulled it off with such great depth of field. Was it time consuming to produce that effect. I'm thinking that if someone develops the right software/plugin to be able to reproduce good DOF, they are sitting on a pretty good chunk of change. Great job!