New Letus35XL (v2) footage ! at DVinfo.net

John Benton · July 23rd, 2006, 08:55 PM

Tested the New & Improved Version of the Letus35XL today on the Canon XL-H1 today briefly...

Wow.

There is considerably Less Light Loss than the previous version
and it is Much Sharper.
It is about an inch longer than it was before (so still managable for run and gun) because...
Because it has it's own FOCUS CONTROL...Meaning you can focus precisely on the Ground Glass...(don't worry, it's not easy to adjust, so where you put it, it seems to be locked in) but somehow this gives you the ability to precisely tune the focus
It also still has it's own iris contol as well. but the new lens on the back of the adapter has much more glass.

I am not sure what new Optics Quyen is using, but they are amazing! The whole thing feels like a more solid and professional product. It is quite a substantial improvement !

I am just starting to upload the tests I did this afternoon, obviously, though short, they are large files :
http://www.realm.cc/upload/benton/

*NOTE: (CHRIS - I will upload files to DVinfo as soon as I am able...but the upload is taking awhile, apologies)

There are many Letus clips up there, but
The New clips are called L35_v2_(...and the name of the custom preset(s) I was testing)
most custom presets are to be found in the preset libraries on this forum

The files are all 24f .m2t files which can be played with VLC Media Player
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Feedback and requests are always welcome

J

Devon Lyon · July 24th, 2006, 10:26 AM

I am also using the new LetusXL Enhanced and as I posted in an earlier post, it is a big improvement (I had the earlier version). Although I am only using on the XL2, I am really pleased with the ability to control back focus. Finally I can achieve a sharp focus, something the previous version lacked. Nice work Quyen!

Tucker Wright · July 24th, 2006, 11:24 AM

I also have the new Letus35 XL Enhanced. I'm using it on an XL2. I was not a big Fan of the first Version of the Letus35 XL but I have to say that Quyen has dramatically improved the performance of the Adapter in the new unit.

My issues with the original unit were:

1) Soft Focus - the New unit is much sharper. It produces really nice images.

2) Light Loss - the new unit is much improved in this area also. I shot some images in the shade on a sunny day at F4 with the relay closed down to F2.8
This would not have been possible in available light with the original unit.

3) DOF too Shallow due to Light Loss. Because there was so much light loss on the original unit most shots required between an F1.4 - F2.0 to produce results in shade on a sunny day. This created a DOF that was so shallow most moving objects would lose focus very easily. This is no longer a problem with the new unit.

My only complaint with the new unit is that it's a little loose where the relay lens is glued into the adapter. This could just be an issue with the unit I received.

Quyen - is there a way you can recommend for me to secure this a little tighter? What kind of glue did you use?

Also want to say how much I appreciate Quyen's hard work on improving this adapter's performance. He has made me a happy customer. IMO this product is easily worth the $900 he is asking for it.

I'll post some footage once I get some time to capture and upload it.

John Benton · July 24th, 2006, 02:49 PM

Please Do !
I am amazed at how good the HD footage is !

Yasser Kassana · July 25th, 2006, 03:44 AM

Any chance we can get smaller files, not HD res, maybe SD files, it's just for us people with slower Pcs.

Tucker Wright · July 25th, 2006, 09:46 AM

SD Footage from Canon XL 2 - shot with Letus 35 XL Enhanced.

http://homepage.mac.com/seenosun/See...Theater19.html

John Benton · July 25th, 2006, 10:21 AM

Tucker that's Beautiful !

Michael Maier · July 25th, 2006, 05:04 PM

That's no color correction? So color gain must be boosted all the way up then?
Looks nice.

Tucker Wright · July 25th, 2006, 06:23 PM

These are the settings I used for the new Letus35 XL Enhanced footage:
24P (2:3)
1/48th Shutter
-3db Gain

Camera Preset:
Gamma - Cine
Knee - Low
Black - Press
Color Matrix - Cine
Color Gain +4
Color phase 1 toward red
R Gain +1
G Gain 0
B Gain +1
Sharpen -1
Coring 0
Set up Level -4
Master Ped -4
NR - Off

Yasser Kassana · July 26th, 2006, 04:11 AM

Tucker that was seriously impressive.

John Benton · July 26th, 2006, 05:13 AM

I've just been shooting a project where I notice that I pump up the Gain for the adapter and when I put the stock lens back on I need to unPump it a bit

Tucker Wright · July 26th, 2006, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yasser Kassana

Tucker that was seriously impressive.

The credit goes out to Quyen. I'm amazed by the Letus35 XL Enhanced. It is a great product. I strongly recommend this adapter.

uh wait.... I will take credit for the model. I did marry her!

:-P

Devon Lyon · July 27th, 2006, 12:23 PM

Tucker:

As you may have seen on other posts, I also have moved from the LetusXL Filp to the new enhanced version and really like the improvements. I am going to try you presets, but would you mind explaining why you chose the settings you did? I am curious because I really like the look and always want to know the rationale. Thanks!

John Benton · July 27th, 2006, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Benton

I've just been shooting a project where I notice that I pump up the Gain for the adapter and when I put the stock lens back on I need to unPump it a bit

Whoops Sorry - I mean COLOR Gain has to be pumped for the Adapter...
When matching footage with the stock lens...
The inverse is also true:
match the stock lense by turning the Gain up to 3 and the sharpness down

Tucker Wright · July 27th, 2006, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devon Lyon

Tucker:

As you may have seen on other posts, I also have moved from the LetusXL Filp to the new enhanced version and really like the improvements. I am going to try you presets, but would you mind explaining why you chose the settings you did? I am curious because I really like the look and always want to know the rationale. Thanks!

My main goal was to create a look that had the saturated color of film but still held onto the grays and realistic flesh tones. Mostly the method I used was trial and error. Nothing to the rational, I just trusted my eye. When I saw something I liked I kept it or tweaked a little for fine tuning. The preset was something I had been using on the 20x lens but the Letus XL Flip was the final piece of the puzzle.

Edit to add: i also did a custom white balance in the shade using the siding of my white house. It gave it a slightly warmer look than the Daylight WB on the XL.

July 23rd, 2006, 08:55 PM	#1
John Benton Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 658	New Letus35XL (v2) footage ! Tested the New & Improved Version of the Letus35XL today on the Canon XL-H1 today briefly... Wow. There is considerably Less Light Loss than the previous version and it is Much Sharper. It is about an inch longer than it was before (so still managable for run and gun) because... Because it has it's own FOCUS CONTROL...Meaning you can focus precisely on the Ground Glass...(don't worry, it's not easy to adjust, so where you put it, it seems to be locked in) but somehow this gives you the ability to precisely tune the focus It also still has it's own iris contol as well. but the new lens on the back of the adapter has much more glass. I am not sure what new Optics Quyen is using, but they are amazing! The whole thing feels like a more solid and professional product. It is quite a substantial improvement ! I am just starting to upload the tests I did this afternoon, obviously, though short, they are large files : http://www.realm.cc/upload/benton/ NOTE: (CHRIS - I will upload files to DVinfo as soon as I am able...but the upload is taking awhile, apologies) There are many Letus clips up there, but The New clips are called L35_v2_(...and the name of the custom preset(s) I was testing) most custom presets are to be found in the preset libraries on this forum The files are all 24f .m2t files which can be played with VLC Media Player http://www.videolan.org/vlc/ Feedback and requests are always welcome J Last edited by John Benton; July 23rd, 2006 at 10:50 PM.*

July 24th, 2006, 10:26 AM	#2
Devon Lyon Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 213	I am also using the new LetusXL Enhanced and as I posted in an earlier post, it is a big improvement (I had the earlier version). Although I am only using on the XL2, I am really pleased with the ability to control back focus. Finally I can achieve a sharp focus, something the previous version lacked. Nice work Quyen! __________________ Lyon Films www.LyonFilms.com;

July 24th, 2006, 11:24 AM	#3
Tucker Wright Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Reston, Virginia Posts: 52	Another Happy Customer I also have the new Letus35 XL Enhanced. I'm using it on an XL2. I was not a big Fan of the first Version of the Letus35 XL but I have to say that Quyen has dramatically improved the performance of the Adapter in the new unit. My issues with the original unit were: 1) Soft Focus - the New unit is much sharper. It produces really nice images. 2) Light Loss - the new unit is much improved in this area also. I shot some images in the shade on a sunny day at F4 with the relay closed down to F2.8 This would not have been possible in available light with the original unit. 3) DOF too Shallow due to Light Loss. Because there was so much light loss on the original unit most shots required between an F1.4 - F2.0 to produce results in shade on a sunny day. This created a DOF that was so shallow most moving objects would lose focus very easily. This is no longer a problem with the new unit. My only complaint with the new unit is that it's a little loose where the relay lens is glued into the adapter. This could just be an issue with the unit I received. Quyen - is there a way you can recommend for me to secure this a little tighter? What kind of glue did you use? Also want to say how much I appreciate Quyen's hard work on improving this adapter's performance. He has made me a happy customer. IMO this product is easily worth the $900 he is asking for it. I'll post some footage once I get some time to capture and upload it. Last edited by Tucker Wright; July 25th, 2006 at 09:45 AM.

July 25th, 2006, 06:23 PM	#9
Tucker Wright Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Reston, Virginia Posts: 52	XL2 Letus Footage Settings These are the settings I used for the new Letus35 XL Enhanced footage: 24P (2:3) 1/48th Shutter -3db Gain Camera Preset: Gamma - Cine Knee - Low Black - Press Color Matrix - Cine Color Gain +4 Color phase 1 toward red R Gain +1 G Gain 0 B Gain +1 Sharpen -1 Coring 0 Set up Level -4 Master Ped -4 NR - Off

July 27th, 2006, 12:23 PM	#13
Devon Lyon Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 213	Tucker: As you may have seen on other posts, I also have moved from the LetusXL Filp to the new enhanced version and really like the improvements. I am going to try you presets, but would you mind explaining why you chose the settings you did? I am curious because I really like the look and always want to know the rationale. Thanks! __________________ Lyon Films www.LyonFilms.com;

July 24th, 2006, 02:49 PM	#4
John Benton Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 658	Please Do ! I am amazed at how good the HD footage is !

July 25th, 2006, 03:44 AM	#5
Yasser Kassana Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: UK Posts: 223	Any chance we can get smaller files, not HD res, maybe SD files, it's just for us people with slower Pcs.

July 25th, 2006, 09:46 AM	#6
Tucker Wright Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Reston, Virginia Posts: 52	SD Footage from Canon XL 2 - shot with Letus 35 XL Enhanced. http://homepage.mac.com/seenosun/See...Theater19.html

July 25th, 2006, 10:21 AM	#7
John Benton Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 658	Tucker that's Beautiful !

July 25th, 2006, 05:04 PM	#8
Michael Maier Trustee Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,269	That's no color correction? So color gain must be boosted all the way up then? Looks nice.

July 26th, 2006, 04:11 AM	#10
Yasser Kassana Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: UK Posts: 223	Tucker that was seriously impressive.

July 26th, 2006, 05:13 AM	#11
John Benton Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 658	I've just been shooting a project where I notice that I pump up the Gain for the adapter and when I put the stock lens back on I need to unPump it a bit