Hi guys

I just wanted to show you some new addition to my "system" :)

Some time ago I've bought a "P" series filter holder with a 58mm ring to use with my canon XM2. Right after I put it on the lens I realized there's no way I could use the gradual ND filter. The problem was that the on board microphone obstructs the filter path and I couldn't lift the filter into desired position.
At first I tried moving the filter holder away from the lens by using some empty 58mm rings but that resulted in heavy vigneting...

So, I have designed an adapter 58mm ring that pushed the filter holder away from the lens. This ring is wide enough so there's no vigneting. I also added a large nut over this ring, that I use it to fasten the filter holder from turning around (a feature that I don't need). And another feature I added to this ring: I have replicated the inside of a normal filter ring so I could add an UV (round) filter inside (for lens protection)!
Follow this link: http://w1.226.telia.com/~u22607422/cokin_vs_custom_ring.jpg to see the normal 58mm ring (above) compared to my custom made one. You can also see the UV glass inside my custom made ring.

http://w1.226.telia.com/~u22607422/cokin_FH_on_XM2_1.jpg Here you can see the ring attached to the camera and the filter holder attached to the ring (and there's a hood on the filter holder). See how the gradual ND can be slide in front of the mic! The filter holder has two more filter spaces but I only need one cleared for the gradual filter.
Another pic: http://w1.226.telia.com/~u22607422/cokin_FH_on_XM2_2.jpg!

I hope you didn't find this looong post too boring! I'm just proud of this think I've designed! :)

Cosmin, Cosmin . .Cosmin . .You never ceased to totally amaze me! Very VERY well done. And yes I remember the thread very well . ..

When I first tried the P Cokins I just threw my hands up in surrender - nope I can't cope with this . .I'm gone! Well, Cosmin, it works? . . . My first bit of feedback is all the load of Sun/light pouring in from all directions . . How does it work in the field. Would you be willing to post some tests in different Sun settings? Oh yes, how do find the rotating - yes rotating - Cokin Polar? Any good?

Cosmin! Don't stop . . I gotta a feeling that one day you will have converted our trsuty XM2 to an HD-XM2 with 1/3 CCDs . . . NO! That aint an invitation to get going . . NURSE! Quick, Cosmin needs his meds NOW!

My very best regards,

Grazie :)

:)


I'll give the plans to anyone how might need them.

"When I first tried the P Cokins I just threw my hands up in surrender - nope I can't cope with this . .I'm gone! "
Spot on Graham! If I don't like something, I HAVE to do something about it! :)
BTW: you know I've also made a stabilizer? A full rig, not a hand held one! Well... I also made a hand held one, I admit! :)

" Well, Cosmin, it works? "
It works better then the original ring. Now I can use the gradual ND.

"My first bit of feedback is all the load of Sun/light pouring in from all directions . ."
That's the original cokin design... My ring doesn't change anything about that. If I don't use any filter, the small hood has a 2nd position on the filter holder, covering the filter slots. I'm not crazy about this system. I have also made some BIG hood that attached to the small cokin hood with velcro. You can see the velcro that is glued on the cokin hood.

"Would you be willing to post some tests in different Sun settings?"
Hmm... I didn't think about testing, like canon hood vs. cokin hood+home made hood. And there will pass some months before we will see the sun again around here. :)

I don't have the Cokin Polar. That's why I don't need to rotate the filter hoder. Of course, I can loose the nut over the custom ring and then the filter holder will be free to spin again - when I'll get a polarizer.

"I gotta a feeling that one day you will have converted our trsuty XM2 to an HD-XM2 with 1/3 CCDs "
Let me see.. which one the CCD... I don't need this cable here... let me switch this...
Excuse me, Graham, I have work to do!
... so the yellow cable over the black chip...

:) Thanks for the thumbs up, Graham!

Arrggg h h . . LOL big time!

"... so the yellow cable over the black chip..."


Greats stuff Cosmin . . you got link or pics of the Steady thingy?

Grazie

Oh he's off the edge all right. Cos is just one step closer to be called the next crasy genious. ;) Well moded Cos.

:)

This is my old stabilizer (on homebuiltstabilizers)
http://homebuiltstabilizers.com/cosminsfr.html
And here you can see a small "demo" I've made with the stabilizer:
http://w1.226.telia.com/~u22607422/CosminSteadyDemo.wmv
This rig I have sold to one of the members to this board, some time ago. I learned a lot building that rig and decided that I could build a better one.
Anyway, the new owner seems happy with the rig, as he asked me to do some other parts as well:
http://p200.ezboard.com/fhomebuiltstabilizersfrm28.showMessage?topicID=29.topic
This "shoulder support" you might have already seen:
http://p200.ezboard.com/fhomebuiltstabilizersfrm28.showMessage?topicID=14.topic
What else? Ah! The dolly:
http://homebuiltstabilizers.com/cosmindl.html Although, it has not been usefully yet... I don't really like it...

If you want to see some more crazy stuff, come over to the "funny farm" :) :

http://homebuiltstabilizers.com/

Thank you Charles! :)

Thanks Cosmin for the email . . .

Cokin do do a rotating ring. It's a bit of effort to "twist" .. have you seen it?

G

can you post a link, Graham?
Thanks!

Ah! Good point . .I saw this at Jessops . . or was it Jacobs of Tottenham Court Road, London .. . I'll do some searching . . G

Here u=yah goes! . . .I tried it in their shop and found that the "notching" round is very stiff . . but I reckon with the "correct" approach . . it could work .. and it is cheap!

http://www.ephotozine.com/equipment/buyersguide/fullbuyersguide.cfm?buyersguideid=25


Grazie

A! You're talking about the pola! Of course! I thought you where referring to the adapter ring used to attach the filter holder to the ring. I mean the ring I've replaced with my custom made! :)