I'm very happy with the F-Stops on the micro35. Actually, I believe the osciallting idea is so you can move the glass and not get any specific visible patterns. It really doesn't have anything to do with the F-Stops.

james

What is the highest f-stop you can go to before seeing the glass?

Have you fitted an adapter to a Canon XL-1s yet? I am very interested in the whole package as long as it's below $1000 finished, ready to shoot.

James is that Sigma a AF SLR without Iris on the outside(manual iris)?? is that a Canon mount?

Hello James,
been following your development and bought into your guide a few weeks back. Looking forward to having a leg up on the engineering. Got a few Nikkor choices coming.

PS: Thank you for the upgrade to a GG and sticker.

jh

Dave,
I think you're talking about the shutter speed. I went to 1/250 comfortably today testing the last round of GGs.

Turns out, the 60 will probably be the way to go. The 40, 30 and 20 looked great, but I slowly started losing DOF as I went down. The 40 actually looked a little too cloudy. 60 Looks awesome.

Obin, my sigma is an AF SLR without a manual iris. After playing with the lomo today, I've learned having iris control is pretty sweet. The resolution looked much better controlling the iris than just flipping an ND on. Adding the ND caused a little resolution loss. So I'll probably check out some Nikon lenses since my canon doesn't have the manual iris.

No problem on the sticker. It's actually one of those 'Domed' stickers. They look pretty sweet on the adapter.

Here's a couple of caps using my DIY 'dvrack'ish' software. It sure makes it easier to focus when using the adapter.

www.micro35.com/pics/test.jpg
www.micro35.com/pics/test2.jpg

They were cap'd using the LOMO lens. I'm told it's his 'bad' lens. He sent to me to use for machining the LOMO mount.

James

How was your test with the Sony HDV Camera?

I haven't got to test it yet....

<<<-- Originally posted by James Hurd : I think you're talking about the shutter speed. >>>

I was actually talking about F-stop. For example on Charles Papert's review of the 400 series mini35, he mentions that the oscillating glass allows for deeper t-stops. One of the main problems with the 300 series is that you can't shoot any higher than 3.5 basically. On the other hand I have shot all the way to 1/4000 shutter with the 300 series and have had no serious grain issues.

Why did you letterbox the vid-caps, James?

I am new to the minidv world but I have read this entire post and am overwhelmed and intrigued. I would like to purchase a pre-assembled unit but I have a few questions.

1. You were talking about the image being flipped, have you fixed this? Is there a way to fix it on my XL2?

2. I have no idea when it comes to lenses, what kind of lenses would you reccomend I purchase for this set-up? I shoot outside mostly (motocross videos)

3. Have you gotten a set-up to work with the XL2 yet?

4. Is audio recording still feasible with this set-up?

5. Does the $500 price tag include everything? (mounts, rails, gg. lenses, etc.)

Mandy,
My camera was in letter box mode when I'd ran outside and filmed the horses. The resolution charts aren't letter boxed.

Brad,
1. I haven't gotten a chance to work with the XL2.
2. 35mm SLR (Nikon or Canon)
3. See #1 (I'm wanting to though!)
4. THe adapter doesn't affect the audio.
5. Everything but the 35mm lens.

Hope this helps!!

James

<<<-- Originally posted by James Hurd : Mandy,

1. I haven't gotten a chance to work with the XL2.


James -->>>

<<<-- Originally posted by James Hurd : Mandy,

1. I haven't gotten a chance to work with the XL2.


James -->>>

Do you know when you will get a chance to work with an XL2? I noticed a few pages back that someone in your area offered to let you use his. Once you get something worked out for the XL2 I will buy one (maybe 2)

Sounds great Brad. I'll keep you posted!

Brad, I have the same questions about James's gadget with the XL2. My impression is that James has gotten a bigger response to his design & product than he may have expected. Still, he's been diligent about responding, given the overload of work required to get tooled up in a professional way.

I expect, inferring James's ingenuity (from afar; dunno the guy in person), that---if we XL2 owners wait a bit---he'll rig up a solution to the image-output problem. Before then its absence may be inhibiting to XL2 shooters. This is just my guess, of course, and James may tell me to go somewhere hot and uncomfortable. He's surprised me before.

To date, the photos James has released show his gadget mounted to a DVX100 and, as you may know, that flip-out viewfinder can be tricked into inverting its image by the judicious insertion of a small magnet.

As an XL2 owner, I'll withhold my buying decision 'til I see James's plans. I want my "viewfinder" to be upright and correct right-to-left, and need to see how that can be done.

Thanks John,
You're correct. The response has been very overwhelming. I'm getting the DVX (and other straight forward cameras) units in production as we speak. This should give me the time I need to concentrate on the XL1/XL2 solution. I'm very excited about getting the XL2 solution completed. I just need to focus on getting the DVX solution running on autopilot.

We'll get there.

At first glance it looks to be different but upon removing the lens hood you'll find the Sony HDV cam has the same 72 mm as DVX... in case you were wondering and had not yet gotten first-hand time with the Sony cam...

Hope this helps!

Brad and John,

You may want to check out the following thread:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23982

I tested the magnet trick this weekend on my GL2, and it works perfectly. You may want to try your own tests on the XL2 and see if it works.

Brett

Brett, thanks for the link. Unfortunately, the XL2 doesn't have a flip-out LCD monitor. Its viewfinder is a separate electronic/optical tube, patterned after the big ENG cams and cabled to the body via a proprietary plug. It can be removed entirely and remounted on the "wrong" side of the XL2, which flips the image vertically. Flipping it horizontally will be harder.

I believe James once speculated in these pages about an in-line converter which would emulate the "magnet trick." But such a solution will require a fair amount of testing (to map the viewfinder pinouts, rewire them &c) and experimenting.

Mounting on the "wrong" side doesn't just flip vertically. It does both, so the image is correct. This is a solution that anyone with a working DIY adapter for XL1/XL2 can attest to.

However it's not ideal for a few reasons. The flip cap is in a less than ideal place, and all ergonomics of the camera controls on the left side, with viewfinder on the right, is a little strange. Of course your viewfinder info is upside down, but would be the same problem for the DVX and GL2. The additional hassle is if you're wanting to use the camera for fast set ups with and without the 35mm adapter. But most likely in practice, I'd be going for entire shoots with the 35mm.

An upside down Nebtek or something would be pretty cool, since the XL2 viewfinder is so damn small.

The entire system will be a complex mod, especially if someone comes up with an alternate XL lens to "do this right". Tough stuff.

"Mounting on the 'wrong' side doesn't just flip vertically"

You're right. It was my head that was screwed on wrong ...

Quick question for Obin. Obin you posted this a while back :

<<<-- Originally posted by Obin Olson : I am sold. when you can show me some un-compressed DV codec footage from the dvx100 and it is problem free I will buy the guide. I will also most likely spend the big cash on the Dan GG adaptor that looks VERY professional..I guess I will have both types and keep what works best for me ;) I would be happy to post projects on here that we shoot with a GG adaptor..the one thing Dan has going is a SMALL SIZE and CNC cut metal housing ...I think his adaptor will be a much more professional rig but the price IS 10x higher so I would hope so!! ;)
-->>>

Where can I find some information out about Dan's adapter? I went to http://dandiaconu.com/, and there are a few photo's of a rig he made but unless I am having a dumb moment I did not see any mention of him describing how he built it, or him selling it?

Looking forward to seeing what James delivers though, and what other dvinfo.net user things on the delivered product.

Cheers

Robert

<<<-- Originally posted by Robert Double :

Where can I find some information out about Dan's adapter? I went to http://dandiaconu.com/, and there are a few photo's of a rig he made but unless I am having a dumb moment I did not see any mention of him describing how he built it, or him selling it?

-->>>

Try this thread:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36209&perpage=15&pagenumber=14

He mentioned he's working up a lower cost version too - it might be a kit, I'm not sure. I'm not sure if Obin was thinking of springing for $3500 when he wrote that.

I do know this, I'm going to be interested in the new Panasonic HD camera that's going to be announced at NAB next month. A good quality converter on that camera might really be a great combo. At least I hope so. :-)

I'm still pretty partial to Brett's idea of using medium format lenses and a bigger GG. Hopefully we'll get side by side tests at some point.

<<<-- Originally posted by James Hurd : The magiqcam is awesome.
-->>>

I was wondering about your comment about the magiqcam. On their website, it says this unit is rated for cameras 1-5 lbs. How would a 15lbs system work with this?

<<<-- Originally posted by Dave Frank : <<<-- Originally posted by James Hurd : The magiqcam is awesome.
-->>>

I was wondering about your comment about the magiqcam. On their website, it says this unit is rated for cameras 1-5 lbs. How would a 15lbs system work with this?
-->>>

Dave, he sells 2 different versions. One version supports up to 15lbs, though I've heard that's really maxing it out. I asked specifically about the varicam (it's 11-15 stripped) and was told it should be OK. He did mention film cameras tended to be top heavy which may cause a problem when maxed out.

One word of warning/planning if you want one - I ordered mine 10 weeks ago and still don't have it. 2 weeks ago he told me he'd have me a tracking number in a couple days as mine was next, and blamed the delay on a supplier that stopped carrying a part he used.

They quote 4-6 weeks if you ask. Don't believe it. James said he waited 11 for his. Weak/slow email response, slow delivery, prompt credit card processing - that's all I know at this point. I've seen other people post the same things but I always figured they were flukes.

Hopefully it'll be as nice a James indicates.

I appreciate your input Joel. I never buy from companies who can't get customer service right. Not to mention the fact I need it a lot sooner than 10 weeks!

It was worth the wait for me.

James,

Will the adaptor work with a Panasonic NV-GS400, with or without 55mm step-up ring?

James,

Will the adaptor work with a Panasonic NV-GS400, with or without 55mm step-up ring?

alex, im sure it will work since it uses the same principles as the agus35. you will just need the achromat to focus on the GG.

Thanks Cody!

Ok James I am caving in..I am ready to order a complete unit....I want Nikon lens mount...can you give me a link to a good matte box for the rails? we have 2 spots coming up and I NEED mini35 DOF ;)...what next?

<<<-- Originally posted by Obin Olson : what next? -->>>

payment and a long wait.


just teasing.

its only been 40 days and counting since payment completion... that is not that long of a wait... *cough*

BUT How many of us worked on our own project for more then 40 days and spent more then the cost of this manual and ended up with didly nothing? Hopefully they will ship soon.... One last Note it rained 40 days once... that's not that long of a wait if you have no place to dock your boat...

Hang in there guys!

I don't know if I've posted this here or not, but all guide orders are getting a free gg and sticker for the long shippment delays!

I know this doesn't help now, but it will when you start building the micro35.

When using a 35mm adapter are you stuck with using the lens aperture and ND filters? Or can you change the camera's shutter speed to account for the difference in light? Or possibly a relay in between?

You can use the shutter speed, yes.

James? I need to place an order ...info
? when can you get me a unit when I pay you the full $500

James?

James I would also like to purchase a full unit for my DVX100 (first version). Let me know when the assembly line will be cranking them out. Thanks for all your time dedicated to this project.

Hello James

can you tell somthing about the delivery status of the guides?
Do you have a date when the shipping starts?
Thank you

James, do you use a condenser to get rid of the hotspot? Or do you have a workaround?

Mandy, get the guide!

Jochen, The guides should be going out next week. I'm trying to get the ggs and stickers back in time! Should be okay!

Thank you James!

What is the LOMO project?

lomo is the brand of lens he used on that project.

James:
This might be premature, but I was wondering if you have given any thought to what lens mounts might be available with your future pro micro 35?

Are there any adapters out there that would allow the use of pl mounts on the current micro 35?

Also, I wanted to thank you for your constant professionalism and patients with all the anxiousness surrounding the delivery date.

Scott,
We'll be offering custom mounts for the micro35. Those mounts, once they've been designed, will probably make the list of available mounts for the pro (and the micro35 for that matter).

james
www.micro35.com