Having both adapters at my studio, I'd like to submit a side by side comparison of the two units. I'll be testing the units on Sony pd170s. Sorry no 24p. If there's no objections, I'll start Monday.

Contact me by email regarding how to obtain upload privs to our online image gallery.

Awesome, this needs done.

when do you plan on having this done? I'd love to see how they compete in imaging.

Ok, let's start at the begining. Delivery time. Micro35 is around 12 weeks. The Letus 35 is around 1 week. Cost: Micro35 I spent $ 906.17, Letus $ 300.00. Both took paypal and accepted credit cards. Both companies were very responsive to email inquires. Sometimes Quyen of Letus would answer within minutes of a question! When the Micro35 arrived, packaging was exceptional. There is definately a "wow" factor when unpacking the Micro35. The construction, and the fit and finish are top notch. The packaging for the Letus was sufficient for safe arrival, but offered no "wow" when unpacking. That's OK in my book, efficient and low cost is good. The Letus is made from an extruded aluminum tube, extrusion marks and all. The fit and finish is a bit rougher than the Micro's, but it's 1/3 the cost. My initial gripe with the Letus is that inside the adapter is shiny aluminum! I always thought everything inside an optical pathway should be flat black and non reflective. I've since painted the inside of mine flat black.

I've since painted the inside of mine flat black.

Oh no! I see an attack of the black paint particle specks coming!

You might want to try an epoxy paint for an application like that. This is sometimes sold as "appliance paint" in hardware stores as it can be used to paint refrigerators and similar things without chipping.

Hey thanks! I'll keep my eyes open for the flakes

How about black magic marker? That stuff has no real substance to make flakes. Also, I am leary of spraying paint inside my adapter as the achromat is glued in place. What's the best paint for the outside? Has anyone tried a black decal/sticker?

Oooohh, I just had an idea. How about black velcro on the inside, the furry stuff, not the prickly side. That way, you get a flat black inside that will tend to trap particles. Any thoughts?

I hope I didn't hijack the thread. I have the Letus35a and have noted the same shortcomings. They don't bother me since I saved so much by putting up with less polish.

The next issue is critical focus on the ground glass. Both units had to be critically focused. The Letus was a fairly straight forward operation. The lens mount and the GG are connected together so it is fairly easy to check focus by using a lupe on the ground glass. The Micro35 on the other hand has the ground glass as a seperate unit from the lens mount. So you unassemble the micro, remove the gg, loosen 2 set screws, move the gg to where you think it might should go, tighten the set screws, place gg back into Micro35 box, hook it up to your camera with a monitor (since I can't place a lupe on the gg.) and see if it's in focus. If not, repeat as necessary. In all fairness, it only took around 4 tries. Once the focus is set, you should be OK to go. I finally have some images to post, as soon as I get image posting privilages I'll do so.

Cool can't wait to see 'em.

Ted,
So I guess the makers of the Letus35 needs to step up with painting the inside of their product at least (stop being cheap man!). I said wow too when I opened my M2, I really liked the packaging but hate the idea that I had to open the box to make adjustments. So if something get messed up, then what? send it back and wait another 12 weeks????.

Could you please post some images of the 2 sets attached to your camcorder???.

I haven't used either of these adapters, but I thought I'd weigh in on the whole rods or no rods debate. Our Optura 60 recently took a nosedive that broke off the focusing ring (Why God? Why?), and once the interior was exposed, I was surprised to see how fragile the filter ring assembly was. I previously thought the weak point was the threads themselves, but the whole thing was revealed to be secured by a four metal screws that are just screwed into plastic. It's secure enough for most things, but if other camcorders are manufactured in a similar way (and I'll bet they are), I think you might be taking a big risk screwing something as long as the Letus35 with external lens on there and letting it just hang. That's a lot of leverage, and one good bump -- crack! Not saying the Letus35 isn't a good product. I just wanted to throw this out there as something for consideration.

Ted,
So I guess the makers of the Letus35 needs to step up with painting the inside of their product at least (stop being cheap man!). I said wow too when I opened my M2, I really liked the packaging but hate the idea that I had to open the box to make adjustments. So if something get messed up, then what? send it back and wait another 12 weeks????.

Could you please post some images of the 2 sets attached to your camcorder???.
If you opt for the black one...it's black on the inside. The black is an upgrade.

Here's the first of several more tests we have planned. It's a lot more time consuming than I had anticipated. Here's the link:
http://www.digital-west.com/adapter.html

Ted,
Could you do
1. A rez chart (even lights) static and moving on both? and
2. A clear sky (wall, or any other even lit surface)?
3. A color chart.
That is pretty much the "standard" for this type of tests (imo).
In any other circumstances (like the above test) the results could be subjective; to lights used, light distribution in the frame, framing, focusing aso.

2. A clear sky (wall, or any other even lit surface)?


Shooting solid sky is much better then a plain wall, IMO, much brighter and a real test for vignetting issues.

I'll shoot some outside stuff next, including sky. Probably won't shoot a rez chart as I don't normally shoot charts for a living. Yes it's all subjective with different lighting and such. We shoot a lot of corporate talking head stuff, with one camera on a tripod, and the other handheld. My main interest is if we can edit between the 2 cameras using the 2 different adapters with out a bunch of monkeying around in post.

Ted,

Look at the 2 exact setting, I assume you shoot on the M2 first then use the same setting for the Letus? since light loss on the Letus is less than the light loss on the M2, the frame captured by the Letus becomes over exposed? I think you should do auto setting on your camera then write down different numbers, that would help us to compare, thanks.

Quyen

Seems that the LETUS covers more area from the 35 lens image than the M2. And the light loss is less.

I cant wait to see the full test results!!!

Me either. I feel the pictures Ted posted are awesome, but Ted, could you please try to make the camcorder's position the same. I feel the M2 had more close up than the Letus, and please mooooooooorrrrrre pictures + footageeeeees.

Eniola,

The camcorder position is same in both. While the LETUS covers the full 35mm picture area, The M2 covers a bit less. That is the difference you see in the test shots.

What needs to be the same is the distance from the film plane to the subject. In this case that distance should be the same in both adapters. So, using the same 35mm lens, measure the distance from the end of the lens to the subject.

On the m2, you can also adjust the motor position up or down. This might allow a greater FOV.

The reason to shoot a res chart is to achieve a sort of baseline for comparison.

I also recommend shooting with an SLR to establish what the correct FOV is for the 35mm lens. I used this method to match the FOV of my adapter to that of the SLR. This avoided light falloff and other of the usual complaint issues.

Ya a res chart would be great as well as a variety of shots. That is really the only "fair" way to compare these.

I think on the forum somewhere you can find a link to a res chart...i think.

yah, and some donuts...
and coffee!!

no seriously thanks for your work, can't wait to see.
Daniel

Sorry for the delay in getting more images posted, I've been in Mexico scouting locations for our upcoming feature "Bikini Vampire Babes Gone Wild!" Should be lots of fun...
Anyway here's a link for some rez chart images. I'm not really happy with any of the adapter images, and will try to improve upon them as time allows. In the mean time any one else have rez chart images we could look at??

http://www.digital-west.com/adapter

http://www.fortvir.net/gallery/album05/gs400?full=1
http://www.fortvir.net/gallery/album05/guskers35?full=1

These are two of my own. Actually after looking at those, I'm feeling better about my results. The D100 setup I'm assuming is just a digital still right?

The letus is not looking very good there....distortion and a pretty "dirty" frame.

Now if we could convince Ben or Steve to do the same with the Beatties.....

Interesting. Thanks for posting that.

Yes, some barrel distortion with the Letus, but pincushion distortion with the M3...

That should be very interesting.

Once Jim's beattie arrives in my hands, I'll be posting up tests of my spinner vs the vibrating beattie...including evaluations of light loss with the same lighting/framing on the bare camera vs beattie vs spinner. I'm working on a design to vibrate a 35mm beattie in a 58mm tube. The total package will be a 58mm diameter tube, about 60mm long...very compact!

Ted, can't wait to see the results. I'm very keen on getting one of these adapters, just not sure which. Been following redrock for sometime and they seem to have a good product, albeit expensive compared to the letus.

Would the Lettus35 work with the FX1?

Also, I already have a nikon D50 with a couple of lenses will these work on that adapter?

Thanks!

The Letus35 works with FX1 but not Nikon D50 lenses. This kind of lens will have smaller coverage than regular 35mm SLR lens, therefore will give bad vignetting, thanks.

Quyen

Quyen I sent you a couple of emails a few days ago!

What kind of 35mm lenses are we talking about and average price point? (ebay?)

I want one!

Canon FD 50mm f1.4 is the best for the money, Nikon AI also a good choice, thanks.

Quyen

Once Jim's beattie arrives in my hands, I'll be posting up tests of my spinner vs the vibrating beattie...including evaluations of light loss with the same lighting/framing on the bare camera vs beattie vs spinner. I'm working on a design to vibrate a 35mm beattie in a 58mm tube. The total package will be a 58mm diameter tube, about 60mm long...very compact!


Any word on this yet?

I am myself still waiting for this so I can make my desicion.

It would be nice if they included the SG35 from Wayne Kinney in England.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=60512

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/wayne.kinney/sg35.htm

Hello ,

If your interested i am coming back to Auckland on Thu for 2 weeks for a mates wedding - i have both the letus35A and the SG35 - i also shoot with an XM2.. basically if your keen to hook up & try them out then drop me a line ..

Cheers

Quinn

I would really like to see this comparison. I once owned the letus35 (regular, non A) and I found it too soft and grainy for HD, but I've heard the "A" version is a lot better...I haven't seen any footage though and I'd really like to see how much of an improvement was made from the first version. There's also the option to buy a 72mm version and I wonder if it is all built with 72mm components (which would avoid zooming in so much) or if it simply comes with a 72-58 step down ring? Anyone knows?

I've got a flip and its all 72mm components - no stepdown

I've got a flip and its all 72mm components - no stepdown

What camera do you use it with? How are the results?

posted in wrong thread....

how is it going with that footage?

Hey Rafael,

It's getting some maintenance right now. Needed cleaned. I havent gotten to use it a ton yet but hopefully soon!

kick ass! Can't wait to see it.

As long as people are making requests... I don't suppose anyone might post some comparisons with different primes?

Any hope Ted?

eco...eco...ecooooo

*bump* will this ever get done!?!