Well as for me. I would love to have the add on... BUT is it worth it...
My camera is the PDX10 and works perfect with just the LetusA. I had such a hard time with the zooming in on the GG with everything I tried and I even had the manual to the Micro35 and it just didn't work for me. Also with 1/4.7 chips an extra 1.5-2 stops is a lot... So I might just keep what I have and not do the Add-on..

Flip and deinterlace with V-Dub and it's over... I'll use a mirror to flip the image on the LCD while shooting...

Though I will say the work placed into this Letus Project is incredible and finally someone has flipped the image... Good Job..

Gimme the light loss, and if its too bad throw in a Beattie screen. But to for go flipping in post i'll make sure I have adequate lighting.

Can't wait until Quyen comes out with a flipped letus in a single barrel.

Greg, I don't think a moving Beattie would work due to the fresnel lens built into it. You need the diffusion part of the screen minus the fresnel treatment.

aahhh....yeaahhh...good point:)

Quyen

"With the image flipping the light loss is 1.5 stops"

Was the complete unit loses 1.5 stops, or the flipping part only, loses that much of light.

When I said 1.5 stop, it's light loss for the whole unit with GG in place. Thanks.

Quyen

Quyen.

Just a thought.

At one stage, I was contemplating publishing my erecting (image flipping) device, a much larger and clunkier design using a CD size disk, but being a lesser mortal than yourself, was frightened off by the possibility of being nailed for patent infringement.

My intention was to make drawing files and print them to .pdf files which work on Windows, Mac and Linux. Then they could be printed off by the end-user onto sticky labels to be used as cut-through and drill-through patterns, then pulled off afterwards. Alternatviely the printed labels could be supplied to the end user.

Many printers these days are sufficiently accurate to make 1:1 patterns and it is a method I have already used with my own Agus designs. Two such are Canon BJC-7100 and the excellent Lexmark Optra S1250 and related product family.

You may be able to assist your end users by providing patterns to stick onto their existing devices to accurately mark the drillholes.

Providing they make accurate pilot holes and use depth stops on the drill bits and maybe a little grease or margarine on the bits to catch the dust and chips, my guess is the average home-builder capable or working to the thickness of a ballpoint pen line should not have a problem.

With regard GGs coming apart in transit, I suggest you might examine using two adhesives, one a soft silicone to dampen vibration, to be laid along outer edges and the main fixer being UV curable adhesive where there is face contact between the gg and the frame.

No doubt you have already thought of it but here it is anyway. After making your gg's, if they are glass, dress the outer edges to smooth off the pits and chips and chamfer the edge corners. This should eliminate some stress risers which might otherwise contribute to the glass cracking.

I have used common water clean-up white bathroom sealer for fixing the disk to hub - not relevent in your application - and pin spots of Loctite 358 UV curing adhesive. Should you decide to alter your design to glueing your two prisms together, the Loctite should also work.

Just a few thoughts.

Well put Bob, bravo

Has anybody got their new Letus35 with flipping feature and have any comments on the image and built quality? Does it still have the problem with dust and specs coming from the cheap plastic parts? Is it still made on plastic parts inside? How is the image quality with the prism system, any noticeable extra distortion and aberrations?
It would be great to see some footage.

Has anybody got their new Letus35 with flipping feature and have any comments on the image and built quality? Does it still have the problem with dust and specs coming from the cheap plastic parts? Is it still made on plastic parts inside? How is the image quality with the prism system, any noticeable extra distortion and aberrations?
It would be great to see some footage.

Yes, I agree. Footage? Anyone? Hello?

I am start shipping this unit. $600 for the final price. Betatesters should email me for price and instructions, below is the first video of the first unit sending out. Just a test video to show the unit's work. No special lighting. Thanks.

Quyen

http://hadleymedia.com/35mm.mov


u guys might have missed this...unless somethings have changed since that post and you are waiting for newer footage or something of that like...

Quyen is shipping me the new package today or tomorrow. I'll be throwing it to the test immediately on a feature we're currently working on. Within the next couple of weeks I'll try to get some footage samples up. We've got access to plenty of light so that shouldnt be an issue. Shooting with DVX100a's.

dangit!
now i have to come up with another $300 dollars!
but, hell, its worth it!

I wonder how the new Letus compares to the MPIC. Has anybody actually got one of Dan's adapters? I wonder if the Letus can beat the image quality and low light performance of the MPIC. My guess is no.
It’s obvious it can’t beat the MPIC in construction quality, but it would be interesting to see a comparison in image quality.

As far as image flippage, that is what I had in Sept 2004. "grandpa" of MPIC:
http://dandiaconu.com/gallery/album02/IMGA0078
Mirror and pentaprism from Minolta X-700.
As for the rest, looks like Steev is to busy to post here so, I will take the liberty to let you read some bits from the emails I got so far. However, I will not post on his thread:
http://homepage.mac.com/holyzoo1/PhotoAlbum20.html

Just recieved mine. Have to give it a try out hopefully this weekend. Built solid but has a little dust inside someplace - shouldnt be a problem getting out though.

Just recieved mine. Have to give it a try out hopefully this weekend. Built solid but has a little dust inside someplace - shouldnt be a problem getting out though.

So how many more have got the new version with flipping? Is the dust and plastic spec problem not finally solved? That was always the biggest turn down in the Letus35 for me. I don't want to have to open my unit every week to clean it up. As I understand it, the problem was not only that the unit wasn't properly sealed and allowed dust in, but also plastic specs that came from the plastic support for the GG. Is this all solved or not? I hope you are the only one who got it that way, I always found that an unacceptable quality control problem.

So how many more have got the new version with flipping? Is the dust and plastic spec problem not finally solved? That was always the biggest turn down in the Letus35 for me. I don't want to have to open my unit every week to clean it up. As I understand it, the problem was not only that the unit wasn't properly sealed and allowed dust in, but also plastic specs that came from the plastic support for the GG. Is this all solved or not? I hope you are the only one who got it that way, I always found that an unacceptable quality control problem.
Then by a mini35 or an mpic. Seriously a little spec for 650 or a flip for 11g's choice is yours but until Quyen moves into a climate controlled ISO900 manufacturing facility you are gonna be shit out of luck. The sad thing is i'll have to continue to read your questions until that time.

Then by a mini35 or an mpic. Seriously a little spec for 650 or a flip for 11g's choice is yours but until Quyen moves into a climate controlled ISO900 manufacturing facility you are gonna be shit out of luck. The sad thing is i'll have to continue to read your questions until that time.

Just skip the post when you see my name in the left side of it and your problems are over, as simple as that.

But for the record, your ISO900 excuse was pretty lame. All the "affordable" adapters are made in similar conditions and the Letus is the only one reported of being plaged with the dirt (dust and plastic speck) problem. I'm pretty sure the M2, SG35 and G35 are not made in ISO900 facilities. My question is a fair one.

Greg, I think that's unneccessary...

Dirt is a fairly easy problem to solve. You don't need a cleanroom--ISO900 or whatever--simply because the tiny specks of dust that cleanrooms provide for don't show up on video anyway. It's the dark black specks of plastic that flake off the parts of the Letus as it's inserted into the tube. I simply cleaned all the plastic parts with rubbing alcohol and blasted away with compressed air. I didn't get specks in my unit for weeks, and then I sent my unit away so Quyen could upgrade the mount to a metal one. He's since sealed it shut on that end and given the whole thing a clean bill of health. Works nicely.

And actually Michael, the G35 is constructed in a cleanroom. Ask John for details.

[QUOTE=Ben Winter]Greg, I think that's unneccessary...

Dirt is a fairly easy problem to solve. You don't need a cleanroom--ISO900 or whatever--simply because the tiny specks of dust that cleanrooms provide for don't show up on video anyway. It's the dark black specks of plastic that flake off the parts of the Letus as it's inserted into the tube. I simply cleaned all the plastic parts with rubbing alcohol and blasted away with compressed air. I didn't get specks in my unit for weeks, and then I sent my unit away so Quyen could upgrade the mount to a metal one. He's since sealed it shut on that end and given the whole thing a clean bill of health. Works nicely.

You're right Ben I will avoid reading Mike's posts in the future.

Same as above.

Correction, Redrock's manufacturing facility is Certified ISO 9001 : 2000.

Correction, Redrock's manufacturing facility is Certified ISO 9001 : 2000.
I knew it was one of those ISO's, I remeber seeing the pictures of the facility. Impressive to say the least.

That must account for the 3 month wait.

That must account for the 3 month wait.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

I have the Letus35 Flipped and when I go into a room with a really bright bulb shining, filling the room... my letus35 flipped is really really dark, I mean really dark.

Anyone else having the same problem?

I have the Letus35 Flipped and when I go into a room with a really bright bulb shining, filling the room... my letus35 flipped is really really dark, I mean really dark.

Anyone else having the same problem?
What kind of lens are you using? There is definitely some light loss in the flipped version....that said I light like i'm lighting for film so I dont really plan to run and gun with it on their. I've got my regular for that. What kind of camera too?

I'm using the DVX100a, with an 35-70mm SLR zoom lens...

I'm using the DVX100a, with an 35-70mm SLR zoom lens...
What speed lens? at least 2.8?

3.5 I believe

someone stop me if im wrong, but...

having worked on a flipping design before ordering a letus35 flip, the calculated light loss from adding the flip system should be barely noticeable.

assuming its using four front surface mirrors, which have a light reflectivity of >97%, there would be a total light loss of about 88%.

gah, i can't wait till i get mine.

also, i havent seen any 35-70mm zooms out there that are faster than f/3.5
so this might be contributing to your problem. its nice to have a zoom, but some fast primes will definitely help with low light.

also, i havent seen any 35-70mm zooms out there that are faster than f/3.5
so this might be contributing to your problem. its nice to have a zoom, but some fast primes will definitely help with low light.

Actually, there are a lot, but they're quite expensive...

For example, Nikon 35-70 f/2.8 (new on ebay)
http://cgi.ebay.com/NIKON-35-70-MM-F-2-8-AUTO-FOCUS-LENS-NEW_W0QQitemZ7576619259QQcategoryZ3343QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Any zoom lens that keeps a 2.8 constant aperture trough the whole focal range is going to be costly, but there are some really nice cheaper alternatives than the Nikon and Canon lens.

Tokina, for example, has a 28-80 f/2.8 lens (the 280 AT-X Pro) with great reviews. There's also a 28-70 f/2.8 (newer), which is slightly inferior in terms of quality (for what I read). Tamron and Sigma also build zoom lenses in those focal ranges with f/2.8 constant aperture.

They're very good to use with adapters, since a variable aperture -like the cheaper and more common f/2.8-f/4, gives you a darkening effect on the image as you zoom in (thus making them unsuitable for most video recording).

In fact, I'm hunting for one of those lenses to use with my Letus :)

Lucas

Actually, there are a lot, but they're quite expensive...

For example, Nikon 35-70 f/2.8 (new on ebay)
http://cgi.ebay.com/NIKON-35-70-MM-F-2-8-AUTO-FOCUS-LENS-NEW_W0QQitemZ7576619259QQcategoryZ3343QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Any zoom lens that keeps a 2.8 constant aperture trough the whole focal range is going to be costly, but there are some really nice cheaper alternatives than the Nikon and Canon lens.

Tokina, for example, has a 28-80 f/2.8 lens (the 280 AT-X Pro) with great reviews. There's also a 28-70 f/2.8 (newer), which is slightly inferior in terms of quality (for what I read). Tamron and Sigma also build zoom lenses in those focal ranges with f/2.8 constant aperture.

They're very good to use with adapters, since a variable aperture -like the cheaper and more common f/2.8-f/4, gives you a darkening effect on the image as you zoom in (thus making them unsuitable for most video recording).

In fact, I'm hunting for one of those lenses to use with my Letus :)

Lucas
Yeah, I have a sigma 28-70 that's 2.8.

When I said 1.5 stop, it's light loss for the whole unit with GG in place. Thanks.

Quyen

So the total light loss of the flip version is 1.5 F-stops? How much for the normal version then?

Can't wait until Quyen comes out with a flipped letus in a single barrel.

What difference would it make? None that I see.

What difference would it make? None that I see.
it would fit in my lens case :-P