On my desk right now... at DVinfo.net

Dan Chung · June 1st, 2009, 08:32 AM

Is this, more later

Dan

Ryan Mueller · June 1st, 2009, 09:02 AM

Very nice! Let us know how the system works. Some audio samples would be excellent as well:)

Dan Chung · June 1st, 2009, 11:10 PM

Quick initial impressions are that the unit is more plastic in construction that previous units, this is not necessarily a bad thing as it keeps the weight down. Sat underneath the camera it is slightly larger than a 5dmkII battery grip but its square shape makes it a little harder to hold than before. It attaches firmly and has two extra little locator pins that mate with the 5dmkII baseplate to stop any movement. Underneath the unit there is a tripod bush and a couple of extra hole for video tripod plate locators. The LCD is clear and it displays all the relevant functions.

As for audio I am still testing. I'll try and post some files later but it seems the agc disbable function does work as advertised. Because the adapter is passive it does need sensitive mics, with my Sanken CS-1 it needs the gain turning quite high to get a usable level. Radio mics like the Sennheiser EW112P have no problem feeding a good level and feeding from my Sound Devices mixer was fine too.

The headphone output does not seem to be as good as the output to the camera (the manual alludes to this), it has quite a lot of hiss with the headphones I have tried so far.

To my surprise the unit is made in China, funny as I had to have the unit shipped here to Beijing from Canada. Not very carbon neutral :)

Dan

Dan Chung · June 1st, 2009, 11:23 PM

A few more quick pictures.

Jon Fairhurst · June 1st, 2009, 11:39 PM

Dan, if you get a chance, take a look at where your meters rest during relative silence. I'd like to get a handle on the noise floor. My tests using a 16 kHz tone from an iPod had the noise at -40dB or so, which was disappointing.

Also, what frequency is the unit using?

Mark Hahn · June 1st, 2009, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Chung

A few more quick pictures.

Would that mount on rails?

Dan Chung · June 2nd, 2009, 05:24 AM

Mark,

I've been messing around with rails systems and the Beachtek. The best I can come up with so far is based on my Redrockmicro system but it can only handle long lenses with a follow focus attached. I am going to test various Redrockmicro and Genus combinations when I have the time.

Jon,

I'll have a look when I get down to proper testing.

Dan

Nigel Barker · June 2nd, 2009, 06:34 AM

Dan,

How does that work with the battery grip?

Thomas Lowe · June 2nd, 2009, 09:37 AM

LMAO at the velcro taped over the eye-piece. Stills shooters would probably have a heart-attack seeing that. :)

Wayne Avanson · June 3rd, 2009, 07:51 AM

Hey Dan,How you getting on with the new Loup?

Is it MUCH better than the Hoodman?

Avey

Andrew McMillan · June 3rd, 2009, 10:14 AM

What's this new loupe your talkin about? Isn't that the hoodman in the pic?

Jon Fairhurst · June 3rd, 2009, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne Avanson

Is it MUCH better than the Hoodman?

And, specifically, how tolerant is the new loupe of the eye being off center?

I find the Hoodloupe quality to be fine when on center, but the sweet spot is really tiny.

Wayne Avanson · June 3rd, 2009, 11:12 AM

Jon,
have you got an eyecup or anything attached to the end of your Hoodloup?

I put the iCuff on there and it's so much easier somehow. Maybe it's because my eye is now a few mm further away from the 'loup eyepiece, or maybe it's because when pressing against the iCuff, it's easier to move about into a good viewing angle…

Either way, hunting for the sweet spot doesn't seem to be an issue for me much any more.

Jon Fairhurst · June 3rd, 2009, 11:50 AM

An eyecup is definitely on my "to buy" list.

Nigel Barker · June 3rd, 2009, 12:17 PM

Wayne, Which model i-cuff did you buy? On balance the Hoodloupe is much better than staring at the LCD at arms length & it does help stabilisation but I think that some eye-cup comfort would help a lot.

June 1st, 2009, 08:32 AM	#1
Dan Chung Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Beijing Posts: 665	On my desk right now...Is a Beachtek DXA-5D Is this, more later Dan Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Dan Chung; June 1st, 2009 at 11:24 PM.

June 1st, 2009, 11:23 PM	#4
Dan Chung Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Beijing Posts: 665	A few more quick pictures. Attached Thumbnails

June 1st, 2009, 11:39 PM	#5
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Dan, if you get a chance, take a look at where your meters rest during relative silence. I'd like to get a handle on the noise floor. My tests using a 16 kHz tone from an iPod had the noise at -40dB or so, which was disappointing. Also, what frequency is the unit using? __________________ Jon Fairhurst

June 2nd, 2009, 05:24 AM	#7
Dan Chung Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Beijing Posts: 665	Mark, I've been messing around with rails systems and the Beachtek. The best I can come up with so far is based on my Redrockmicro system but it can only handle long lenses with a follow focus attached. I am going to test various Redrockmicro and Genus combinations when I have the time. Jon, I'll have a look when I get down to proper testing. Dan Attached Thumbnails

June 3rd, 2009, 11:50 AM	#14
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	An eyecup is definitely on my "to buy" list. __________________ Jon Fairhurst

June 1st, 2009, 09:02 AM	#2
Ryan Mueller Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Highlands Ranch, CO Posts: 336	Very nice! Let us know how the system works. Some audio samples would be excellent as well:)

June 1st, 2009, 11:10 PM	#3
Dan Chung Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Beijing Posts: 665	Quick initial impressions are that the unit is more plastic in construction that previous units, this is not necessarily a bad thing as it keeps the weight down. Sat underneath the camera it is slightly larger than a 5dmkII battery grip but its square shape makes it a little harder to hold than before. It attaches firmly and has two extra little locator pins that mate with the 5dmkII baseplate to stop any movement. Underneath the unit there is a tripod bush and a couple of extra hole for video tripod plate locators. The LCD is clear and it displays all the relevant functions. As for audio I am still testing. I'll try and post some files later but it seems the agc disbable function does work as advertised. Because the adapter is passive it does need sensitive mics, with my Sanken CS-1 it needs the gain turning quite high to get a usable level. Radio mics like the Sennheiser EW112P have no problem feeding a good level and feeding from my Sound Devices mixer was fine too. The headphone output does not seem to be as good as the output to the camera (the manual alludes to this), it has quite a lot of hiss with the headphones I have tried so far. To my surprise the unit is made in China, funny as I had to have the unit shipped here to Beijing from Canada. Not very carbon neutral :) Dan

June 2nd, 2009, 06:34 AM	#8
Nigel Barker Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK Posts: 3,531	Dan, How does that work with the battery grip?

June 2nd, 2009, 09:37 AM	#9
Thomas Lowe Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 33	LMAO at the velcro taped over the eye-piece. Stills shooters would probably have a heart-attack seeing that. :)

June 3rd, 2009, 07:51 AM	#10
Wayne Avanson Major Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lancashire UK Posts: 496	Hey Dan,How you getting on with the new Loup? Is it MUCH better than the Hoodman? Avey

June 3rd, 2009, 10:14 AM	#11
Andrew McMillan Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Colombia Posts: 153	What's this new loupe your talkin about? Isn't that the hoodman in the pic?

June 3rd, 2009, 11:12 AM	#13
Wayne Avanson Major Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lancashire UK Posts: 496	Jon, have you got an eyecup or anything attached to the end of your Hoodloup? I put the iCuff on there and it's so much easier somehow. Maybe it's because my eye is now a few mm further away from the 'loup eyepiece, or maybe it's because when pressing against the iCuff, it's easier to move about into a good viewing angle… Either way, hunting for the sweet spot doesn't seem to be an issue for me much any more.

June 3rd, 2009, 12:17 PM	#15
Nigel Barker Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK Posts: 3,531	Wayne, Which model i-cuff did you buy? On balance the Hoodloupe is much better than staring at the LCD at arms length & it does help stabilisation but I think that some eye-cup comfort would help a lot.