Century Optics 16:9 Widescreen Adapter

Eddie Jackson · December 26th, 2003, 09:20 PM

Looking for one of these. Anyone have any info about how well they work. Also, if anyone wants to sell one? I just wanted to ask the GL2 owners directly.
Thanks.
EJ

Thomas Fraser · December 26th, 2003, 10:44 PM

In Premiere 6.5 titler you can create black bars and super them over your video. Turn on the 16:9 guide lines in your GL2 and film, then add black bars post production with Premiere.
It looks great..just remember to shot as if your camera was a 16:9 format.
Hope this helps.

Eddie Jackson · December 26th, 2003, 11:53 PM

Thanks. Now, where can I get a copy of Premiere 6.5 titler?

Eddie Jackson · December 26th, 2003, 11:55 PM

Can I do it in Apple's Final Cut Express?

Marco Leavitt · December 28th, 2003, 03:59 PM

Cropping is no substitute for using an anamorphic adapter. I've been using the Century for a couple of weeks, and the difference is really dramatic. The old footage we shot in digital 16:9 looks like the lens is covered in sludge. If you're serious about shooting wide screen, go for the adapter. You could get one for less than $400 used. It's much easier to use than I had thought it would be.

Eddie Jackson · December 28th, 2003, 05:51 PM

Marco, Thomas I believe was saying to shoot in 4:3 ratio (with the 16x9 guide lines on) then in post simply black out the top and bottom to look like you shot in 16x9 without losing any resolution. This seems like a good way to do it.

Rosie Young · December 29th, 2003, 08:00 AM

Eddie, could you tell me how to turn the 16:9 guidelines on?

thanks,

Rosie

Marco Leavitt · December 29th, 2003, 08:09 AM

Yeah, letterboxed on a regular television it would look about the same, although it might be slightly sharper with the adapter. If you were to play it back on a wide screen TV though, your footage would be much, much sharper with the adapter.

Eddie Jackson · December 29th, 2003, 08:51 PM

Oh. Thanks. That makes sense o me.

Dave Largent · February 26th, 2004, 07:52 PM

Finally. Full zoom through. At B&H. Someone
should get it and write a review.
Hurry, before they're back-ordered.
I'd do it but I don't have that camera.

Pete Bauer · February 26th, 2004, 08:20 PM

Thanks -- been watching for this to actually show up on the market.

"Caveat emptor" before you order, though folks! The Century Optics web site still shows this in its "New Products" section (no update to the web site for a couple months, at least) and B&H shows it as a 7-14 day special order, no cancellations or returns and you'll be charged upon order, NOT when shipped! Makes me wonder if it is REALLY available yet. Haven't had a chance to check other vendors yet...will probably have a chat with my favorite, Zotz, tomorrow.

I'd personally rather hold out for the next crop of HDV cameras, but will be traveling to some unusual places this spring and will drop the bucks on this adapter if it is as good as we all hope, and no new HDV cameras are out by mid-April (hope springs eternal, eh?). If I get the adapter, I will post all about it!

Cheers,

Simon Wyndham · March 5th, 2004, 07:54 AM

Sounds like good news, but does it suffer from vignetting at all?

Peter Moore · March 5th, 2004, 02:37 PM

" Someone should get it and write a review. "

Sure - so who do I talk to about DVInfo.net buying it for me to review? :)

Dave Largent · March 27th, 2004, 12:54 AM

Anyone know of anyone, anywhere that has
acquired this lens? Supposedly available
now for the GL1/2. I suggested awhile back
on the GL board that someone should
get it and write a review.
Look into my eyes.
Ponder: frame mode, true 16:9, better low
light than PDX. Now: purchase. Now: write review so that we all know if you wasted your money. : - )

Boyd Ostroff · March 27th, 2004, 08:33 AM

Maybe if you would front the $1,300 that this baby costs then someone would bite ;-) But seriously, that's a pretty expensive piece of glass to put on a $2,000 camcorder. I suspect very few people are going to be ordering one of these, although it does sound nice.

December 26th, 2003, 09:20 PM	#16
Eddie Jackson New Boot Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 16	Century Optics 16:9 Widescreen Adapter Looking for one of these. Anyone have any info about how well they work. Also, if anyone wants to sell one? I just wanted to ask the GL2 owners directly. Thanks. EJ

December 26th, 2003, 10:44 PM	#17
Thomas Fraser Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada Posts: 70	16:9 the easy way, no cost In Premiere 6.5 titler you can create black bars and super them over your video. Turn on the 16:9 guide lines in your GL2 and film, then add black bars post production with Premiere. It looks great..just remember to shot as if your camera was a 16:9 format. Hope this helps. __________________ Thanks for your help everyone.

December 26th, 2003, 11:53 PM	#18
Eddie Jackson New Boot Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 16	16x9 Thanks. Now, where can I get a copy of Premiere 6.5 titler?

December 26th, 2003, 11:55 PM	#19
Eddie Jackson New Boot Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 16	16x9 Can I do it in Apple's Final Cut Express?

December 28th, 2003, 05:51 PM	#21
Eddie Jackson New Boot Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 16	16x9 Marco, Thomas I believe was saying to shoot in 4:3 ratio (with the 16x9 guide lines on) then in post simply black out the top and bottom to look like you shot in 16x9 without losing any resolution. This seems like a good way to do it.

December 28th, 2003, 03:59 PM	#20
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Cropping is no substitute for using an anamorphic adapter. I've been using the Century for a couple of weeks, and the difference is really dramatic. The old footage we shot in digital 16:9 looks like the lens is covered in sludge. If you're serious about shooting wide screen, go for the adapter. You could get one for less than $400 used. It's much easier to use than I had thought it would be.

December 29th, 2003, 08:00 AM	#22
Rosie Young New Boot Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: santa cruz, california Posts: 13	Eddie, could you tell me how to turn the 16:9 guidelines on? thanks, Rosie

December 29th, 2003, 08:09 AM	#23
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Yeah, letterboxed on a regular television it would look about the same, although it might be slightly sharper with the adapter. If you were to play it back on a wide screen TV though, your footage would be much, much sharper with the adapter.

December 29th, 2003, 08:51 PM	#24
Eddie Jackson New Boot Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 16	Oh. Thanks. That makes sense o me.

February 26th, 2004, 07:52 PM	#25
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	New Century Anamorphic Now Available For GL1/2 Finally. Full zoom through. At B&H. Someone should get it and write a review. Hurry, before they're back-ordered. I'd do it but I don't have that camera.

February 26th, 2004, 08:20 PM	#26
Pete Bauer Wrangler Join Date: May 2003 Location: Eagle River, AK Posts: 4,100	Thanks -- been watching for this to actually show up on the market. "Caveat emptor" before you order, though folks! The Century Optics web site still shows this in its "New Products" section (no update to the web site for a couple months, at least) and B&H shows it as a 7-14 day special order, no cancellations or returns and you'll be charged upon order, NOT when shipped! Makes me wonder if it is REALLY available yet. Haven't had a chance to check other vendors yet...will probably have a chat with my favorite, Zotz, tomorrow. I'd personally rather hold out for the next crop of HDV cameras, but will be traveling to some unusual places this spring and will drop the bucks on this adapter if it is as good as we all hope, and no new HDV cameras are out by mid-April (hope springs eternal, eh?). If I get the adapter, I will post all about it! Cheers, __________________ Pete Bauer The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. Albert Einstein Trying to solve a DV mystery? You may find the answer behind the SEARCH function ... or be able to join a discussion already in progress!

March 5th, 2004, 07:54 AM	#27
Simon Wyndham Trustee Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Malvern UK Posts: 1,931	Vignetting Sounds like good news, but does it suffer from vignetting at all?

March 5th, 2004, 02:37 PM	#28
Peter Moore Trustee Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Arlington VA Posts: 1,034	" Someone should get it and write a review. " Sure - so who do I talk to about DVInfo.net buying it for me to review? :)

March 27th, 2004, 12:54 AM	#29
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	New Century Zoom-through Anamorphic Anyone know of anyone, anywhere that has acquired this lens? Supposedly available now for the GL1/2. I suggested awhile back on the GL board that someone should get it and write a review. Look into my eyes. Ponder: frame mode, true 16:9, better low light than PDX. Now: purchase. Now: write review so that we all know if you wasted your money. : - )

March 27th, 2004, 08:33 AM	#30
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	Maybe if you would front the $1,300 that this baby costs then someone would bite ;-) But seriously, that's a pretty expensive piece of glass to put on a $2,000 camcorder. I suspect very few people are going to be ordering one of these, although it does sound nice.