Question:Anamorphic Adapters and Micro35 at DVinfo.net

Brian K Jones · March 28th, 2006, 03:54 PM

I am a little new with some of this information. I have an Xl2, and I want to know if using a micro 35 with cinema leses is the same as using an anamorphic adpater, or are they 2 different things? I am after true cinema DOF and widescreen shooting. I am trying to learn as much as I can...Thanks in advance...

Richard Hunter · March 29th, 2006, 06:24 PM

Hi Brian. An anamorphic adapter is used to achieve a widescreen format by squeezing a wide image onto a 4:3 sensor. The video produced from this would then be "unsqueezed" in post to give a widescreen output. Since the XL2 has a 16:9 widescreen sensor built in, you would not normally need to use an anamorphic adapter, unless you were trying to get a super-wide format.

The micro35 is quite different. It allows 35mm lenses to be fitted to a video camera, and has an intermediate imaging plane that maintains the shallow depth of field of the 35mm lenses.

So, if you are after narrow DOF with the XL2, you only need to add the micro35 (or alternative adapter).

Richard

Brian K Jones · March 31st, 2006, 12:08 PM

Thanks Richard. Now, would that apply the same if the project we're film bound? Using the native 16X9 in the XL2 would work?

Richard Hunter · March 31st, 2006, 07:27 PM

Hi Brian. If you use the XL2 in 16:9 mode, you should get good results on film out. If you add the micro35 lens adapter for DOF control, it should look even better. Of course, all this pre-supposes that the lighting and camera work are done well and that you have something interesting to shoot in the first place. :)

If the film format is wider than 16:9, you can always frame for this while shooting and then crop the top and bottom in post. This is probably easier than adding an anamorphic adapter to the XL2, but if such adapters are readily available where you are then things might be different.

Richard

Brian K Jones · April 1st, 2006, 09:23 AM

Well, the adapters are available, but they want a fortune for them! Thanks again for your input.

March 28th, 2006, 03:54 PM	#1
Brian K Jones Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 68	Question:Anamorphic Adapters and Micro35 I am a little new with some of this information. I have an Xl2, and I want to know if using a micro 35 with cinema leses is the same as using an anamorphic adpater, or are they 2 different things? I am after true cinema DOF and widescreen shooting. I am trying to learn as much as I can...Thanks in advance...

March 29th, 2006, 06:24 PM	#2
Richard Hunter Trustee Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lipa City Batangas, Philippines Posts: 1,110	Hi Brian. An anamorphic adapter is used to achieve a widescreen format by squeezing a wide image onto a 4:3 sensor. The video produced from this would then be "unsqueezed" in post to give a widescreen output. Since the XL2 has a 16:9 widescreen sensor built in, you would not normally need to use an anamorphic adapter, unless you were trying to get a super-wide format. The micro35 is quite different. It allows 35mm lenses to be fitted to a video camera, and has an intermediate imaging plane that maintains the shallow depth of field of the 35mm lenses. So, if you are after narrow DOF with the XL2, you only need to add the micro35 (or alternative adapter). Richard

March 31st, 2006, 12:08 PM	#3
Brian K Jones Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 68	Thanks Richard. Now, would that apply the same if the project we're film bound? Using the native 16X9 in the XL2 would work?

March 31st, 2006, 07:27 PM	#4
Richard Hunter Trustee Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lipa City Batangas, Philippines Posts: 1,110	Hi Brian. If you use the XL2 in 16:9 mode, you should get good results on film out. If you add the micro35 lens adapter for DOF control, it should look even better. Of course, all this pre-supposes that the lighting and camera work are done well and that you have something interesting to shoot in the first place. :) If the film format is wider than 16:9, you can always frame for this while shooting and then crop the top and bottom in post. This is probably easier than adding an anamorphic adapter to the XL2, but if such adapters are readily available where you are then things might be different. Richard

April 1st, 2006, 09:23 AM	#5
Brian K Jones Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 68	Well, the adapters are available, but they want a fortune for them! Thanks again for your input.