F350 + Pro35 lens adapter at DVinfo.net

Doug Jacobsen · September 4th, 2007, 02:15 PM

Has anybody tried the Pro35 lens adapter (and a set of primes) on the 350 with a 2/3" to 1/2" lens adapter? Could this work? I understand the primes would be less "wide" then on a camera with a 2/3" chip. I've called a few rental houses in California that handle this gear, but nobody has heard of anybody trying this combo.

Nate Weaver · September 5th, 2007, 10:50 AM

Yeah, I've done it.

There is a crop factor going from 2/3 to 1/2. I also recommend you have plenty of light, I rate the combo at maybe ASA150 at best.

If you have to gain up, the combination of gain and ground glass texture will make things doubly worse for the MPEG encoder and you will be hating life.

If you have plenty of light though, it looks great. I recommend daylight exteriors, or daylight interiors with bigger HMIs. Night exteriors...you better have a big truck with you!

Bob Willis · September 5th, 2007, 03:20 PM

They have one now for 1/2" lenses, but it may be hard to find for rental at first.

http://www.pstechnik.de/en/digitalfilm-pro35-1-2.php

Nate Weaver · September 5th, 2007, 06:25 PM

A good thing for sure, but unfortunately does not address the core problem with the combo.

Max Kaiser · September 8th, 2007, 05:28 PM

Nate,

Sounds like you are not too pumped on these adapters. Seems like they can really open up some possibilities, tho. Could you say a bit more about your experience with them? Was shooting cumbersome? What lens did you use? How many stops off would say the combo brings you down?

Thanks,
max

Nate Weaver · September 8th, 2007, 07:49 PM

Mini or Pro35 adapters work well on large-chipped HD, or smaller chipped SD cams that don't already have light sensitivity issues. To me, an F900, Varicam, or even a DVX are good candidates.

I've used a Pro on a Varicam and 350, and Mini on an HD100 and DVX. Both the 350 and the HD100 created large amounts of grain in the blacks, mainly because I just didn't have a big enough lighting package to bring my stop up in both cases. MPEG recording, whether HDV or XDCAM 35mbs, exacerbates the grain and softens the image even more.

Again, my only advice is to make sure you can light EASILY to 150ASA when on the 350. That's a lot of light when indoors.

Simon Duncan · September 9th, 2007, 06:25 AM

Nate,

Pretty basic follow up question.

On a shoot how are you assessing what ASA levels are?
Do you use a simple photographer light meter?
EG: You set your lights up and then throw a light meter infront of the setup to see what ASA rating is? Or do you just know from experience?

Thanks

September 4th, 2007, 02:15 PM	#1
Doug Jacobsen Tourist Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 1	F350 + Pro35 lens adapter Has anybody tried the Pro35 lens adapter (and a set of primes) on the 350 with a 2/3" to 1/2" lens adapter? Could this work? I understand the primes would be less "wide" then on a camera with a 2/3" chip. I've called a few rental houses in California that handle this gear, but nobody has heard of anybody trying this combo.

September 5th, 2007, 10:50 AM	#2
Nate Weaver Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2,100	Yeah, I've done it. There is a crop factor going from 2/3 to 1/2. I also recommend you have plenty of light, I rate the combo at maybe ASA150 at best. If you have to gain up, the combination of gain and ground glass texture will make things doubly worse for the MPEG encoder and you will be hating life. If you have plenty of light though, it looks great. I recommend daylight exteriors, or daylight interiors with bigger HMIs. Night exteriors...you better have a big truck with you! __________________ My Work: nateweaver.net

September 5th, 2007, 06:25 PM	#4
Nate Weaver Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2,100	A good thing for sure, but unfortunately does not address the core problem with the combo. __________________ My Work: nateweaver.net

September 8th, 2007, 05:28 PM	#5
Max Kaiser Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 66	Nate, Sounds like you are not too pumped on these adapters. Seems like they can really open up some possibilities, tho. Could you say a bit more about your experience with them? Was shooting cumbersome? What lens did you use? How many stops off would say the combo brings you down? Thanks, max __________________ ---------------- Max Kaiser Director, Hand Crank Films http://www.handcrankfilms.com

September 8th, 2007, 07:49 PM	#6
Nate Weaver Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2,100	Mini or Pro35 adapters work well on large-chipped HD, or smaller chipped SD cams that don't already have light sensitivity issues. To me, an F900, Varicam, or even a DVX are good candidates. I've used a Pro on a Varicam and 350, and Mini on an HD100 and DVX. Both the 350 and the HD100 created large amounts of grain in the blacks, mainly because I just didn't have a big enough lighting package to bring my stop up in both cases. MPEG recording, whether HDV or XDCAM 35mbs, exacerbates the grain and softens the image even more. Again, my only advice is to make sure you can light EASILY to 150ASA when on the 350. That's a lot of light when indoors. __________________ My Work: nateweaver.net

September 5th, 2007, 03:20 PM	#3
Bob Willis Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 292	They have one now for 1/2" lenses, but it may be hard to find for rental at first. http://www.pstechnik.de/en/digitalfilm-pro35-1-2.php

September 9th, 2007, 06:25 AM	#7
Simon Duncan Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Angers, France Posts: 181	Nate, Pretty basic follow up question. On a shoot how are you assessing what ASA levels are? Do you use a simple photographer light meter? EG: You set your lights up and then throw a light meter infront of the setup to see what ASA rating is? Or do you just know from experience? Thanks