EX-1 Camera Zoom used in tandem w/ 35mm Adapter? at DVinfo.net

Emile Wamsteker · October 21st, 2009, 02:46 PM

When I mount my 35mm adapter to the front element of my EX-1 lens, I need to calibrate focus first, and then adjust the CAMERA's zoom so that the image fills the frame. If I don't adjust the Camera's zoom, I run the risk of vignetting.

My question is, once I've found the sweet spot and mark the zoom barrel, can I zoom in further if I wish--in effect using the camera's zoom as a tele-extender--and if so, to what extent. Will I have image degradation if I do? Or should I just leave it on the sweet spot, and treat it as a fixed focal length lens.

For example, when I have a 50mm prime mounted on the adapter, the EX-1's zoom is set to about 40mm to fill the frame. If the zoom is set wider, I get vignetting. Zoom tighter--to say 80m--and I am in effect changing the mounted lens' focal length, making it longer. I wonder if there is perceptible image degradation.

I am new to video, so judging whether or not there is degradation, is not easy for my eye to see but I wonder what others think and have observed.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Cheers,

-Emile

Rob Collins · October 21st, 2009, 05:21 PM

No degradation that I've ever observed or could imagine in theory. It can be very useful to zoom farther in than the minimum to prevent vignetting. You can't really zoom within a shot and maintain focus, but I don't think that's what you're talking about.

Jeremy Wilker · October 21st, 2009, 09:56 PM

yes, it is possible if you need to do it. you don't get much zoom, but you get a little.

Leonard Levy · October 21st, 2009, 10:06 PM

You certainly can zoom in somewhat without quality loss on some adapters - (Letus Extreme, Ultimate or SG Blade) , but there are no hard and fast rules about it, and every camera/adapter combination is different. Some will suffer very badly from zooming in.
You simply need to figure out what looks good to you and good monitoring is very helpful.
Don't assume that your video cameras focus will remain sharp as you zoom in on the Gr glass screen. Double check it at every focal length.

A very good idea is to find something flat and sharp as a reference and experiment. I blew up a lens resolution chart to various sizes & mounted them on foam core. The first problem you may see is that your corners may start to go out of focus as you zoom in.

Usually not a good idea to go zoom in too far as you are increasing the grain size in the screen and compromising the optics of both the adapter achromat and the 35mm lens.

Emile Wamsteker · October 28th, 2009, 07:32 AM

Thanks for the feedback. I posted the same query to another forum and received the same feedback. No lone dissenters suggesting otherwise.

I've since run some tests, and don't see any degradation in quality. Then again, my eye is still not quite trained for video, so there may be some things there that I'm just not seeing.

Nevertheless, in the meantime, I will use this technique with confidence, as long as I don't "push to far" as suggested.

Thanks again for your comments.

Cheers,

-Emile

October 21st, 2009, 02:46 PM	#1
Emile Wamsteker New Boot Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: West Orange, New Jersey Posts: 17	EX-1 Camera Zoom used in tandem w/ 35mm Adapter? When I mount my 35mm adapter to the front element of my EX-1 lens, I need to calibrate focus first, and then adjust the CAMERA's zoom so that the image fills the frame. If I don't adjust the Camera's zoom, I run the risk of vignetting. My question is, once I've found the sweet spot and mark the zoom barrel, can I zoom in further if I wish--in effect using the camera's zoom as a tele-extender--and if so, to what extent. Will I have image degradation if I do? Or should I just leave it on the sweet spot, and treat it as a fixed focal length lens. For example, when I have a 50mm prime mounted on the adapter, the EX-1's zoom is set to about 40mm to fill the frame. If the zoom is set wider, I get vignetting. Zoom tighter--to say 80m--and I am in effect changing the mounted lens' focal length, making it longer. I wonder if there is perceptible image degradation. I am new to video, so judging whether or not there is degradation, is not easy for my eye to see but I wonder what others think and have observed. Thanks in advance for your help. Cheers, -Emile

October 21st, 2009, 09:56 PM	#3
Jeremy Wilker New Boot Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 18	35mm adapter zoom yes, it is possible if you need to do it. you don't get much zoom, but you get a little.

October 21st, 2009, 05:21 PM	#2
Rob Collins Major Player Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 229	No degradation that I've ever observed or could imagine in theory. It can be very useful to zoom farther in than the minimum to prevent vignetting. You can't really zoom within a shot and maintain focus, but I don't think that's what you're talking about.

October 21st, 2009, 10:06 PM	#4
Leonard Levy Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: USA Posts: 1,684	You certainly can zoom in somewhat without quality loss on some adapters - (Letus Extreme, Ultimate or SG Blade) , but there are no hard and fast rules about it, and every camera/adapter combination is different. Some will suffer very badly from zooming in. You simply need to figure out what looks good to you and good monitoring is very helpful. Don't assume that your video cameras focus will remain sharp as you zoom in on the Gr glass screen. Double check it at every focal length. A very good idea is to find something flat and sharp as a reference and experiment. I blew up a lens resolution chart to various sizes & mounted them on foam core. The first problem you may see is that your corners may start to go out of focus as you zoom in. Usually not a good idea to go zoom in too far as you are increasing the grain size in the screen and compromising the optics of both the adapter achromat and the 35mm lens.

October 28th, 2009, 07:32 AM	#5
Emile Wamsteker New Boot Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: West Orange, New Jersey Posts: 17	Thanks for the feedback. I posted the same query to another forum and received the same feedback. No lone dissenters suggesting otherwise. I've since run some tests, and don't see any degradation in quality. Then again, my eye is still not quite trained for video, so there may be some things there that I'm just not seeing. Nevertheless, in the meantime, I will use this technique with confidence, as long as I don't "push to far" as suggested. Thanks again for your comments. Cheers, -Emile