35mm Adapter, Shoulder Mount. at DVinfo.net

December 3rd, 2007, 05:51 PM

[Camcorder = Sony HVR-A1E]

Right, I'm having a new dilemma now.

I'm considering going back from the Letus35 Mini to the M2, purely because I can get the M2 AND its rail system for really cheap

here.

I'm also thinking it'll be easier to use shoulder-mounted than the Letus35 mini, purely because the mini flips the image so you're supposed to use your camera's screen, but that means it has to be set forward and it could end up that you can't reach the follow focus, and the handles would be a real stretch. And there's no point buying a monitor for the letus because the selling point is that it flips the image.

However, questions about the M2 ebay sale are:

My camera has a 37mm thread. That sale has a 55mm rubber lens hood. And I dunno whether this makes it incompatible, but it has a 72mm achromat lens. *Shrugs* what does this mean for me? Thinking about it, that'll probably fit anyway, won't it, round the end of the A1's lens?

Also, how is the M2 powered? That sale doesn't seem to mention a battery.

If I was to do this though, I would have to buy a monitor. I'm considering

this one, but then the question is, how do I mount it? I'd like it in front of me when shoulder mounted, but I don't want it obscuring the follow focus either.

And talking of shoulder mounted, what shoulder mount would I get? I noticed a few in the user setups on the redrockmicro site:

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g1...howski/4-1.jpg
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g1...howski/1-3.jpg
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g1...howski/8-2.jpg

Would this one be best for attaching to the rod system that comes from that ebay sale?

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g1...howski/5-1.jpg
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g1...howski/6-3.jpg

This one looks good as well, I *think* it's the same one in both pictures.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g1...howski/2-3.jpg
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g1...howski/7-2.jpg

This one also looks good, and I guess it would be able to take the rail system on top of it; although, I dunno where the position of the camera would be with that particular rail system on top of this? Another benefit to this shoulder mount is I can fix a varizoom onto the handle

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g1...howski/9-2.jpg

Finally there's this one, which looks quite good, again, good for fixing a Varizoom onto, and the monitor is in a good position here. However that's a battery at the back, I presume, at first I thought it was just a shoulder rest...

As for the monitor, the ideal configuration would be of that one above but I don't know how easy that would be to mount on the rail system in that ebay sale; so there's this method:

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g1...howski/3-3.jpg

However, I don't know if that would go into the bottom of the monitor I linked to before. Also, I'd be interested to see what that magic arm is exactly, and how much it is.

So all in all, can anyone give me any advice? It's really complicated because there's so many parts involved here and they all rely on each other. I'm trying to find the cheapest option.

If I get the Letus35 Mini, it saves me needing a monitor, but, the camera would have to be further forward so I could see its screen, the screen isn't very high resolution and I would need an interesting shoulder mount to take the mini's rail system. The Letus35 mini would be $1,100 plus a rail system (which I estimate would be about $300, a wild guess).

Whereas if I get this one on eBay, it would be $725 including the rail system. The monitor would be about $120, and the shoulder mount might be more 'possible', or maybe it'll be as possible as if I bought the mini, especially if I used a shoulder mount like the first one shown, since that mounts ONTO the rail system rather than beneath it. But then I would also need a magic arm for the monitor, and that could be pricey, and there could be compatibility issues between that ebay sale and my camcorder.

Just as a sidenote, I also plan to buy a follow focus (

this one), and I'll be making my own matte box.

Begging for advice. Please. Hehe. I'm judging all this by pictures and limited knowledge. For example I have NO idea how the camera lens attaches to the M2. Not the slightest. I've heard stepup rings, then on that ebay sale it's a rubber hood, then on others I've seen odd tubes... very confusing.

Cheers

EDIT> I've just realised, that monitor has to take mains power. So I can't use that. Can anybody advise of the cheapest possible monitor that runs off battery power that could be mounted onto a magic arm?

Gerry Gallegos · December 4th, 2007, 10:25 AM

Just be sure to read all the reviews on equipment from India. this is NOT a real M2 it is a knock-off as well as the rails and follow focus. read the reviews in this forum on this seller. I know its so tempting because of the price , but just do a bit more reading on people who have purchased these items from this vendor. I am not trying to dissuade you, just making sure you know the difference.

December 4th, 2007, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerry Gallegos

Just be sure to read all the reviews on equipment from India. this is NOT a real M2 it is a knock-off as well as the rails and follow focus. read the reviews in this forum on this seller. I know its so tempting because of the price , but just do a bit more reading on people who have purchased these items from this vendor. I am not trying to dissuade you, just making sure you know the difference.

Oh! So it is. Ah well I'll look at other sales.

But yeah, can anybody answer any other questions?

Taylor Rudd · January 9th, 2008, 01:38 PM

Doing things the cheapest way isn't necessarily the right way.

I would avoid the India stuff.

For your rails and FF, check out Indirails and indifocus - http://indifocus.com/

I would stick with the Letus Mini. I own the extreme and couldn't be happier. Easy to setup, amazing customer service, and great image quality.

If there is a chance of upgrading cameras later, is there any reason you wouldn't go with the Letus Extreme?

We've all made the same mistake - going the 35mm adapter route costs two to three times the amount we want to pay!

December 3rd, 2007, 05:51 PM	#1
Guest Posts: n/a	35mm Adapter, Shoulder Mount. [Camcorder = Sony HVR-A1E] Right, I'm having a new dilemma now. I'm considering going back from the Letus35 Mini to the M2, purely because I can get the M2 AND its rail system for really cheap here. I'm also thinking it'll be easier to use shoulder-mounted than the Letus35 mini, purely because the mini flips the image so you're supposed to use your camera's screen, but that means it has to be set forward and it could end up that you can't reach the follow focus, and the handles would be a real stretch. And there's no point buying a monitor for the letus because the selling point is that it flips the image. However, questions about the M2 ebay sale are: My camera has a 37mm thread. That sale has a 55mm rubber lens hood. And I dunno whether this makes it incompatible, but it has a 72mm achromat lens. Shrugs what does this mean for me? Thinking about it, that'll probably fit anyway, won't it, round the end of the A1's lens? Also, how is the M2 powered? That sale doesn't seem to mention a battery. If I was to do this though, I would have to buy a monitor. I'm considering this one, but then the question is, how do I mount it? I'd like it in front of me when shoulder mounted, but I don't want it obscuring the follow focus either. And talking of shoulder mounted, what shoulder mount would I get? I noticed a few in the user setups on the redrockmicro site: http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g1...howski/4-1.jpg http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g1...howski/1-3.jpg http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g1...howski/8-2.jpg Would this one be best for attaching to the rod system that comes from that ebay sale? http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g1...howski/5-1.jpg http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g1...howski/6-3.jpg This one looks good as well, I think it's the same one in both pictures. http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g1...howski/2-3.jpg http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g1...howski/7-2.jpg This one also looks good, and I guess it would be able to take the rail system on top of it; although, I dunno where the position of the camera would be with that particular rail system on top of this? Another benefit to this shoulder mount is I can fix a varizoom onto the handle http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g1...howski/9-2.jpg Finally there's this one, which looks quite good, again, good for fixing a Varizoom onto, and the monitor is in a good position here. However that's a battery at the back, I presume, at first I thought it was just a shoulder rest... As for the monitor, the ideal configuration would be of that one above but I don't know how easy that would be to mount on the rail system in that ebay sale; so there's this method: http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g1...howski/3-3.jpg However, I don't know if that would go into the bottom of the monitor I linked to before. Also, I'd be interested to see what that magic arm is exactly, and how much it is. So all in all, can anyone give me any advice? It's really complicated because there's so many parts involved here and they all rely on each other. I'm trying to find the cheapest option. If I get the Letus35 Mini, it saves me needing a monitor, but, the camera would have to be further forward so I could see its screen, the screen isn't very high resolution and I would need an interesting shoulder mount to take the mini's rail system. The Letus35 mini would be $1,100 plus a rail system (which I estimate would be about $300, a wild guess). Whereas if I get this one on eBay, it would be $725 including the rail system. The monitor would be about $120, and the shoulder mount might be more 'possible', or maybe it'll be as possible as if I bought the mini, especially if I used a shoulder mount like the first one shown, since that mounts ONTO the rail system rather than beneath it. But then I would also need a magic arm for the monitor, and that could be pricey, and there could be compatibility issues between that ebay sale and my camcorder. Just as a sidenote, I also plan to buy a follow focus (this one), and I'll be making my own matte box. Begging for advice. Please. Hehe. I'm judging all this by pictures and limited knowledge. For example I have NO idea how the camera lens attaches to the M2. Not the slightest. I've heard stepup rings, then on that ebay sale it's a rubber hood, then on others I've seen odd tubes... very confusing. Cheers EDIT> I've just realised, that monitor has to take mains power. So I can't use that. Can anybody advise of the cheapest possible monitor that runs off battery power that could be mounted onto a magic arm? Last edited by Guest; December 3rd, 2007 at 06:39 PM.

December 4th, 2007, 10:25 AM	#2
Gerry Gallegos Major Player Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 262	Just be sure to read all the reviews on equipment from India. this is NOT a real M2 it is a knock-off as well as the rails and follow focus. read the reviews in this forum on this seller. I know its so tempting because of the price , but just do a bit more reading on people who have purchased these items from this vendor. I am not trying to dissuade you, just making sure you know the difference.

January 9th, 2008, 01:38 PM	#4
Taylor Rudd New Boot Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Waco, Texas Posts: 6	Doing things the cheapest way isn't necessarily the right way. I would avoid the India stuff. For your rails and FF, check out Indirails and indifocus - http://indifocus.com/ I would stick with the Letus Mini. I own the extreme and couldn't be happier. Easy to setup, amazing customer service, and great image quality. If there is a chance of upgrading cameras later, is there any reason you wouldn't go with the Letus Extreme? We've all made the same mistake - going the 35mm adapter route costs two to three times the amount we want to pay!