My Optura... a work in progress.

Riley Stearns · August 24th, 2005, 06:43 PM

I've upgraded my Optura Xi a little including a AT-897 mic and a homemade 35mm adapter. Next step is a used tripod. Anyway here's a pic of my Optura. https://webspace.utexas.edu/rjs539/www/Fullcam.jpg
I'm curious to see if anyone else has "supped up" their Optura. Please post pics of your rig for others to admire.

Michael Wisniewski · August 24th, 2005, 07:47 PM

Nice setup. I should take a few pics myself.

How are you connecting the AT897 to the camcorder?

Riley Stearns · August 24th, 2005, 07:58 PM

I have a XLR-BP by Studio One that I use to connect the mic to the camera. It works nicely and was cheaper than the beachtek.

Marco Leavitt · August 26th, 2005, 03:12 PM

Do you have any trouble feeding the 35mm adapter enough light? I want to get an M2 for my Optura 60, but I'm not sure if it's going to work out. The camera struggles in even moderate light as it is. One thing I've noticed with those adapters is it's real easy to lose shadow detail even with much more light sensitive cameras.

Riley Stearns · August 26th, 2005, 07:41 PM

I actually did a low light test last night with the new adapter.

https://webspace.utexas.edu/rjs539/w...ght%20Test.mov

The biggest factor is the gg. I have to use a +10 macro, but after that it works great.

Eric Brown · September 2nd, 2005, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riley Stearns

I've upgraded my Optura Xi a little including a AT-897 mic and a homemade 35mm adapter. Next step is a used tripod. Anyway here's a pic of my Optura. https://webspace.utexas.edu/rjs539/www/Fullcam.jpg
I'm curious to see if anyone else has "supped up" their Optura. Please post pics of your rig for others to admire.

Like the footage! Willing to share you adapter plans with the rest of us by any chance?
I actually own an XL2 but also have 2 of the first model Opturas with the progressive scan capability. A fellow XL' owner/buddy of mine thinks I'm, nuts when I tell him I'm going to do some of my shorts with these little guys.
I absolutely love em'. I've never seen so many high end features packed into such a tiny camcorder. Manual focus, exposure, shutter, Lanc control, Progressive Scan. S-video, firewire input, etc, etc.
Do the new Opturas have all this stuff? Crazy...

Philip Williams · September 3rd, 2005, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Brown

Like the footage! Willing to share you adapter plans with the rest of us by any chance?
I actually own an XL2 but also have 2 of the first model Opturas with the progressive scan capability. A fellow XL' owner/buddy of mine thinks I'm, nuts when I tell him I'm going to do some of my shorts with these little guys.
I absolutely love em'. I've never seen so many high end features packed into such a tiny camcorder. Manual focus, exposure, shutter, Lanc control, Progressive Scan. S-video, firewire input, etc, etc.
Do the new Opturas have all this stuff? Crazy...

The new Opturas are super except for one key feature (well, key to me): Progressive Scan. On every other front, they provide superb manual controls for the money. What other cam offers manual audio and manual focus ring for just over 500 bucks?

Eric Brown · September 4th, 2005, 08:19 PM

Sweet. Love my Canons.

Patrick Jenkins · September 9th, 2005, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riley Stearns

I've upgraded my Optura Xi a little including a AT-897 mic and a homemade 35mm adapter. Next step is a used tripod. Anyway here's a pic of my Optura. https://webspace.utexas.edu/rjs539/www/Fullcam.jpg
I'm curious to see if anyone else has "supped up" their Optura. Please post pics of your rig for others to admire.

Nice!

I've got tricked out Opturas also and I'll try to get some pics of them.

(DIY focus, mattebox, sunshade, handheld & shoulder+battery mounts+shotguns, 1 has a 35mm WIP 35mm adapter (RedRock based), etc etc)

Riley Stearns · September 11th, 2005, 09:46 PM

I'm curious to see how your cams look. Did you mention you have a DIY Follow Focus?

Patrick Jenkins · September 12th, 2005, 09:16 AM

Yeah, it's very simple (and goofy) but it works. Someone posted a link to this once and I went with the idea:
http://www.tabletools.com/tabletools...strongboy.html

I found something similar to it at a local kitchen shop. I had to modify it a bit, but it works.

Eric Brown · September 12th, 2005, 01:57 PM

Perhaps there should be a "Pimp my Optura" section. No, really...

Dave Perry · September 12th, 2005, 11:10 PM

Here's mine.

Patrick Jenkins · September 12th, 2005, 11:43 PM

Nice hood! I see there's more than one of us in the 'black duct tape works everywhere' club!

August 24th, 2005, 06:43 PM	#1
Riley Stearns Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 94	My Optura... a work in progress. I've upgraded my Optura Xi a little including a AT-897 mic and a homemade 35mm adapter. Next step is a used tripod. Anyway here's a pic of my Optura. https://webspace.utexas.edu/rjs539/www/Fullcam.jpg I'm curious to see if anyone else has "supped up" their Optura. Please post pics of your rig for others to admire. __________________ i can't yet see Productions

August 24th, 2005, 07:58 PM	#3
Riley Stearns Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 94	I have a XLR-BP by Studio One that I use to connect the mic to the camera. It works nicely and was cheaper than the beachtek. __________________ i can't yet see Productions

August 26th, 2005, 07:41 PM	#5
Riley Stearns Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 94	I actually did a low light test last night with the new adapter. https://webspace.utexas.edu/rjs539/w...ght%20Test.mov The biggest factor is the gg. I have to use a +10 macro, but after that it works great. __________________ i can't yet see Productions

September 11th, 2005, 09:46 PM	#10
Riley Stearns Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 94	I'm curious to see how your cams look. Did you mention you have a DIY Follow Focus? __________________ i can't yet see Productions

September 12th, 2005, 09:16 AM	#11
Patrick Jenkins Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 382	Yeah, it's very simple (and goofy) but it works. Someone posted a link to this once and I went with the idea: http://www.tabletools.com/tabletools...strongboy.html I found something similar to it at a local kitchen shop. I had to modify it a bit, but it works. __________________ PAL shooter in NTSC territory

August 24th, 2005, 07:47 PM	#2
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,205 Images: 32	Nice setup. I should take a few pics myself. How are you connecting the AT897 to the camcorder?

August 26th, 2005, 03:12 PM	#4
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,152	Do you have any trouble feeding the 35mm adapter enough light? I want to get an M2 for my Optura 60, but I'm not sure if it's going to work out. The camera struggles in even moderate light as it is. One thing I've noticed with those adapters is it's real easy to lose shadow detail even with much more light sensitive cameras.

September 4th, 2005, 08:19 PM	#8
Eric Brown Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 427	Sweet. Love my Canons.

September 12th, 2005, 01:57 PM	#12
Eric Brown Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 427	Perhaps there should be a "Pimp my Optura" section. No, really...

September 12th, 2005, 11:10 PM	#13
Dave Perry Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Roanoke, VA Posts: 769	Here's mine. __________________ Dave Perry CarterMedia, Inc. - Assistant Editor/Camera Assistant phone:540-342-9449 cell: 540-915-2752 dave@cartermedia.tv www.cartermedia.tv www.daveperry.net ------------------------------------------------------ "Ideas Transformed Into Media That Moves"

September 12th, 2005, 11:43 PM	#14
Patrick Jenkins Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 382	Nice hood! I see there's more than one of us in the 'black duct tape works everywhere' club! __________________ PAL shooter in NTSC territory

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