Letus Extreme and...
 

I know it's here somewhere but i cant seem to find it. I'm looking to buy a letus extreme for my EX1 but would really like to know exactly what setup others would reccomend (trying to keep prices down to a minimum), i.e. what rail system they are using, lens mount, and most importantly which lens they have purchased to use with the adapter and also any pitfalls or limitations i should be aware of when marrying the ex1 to a letus, thank you.

Phil Bloom's blog ...
 

is a good place to start. Follow the threads here on the questions you have. It'll take a bit of reading but the answers are there.
http://www.philipbloom.co.uk/Philip_Bloom/Home.html

Phil has a great blog, also check my blog as well...

http://web.mac.com/stevecahill/Steve...Blog/Blog.html

feel free to email me any questions. Am always happy to answer questions.

Feeling it...
 

Daniel,

I feel your pain. I basically have the same questions. I've been pretty thoroughly through Phil and Steve's blogs, both are wonderful. So far, what I've found is the Zacuto rail mount system looks awesome. The lenses I'm not so sure about. I often can't tell what people are using. Are folks using the PL mount with 35mm lenses or...? I'm just not sure what I should be pricing out.

Currently, I've got an XDCAM 330 and am looking for a back-up cam with the nifty Letus-style accoutrement to make it even tastier.

Also, I can't tell if the Letus flips or not? On some of Phil's pics he's got a Marshall hooked up and the image looks straight up and down.

Finally, my lead DP is concerned that the Letus will vignette but Phil's blogs swear it isn't so, Steve seems to back that up - any problems out there?

From what I've seen the imagery looks great. For only losing 1/2 stop, if there is no vignetteing this would be awesome. I'd love to see more posted on this - especially about which lenses for us lens newbies.

Max Kaiser

I too would enjoy reading a "newbie guide" to the Letus, how it works, the difference in the rails and which ones are needed for what purpose, ect.

The best lenses I would use are the Zeiss lenses, I have replaced all my Nikon manual focus lens with the Zeiss lenses. The 20mm, 50mm macro, 85mm are my main lenses. They can be bought at B&H. I find them just as sharp as the Nikons, but I also find the mechnical build of the lenses extremely well built and very smooth to focus with as well, perhaps better than the Nikons. The Zeiss lens come with Nikon mounts.

The Letus Extreme is a "fliped" unit offering the proper image orientation as well. It is all in one unit, well built and it holds up to the rigors to travel. I just returned from Prague with it, and there is one installment on Prague on my blog about this, 2 more to come stay tuned, with footage to be added.

The measure of any adapter is the ease of use, sharpness, and its mechnical
build, but one very important overlooked item is how well it attaches to the camera and what support system to use to "hold it" in place. You do not need a cheap support system that does not work, screws do not tighten, come loose, and then the adapter gets out of alignment.

By far the best system is the Zaucto rail system and it meets the above requirements. Not inexpensive, you get what you pay for, and it is rock solid. I whish the Letus had incorporated in it, holes for a rail system to pass through it for additional support. I have taken additional steps to make it more solid, and will share this is a future blog on my site.

Take the time to explore Philips blog and mine to see pics of the setups, the best thing you can do is take the plunge and get the system based on our experiences. Also check out the other sites for other adapters they have lots of users set-up pics so you can get other ideas. I do strongly suggest a system that is rock solid, adjusts with ease, locks into place so that your travels with the system do NOT turn into a alignment session vers a shooting session. Now get out and shoot!

I too am going to buy a Letus and was leaning toward this package.

http://www.zacuto.com/Letus_cine_kit.htm


Is this a good choise for the Ex1 or will I need some additional parts?

This looks like a killer setup

http://www.zacuto.com/Sony_EX1_Letus_tripod_1.htm

I think you also need the EX1 optimization kit...

Thats the same setup I have and its truly brilliant. Expensive compared to its competition, yes, but worth the extra expense.

You can buy cheaper versions but in the end you buy the expensive version as the cheaper versions really just don't work very well!

Wasted a lot of money doing that myself!

Phil, I guess I'm getting ready to think about investing in the Letus Extreme rig for my EX1. I guess I'm not the only one in Europe who is wondering whether it's best to buy it direct (with the duty and VAT charged at the EU customs), or some good reseller (e.g. in the UK) exist... Can you advise?

Robb, I did not see any EX1 optimization kit... do you have a link for this?

Here is the link to buy the EX Optimization
http://www.letusdirect.com/cart/Letu...treme-p-6.html

Under "Categories"
click on "Letus Accessories "
at the bottom of the page
you will see "Sony EX1 Kit"
The much anticipated optimization kit for the Sony PMW-EX1 XDCAM.
Our price: $349.00

Or $199 when buying the Letus Extreme.. :)