Letus 35a vs. Redrock Adapter

Ben Winter · December 6th, 2005, 07:10 PM

Yes Luke, it is an option for a new Letus to have metal mount, for an extra $100, thanks.

Hehe...i sound like quyen

Tony Tibbetts · December 7th, 2005, 02:13 AM

G35 attaches via bayonet mount...just to clear that up. I believe it also has a thread option.

Marcus Marchesseault · December 7th, 2005, 04:47 AM

Ben says to you what you need to know, thanks.

I plan to buy a used Nikon SLR that is trashed and extract the metal mount someday. For now, my new plastic mount is working fine.

Ben, is the $220 Century Optics +7 achromatic diopter really worth the money? I am satisfied with the Letus35 image as it is, but I wouldn't mind trying something new if the benefit was significant.

Ben Winter · December 7th, 2005, 07:53 AM

If you're experiencing increasing abbheration as you approach the edge of the image, a better achromat would definately solve the problem--if you watch my One Headlight video, chromatic abbheration from the old stock Letus35 macro is very apparent in some shots. I think the bridge scene in particular (can't quite remember) shows how it gets worse as the bright areas near the edge of the image. This was my motivation to find a better one like the Century Optics. However I don't think the Century Optics is absolutely neccessary, there's got to be a cheaper solution--I just got it because I was able to nail it on ebay for $70. Ask Quyen for what model achromat he's shipping with the 35A, and that should probably work for you.

Luke Brown · December 7th, 2005, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Winter

If you're experiencing increasing abbheration as you approach the edge of the image, a better achromat would definately solve the problem--if you watch my One Headlight video, chromatic abbheration is very apparent in some shots. I think the bridge scene in particular (can't quite remember) shows how it gets worse as the bright areas near the edge of the image. However I don't think the Century Optics is absolutely neccessary--I just got it because I was able to nail it on ebay for $70. Ask Quyen for what model achromat he's shipping with the 35A, and that should probably work for you.

In your video was the abberation with or without the achromat?

Ben Winter · December 7th, 2005, 03:10 PM

Oh, sorry, I reread my post and realized it wasn't very clear which achromat I'm referring to. I shot the One headlight video with the stock Letus35 achromat. I don't have any footage available online demonstrating the Century Optics achromat.

Luke Brown · December 7th, 2005, 08:20 PM

Lots of good info here...I still haven't made a decision.

I have a rod system that is supposedly compatible with the redrock adapter so that is a plus, however I think I am handy enough to adapt a support to work with the letus.

Most of the redrock M2 footage I've seen looks a lot softer than the letus with either more flicker or possibly just noticable grain. The letus stuff seems to have more vinnetting (sp?) overall but seems to be a bit sharper. Also, I hear reports that there is a constant hum that is more noticable with the M2 over the letus.

Also, a wait time of anywhere from 4 weeks to 12 weeks (according to some) on the M2 is really discouraging.

Anyway, I'm still considering both so if anyone has hands on experience with both it would be great.

Oh, also there seems to be more chromatic abberation even on the letus "A" model than on the M2...not sure why.

The G35 has also yet to materialize. Their demo footage looks good as I said but I want to hear from someone who has actually used it before buying. Also, the first gen of anything is bound to have some bugs that need to be worked out.

Luke Brown · December 8th, 2005, 02:52 PM

Just as an add-on to this thread, I wanted to mention that I see a lot of people asking this same question with no good answers. Most of the time the reply is "look at the footage" but that is not really a good measure of a product because the user's skill plays so much into the final result.

It would be really great if some of the more experienced posters here were able to get ahold of some demo units from the 35mm adapter makers and do a side by side "shootout" of them on some common cameras like the dvx100, xl2, etc. I think it would be invaluable to a lot of people.

Leo Mandy · December 8th, 2005, 10:17 PM

Hey Ben,

How about a primer on how to put a new macro lens in the Letus35? I think alot of people are becoming interested in a new macro for it...

Just a suggestion...

Bill Porter · December 9th, 2005, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Winter

If you're experiencing increasing abbheration as you approach the edge of the image, a better achromat would definately solve the problem--if you watch my One Headlight video, chromatic abbheration from the old stock Letus35 macro is very apparent in some shots. I think the bridge scene in particular (can't quite remember) shows how it gets worse as the bright areas near the edge of the image. This was my motivation to find a better one like the Century Optics. However I don't think the Century Optics is absolutely neccessary, there's got to be a cheaper solution--I just got it because I was able to nail it on ebay for $70. Ask Quyen for what model achromat he's shipping with the 35A, and that should probably work for you.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=abbheration%20

Ben Winter · December 9th, 2005, 11:37 AM

shhh! okay: chromatic aberration. :)

Oscar Spierenburg · December 9th, 2005, 06:25 PM

You are some smart guy for someone who just pastes up bills or placards on walls or billboards, hey Bill Poster?

http://dictionary.reference.com/sear...ll%20Porter%20

Bill Porter · December 12th, 2005, 11:47 AM

Ha ha ha

If I were smarter I could think of a funny comeback!

December 6th, 2005, 07:10 PM	#16
Ben Winter Trustee Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 1,675 Images: 1	Yes Luke, it is an option for a new Letus to have metal mount, for an extra $100, thanks. Hehe...i sound like quyen __________________ BenWinter.com

December 7th, 2005, 07:53 AM	#19
Ben Winter Trustee Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 1,675 Images: 1	If you're experiencing increasing abbheration as you approach the edge of the image, a better achromat would definately solve the problem--if you watch my One Headlight video, chromatic abbheration from the old stock Letus35 macro is very apparent in some shots. I think the bridge scene in particular (can't quite remember) shows how it gets worse as the bright areas near the edge of the image. This was my motivation to find a better one like the Century Optics. However I don't think the Century Optics is absolutely neccessary, there's got to be a cheaper solution--I just got it because I was able to nail it on ebay for $70. Ask Quyen for what model achromat he's shipping with the 35A, and that should probably work for you. __________________ BenWinter.com Last edited by Ben Winter; December 7th, 2005 at 03:11 PM.

December 7th, 2005, 03:10 PM	#21
Ben Winter Trustee Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 1,675 Images: 1	Oh, sorry, I reread my post and realized it wasn't very clear which achromat I'm referring to. I shot the One headlight video with the stock Letus35 achromat. I don't have any footage available online demonstrating the Century Optics achromat. __________________ BenWinter.com

December 9th, 2005, 11:37 AM	#26
Ben Winter Trustee Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 1,675 Images: 1	shhh! okay: chromatic aberration. :) __________________ BenWinter.com

December 7th, 2005, 02:13 AM	#17
Tony Tibbetts Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 385	G35 attaches via bayonet mount...just to clear that up. I believe it also has a thread option.

December 7th, 2005, 04:47 AM	#18
Marcus Marchesseault Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,961	Ben says to you what you need to know, thanks. I plan to buy a used Nikon SLR that is trashed and extract the metal mount someday. For now, my new plastic mount is working fine. Ben, is the $220 Century Optics +7 achromatic diopter really worth the money? I am satisfied with the Letus35 image as it is, but I wouldn't mind trying something new if the benefit was significant.

December 7th, 2005, 08:20 PM	#22
Luke Brown Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 31	Lots of good info here...I still haven't made a decision. I have a rod system that is supposedly compatible with the redrock adapter so that is a plus, however I think I am handy enough to adapt a support to work with the letus. Most of the redrock M2 footage I've seen looks a lot softer than the letus with either more flicker or possibly just noticable grain. The letus stuff seems to have more vinnetting (sp?) overall but seems to be a bit sharper. Also, I hear reports that there is a constant hum that is more noticable with the M2 over the letus. Also, a wait time of anywhere from 4 weeks to 12 weeks (according to some) on the M2 is really discouraging. Anyway, I'm still considering both so if anyone has hands on experience with both it would be great. Oh, also there seems to be more chromatic abberation even on the letus "A" model than on the M2...not sure why. The G35 has also yet to materialize. Their demo footage looks good as I said but I want to hear from someone who has actually used it before buying. Also, the first gen of anything is bound to have some bugs that need to be worked out.

December 8th, 2005, 02:52 PM	#23
Luke Brown Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 31	Just as an add-on to this thread, I wanted to mention that I see a lot of people asking this same question with no good answers. Most of the time the reply is "look at the footage" but that is not really a good measure of a product because the user's skill plays so much into the final result. It would be really great if some of the more experienced posters here were able to get ahold of some demo units from the 35mm adapter makers and do a side by side "shootout" of them on some common cameras like the dvx100, xl2, etc. I think it would be invaluable to a lot of people.

December 8th, 2005, 10:17 PM	#24
Leo Mandy Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 749	Hey Ben, How about a primer on how to put a new macro lens in the Letus35? I think alot of people are becoming interested in a new macro for it... Just a suggestion...

December 9th, 2005, 06:25 PM	#27
Oscar Spierenburg Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: (The Netherlands - Belgium) Posts: 735	You are some smart guy for someone who just pastes up bills or placards on walls or billboards, hey Bill Poster? http://dictionary.reference.com/sear...ll%20Porter%20

December 12th, 2005, 11:47 AM	#28
Bill Porter Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ventura, California, USA Posts: 751	Ha ha ha If I were smarter I could think of a funny comeback!