Various SGpro topics

Jon Wolding · December 17th, 2007, 09:56 PM

The bokeh looks great!

1. What is the approximate light loss for the SGPro w/flip?
2. What focus gear is on that rig? RRM?
It doesn't look like (as nice as) the ones on your site.

Wayne Kinney · December 18th, 2007, 10:26 AM

Thanks Jon,

Total lightloss from the SGpro + flip module is just over 1 stop. We could have designed the SGpro with less lightloss, however this will compromise the 'bokeh rendition'. We have designed the SGpro towards the best quality image and aethetic.

The gear is our latest type 1 lens gear.

Ben Winter · December 18th, 2007, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne Kinney

Thanks Jon,

Total lightloss from the SGpro + flip module is just over 1 stop. We could have designed the SGpro with less lightloss, however this will compromise the 'bokeh rendition'. We have designed the SGpro towards the best quality image and aethetic.

That's what I like to hear. I always appreciate adapter builders who understand the delicate balance.

Wayne Kinney · April 12th, 2008, 06:52 AM

Hi Guys,

Here we have the results from a lot of users requests for improved performance with the Sony PMW-EX1. As most of you know, the EX1 is a problematic cam when hooked up to an adapter, mainly in terms of edge to edge sharpness. We have worked hard on the fix and this results in edge to edge sharpness even with the EX1's iris wide open at F1.9! The new achromat kit for the flip module will be £49 and available in about 3 weeks. We also have an upgrade kit coming to use the EX1 non flipped, again with great edge to edge sharpness!

Below is a image of the EX1 setup on the SGpro using our latest rods support system:

http://www.sgpro.co.uk/SGpro_flip_ex1.jpg

The EX1 is an amazing camcorder, easily the sharpest cam we have used so far, it really was a pleasure to use! The Fujinon lens is F1.9 throughout the zoom range, so no light is lost once zoomed into the 35mm frame - great! The LCD is also very good, with this and the peeking function, focusing was fairly easy.

We went and took some shots at Brighton Marina village using the new achromat, our own flip module and a variety of Canon FD lenses. Unfortunately the weather was very gloomy, in fact we had to finish early because it started snowing - typical UK weather..hehe. Also, I was a bit of an idiot and have the gain set to +9 from the previous night which added a little noise - DOH!.

Here is the link to a 2 minute clip. It is a 164MB WMV file (please right click and save as):

http://www.sgpro.co.uk/SGproflip_EX1_fix.wmv

VLC player seems to crash so please use media player if on a PC.

Below are some grabs:

http://www.sgpro.co.uk/ex1_frame01.jpg
http://www.sgpro.co.uk/ex1_frame02.jpg
http://www.sgpro.co.uk/ex1_frame03.jpg
http://www.sgpro.co.uk/ex1_frame04.jpg
http://www.sgpro.co.uk/ex1_frame05.jpg

All comments welcome!

Jeremy Hughes · April 12th, 2008, 08:34 AM

Do you have screenshots that are full res? Also, do you have any fullsize footage from that day with you panning and tilting?

And did I miss you dropping the price of the SGPro? :)

Wayne Kinney · April 12th, 2008, 09:19 AM

Hi Jeremy,

I don't have any panning or tilting shots, but I'll try and get some full res grabs up tonight.

The SGpro has been £399 for some time (£299 without rods support).

Henning Pedersen · April 20th, 2008, 03:46 PM

Thanks for sharing this, it's a setup I might end up with very soon! In my opinion it looks slightly better than the redrock flip+HVX 200 tests I've seen. It seems to have have slightly less chromatic abberation seen in edges on the frame.

It's really a close race between the Redrock and the Sgpro. I saw on the Redrock page their flip module is currently not recommended for Sony Z1 and EX...

BTW, is it possible to have the flip module upside down, so that the Sony EX is below the adapter level, not over it?

Wayne Kinney · April 21st, 2008, 09:44 AM

Hi,

Yes it is, however you would need to purchase a z raiser of some sort, maybe from zacuto or geardear. Here is a photo of it setup like this on the new z7:

http://www.peter-hoare.co.uk/Z71.jpg

Lee Wilson · July 30th, 2008, 02:50 AM

Wow !!

Ordered my SGPro late Sunday night (I am talking around 11pm at night) - it turned up on Tuesday early afternoon !!! :)

What were you people doing on Monday, sitting on your hands ? ;P

Seriously, great service, I have never bought anything online that had such a pain free and rapid turnaround.

Now to set it up . . . . .

Wayne Kinney · July 30th, 2008, 08:12 AM

Hi Lee,

Glad to hear the unit arrived safe and sound. Yes, we have really work to reduce our lead time but I think it has paid off :)

Did a mod achieve all the SGpro threads into this one thread?

Lee Wilson · July 31st, 2008, 08:43 AM

One quick question, I am plugging a Canon HV30 into the SGPro, the Canon has 43mm threads - so I need to step up from 43mm to 72mm to interface the SGPro.

I couldn't find a simple 43mm to 72mm step up ring but I managed to get what I needed by using 4 step up rings (!!)

43 - 46
46 - 52
52 - 62
62 - 72

Do you think this ok, or is it better to use a single (and slimmer) ring ?

Wayne Kinney · July 31st, 2008, 09:00 AM

Lee,

It will be fine, the extra distance actually helps with vignetting for a small cam like the HV30.

Lee Wilson · July 31st, 2008, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne Kinney

Lee,

It will be fine, the extra distance actually helps with vignetting for a small cam like the HV30.

Cheers! Good to know that about vignetting. I also have a method to remove any vignetting I might pick up.

Once the camera / adaptor and everything is set up, shoot a few seconds of a flat white card. When you capture your footage, don't forget to capture this flat white card footage also.

The footage of the flat white card will have the very same vignetting the rest of footage has.

In your editing program inverse the flat white card footage (black to white / white to black) and use this as a mask to slightly adjust the vignetted areas of the proper footage.

I usually use either 'levels' or 'curves' in After Effects, works very well and is fast and easy.

Hope that all makes sense !

Wayne Kinney · July 31st, 2008, 02:54 PM

An affective method, yes. Remember that you will need one mask for each of your lenses.

Lee Wilson · July 31st, 2008, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne Kinney

An affective method, yes. Remember that you will need one mask for each of your lenses.

Yep! I just shoot a bit of white once everything is set up.

December 18th, 2007, 10:26 AM	#47
Wayne Kinney Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Brighton, East Sussex, UK Posts: 938	Thanks Jon, Total lightloss from the SGpro + flip module is just over 1 stop. We could have designed the SGpro with less lightloss, however this will compromise the 'bokeh rendition'. We have designed the SGpro towards the best quality image and aethetic. The gear is our latest type 1 lens gear. __________________ Thanks, Wayne.

April 12th, 2008, 06:52 AM	#49
Wayne Kinney Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Brighton, East Sussex, UK Posts: 938	SGpro r3 with flip module and new EX1 fix- grabs and footage Hi Guys, Here we have the results from a lot of users requests for improved performance with the Sony PMW-EX1. As most of you know, the EX1 is a problematic cam when hooked up to an adapter, mainly in terms of edge to edge sharpness. We have worked hard on the fix and this results in edge to edge sharpness even with the EX1's iris wide open at F1.9! The new achromat kit for the flip module will be £49 and available in about 3 weeks. We also have an upgrade kit coming to use the EX1 non flipped, again with great edge to edge sharpness! Below is a image of the EX1 setup on the SGpro using our latest rods support system: http://www.sgpro.co.uk/SGpro_flip_ex1.jpg The EX1 is an amazing camcorder, easily the sharpest cam we have used so far, it really was a pleasure to use! The Fujinon lens is F1.9 throughout the zoom range, so no light is lost once zoomed into the 35mm frame - great! The LCD is also very good, with this and the peeking function, focusing was fairly easy. We went and took some shots at Brighton Marina village using the new achromat, our own flip module and a variety of Canon FD lenses. Unfortunately the weather was very gloomy, in fact we had to finish early because it started snowing - typical UK weather..hehe. Also, I was a bit of an idiot and have the gain set to +9 from the previous night which added a little noise - DOH!. Here is the link to a 2 minute clip. It is a 164MB WMV file (please right click and save as): http://www.sgpro.co.uk/SGproflip_EX1_fix.wmv VLC player seems to crash so please use media player if on a PC. Below are some grabs: http://www.sgpro.co.uk/ex1_frame01.jpg http://www.sgpro.co.uk/ex1_frame02.jpg http://www.sgpro.co.uk/ex1_frame03.jpg http://www.sgpro.co.uk/ex1_frame04.jpg http://www.sgpro.co.uk/ex1_frame05.jpg All comments welcome! __________________ Thanks, Wayne.

April 12th, 2008, 08:34 AM	#50
Jeremy Hughes Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 276 Images: 2	Do you have screenshots that are full res? Also, do you have any fullsize footage from that day with you panning and tilting? And did I miss you dropping the price of the SGPro? :) __________________ www.elevate-m.com filmvideostuff.blogspot.com

April 12th, 2008, 09:19 AM	#51
Wayne Kinney Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Brighton, East Sussex, UK Posts: 938	Hi Jeremy, I don't have any panning or tilting shots, but I'll try and get some full res grabs up tonight. The SGpro has been £399 for some time (£299 without rods support). __________________ Thanks, Wayne.

April 20th, 2008, 03:46 PM	#52
Henning Pedersen Tourist Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 1	SGPro flip vs Redrock flip on EX Thanks for sharing this, it's a setup I might end up with very soon! In my opinion it looks slightly better than the redrock flip+HVX 200 tests I've seen. It seems to have have slightly less chromatic abberation seen in edges on the frame. It's really a close race between the Redrock and the Sgpro. I saw on the Redrock page their flip module is currently not recommended for Sony Z1 and EX... BTW, is it possible to have the flip module upside down, so that the Sony EX is below the adapter level, not over it?

December 17th, 2007, 09:56 PM	#46
Jon Wolding Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 195	The bokeh looks great! 1. What is the approximate light loss for the SGPro w/flip? 2. What focus gear is on that rig? RRM? It doesn't look like (as nice as) the ones on your site.

April 21st, 2008, 09:44 AM	#53
Wayne Kinney Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Brighton, East Sussex, UK Posts: 938	Hi, Yes it is, however you would need to purchase a z raiser of some sort, maybe from zacuto or geardear. Here is a photo of it setup like this on the new z7: http://www.peter-hoare.co.uk/Z71.jpg __________________ Thanks, Wayne.

July 30th, 2008, 02:50 AM	#54
Lee Wilson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 376	Wow !! Ordered my SGPro late Sunday night (I am talking around 11pm at night) - it turned up on Tuesday early afternoon !!! :) What were you people doing on Monday, sitting on your hands ? ;P Seriously, great service, I have never bought anything online that had such a pain free and rapid turnaround. Now to set it up . . . . .

July 30th, 2008, 08:12 AM	#55
Wayne Kinney Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Brighton, East Sussex, UK Posts: 938	Hi Lee, Glad to hear the unit arrived safe and sound. Yes, we have really work to reduce our lead time but I think it has paid off :) Did a mod achieve all the SGpro threads into this one thread? __________________ Thanks, Wayne.

July 31st, 2008, 08:43 AM	#56
Lee Wilson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 376	One quick question, I am plugging a Canon HV30 into the SGPro, the Canon has 43mm threads - so I need to step up from 43mm to 72mm to interface the SGPro. I couldn't find a simple 43mm to 72mm step up ring but I managed to get what I needed by using 4 step up rings (!!) 43 - 46 46 - 52 52 - 62 62 - 72 Do you think this ok, or is it better to use a single (and slimmer) ring ?

July 31st, 2008, 09:00 AM	#57
Wayne Kinney Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Brighton, East Sussex, UK Posts: 938	Lee, It will be fine, the extra distance actually helps with vignetting for a small cam like the HV30. __________________ Thanks, Wayne.

July 31st, 2008, 02:54 PM	#59
Wayne Kinney Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Brighton, East Sussex, UK Posts: 938	An affective method, yes. Remember that you will need one mask for each of your lenses. __________________ Thanks, Wayne.