New Century Optics Anamorphic adapters

Marco Leavitt · January 24th, 2004, 03:39 PM

Nicholi,
So, are you saying that the new adapter does indeed give you a wider angle of view? If so, that's great news. I confess, I'm apparently too dense to follow your thread.

On the older adapter that I have, yeah, your zoom range is very limited. I have yet to do some resolution tests, but the image clearly loses focus at one half of the zoom range on my GL1. I'm sure it occurs much sooner than that, but you just can't tell because of the lousy resolution of the LCD. I never zoom more than a quarter of the way. Personally, I don't find it a problem. If I need to zoom, I just move closer. The lens has little distortion at full wide, and almost none at all at a quarter zoom. It's much better than the WD-58. The extra flexibility of a zoom-through adapter would be nice, but photographers have been "making the shot" with fixed focal length lenses for years. I've even met photographers who think zooms are for dopes.

On the vignetting -- it is possible with the century. It showed up in some footage that I shot a couple of weeks ago, but I haven't been able to reproduce it. I'm not sure if it has something to do with the aperature, or if it came from the lens hood. It's kind of a mystery at this point. Normally, there's no vignetting, even at full wide. In any case, it's outside of the picture area.

By the way, autofocus works fine with this lens. I mention it, because I had held off buying a 16:9 adapter, because I thought it would require having a monitor in the field. You can also apparently zoom all the way in, let the focus lock on (it'll still look fuzzy), put it on manual and zoom back out. As I said, I've yet to do a resolution test, but it sure seems to work.

As far as composing with the image squished and all, you get used to it. Even though its squished, since objects in the image are distorted proportionally, it's possible to compose the shot. Century makes a gadget that attaches to the viewfinder and lets you see the image in its correct aspect, but the GL1 had a manufacturing defect that makes the viewfinders finicky, and I would never put any weight on it for fear of shorting it out.

Nicholi Brossia · January 24th, 2004, 04:24 PM

I was referring specifically to aspect ratio (horizontal : vertical), not focal length.
Normal lenses change the focal length of both horizontal and vertical planes at equal increments (spherical). For anamorphic, the compression will only be on one plane, while the other plane remains uneffected (cylindrical). Technically this would be a change in focal length (wider) only on the horizontal plane. That's why everything looks tall and thin. It seems as though they are measuring in terms of how much fits on the screen as opposed to focal length of the lens.
That's just an explanation of the anamorphic lens, but I think you may be asking something different.
It sounds like you're asking about a comparison between the regular widescreen adaptor and the new full-zoom adaptor. If you mean wider aspect ratio, no. Both are 16:9 or 1.78:1 ratio widescreen adaptors. If you're asking about shorter focal length, Century Optics are the only ones with information as to how their adaptors influence overall focal length. At least until someone tests it out.

Dave Largent · January 24th, 2004, 04:29 PM

How long has this adaper been on the market? Are
there any user reviews/feedback that anyone
knows about?
Would anyone expect any light loss with this lens?
I wouldn't think so.
Marco, does yours have good sharpness in the
first half of the zoom range?

Marco Leavitt · January 24th, 2004, 11:48 PM

As I said, I don't zoom past one quarter, but yeah, sharp as hell.

Kevin Lee · January 31st, 2004, 10:02 AM

Still no user reports/feedback on this new 1.33x adaptor? The price is very steep but the full-zoom through is a huge bonus on the old one.

For run and gun hand-held, how does focus on the old 16:9 adaptor perform?

BH has the new adaptor listed as back-ordered, stating 2-4weeks delivery, but it's been about 2 months now. What's the story there?

Dave Largent · January 31st, 2004, 02:37 PM

Have you checked EVS? ZGC is a good company.
I've personally had good dealings with them.
I'd go with them over B&H from a customer
service point of view.
I'm surprised no one is coming out with their
thoughts on the new adapter, seeing as it is out of stock. I may be needing to get one myself.

Boyd Ostroff · January 31st, 2004, 03:27 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Dave Largent : I'm surprised no one is coming out with their thoughts on the new adapter, seeing as it is out of stock. -->>>

That could also mean they haven't received ANY of them yet...

Marco Leavitt · January 31st, 2004, 05:34 PM

"For run and gun hand-held, how does focus on the old 16:9 adaptor perform?"

I shot a wedding reception with it and didn't have any focus problems. It may be a little slower, but the difference is slight enough that it's hard to tell, at least for me.

Kevin Lee · January 31st, 2004, 10:53 PM

Marco Leavitt.

You mean you had the camera on auto focus with the 16:9 adaptor on and didn't much focus hunting issues?

(I shot a wedding reception with it and didn't have any focus problems. It may be a little slower, but the difference is slight enough that it's hard to tell, at least for me.)

Marco Leavitt · February 2nd, 2004, 08:00 AM

Right. You can't manually focus with the GL1 viewfinder with or without the adapter. Autofocus works just fine with the adapter. It also seems possible to zoom in way past the focus range, let the autofocus lock on, put in on manual, and zoom back out. I actually think this lens is very good for run and gun, because you can't zoom to much anyway when you're handholding a camcorder or using a monopod because the shot would be too shaky.

Dave Largent · February 2nd, 2004, 06:43 PM

I contacted one of the sponsors and received the
reply that Century has not released the lens yet
and, despite the distributor contacting Century
weekly regarding when it will be out, Cenury
is not able to give any estimation.

January 24th, 2004, 04:24 PM	#17
Nicholi Brossia Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 389	I was referring specifically to aspect ratio (horizontal : vertical), not focal length. Normal lenses change the focal length of both horizontal and vertical planes at equal increments (spherical). For anamorphic, the compression will only be on one plane, while the other plane remains uneffected (cylindrical). Technically this would be a change in focal length (wider) only on the horizontal plane. That's why everything looks tall and thin. It seems as though they are measuring in terms of how much fits on the screen as opposed to focal length of the lens. That's just an explanation of the anamorphic lens, but I think you may be asking something different. It sounds like you're asking about a comparison between the regular widescreen adaptor and the new full-zoom adaptor. If you mean wider aspect ratio, no. Both are 16:9 or 1.78:1 ratio widescreen adaptors. If you're asking about shorter focal length, Century Optics are the only ones with information as to how their adaptors influence overall focal length. At least until someone tests it out. __________________ Nicholi Brossia

January 24th, 2004, 03:39 PM	#16
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Nicholi, So, are you saying that the new adapter does indeed give you a wider angle of view? If so, that's great news. I confess, I'm apparently too dense to follow your thread. On the older adapter that I have, yeah, your zoom range is very limited. I have yet to do some resolution tests, but the image clearly loses focus at one half of the zoom range on my GL1. I'm sure it occurs much sooner than that, but you just can't tell because of the lousy resolution of the LCD. I never zoom more than a quarter of the way. Personally, I don't find it a problem. If I need to zoom, I just move closer. The lens has little distortion at full wide, and almost none at all at a quarter zoom. It's much better than the WD-58. The extra flexibility of a zoom-through adapter would be nice, but photographers have been "making the shot" with fixed focal length lenses for years. I've even met photographers who think zooms are for dopes. On the vignetting -- it is possible with the century. It showed up in some footage that I shot a couple of weeks ago, but I haven't been able to reproduce it. I'm not sure if it has something to do with the aperature, or if it came from the lens hood. It's kind of a mystery at this point. Normally, there's no vignetting, even at full wide. In any case, it's outside of the picture area. By the way, autofocus works fine with this lens. I mention it, because I had held off buying a 16:9 adapter, because I thought it would require having a monitor in the field. You can also apparently zoom all the way in, let the focus lock on (it'll still look fuzzy), put it on manual and zoom back out. As I said, I've yet to do a resolution test, but it sure seems to work. As far as composing with the image squished and all, you get used to it. Even though its squished, since objects in the image are distorted proportionally, it's possible to compose the shot. Century makes a gadget that attaches to the viewfinder and lets you see the image in its correct aspect, but the GL1 had a manufacturing defect that makes the viewfinders finicky, and I would never put any weight on it for fear of shorting it out.

January 24th, 2004, 04:29 PM	#18
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	How long has this adaper been on the market? Are there any user reviews/feedback that anyone knows about? Would anyone expect any light loss with this lens? I wouldn't think so. Marco, does yours have good sharpness in the first half of the zoom range?

January 24th, 2004, 11:48 PM	#19
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	As I said, I don't zoom past one quarter, but yeah, sharp as hell.

January 31st, 2004, 10:02 AM	#20
Kevin Lee Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 224	Still no user reports/feedback on this new 1.33x adaptor? The price is very steep but the full-zoom through is a huge bonus on the old one. For run and gun hand-held, how does focus on the old 16:9 adaptor perform? BH has the new adaptor listed as back-ordered, stating 2-4weeks delivery, but it's been about 2 months now. What's the story there?

January 31st, 2004, 02:37 PM	#21
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	Have you checked EVS? ZGC is a good company. I've personally had good dealings with them. I'd go with them over B&H from a customer service point of view. I'm surprised no one is coming out with their thoughts on the new adapter, seeing as it is out of stock. I may be needing to get one myself.

January 31st, 2004, 03:27 PM	#22
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	<<<-- Originally posted by Dave Largent : I'm surprised no one is coming out with their thoughts on the new adapter, seeing as it is out of stock. -->>> That could also mean they haven't received ANY of them yet...

January 31st, 2004, 05:34 PM	#23
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	"For run and gun hand-held, how does focus on the old 16:9 adaptor perform?" I shot a wedding reception with it and didn't have any focus problems. It may be a little slower, but the difference is slight enough that it's hard to tell, at least for me.

January 31st, 2004, 10:53 PM	#24
Kevin Lee Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 224	Marco Leavitt. You mean you had the camera on auto focus with the 16:9 adaptor on and didn't much focus hunting issues? (I shot a wedding reception with it and didn't have any focus problems. It may be a little slower, but the difference is slight enough that it's hard to tell, at least for me.)

February 2nd, 2004, 08:00 AM	#25
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Right. You can't manually focus with the GL1 viewfinder with or without the adapter. Autofocus works just fine with the adapter. It also seems possible to zoom in way past the focus range, let the autofocus lock on, put in on manual, and zoom back out. I actually think this lens is very good for run and gun, because you can't zoom to much anyway when you're handholding a camcorder or using a monopod because the shot would be too shaky.

February 2nd, 2004, 06:43 PM	#26
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	I contacted one of the sponsors and received the reply that Century has not released the lens yet and, despite the distributor contacting Century weekly regarding when it will be out, Cenury is not able to give any estimation.