Dan I have to agree....we ALL want to see some HDV footage from your setup! if you can get on the net AND you have a firewire port on your PC then I am SURE you can get your hands on a demo copy of some HDV editing software and export us some footage ;)

what do you say? wana give it a try..? we are all waiting!


;)

BTW I have the dough..but I don't spend it without proof and working product samples ;)

forget FCP...try and get Sony Vegas video demo..that should do the trick for you

Today, I was supposed to get (over night) a Z1 out for "da test". Unfortunately, both went out (on rental) :-P. It will come! Not today though. I still got some nice footage (as planned) but with the same GS (I will post some pics in one hour or so under "footage samples" on my site) Z1 is still "da best" footage generator (so far) the best "match" with MPIC. Did you see the Z1 "setup"? Sweeeeeeeeeeetest of them all. I have no intention to run "pretty-lil- myself" into trouble with Vegas and all those "beasts". Premiere Pro can do, PP has to do and will do. If you want to buy it, might as well send you the original tape and let YOU do da doity tricks.

I do have PPro but I don't have a HDV deck...and I don't think I will ever buy one...I do have DVCPROHD deck that I could load from..but that is not going to work with HDV

I know this is a little off topic, but Vegas is very friendly and very easy to use. In my opinion after using both, I am a bigger fan of Vegas then PPro.

I managed to gather some 45' of footage with MPIC and Z1. From now on, is up to Premiere P to show it..... wish me luck. I am working on it.

import went well, the CPU temp went from 14 deg over ambient (30-45) to 30 over (30-60) (might have to get back to water cooling with this HD if it becomes a hobby) Flip test went well but I did not test the quality (artifacts ond so on)on a bigger screen. Slept one hour last night/6-7 and feeling dizzzzzzzzzzzy. Picthshaaaaa's good, well known lead actors: Felix and friends.... 2nite or tomorrow the clips.

Rendering/compressing the footage goes painfully slow. (CPU temp 63 deg) I have to break down the clips so they feet the 30MB limit on "rapidshare". Whether is my computer ( CPU or the video card) the mpg compressing or "you name it", the compressed footage plays choppy (here) as if it was 15fps or so (and so did audio so I took it out). No water cooling....
To render 14 seconds takes 5 minutes (to compress it in mpg)
I might as well save some frames and move on... I can hear the variable fan speed trying to keep up with the load demands...
Z1+MPIC.Frame size 1920/1080 @ 0db (8?-9.6?iris on Z1 ND1? or ND2? was on), 30P,shoot with 85mm Nikkor @ 1.8 (aperture) under high contrast light. Felix.
Color fringe on hi contrast left light areas (non lens related imo having seen soft footage areas with less contrast as well)
Proooooven shmooooven.... she's-a-round! 14.8Mb 6 seconds:

http://rapidshare.de/files/2038885/Felix_and_M.m2v.html

Dan,

Does your device have a way of change the focal length? You seem to use alot of different lenses, which is what most film-makers want - but you are using the same device right?

Yes, same device different lens (primes not zooms) same zoom/focus position on Z1 (to get the GG in focus and filling the screen of the camera)
Here are some stills from footage:
http://dandiaconu.com/gallery/album16
What a pain.........
Prooooven shmoooven….. signing off ….

I have just added one more album:
http://dandiaconu.com/gallery/album17
Stills from the Z1+MPIC tests. (and the 50" monitor I used to analize the footage)

Ok Dan

Gotta say thats really good, cant see any evidence of 'devils grid' unlike DV footage - I guess the M2t handles this way way better.


So then, - have you thought about

1) making plans available for sale of the oscillation mechanism? Single Licence etc

2) approximate cost of construction of the oscillation mechanism?

3) could it be made to fit inside a tube internal diametre 58mm?

I offered that a few months ago to anyone "production inclined" as I am only "mechanically challenged". Tempt me!
It depends on the series. Large scale, baby steps....(we can talk about it)
That will only demonstrate to what degree am I "mechanically challenged".
That's a tough one, but.... that is how I started (58mm dia)
Let's talk tomorrow if you want: 604-780-1818

Thanks for the replies Dan

Thanks for asking John, although I did not understand very well the perspective you were asking from; was it as an individual user or manufacturer's POV?

Dan,

No mega-corporate conglomerate I'm afraid - just me :)

My preferred choice of material would be machinable Nylon

Here's one for you - I find the Canon 250D twin lens achromat very soft at the edges at 250mm full zoom infinity focus (target is an illuminated focus 35mm slide), maybe its just the FX1/250D combination

- are you satisfied with the performance of your Century achromat ?

I have not tested Canon's achromatic, so I can not comment but I did BUY the best (I know of) Century's. My "old fashion values" and also the fact that I am too poor to waste money on testing everyone's.... and buy cheap(er) merchandise.... "you-get-what-you-pay-for" kind'a thing. But until one does not learn what short cuts work and which don't (paying!) one does not know and keeps trying. The lesson is repeated till learned.
Subsequently, the image is sharp and color distortion free.(one would wonder how come they are still in business if the same could be purchased for less...)
Although may not be the best sample, here it is one: (two)
http://dandiaconu.com/gallery/ALL-CLIP-TESTS/IMGA0525
http://dandiaconu.com/gallery/ALL-CLIP-TESTS/IMGA0523
Panasonic GS200+MPIC+Nikkor (35mm? or 50mm?)+ (+7) Century achromatic.
The achromatic was used to get a ECU (in this case) and not to obtain a sharp image of the screen on the camcorder. In other words, the +7 was in front of the SLR lens, followed by MPIC and GS200.
But it works just as well for the purpose you want to use it.

As for the plans, I am worried it would not be a "Sunday afternoon" job for most and that is why I sort'a was reluctant to take anyone's money and make them available. Is just a bit too much for the average hobbyist (from what I have seen so far) and the time+expense would by far exceed the "savings" (if any) In all honesty I think professionals will do as they always did (buy the available tools and do their jobs) and the hobbyists will have a ton of fun their own way as well (and I am setting the best example here, hey? hehehe (;-)<

Thanks for that

Of interest is that Canon say of their achromats <They do not degrade the high optical performance of EF lenses> which may be true

in which case the FX1 lens may be the source of the edge softening with achromat fitted which of course is not good news

"Achromat" means "no color distortion" not "no image distortion" (unless otherwise specified)
I could not find in Goggle anything but 52 and 58mm from Canon.
FX1/Z1 are 72mm. Anyway, idea is that central part of the lens is the nearest to "perfect". Using it all (as we do at wide open aperture) summarizes all distortion available (not much, but they all add up) You may want to check your achromat with a smaller camcorder (37?mm dia lens) and see if is OK, and if it is, get a larger dia CU achromat for FX1 (may I suggest from a trusted brand?)
From:
http://www.centuryoptics.com/product...s/diopters.htm
we get a solid promise:
>>>>>Edge-to-Edge Sharpness
Common single element diopters permit focusing at close camera-to-subject distances at the expense of image clarity. Instead, Achromatic Diopters feature two highly corrected glass elements which minimize chromatic aberration and distortion.<<<<<<
do it right or don't bother! (anything else is waste). (we all need reminders sometimes...(;-)<

I have discovered the source of my problem.

Evidently, Macro photography works best at F5.6 and smaller apertures, my tests were at F2.8 (FX1 zoomed in, maximum aperture) which fully explains the soft edges with the 250D - best at F5.6 and smaller.

Good you sorted it out. I would still be curious if you could get same sharp image on Z1@ 2.8 and a larger CU lens (for the sake of knowing...) It would make a diff in lights needed, but... What is the power? +3,4,7?

>I would still be curious if you could get same sharp image on Z1@ 2.8 and a larger CU lens (for the sake of knowing...)

I would surely doubt this. When I move a piece of paper into view across the 250D - it only becomes visible within about 20mm central diameter - this is because the FX1 has about 5 dgree FOV when zoomed in - a larger CU would be a waste of glass and money imho :)

>What is the power? +3,4,7?

the 250D is +4 dioptre, spectra coated about $90, and Canon do not recommend stacking more than one :( and if they did, maybe it would only be fully sharp at F!!

Do you have it mounted on the lens or further away? 72mm dia?

interesting question...

I am using FX1>72-58mm step ring>Canon 250D 58mm>58mm tube>>>>....


moving the dioptre further way from the FX1 will use more of the 250D glass and increase magnification. Have you found a sweet spot??

Try a "hand-held" close to the lens (skip the 72-58) see what happens.

no specific advantage gained

If you could only get your hands on a 72mm Century (to test it only) you may notice a difference... (any local rental house/photo store has it?..)

in the SLR lens world the standard macro lens is the 100mm F4, I think that alone must be saying something. Most articles I have read suggest F5.6-F8 as the optimum for macro photography. CU filters are not regarded favourably in the SLR community.

Sorry for the diversion, but I added a new album: lens comparison
http://dandiaconu.com/gallery/album18
On the CU issue; I have used the CU achromat from Century with MPIC (in front of 1.4/50 Nikkor) and it seem fine. (eye CU). However, closer to "academic" would be macro lens/extension tubes/adapters/bellows.

Now.. that looks familiar...
http://dandiaconu.com/gallery/work-in-progress/IMGA0769
but wait.... she's-a-moving-a-round-a
http://dandiaconu.com/gallery/work-in-progress/IMGA0770
Well... wouldn't that be nice?...
http://dandiaconu.com/gallery/work-in-progress/IMGA0776

This local rental house
http://provisionvideo.com/features.htm
will show some changes in the nearest future:
http://provisionvideo.com/events.htm

So the unit is just for rental not purchase?

No, you can order one unit just as well.

Do you know what the rental and purchase prices are?

I had the pleasure two days ago to sell the first MPIC and the first set of lenses (I geared and re greased) for 13K configured for both Z1 and DVX100A. I have also included (in kind) my FF(yes the one I have photograped on my site) and the CU achromat (I did not use) just for ECU (in front of the SLR lenses). When a larger production scale will commence, the price will drop a lot. The local rental rate (for now) is $450/day (all lens included) We might look into a more complete package (FF, filters, MB, etc) once we will get some FB. I also have in mind a short film out test (I am very curious...) DV, HD and then both with MPIC. (the only way to determine results imo).
I have to do it since the first FEATURE was confirmed and booked for Sept-Oct-Nov (six weeks)
More to come. Oh... BTW, my patent application for the ELECTRO-MAGNETIC DRIVE (the "new GG mmoving mechanism" which is now SIX MONTHS OLD without being replicated) was allowed. (I still have to do some changes in the drawings and... oh well.. minor stuff...) Hopefully, my first "misterious" customer will refrain from taking it apart and commencing production without a "dinner invitation"........
I made this PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT since I did not (till today) actually reveal any details about the movement.
This forum was my way to establish a "priority date" for the contraption and determine if is worth moving it forward.
Now... is this a public invitation to take it to production or what? Who am I going to meet in court with? Anyone? I would actually preffer to leave some "younger blood" look after production, sale, etc as I have some other "toys" to make. Anyone interested, use this forum's email as my personal email is "haunted"...... (I did not even received the "new posts",.... I had to check the forum......) better yet, call me.

Movement of Fresnel
 

Dan,
How is it that the image is not effected by the movement (even as slight as it is) of the fresnel focusing screen? if I move mine, the image moves with it. What I'm thinking is, if your movement is even as small as .36mm, that is still 1% of the width of the frame, seems like you'd get some kind of blur. But your freeze frames look good, so I was wondering what the limits of moving the fresnel are, and how they effect image quality.

I look through this thread and didnt see this question asked, but if you covered it before just direct me to that post.

read this - hope it will help to you

Ive tryied 3mm, forget it. But 1.5mm worked. Think... What is moving ? Just not focused things... right ? Focused stays stable... Now... What happens if you oscilate it with high speed, higher than camera can shoot ? Unfocused parts of image are yet more blured... right ? So you will get deeper DOF... try it :)

Dan,

I am not as heavily entrenched in this stuff as some people so pardon my ignorance, but, howcome this isn't an infringement on mini35's patent?

Congrats, can't wait to see a short film from ya.

Bill,
this forum may not be the right place to discuss at length this issues as I am not even qualified to talk on the subject. So here is my 2c: to infringe on a patent one must sell a device that:
1) resembles a patented device
and does that in
2) a country for which a patent was obtained.

As for the movie, it will have quite a few "head scratching" shoots as now, my creativity has an aim and I got inspired to solve even more problems related to space and light constraints (Dogma 95 in Oct up here in Vancouver! Lucky me to use a Fresnel I guess)

Shameless self promotion (what's new?)
 

A rental house is in business to generate said revenue. The change from Mini35 to MPIC was nothing but an economic decision. Nobody’s endorsement was needed or requested:
http://provisionvideo.com/features.htm

That's great Dan! How did your revile at provision go?

Jonathan-