The Micro 35
 

Have you guys heard of this Micro 35, it's suppose to be a cheaper version of the mini35, let me know your guys feedback. I know there was a thread a while back in this subject

http://www.redrockmicro.com/

Moved here from the HD100 forum.

Manny, the RedRock M2 (formerly known as the Micro 35) was born here on DV Info Net. Please search through all of the existing discussions (more than 1000 posts covering 50 topics) in our Micro 35 archive, located at http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/forumdisplay.php?f=81

Sub-Forum for Redrock M2?
 

I think there should be a sub-forum for Redrock products.

Thanks,
Luke

Way ahead of you there. We had a subforum for them, from before they were called Redrock Micro when it was known simply as the Micro35 project. Those folks went off and started their own site with their own message board, so out of respect for them, we closed our subforum and now simply point everybody to the official Redrock site. If you want to browse the old threads of our former Redrock-before-it-was-Redrock subforum, the link to the archive is located at http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/forumdisplay.php?f=81 -- hope this helps,

What's wrong with the Redrock M2?
 

Hi Folks,

I've been reading this forum for a few months now, good to see so many 35mm adaptors fighting it out.

I was just wondering what's wrong with the Redrock M2? Nobody talks about it, nobody wants it... Is it because it doesn't have a flip?

I'm getting a good deal with one, along with a couple of lenses, but I've never used one so I don't know if I should go for it.

Hope somebody answers quickly before the offer expires....

I think it is because Red Rock has their own forum...maybe? There are some posts here and there about the M2 though...

I have watched thousands of footage, and the M2 still has my preference (but it may change...). It's the widely used (you can sell it again easilier), the choice of mounts is good (like the SGPro) and last but not least you can close your front lens with no worries (VERY important)... several dops (included the guy who worked on 24) tested it this way and were amazed.

yeah but thats a forum on redrockmicro.com, somehow don't think that the posts there will be objective. Its like McDonalds having a healthy-eating forum on their website... well, not that bad, but you know what i mean...

i believe this forum tends to slightly lean more toward DIY projects and home adapters. the redrock forums are the best place to look for info on the m2. i suspect once you peruse the redrock forums, you will see that it is as legitimate as any forum out there -- lots of knowledgable people and valuable info. if anything, i think redrock underhypes it's products -- their product, staff, and customer service are absolutely first rate.

Ask the Redrock M2 founders, and they'll tell you (at least, they *should* tell you) that their project was born on this very site, right here at DV Info Net. Back then it was called the Micro35 project and it even had its own dedicated DV Info Net message board. You can browse through fifty topics and about a thousand posts in our Micro35 Project archive located here: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/forumdisplay.php?f=81

The Micro35 guys decided it was time for a name change as well as their own site, so they went off to become what you now know as the Redrock M2. As far as a forum is concerned, they now have their own and I'm not going to compete with them for discussions about their own project, especially since DV Info Net helped them get off the ground in the first place. Therefore, we refer all interested parties to the Redrock message board. Meanwhile our Micro35 Project archive is still available to search through and read if you want... just use the link I provided above. Hope this helps,

Thanks for setting the record straight, Chris... this is something I've told others -- "I remember them when..." -- and they just look at me skeptically.

Thanks folks...

Although now I'm more confused: Redrock or sgPRO.

Is there anywhere in London where I can see/rent these products?

Vasi,

I am based in Brighton, East Sussex, an hour from central London. We could arrange a demo of the SGpro if you wish.

Sure the SGPro seems really interesting and it would be nice to see a real professional test, closing progressively lenses, charts, etc... This adapter deserves it !

By the way, Wayne, how does it attach to the camera's lens ? Is it screwed ?

Thanks,

Kristin

Kristin,

The Rev1 was push fit, but the new Rev2 has 72mm thread on the tube that screws into the camcorder. Nice and solid.

Wouldn't it be great if somebody with all the main adaptors. SGpro, M2, Brevis and Letus (I know there are others, but these are the ones I am more familiar with!) could shoot the same footage on the same camera so we could compare them all! It's so tricky chosing the right one as so much footage uploaded has been treated in some way (including some of my own!)

Having only had real hands on experience with one (Letus flip) I would love to try more. I am awaiting with excitiment Dennis Wood's Brevis with flip attachment!

What's wrong with the M2?

It has one Major unmitigated flaw... it's unrelenting awsomeness!

I love my M2 and would buy it again any day of the week.

Matt

The only concern with comparison is who forks out for all the adapters?
IF there was a magazine or something that got from swag, they might be able to test them all if they arrived free of charge and we tested on the exact same camera.

The M2 is relativly cheap, the company is profesisonal, their stuff doens't break down and they support it 100%... it is a bright adapter, little light loss and not all that big...

However, the adjusting of the GG back and forth for critical focus is a design flaw, and the 180 image flip is annoying, but helps the imagfe retian brightness.

it's mirrored as well as flipped isn't it?

How fiddly is the GG critical focus Matthew? Once it is set do you need to change it again if you use a different length lens?

Negative, Phil. The M2 has no flip function. Just rotate 180 degrees in post.

No, just if you swap lens brands...

do a wikipedia search on Flange Focal Length

? What should I be getting from this?

Yes!! When you coming in Wayne? I think I'm ready to buy one...would love to see it before I jump in.

Vasi.

I will have a unit ready to Demo from 1st Dec.

Let me know...

where are you based in the UK?

Sorry for not elaborating...

The GG must be moved forwards or backwards slightly to compensate for the different Flange Focal Lengths of various lens types... kind of annoying, but I still give the M2 a thumbs up.

Oh, sorry, thought you said that in response to the image flip comment, which really sent me for a loop...yes, the flange focal length, or depth of focus, of the GG must be compensated for each mount.

This is one area the SGpro has the advantage. Difference in register are machined into the mounts themselves, even the PL and OCT19, so no GG adjustment is needed.

Yeah, we were discussing a solution over at RRmicro forums. We had the nifty notion to create an expanding lewns mount that could slide forwards and backwards to accomidate any FFL and have a wideneough front plate to accomidate any mounting plate...

Nifty

this is only if you change lens mounts, not different focal length lenses of the same type surely?

No, just if changing lens mounts

It's a good point Wayne. The more variables designed out, the easier the unit is to use, and the less chance with errors in calibration. We've pretty much taken the same route so that any lens mount changes are now pretty much a 3 minute affair. We've still left some adjustment if required for tweaking, however user errors should be pretty much minimized. It's taken a while to get there :-)

This is definately the route for all adapters to go in relation to lens mounts. The DiGi35 has taken this route. For instance the focusing screen is 10mm in from the front of the adapter, The DiGi35 PL mount carries the remaining 41.98mm therefore once mounted to the DiGi35 the total flange focal distance of 51.98mm (PL flange-focal distance) is acheived without moving the screen. This is the same on all the DiGi mounts and this is the same as the SG Pro, I think.

Hope that explains it easily enough for those wondering.


Matthew,

I think a sliding lens mount proposed for the M2 above still doesnt solve the problem, it still involves the movement and fixing of components ensuring the correct FFD, The DiGi35 and SG Pro approach is definately the easiest route for the end user and provides a more accurate FFD.

Thanks,

I've just been grappling with this FFD issue on my own self built adapter, based roughly on the Micro35 Redrock plans. With my Pentax 50 mm, I was focusing through infinity, so at close distance I was losing the ability to focus in areas that would be in focus. Rather than focus down to 1.5 feet, I could only get it down to about 4.5. In most situations that didn't appear to be a major issue. It really created difficulties though, with a Takumar 28 mm to 80mm wide angle I had. I could not get any focus at reasonably close distances, until I started playing with these adjustments. So much to learn about this stuff yet....

Still waiting...
 

Wayne,

Been a while. I'm still waiting to see the demo you promised. Any plans of coming to London anytime soon?

Any idea where I can rent one for a 4 day shoot here in London?

Vasi.

Vasi,

Will have units ready to view in 2 weeks if you would like to come and view. We do not hire units, though.

Hey Wayne!

I havent checked out your website for awhile but I just had a look at it and it says that there are a few issues with the PL/Oct-19 mounts before release.

What are these issues exactly? Has it got to do with the coverage of 35mm cine lenses and the groundglass which were better suited for SLR lenses?

If this was the case, I would assume that users would need to zoom in more into the groundglass?

Hi Wayne;

Where can I come and view the adapter?
You come to London often?

a lot of people complained about the M2 light loss especially when coupled with the HVX200.