I'm in the market for a 35mm adaptor for my XH A1. I don't have a fast 35mm lense that I could use either. So in other words I'll need a good lense suitable for the adaptor.

I plan on doing some 1-2 people interviews (in offices and homes) and generally other stuff as well. Not sure if I should go in for a 28mm, 50mm, 100mm lense.

I read some great reviews on the Letus, RedRock, Brevis and SGPro adaptors but I'm all the more confused since they each have their pros and cons and I can't figure out what I gain or loose from either.

Some other things I'm not clear about are:
1. Is one able to continue to use the exposure "meter" of the camera with one of these adaptors attached? Or do you have to use a light meter?

2. What about the others controls of the camera (apature, shutter, focus, zoom, auto focus/push AF etc.).

In other words I'm confused about the way one would/should set exposure and in general operate the camera and what functions/features does one not get to use and what one can etc.

I need to buy the adaptor and lense in the next 2-3 days, and have read almost everything "searchable" on various websites (not been able to find the letus website) and in these forums. So I've done a lot of research, have learnt a lot but am (probably as a result) more confused.

Thanks in advance for your input/suggestions.

Shiv.

Hey Shiv,

I'm no expert but since you seem to be in a hurry I will try to help :)

From what I've seen it's pretty much a tie between the Brevis and the SGpro. I live in Europe so I ordered an SGpro (Shipping late October) - if I lived in the states I would propably be partial to the Brevis. Besides, the next batch of SGpro's doesn't ship till December 15th.

I went with a Canon EOS mount. Oddly enough not because I wan't to use Canon EOS lenses (no aperture ring on those) but because it's a very flexible mount. Using cheap adapters ($5-30 on E-bay) you can convert the EOS mount to Contax/Yashica, Olympus, Pentax, Leica and others.

I am currently scouting for glass myself - checking E-bay etc. I will be going with either Contax/Yashica mount Zeiss or Olympus Zuikos. Affordable and sharp lenses that will not lose value if treated properly.
My first lens will be a 50mm - either the Zeiss Planar 50 1.4 or the Zuiko 50 1.2.
For interviews I would suggest you start with a 50mm aswell.

ad 1) In camera exposure meter should work just fine.

ad 2) Zoom is locked on the image projected onto the adapter groundglass - if you want zoom you will have to use a 35mm zoom lens on the adapter (these are usally slow - f2.8 and up - which means lots of light required).
Focus is done on the 35mm lens - all manual. No autofocus, no push.
Shutter/aperture works the same. You will have to balance the 2 apertures on the lenses - you will want to keep the Canon in the f2-f5.6 range for optimal sharpness and work with internal/external ND's if needed.

Hope I've cleared up a few things, not just added to the confusion :)

Best of luck.

Edit: If you decide to go with EOS mount for your 35mm adapter make sure to ask if it will take mountadapters without problems (flange distance etc..)

Rene,

Thank you for your reply and information. The bits about the exposure control and ability or inability to use some of the camera's own features make total sense now. So I think that part is clear.

I'm tending towards the Letus35 FE due to:
1. The price
2. Easy mounting (I believe)

I'm also tending towards fast lense (f1.2). I'm looking at the Nikon 50mm f/1.2 prime (haven't found too many reviews however) and the newer Canon 50mm f/1.2 L USM (much more expensive but some really great reviews).

It also looks like the Letus35 FE only supports the FD mount (I thought the FD mount was obsolete).

consider the Brevis, although it is a little steep in price, but it works out better. you can use a zoom lens instead of a few prime lenses. so that is where you save. and If you get a F2.8 , then all you range will be the same. and it makes it easier then to match all the prime lenses that you have to get.

with one zoom lens with a good range. you don't need to change lenses and hence keeping dust out and saving setup time.

Hi Shiv,

I unfortunately agree with you. It's very hard to make a choice about a 35mm adapter, I'm in the same situation and I'm also still not sure which one to get ;)

Have you read Phill Bloom's review at http://web.mac.com/philip.bloom/Shootout/Intro.html?

His review is from a cameraman's perspective and I like that. He clearly states the pros and cons from the tested adapters in a practical environment. It's up to you to decide which of those cons you definitely cannot live with...
As for easy mounting the Cinevate Brevis35 adapter seems to be a good choice.

For used lenses check out http://www.keh.com/onlinestore/home.aspx.

For interview work I think a 50mm and 100mm lens (for close ups and shallow DOF if needed) should get you the results you need.

Andre.

David, Andre,

Thank you both for your inputs. It is greatly appreciated.

David, I understand your logic completely, unfortunately shelling out that kind of money on just the adaptor (at this time) while I have to purchase various other "toys" as well, has made me go out and buy the Letus35 FE (for better or worse :)).

Andre, yes I had read that review but it didn't really help me decide (I guess having seem some really great footage by Steven Demsey here and a few others using the Letus35 FE and my budget constraints kind of kept pulling me towards the Letus35 FE :).

Is there some way I can simulate a 50mm and 100mm with the existing camera lense so I can get a feel for the kind of composition I will be able to do?

I've gone ahead and purchased the Letus. So that's that. Now I'm hunting around for a good lens. For some reason I feel better going for a new Nikon 50mm f/1.2 than an older Canon (FD mount) 50mm f/1.2. I've started another thread for that. It's 5 am here and I'm about dead beat and getting very light headed :).

Thanks once again for your help.

consider the Brevis, although it is a little steep in price, but it works out better. you can use a zoom lens instead of a few prime lenses. so that is where you save. and If you get a F2.8 , then all you range will be the same. and it makes it easier then to match all the prime lenses that you have to get.

with one zoom lens with a good range. you don't need to change lenses and hence keeping dust out and saving setup time.

I didn't know this about the brevis. What is it about the brevis design vs the letus that makes the zoom an option?

Still considering either of these 2 adaptors myself.

For Shiv going with the letus if he's on a budget - he won't immediately need to address the upside image issue that the other adaptors require an add-on or monitor solution for.

Trish

Vignetting is an issue with other adapetes when using a zoom lens. However Brevis got the CFL1 to fix this problem. And that is why if you think about buying a ,35mm ,50mm ,105mm and so on. the cost of these lenses with mount up to alot, sometimes more then your adapter.

David, Andre,

I've gone ahead and purchased the Letus. So that's that. Now I'm hunting around for a good lens. For some reason I feel better going for a new Nikon 50mm f/1.2 than an older Canon (FD mount) 50mm f/1.2. I've started another thread for that. It's 5 am here and I'm about dead beat and getting very light headed :).

Thanks once again for your help.

The cost of a f1.2 nikon alone is killing and later you would like to also have a 28mm and then a 85mm and so on. Well if they are all going to be at least f 1.4 to match your f1.2 50mm. You are going to pay more then the Letus

How sure are you going to get the same look through out all your different lenses.Every lens have different looks. (yes there is colour correction but the time and effort) But with one zoom lens, I get the same look throughout. I carry only one lens to a shoot instead of 4 lenses. I keep the lens on and don't need to back focus everytime i change my zoom range. I keep the dust out because the lens is always on. Time = money when you are on a location. Have fun cleaning dust when you change lenses. ;)
Anyway these are just my point of view.

You can get used Nikkor lenses on eBay and at used camera stores pretty cheaply. I think you could get by with 3 basic lenses--a 24mm would be nice for wide angle, though you can live with a 28...a 35mm for "normal" and an 85 for closer shots. Then maybe a zoom for outdoor work, or a 105 and a 135.

Doesn't the Letus have the image flip function? I think Brevis does too. That's a must, in my opinion.

From what I've read about these, you have to stop down your camera's lens a certain amount, ie., you can't shoot wide open. I don't know what that might be, but say for the sake of discussion it's f3.5. Then the adapter is going to eat about a stop, plus the lens you attach to the front. So in most cases you probably are going to be shooting at an f5.6 or lower equivalent, I'm guessing. Just something to be aware of.

David,

Yes, point taken. I'll probably regret my decision in a month or so (at least as regards the cost of things).

Bill,
The Letus35 FE (FE - Flip Enhanced) does flip the image for you. You loose about 2-2.5 stops in all. However, (I think) since the DOF effect is really a factor of the 35mm lens and it's apature setting if you buy a fast lens you kind of hit two birds with one stone in that the loss of f stops shouldn't be much of an issue and two the DOF aspect is not lost due to the loss of f stops. At least that's my understanding :).

Doesn't the Letus have the image flip function? I think Brevis does too. That's a must, in my opinion.


From what I understand the brevis image flip will be an add-on item. (you'd be getting into needing rails at that point I would imagine) I know it's close to being available, or may already be.

Using one lens to cover all situations does sound like a sweet idea though.

Trish

You need rails anyway for these adapters. That's too much weight to be hanging off the end of the lens.

You need rails anyway for these adapters. That's too much weight to be hanging off the end of the lens.

I thought some people were going 'rail-less' on the letus flip - assuming a very short lens attached of course

Bill, are you thinking even that's not wise?

Trish

I thought some people were going 'rail-less' on the letus flip - assuming a very short lens attached of course
Trish

True. Personally I would get a rail system.
It will get the strain (however small it may be) of the camera lens and if you get bigger lenses or a matte box in the future you're going to need a rail system to support all of that anyway.

This is a issue with the Brevis and the Letus. The M2 and SGPro need a rail system to be mounted on.

Where would one get such a system?

the adaptor places usually sell rails as well - brevis has a set, redrock etc.

I'm not sure about the letus however - and where people get the rails for those - I would send a note to Quyen (letus seller) and ask which are most compatible with his design - his main page product shot has a set of rails mounting the adaptor

Trish

Trish,

Thanks for the reply.

Yes Quyen has been extremely responsive. I ordered my Letus the night before and it was shipped last night. He's a night bird I think because we'd been corresponding at 3am.

I did send him an email asking him too.

I found someone who uses these:
http://www.indifocus.com/indiraILS.html

FYI:

I just bought the 18" rails from http://indifocus.com
You also need to buy the "T" and strap or something. The "T" slides onto the rails and go over the Letus, the strap goes over the letus thus supporting the weight of the letus (on the "T") and keeping it in place (strap). The mounting is such that you can still swap out the 35mm lens is needed while it's all mounted. Or so I was told.

The best thing to do is call and talk to Tim, since at this point you don't see the "T" on their website so there is no way to order it online. Once you tell Tim you need to support the Letus he knows exactly what you need over and above the rails.

Trish, I think with any of the 35mm adapters, plus any 35mm lens, you're doubling the length of the camera's lens, at least, and the farther out you hang a weight, even a small one, the more it's going to stress the mount. I really wouldn't want to use one without rails. Just because you can doesn't mean you should (sorta like the built-in mic, or high gain...just because you can....)

I have been using the letus 35FE without rails with no issue for the camera, BUT, the letus will encounter a problem without the rails unless you hold the letus for support while shooting. The aluminum thread ring that threads the letus into the A1 female threads WILL pull out of the letus when screwed into the A1. The weight of the letus, though not much, will cause it to come loose. The thread ring is NOT sealed or glued into the body of the letus. There is a reason for this...it is to allow the thread ring to rotate inside the letus for proper positioning on the A1. You have to tighten the letus to the A1 so it will not move while you are shooting. You may tighten the letus and find that the picture is somewhat sideways and you need to turn the letus more or less to align it. Well, if the thread ring was already tight, you couldn't adjust it properly. Therefore, you can turn the body of the letus while the thread ring remains tight in the A1 and align it properly. I recommend once you do this, you mark the thread ring with the body of the letus so you can then remove the thread ring and either glue or add paper shims to tighten the threadring to the body of the letus. You obviously do not want to get caught up in a shot and loose the letus onto the ground. Therefore, the support rods will certainly provide some safety to that effect. I also recommend using a clear lens protector over the A1 lens that has female threads on the outer side so you can leave the lens protector in place and thread the Letus into the lens protector instead of the A1. That way if you mis-align it and it scratches the lens protector, you can get another one. However, if you misalign it and scratch your A1 lens (which is Way TOO EASY to do), you will have to send it to Canon for about 1200 bucks or more in repairs. I speak from experience. Fortunately, my camera was so new, the retailer took it back and gave me another new one. The lens of the A1 is all the way out to the end of the housing, VERY easy to scratch...I am telling you all, please..use a clear lens protector prior to attempting to screw the letus or any other adaptor to your A1. Hope this helps! J

yikes - starting to feel like it's having a land mine attached to the end of the camera : )

Thanks for the heads up on the caveats. Definitely worth sharing to avoid unnecessary catastrophies. I've had a neutral density filter on the camera since the first week - definitely don't want to scratch the lens. Nevermind if it's 1200 in the U.S. to fix it, I'd be loathe to find out the Canadian price...

For Bill's comment - I wonder if strain on the mount would even be noticeable before it was too late!

Trish

A lot of it would depend on how you handle the camera. As John's post said, he braces it with one hand. Still, you know these cameras are definitely not over-engineered in the structural integrity department. Even a big sturdy 2/3" chip camera with a B4 lens mount can have the mount broken off if somebody swings around and clips the foot-long zoom in a door jamb or something. I've seen that happen.