View Full Version : EX1 + Letus Ultimate - Detail "on" or "off"?


Gerald Loidl
September 26th, 2008, 08:59 AM
Hi,
those of you shooting with an EX1/EX3 and the Ultimate adapter - do you have detail set on or off on your camera?
I used to use detail off for shooting without adapter but I´m wondering if I should turn it on for adapter work?

All thoughts are appreciated!

Piotr Wozniacki
September 26th, 2008, 09:26 AM
The 35mm adapter itself will inevitably soften the image a bit, therefore I am shooting with Detail ON when using the Letus (with Canon FD lenses, which are not the sharpest, either).

Benjamin Eckstein
September 26th, 2008, 11:14 AM
I do detail on when using an adapter at around -7 or -10. The adapter softens the image and I think it pops more and is much easier to focus with the detail.

Gerald Loidl
September 27th, 2008, 05:18 AM
Thanks for your tips!
Benjamin, why are you using a negative value for the detail setting as it will soften the image even a little more?

thanks!
Gerald

Bill Ravens
September 27th, 2008, 05:34 AM
Actually, a negative value of -40(I think) represents zero softening. So, anything greater than -40 applies some sharpening.

Benjamin Eckstein
September 27th, 2008, 07:21 AM
Actually, a negative value of -40(I think) represents zero softening. So, anything greater than -40 applies some sharpening.

yep, exactly.

Piotr Wozniacki
September 27th, 2008, 07:51 AM
I think it's also worth to remember, that the 35mm adapters have all been designed with this illusive "film bokeh" in mind. It means all video-ish sharpening (have you ever seen edge enhancement in a cinema theater?) is supposed to be eliminated.

Sometimes the achromat and GG's imperfections accumulate, and the effect is a bit overdone - hence some neutral detail setting on the camera is appropriate (I guess Detail off, or ON but in negative territory, is just what is needed).

Gerald Loidl
September 27th, 2008, 09:58 AM
Thank you gentlemen for this great explanation. It was absolutely new to me that -40 represents zero softening. Time to set up my Letus Ultimate PP-Profile accordingly, as I always thought it looked a tad too soft with detail off.

thanks!
Gerald

Michael Maier
September 30th, 2008, 10:28 AM
For me definitely detail OFF. Any amount of detail looks just plain bad and digitally enhanced. In tests transferred to 35mm and projected the detail ON is right there on your face. Detail off if you want a filmic feel. The Letus Extreme doesn't really make the image softer. Just shoot a rez chart and see. The softening is minimal.

Andrew Hollister
September 30th, 2008, 01:58 PM
Actually, a negative value of -40(I think) represents zero softening. So, anything greater than -40 applies some sharpening.

is this like some sort of Fahrenheit/Celsius thing? (-32 = 0)