Letus Lenses. Need full frame? at DVinfo.net

Michael Malagon · May 1st, 2009, 01:56 PM

Hi All,

I'm looking to get a lens for my letus that can also be used on a nikon D90. I'm looking at this lens.

Nikon | 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX Nikkor Lens | 2178

but it says that it is not recommended for "full-frame" digital or 35mm film SLR cameras. Does that mean that I can't use it on the letus? What lens would you recommend for under $600.

Mike

Bill Pryor · May 1st, 2009, 02:17 PM

The Letus, or any of the spinning ground glass adapters, gives you shallow depth of field by "projecting" the image from the front lens onto a ground glass that the video camera then sees. That glass is sized to be about the same as a 35mm negative. So, the APC-size lenses for the smaller chip digital still cameras won't work. You need a standard 35mm lens. Any of the Nikkor AI lenses should work, but only if they're full size.

I'm not sure that rather slow zoom lens is a good idea, because the letus eats some light, and you may have to zoom down some with the video camera's lens and not be able to shoot wide open with it (I don't know that for sure), so in my opinion some faster lenses would be better. I'd go out in search of 2 or 3 used Nikkor primes, like a 24mm, a 50mm and an 85 or even a 105. That would give you a pretty good range. Personally, I'd probably go for a 24, a 35 and a 105 (instead of a 50) and then maybe look for a used 200 if you need something longer later on.

May 1st, 2009, 01:56 PM	#1
Michael Malagon New Boot Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: United States Posts: 17	Letus Lenses. Need full frame? Hi All, I'm looking to get a lens for my letus that can also be used on a nikon D90. I'm looking at this lens. Nikon \| 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX Nikkor Lens \| 2178 but it says that it is not recommended for "full-frame" digital or 35mm film SLR cameras. Does that mean that I can't use it on the letus? What lens would you recommend for under $600. Mike

May 1st, 2009, 02:17 PM	#2
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	The Letus, or any of the spinning ground glass adapters, gives you shallow depth of field by "projecting" the image from the front lens onto a ground glass that the video camera then sees. That glass is sized to be about the same as a 35mm negative. So, the APC-size lenses for the smaller chip digital still cameras won't work. You need a standard 35mm lens. Any of the Nikkor AI lenses should work, but only if they're full size. I'm not sure that rather slow zoom lens is a good idea, because the letus eats some light, and you may have to zoom down some with the video camera's lens and not be able to shoot wide open with it (I don't know that for sure), so in my opinion some faster lenses would be better. I'd go out in search of 2 or 3 used Nikkor primes, like a 24mm, a 50mm and an 85 or even a 105. That would give you a pretty good range. Personally, I'd probably go for a 24, a 35 and a 105 (instead of a 50) and then maybe look for a used 200 if you need something longer later on.