Duane and Bret, Thanks for your input.
Last time I spoke with cavision, they told me that they were going to discontinue the LH80, and talked me into buying the LH77 because it was made for the A-1. Well, I just talked to cavision; I told them to follow this thread, and explained what I was trying to do; cavision said they understand. They are sending me 2 LH80 adapter rings: one is modified for the 77mm lens, the other is not modified, incase I need to change it. I'll keep you posted with the results.
This thread is awsome!

I do not completely understand what you are trying to say. You want to use the Century Optics sunshade but you are ordering adapter rings from Cavision? Please let me know as I am really interested. I ordered the LH77 but if there is a better solution, I am in for it.

http://www.raynox.co.jp/english/video/hdrhc1/index.htm

If you look at this special HDR-HC1/A1 section of the Raynox site, you can see that there are various lenses at this moment, that are full zoom. They launched the special HD line and the HD-7000PRO (0.7x) and HD-5005PRO (0.5x) are 1-10x (is full zoom) on the HDR-HC1/A1. The HD-2200PRO (2x)Telephoto lens is 9-10x zoom-through (so only the upper tele end) and the HD-3031PRO (0.3x) is 1-7x (so almost full-zoom).

Not that I own these lenses, but I just wanted to clear it up. I am still interested in comparisons between the Raynox HD-7000PRO and the Sony Y lens, as well as between the HD-2200PRO and the Sony Y tele lens. So if anyone can fill me in, I would love to know.

Can someone tell me more about the Sony Y tele lens? I never hear anyone about it, but I think it might be useful for wildlife and nature filming.

Floris,
Yes, you got it. I am using a century optics sun shade , and adapter rings from cavision. Let me try to explain; Century does not make an adapter ring for the SONY 77mm WA lens. I don't think anybody else does either. Cavision has a 80mm hood and adater ring that works with 77mm; it eventually evolved into the LH77, but the LH77 does not have an adapter ring, atleast, not the tradition spacer that you see on most DV matte boxes. The 80mm adapter ring can be modified by cavision to fit the 77mm lens ( by cutting a slit in the side of it.) You could also do this yourself. ADD - the rings are only 5 bucks

BTW century makes a dust cover to go with the sun shade
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont....x=9&image.y=4

Will that dust cover fit perfectly on a LH77?

I don't know, as I just ordered it today. I'll let you know when I get it.

Well I just received my LH77 from Cavision a few minutes ago; looks like a good product, but I don't have my A1 here with me to test fit; I'll do that tonight.

I also went ahead and purchased the RPSHC bottom-load spacer that they sell. I was planning on buying the one from Jeff DeMaagd, but I was in an extreme hurry and didn't have time to deal with an eBay auction. I dunno tho, I may still order one later; I'll have to see how this Cavision one works.

Also, I ran to Kennedy's ENG (DFW area) and picked up a Cinetactics Matteblox DV (www.cinetactics.com) and french flag; I used it on an interview shoot yesterday evening and it worked great for controlling light spill on the lens...you know, when the late evening sunlight is almost horizontal across the sky.

I'll have to compare it to the LH77 tonight when I get home and post some pics. :-)

Did you use the cinetactics Matteblox DV with the A1? I looked at the site and is not clear to me how it would fit the camera (with Sony Y lens). Anyway, I think I am going to make a custom build solution. It seems possible now I know the ups and downs of other solutions.

hey can someone repost the oringinal pictures that where at the beginning of this thread

Ditto, I'd sure like to see Laurence Kingston's setup; do you have any new images Laurence? I'm interested in the Spiderbrace, and custom L-brackets as needed to use the video light and wireless receivers.

Thanks!

Well it does seem that Laurence's pics on that site have gone.

But his A1 looks a little like Adam La Prade's A1 as there are a number of common accessories :

See Adam's pics of his machine:
Custom A1U on a tripod with all accessories:
http://www.adster.net/host/files/1/Camera/pic1.jpg
http://www.adster.net/host/files/1/Camera/pic2.jpg
http://www.adster.net/host/files/1/Camera/pic3.jpg
http://www.adster.net/host/files/1/Camera/pic4.jpg
http://www.adster.net/host/files/1/Camera/pic5.jpg

from this thread:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=66690

and on the Spiderbrace:
http://www.adster.net/host/files/1/Camera/pic9.jpg

Laurence's setup has very similar hardware but a little different on the arrangement.

I dug these up from my hard drive, I hope it's not a problem:

http://dm-accessories.com/users/kingston1.jpg
http://dm-accessories.com/users/kingston2.jpg
http://dm-accessories.com/users/kingstonlight.jpg

There were more, but I can't find them.

It seems to be 'kitted-out photo' time, so can I add my VX2k here?
http://www.fortvir.net/gallery/v/tom...X2000.jpg.html

Thanks for posting those up Jeff. Dedication !!

Err, just one thing...... I think the last JPG might be something else entirely ! not sure what it is exactly, but it looks fascinating !! lol !