All About 16:9 Anamorphic Lens Adapter

Marco Leavitt · August 26th, 2004, 07:18 AM

The Century zoom through adapter is a bit of a mystery. Nobody seems to have ever seen one, and B&H has listed it on back order ever since the thing was announced a year or so ago. I’m not convinced Century has ever shipped any. Been meaning to call and ask them about that.

I’m also curious to know how well the Panasonic anamorphic performs with cameras that have 58 mm threads, like the GL2 and VX2000. Anybody tried it?

Interesting comment about the “tele adapter” from Century. Are you referring to the 1.6x tele-converter? Have you tried it? How do you mount it? Would love to see some screen shots.

Lasse Bodoni · August 26th, 2004, 09:05 AM

No, I didn't have any tele converter but.... look at this:

http://www.adamwilt.com/24p/filmstylePD150.html and the link to Century : http://www.centuryoptics.com/products/prodv/65-75/16x_tele-converter/index.htm

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=142095&is=REG

I guess the adapter is from the DVpro list.

-------------------

How do you add a link here?

Marco Leavitt · August 26th, 2004, 10:07 AM

Pretty neat. I've always wanted to try piggy backing a wide angle adapter. I wonder if that's the Century zoom through? It looks like it could be the regular Century anamorphic.

Lasse Bodoni · August 26th, 2004, 11:14 AM

Yes , it is a regular 16:9 and a WA on the picture. But if it works than it has to work with the tele converter. More tele -> more shallow focus.

Shealan Forshaw · August 31st, 2004, 11:18 AM

I am planning on buying a Optex 16:9 adaptor, and a Century Optics Mattebox. Does the matte box have enough room on the bars to mount a 16:9 adaptor lens between it and camera lens?

Lasse Bodoni · August 31st, 2004, 11:49 AM

Yes, I guess. But take a look at this:

http://www.cavision.com/Mattbox/4x4ClampOn.htm

it is better and cheaper as I know.

Frederic Segard · October 25th, 2004, 11:01 AM

Is there such a thing as a fully zoom through anamorphic adapter for the PD170? From the posts I searched, the Century Optics adapter does not seem work well at extreme tele and wide.

Are there any other manufacturers that produce quality anamorphic adapters for the Sony PD170 that work at any focal lengths in auto focus? Also, is it possible to screw on wide angle or telephoto adapters? Or am I just dreaming?

Marco Leavitt · October 25th, 2004, 08:23 PM

Century's new anamorphic is fully zoom through, but hard to get. You can buy one from them, but at retail. Nobody else seems to be able to keep it in stock. DV Mag recommends the Panasonic, which is between the price of the top end and lower end Century adapters. At this stage, I'd probably stick with the original Century. You can get good used deals.

Stephen Schleicher · October 26th, 2004, 07:16 AM

I just purchased mine from B&H in NY. They didn't have it in stock, but if you sign up for the Notify Me When In Stock, you will get a pretty quick reply.

Hope that helps

Cheers

Marco Leavitt · October 26th, 2004, 07:25 AM

Really? I think you are officially the first person on these boards to have reported even seeing one. How do you like it?

Tom Hardwick · October 26th, 2004, 07:35 AM

No, it's not possible to use supplimentary wide-angle and /or telephoto converters when you use an anamorphic. You could use a close-up lens though.

tom.

Marco Leavitt · October 26th, 2004, 07:49 AM

Several years ago I asked Century about adding a wide angle adapter to the anamorphic and was told by one of their techs that some people used a clamp-on adapter ring to mount one of their professional wide angles. She didn't seem to think it was a very good a idea, but people were definitely doing it. I agree about the close-up lens. I've tried both a drop in lens and Series 9 dual element achromatic and they both work surprisingly well, but only at a very precise distance. It significantly extends the zoom range too, but after doing a few tests, it doesn't appear to extend the range quite as much as I had once thought.

Stephen Schleicher · October 26th, 2004, 10:08 AM

Me am like the anamorphic adapter alot... ALOT... ALOT I SAY!!!

I put my name on the notify list at B&H and within two days got an email saying it was available for purchase. It arrived a few days later. I've had it for about two weeks now.

I spent an afternoon shooting with it, the wide angle adapter, normal mode, and the fake 16:9 the camera does to compare. Wide angle adapter and anamorphic are no comparison, but the anamorphic compared to the fake 16:9 is a blessing. It looks so much more clear when viewed on my Sony Pro Monitor in the edit bay.

The only bad thing is making sure you get the lens lined up correctly. There were a few shots where the rotating lens was not perfectly perpendicular. The shots look okay, but you can tell there is a slight wonkyness to them.

Other than that... ALOT I SAY!!!

Cheers

Marco Leavitt · October 26th, 2004, 11:05 AM

I found it's a lot easier to get the lens aligned after putting on the sunshade -- the bottom edge gives you a nice long line that you can align with the bottom of the camera. Of course, that's assuming you got it on the adapter right. I'm dying to come up with a reason to rotate the lens while shooting. A drug sequence maybe? You can get pretty funky effects.

Bryan Fieldhouse · October 28th, 2004, 11:57 AM

Hi,

Thinking of getting one of these:

http://www.centuryoptics.com/pdf/CpPD170.pdf

anyone had any experience of using one?

bryan

October 25th, 2004, 11:01 AM	#67
Frederic Segard Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 209	Anamorphic adapter fully zoom through? Is there such a thing as a fully zoom through anamorphic adapter for the PD170? From the posts I searched, the Century Optics adapter does not seem work well at extreme tele and wide. Are there any other manufacturers that produce quality anamorphic adapters for the Sony PD170 that work at any focal lengths in auto focus? Also, is it possible to screw on wide angle or telephoto adapters? Or am I just dreaming?

October 26th, 2004, 07:16 AM	#69
Stephen Schleicher Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Hays, KS Posts: 188	I just purchased mine from B&H in NY. They didn't have it in stock, but if you sign up for the Notify Me When In Stock, you will get a pretty quick reply. Hope that helps Cheers __________________ Stephen Schleicher www.stephenschleicher.com

October 26th, 2004, 10:08 AM	#73
Stephen Schleicher Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Hays, KS Posts: 188	Me am like the anamorphic adapter alot... ALOT... ALOT I SAY!!! I put my name on the notify list at B&H and within two days got an email saying it was available for purchase. It arrived a few days later. I've had it for about two weeks now. I spent an afternoon shooting with it, the wide angle adapter, normal mode, and the fake 16:9 the camera does to compare. Wide angle adapter and anamorphic are no comparison, but the anamorphic compared to the fake 16:9 is a blessing. It looks so much more clear when viewed on my Sony Pro Monitor in the edit bay. The only bad thing is making sure you get the lens lined up correctly. There were a few shots where the rotating lens was not perfectly perpendicular. The shots look okay, but you can tell there is a slight wonkyness to them. Other than that... ALOT I SAY!!! Cheers __________________ Stephen Schleicher www.stephenschleicher.com

October 28th, 2004, 11:57 AM	#75
Bryan Fieldhouse Tourist Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 3	DS-WS13-SB 1.33 Anamorphic Converter Hi, Thinking of getting one of these: http://www.centuryoptics.com/pdf/CpPD170.pdf anyone had any experience of using one? bryan

August 26th, 2004, 07:18 AM	#61
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	The Century zoom through adapter is a bit of a mystery. Nobody seems to have ever seen one, and B&H has listed it on back order ever since the thing was announced a year or so ago. I’m not convinced Century has ever shipped any. Been meaning to call and ask them about that. I’m also curious to know how well the Panasonic anamorphic performs with cameras that have 58 mm threads, like the GL2 and VX2000. Anybody tried it? Interesting comment about the “tele adapter” from Century. Are you referring to the 1.6x tele-converter? Have you tried it? How do you mount it? Would love to see some screen shots.

August 26th, 2004, 09:05 AM	#62
Lasse Bodoni Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 39	No, I didn't have any tele converter but.... look at this: http://www.adamwilt.com/24p/filmstylePD150.html and the link to Century : http://www.centuryoptics.com/products/prodv/65-75/16x_tele-converter/index.htm http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=142095&is=REG I guess the adapter is from the DVpro list. ------------------- How do you add a link here?

August 26th, 2004, 10:07 AM	#63
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Pretty neat. I've always wanted to try piggy backing a wide angle adapter. I wonder if that's the Century zoom through? It looks like it could be the regular Century anamorphic.

August 26th, 2004, 11:14 AM	#64
Lasse Bodoni Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 39	Yes , it is a regular 16:9 and a WA on the picture. But if it works than it has to work with the tele converter. More tele -> more shallow focus.

August 31st, 2004, 11:18 AM	#65
Shealan Forshaw New Boot Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 21	I am planning on buying a Optex 16:9 adaptor, and a Century Optics Mattebox. Does the matte box have enough room on the bars to mount a 16:9 adaptor lens between it and camera lens?

August 31st, 2004, 11:49 AM	#66
Lasse Bodoni Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 39	Yes, I guess. But take a look at this: http://www.cavision.com/Mattbox/4x4ClampOn.htm it is better and cheaper as I know.

October 25th, 2004, 08:23 PM	#68
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Century's new anamorphic is fully zoom through, but hard to get. You can buy one from them, but at retail. Nobody else seems to be able to keep it in stock. DV Mag recommends the Panasonic, which is between the price of the top end and lower end Century adapters. At this stage, I'd probably stick with the original Century. You can get good used deals.

October 26th, 2004, 07:25 AM	#70
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Really? I think you are officially the first person on these boards to have reported even seeing one. How do you like it?

October 26th, 2004, 07:35 AM	#71
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	No, it's not possible to use supplimentary wide-angle and /or telephoto converters when you use an anamorphic. You could use a close-up lens though. tom.

October 26th, 2004, 07:49 AM	#72
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Several years ago I asked Century about adding a wide angle adapter to the anamorphic and was told by one of their techs that some people used a clamp-on adapter ring to mount one of their professional wide angles. She didn't seem to think it was a very good a idea, but people were definitely doing it. I agree about the close-up lens. I've tried both a drop in lens and Series 9 dual element achromatic and they both work surprisingly well, but only at a very precise distance. It significantly extends the zoom range too, but after doing a few tests, it doesn't appear to extend the range quite as much as I had once thought.

October 26th, 2004, 11:05 AM	#74
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	I found it's a lot easier to get the lens aligned after putting on the sunshade -- the bottom edge gives you a nice long line that you can align with the bottom of the camera. Of course, that's assuming you got it on the adapter right. I'm dying to come up with a reason to rotate the lens while shooting. A drug sequence maybe? You can get pretty funky effects.