Digital Video - May 2008 - (Page 26)

IN REVIEW LETUS EXTREME 35MM ADAPTER THE STATS LETUS EXTREME chart. With the same 50mm lens at f/4 I noted about 700x650 lines of resolution. This was with the camcorder set at an optimum zoom-in level of Z75. The Letus Extreme allows you to zoom the camera in all the way to Z99, but image detail and edge sharpness tends to suffer as you increase the camera’s focal length. To determine how evenly light was distributed across the frame I shot an evenly lit white background. I connected a waveform monitor to the Sony HDR-FX1 test camera and noted IRE percentage levThe Letus Extreme HD Bundle includes the following: Letus Extreme HD lens adapter with internal flip array. Built-in Achromat lens Collimation adjustment for lens mount Allen wrench/Hex key Lens mount of your choice including Canon EF/EOS, Canon FD, Nikon, Minolta MD, Pentax K, and M42 screw-mount. PL and OCT10 mounts are optionally available. accomplish and takes just a few minutes. I would, however, like to see it improved so that the collimation could be retained when swapping lens mounts. If you add a different style lens mount to the Extreme, you are forced to re-collimate if you want the lens distance markings to be accurate. Letus states that the adapter exhibits about a half stop of light loss. Using a Sony PMW-EX1 camcorder along with the Extreme adapter, I tested resolution and sharpness using a DSC Labs Multiburst 26 dv may 2008 els from left to right with various lens configurations. I found that vignetting is most apparent when the camcorder’s lens is wide, and least visible when it is zoomed in to the Z99 max. With a 50mm lens at f/4 and the FX1 set to Z73 I noted a 6-percent dip in left edge brightness, and a 17percent drop on the right edge of the frame. Wide lenses tend to exhibit more edge falloff, telephoto less. To virtually eliminate vignetting, you must zoom the camera into Z94, where on the 50mm I noted just a 2-percent drop in edge illumination over the stock lens. One might conclude that the simple answer to vignetting is to just zoom in as far as you can. But consider that camera zoom-in has a negative effect on image sharpness. It also limits the effective field of view for composition. So the process of setting up and configuring the Letus Extreme becomes a balancing act between enough sharpness and an evenly illuminated frame. While the Extreme is technically light enough to be used without a rod support system, I would not recommend it. Users should budget for a complete 15mm rod support system and the optional Extreme support bracket. LetusDirect does in fact offer its own rods and base plate solution, and have also partnered with Zacuto to create a full-featured handheld support rig. DV www.dv.com http://www.dv.com

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Digital Video - May 2008 Contents DV Update Close-Up AJ-HPX3000 Camcorder Sidecar Raid Zoom H2 Recorder Instant Expert 324 Flat-Panel Display Extreme 35MM Adapter Type-S JIB How Slow Can You Go? Global Gastronome Mixing It UP Long-Distance Runaround Tools & Technology DV 101 Production Diary

Digital Video - May 2008

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