Blog

Schneider Fisheye HD Adapter for the EX1

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:48:06 -0400

Here is a short review of the Fisheye adapter lens from Schneider Optics. They have two offerings for the Sony EX1 the Regular and the extreme Fisheye, which has a extreme price tag as well. My first experience with the lens was with a video just completed using it for the interior of a helicopter for the Hershey Air Medical Services. I would not of gotten the video footage with out it. See that HERE. Because the lens is so wide, interference from the sun or other light sources will introduce lens flare, but you can also use that to your creative advantage.

Setting up the lens and getting it to focus on the EX1 is easy if you know the secret. Here is what you need to do..............

Read more about Schneider HERE and the other products for the EX1.

ShotPut EXpress Data Copying Software Tool

Wed, 9 Jul 2008 16:35:18 -0400

How do you manage your data? Big question, lots of answers, everyone has their own work flow. A new software tool has arrived that will help you manage off-loading your SXS cards to 3 multiple drives for back-up. I use it all the time when I am on the road. It is called ShotPut EXpress by the folks at Imagine Products. It is available for Mac and PC. One of its new released features is the ability to check your drives to see if it has room to copy, if it does not, it will throw out a warning “Not Enough Disk Space” nice touch, a necessary evil of data copying, we need reassurance that our data is being copied. The software offers session verification, reformatting the card, progress bar, and other features. For further detailed information head over to their website.
At a price of $49.00 US you cannot go wrong.

Check them out HERE. @ http://www.imagineproducts.com/ShotPut_EXpress.html for addition information and ordering.

A New Charger for your EX1 Batteries

Wed, 9 Jul 2008 13:30:52 -0400

We love our batteries and keeping them charged is keeping our camera running at all times. The new Dolgin charger will keep those batteries charged and you can leave them on the charger and forget about it. This is a 4 position charger, that monitors your battery’s charging status and will charge all 4 at once. “All together now” charge all 4 simultaneous. Perfect. My batteries are happy, my camera is happy. This charger is housed in a metal housing, the status lights tell you which battery is doing what as the display cycles through the charging status of the battery’s being charged.
The Sony battery charger is a good light weight charger, but when your production needs grow so will the need for more batteries and the need to charge those batteries. The 4 position Turbo Charger from Dolgin is the perfect solution. Check them out HERE. http://www.dolgin.net/Battery_Charger_TC400-EX.htm
The current price listed on the website is $695.00 US.

When Bad Pixels Go Wrong

Wed, 9 Jul 2008 12:54:31 -0400

I had the LCD on the Sony XDCAM EX1 go bad on me, for unknown reasons at this time. Though it was still in warranty, I thought this might make a good blog, and a good video as well on how to replace your LCD. I thought it was the philanthropic thing to do for the video community.

NOTES OF CAUTION: The screws holding down the LCD assembly are held in with a locktite, a type of thread glue, you will need a bit of solvent and a good, very good philips screwdriver to fit in and turn the screws without damaging the heads. I assume no responsibility.

See how it is done: The video is below the pictures.

Last Letus Extreme Shoot

Tue, 1 Jul 2008 11:46:27 -0400

Here is a short doc in which the Letus Extreme was used for just the interviews only. All the rest was shot on the Sony EX1. I flew on 2 missions to get this story.

I also used the Schneider FISHEYE HD ADAPTER for the EX1 inside the helicopter to get the views, which would not of been possible without the help of Schneider, with the loaner of the lens. This Fisheye lens had a nice wide view. The helicopter shots would not of been possible without it.
Thank you Schneider.

More about the lens here.

Ultimate on Location

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:27:03 -0400

Here is a Ultimate short below the stills showing the wide range of its use. Interviews are @ the end of the 3 minute short.
I have added a new monitor that I use when doing interviews to help get sharp focus. It is called TV Logic. The monitor has 1:1 pixel mapping by the press of a switch, It enlarges the picture as if you have a 20” monitor on location.
It also sports a waveform and vector overlay, by the press of a switch.
Zacuto, is the reseller for this excellent monitor. I cannot say enough. Here it is supported by Zacuto’s large arm, nice touch.
Typically I will shoot the interviews with the Letus then shoot the b roll naked. Time is always the biggest factor when using a adapter on location, and the use of one takes time

http://www.zacuto.com/.

Ultimate Autopsy

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 08:12:42 -0400

I have been using the Letus Ultimate for the last 3 weeks, and my first impressions are that this 35mm adapter, “Rules”. It is very sharp, razor sharp.” “Crackling sharp” states Philip Bloom. A huge step up from the Extreme and once you have used it you will never want to go back. Of course it will cost you, but it brings up the quality to another level, but your going to pay for that. Click the Letus Icon to find how just how much.

The Ultimate uses a Ground Glass spinner that makes this adapter sharp, any aperture, any shutter speed it does NOT make any difference unlike the previous adapters there are NO limitations, hence it makes excellent DOF shots without you having to remember “I can not stop down more than 2 stops” , “I have to use this shutter speed”

It has a back focus adjustment, so critical back focus settings are now easier made possible. This is done by unscrewing 2 thumb screws and turing the blue anodized ring which moves the lens mount forward and backwards. Using a test chart it is very easy to set the back focus. So changing lens mounts no problem.

The electronics within the Ultimate have been updated, Now their is a external power tap for running the adapter on a external 12 volt supply. It has a variable led readout that the user can adjust the speed of the motor. I used 99 and never used the variable speed controls of the motor, so I do not know what specific results you will get if you do make adjustments. There is also a low battery led that alerts the user when the power drops down. I have yet to see the color of the LED change color, but I replace my rechargeable batteries frequently. The power on-off switch take a bit of use of getting use to it as is a flush faced touch switch. I miss my Ultimate simple power button, but that is my preference. Just grow a finger nail longer to turn this on.

There is a new rail and rail mount for the Ultimate. The rail mount looks more promising than the old one. It appears it will cradle the unit with better support. Certainly this is a upgrade that current users of the Extreme will want. I have yet to take delivery of this part yet.

Both the Ultimate and the Extreme share some of the same mechanical designs and it you had both units you could interchange some parts. For instance you wanted to replace the power motor speed switch with the simple on off button then this would required a complete autopsy of the unit requiring removal of the prism, not for the faint of heart. I have taken this one apart may times and have customized it a bit. Like adding a connector to disconnect the power to the motor so I can get to the prism to clean just in case. I would like to see a optional spare parts kit for it like a spare motor and a drive belt, so one could replace the motor in the field if the need arises.

The new Ultimate comes in a Pelican type black case with cutouts in it for the product, which is how it is shipped to the end user. I believe it is slated for release later this week.

Let us take a look at the unit.

Ultimate Philip Bloom

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:44:34 -0400

It is not every day you get to hang out with a product inventor from Oregon, and Philip Bloom from London. They both share a common interest, the Letus 35mm adapter.
One of the things that most fasciated me about Philip was his dry English humor and his smile. We all met on the floor at NAB at the Zacuto booth. Hien was waiting for Philip to return the Letus Ultimate, Hien said “he had left the country with my only prototype” but not to worry Philip returned with adapter in hand. “Cracking sharp” Philip repeated about the performance of the Letus Ultimate, while Hien said “we own the brokheh, no one can beat us, we loose only 1/2 stop, we have back focus” you know what? he is right. Hien Le is the king of adapters they own the adapter space. Quality and price the Ultimate is the ultimate to own.

I spent one day with Philip and Hien on the streets of Las Vegas watching Philip making a short, here are my observations.

NAB 2008

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 15:31:51 -0400

NAB 2008 is over but the memories of the people I met will never be forgotten.
Philp Bloom, Hien Le & Quyen Le, inventors of the Letus adapters. These were the “Hot Babes” of NAB. NAB had more meaning this year than any of the previous years. Letus had a new product introduction of the Letus Ultimate. Sony had the EX3 and much much more. The Ultimate is not a replacement for the extreme, they are clearly two separate products.
The Letus Ultimate was featured @ the Zacuto booth. The Lens Babies booth showed the Letus EX.
Even Dennis Dillion showed some video he took with the Letus Exteme of Dan Rather, CBS. Hey people something is going on here. Hien was interviewed by Sony, Panasonic and FreshDV. Now something is really going on here. See: http://www.panasonic.com/business/provideo/nab2008/index.asp and http://www.freshdv.com/2008/04/nab-2008-letus35-ultimate.html NAB 2008 for Letus will be a turning point for 35mm adapters. Hien & Quyen are about to experience a tsunami, and have put Letus on top of it all. Philip Bloom has already shot footage with the Sony EX1 with the Letus Ultimate and the results are on his blog. Philp simply states “crackling sharp” with a smile.

Nikon Mount for Letus with Back Focus

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 19:57:24 -0400

Got the upgraded Nikon mount for the Letus EX. This has been my big issue for the makers of the adapters. They use cheap mounts. NOT good. The most important part of the adapter is the mounting of a lens, it should be solid and not subject to movement. The new Nikon mount does just that.

I did NOT have to do a back focus on the new mount. NOTE: This new mount does HAVE have a back focus adjustment, I wish the threads on the screw were fine threaded, as well as all the other screws on the Letus.

I will show a procedure to get the ground glass square and I even got better edge to edge sharpness with this method. I believe that this got out of alignment over time and travels.

While we are on the subject of quality, lets talk about paint. Please do NOT use it any more. The paint finnish on my Letus is not sticking, it is coming off. This means black specs of paint can find ways to get on your lens, and that translates to spots. I was glad to see the new Nikon mount was NOT painted in flat black. No paint to flake off, this is good. I have also taken the EX1 adapter ring and removed the flat black paint finnish so it does not flake off on the Sony XDCAM EX lens, see the pics at the bottom of the page. I want less work to keep my lens and adapters free of particles that cause dust. The shinny finish is good with me, do not try to be cool with flat black for the risk of a bad - cheap paint job! I have spent too much time trying to make this adapter better, and the other adapters are not exempt from issues as well. Just keep it simple.

Shot with Zylight

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 07:01:35 -0400

Here is a short showing the nice lighting that the Zylight has. I used a exisiting Anton softbox on the light to soften the light. Which fit on just perfect. The ability to fine tune the light’s color balance was critical to get a proper color balance to the existing light in the room and the camera’s color balance. It preformed flawless on my last trip overseas.

You be the judge.

DOF Test with Letus EX and EX1

Sun, 9 Mar 2008 18:01:05 -0400

Just completed a test for DOF with the Letus EX and Sony EX1. Controlling DOF has always been a challenge when the subject is moving and using a 85mm lens, or longer @ wide open and at a medium framed shot. I figure you can have less than a inch to hold focus. So I wanted to establish guide lines as to how much you can stop down, without seeing issues with the Letus.

I completed the following test. I arranged some nails in a board spaced one inch apart on center. Focusing on nail # 3, marked as so. I started to stop down the lens in one stop increments, without regard to exposure. See the slate in the scene to see the F stops used. Here is the results of the test, (note no audio) so you can see how DOF is affected by stopping the lens down. But we knew that right? But that is not the end of this story keep reading.

One of the challenges of a DOF adapter is a vibrating ground glass type. If you stop down too much on the external lens to the Letus you will start to see the grain of the focus screen. This is apparent when shooting a sky or light background. The second test was just that, I have made audio comments as to the F stop and you can judge when the screen starts to appear, it looks like a molting look to the sky, uneven. I even stopped the Letus motor so you can see how radical this can look when you do not have the motor on. I suggest not to shut down more that F5.6 on sky pics on the lens on the Letus. If you need more depth of field, move back or use a wider angle lens, so you can avoid this issue rather than use the F stop to control DOF up to F5.6. It was raining as well when I pointed the camera out the door to do this, FYI. Spinner type DOF adapters do NOT have this issue. If you know the limitations with which you have to play with then you can overcome some of these situations.

The shots below were made with a Zeiss 85mm and the zoom was set @ Z-74 on the Sony XDCAM EX1. The focus was set on the nail labeled #3, the resultant changes in F stops are indicated on the slate. No adjustments were made for exposure.

New Sony EX1 Charger Released

Sat, 8 Mar 2008 15:32:49 -0500

Dolgin Engineering released a 4 position charger for the Sony XDCAM EX1.
TC400 Battery Charger for Sony EX1 BP-U30, BP-U60 batteries
Preliminary

Features:

Fast, safe simultaneous charge; high capacity BP-U60 battery packs are ready in about 4 hours. As a battery being charged, charge status is displayed in Volts, mAh (as counted by the charger fuel gauge)

Digital LCD display indicates the battery pack capacity, if fully discharged before insertion.

Each of the 4 channels is fully independent of the others, batteries can be inserted/removed at any time

Worldwide 100-240V AC

* Small lightweight package

http://www.dolgin.net/Battery_Charger_TC400-EX.htm

Call Toll Free (877) 863-1813

Letus in Prague short

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:11:54 -0500

Here is a short, with the Letus. Took about 5 hrs and shot everything in view and quickly put this together. I used Magic Bullet. I found going back and forth from MB to FCP showed the applied grade different from the two applications on the laptop. It must be a graphics card thing. I will try to re-grade this as the contrast got lower on the mp4 file on the blog. Though the stills here do not look bad.

Overall I found shooting from the hip on location challenging with focus being the hardest. This is a big difference between studio vers location. One is a controlled situation and the latter being un-controlled and distractions galore.

Letus Demo in Prague

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 12:09:08 -0500

My travels to Prague were for business to create a video on location for a sales meeting using the XDCAM EX1. The Letus was not for the meeting but for some scenic shots I wanted to take when I had a day off. The meeting was on a tight time schedule with a press conference that needed to be covered as well, it would of been impossible to have shot the meeting with the Letus, as I was my own crew.

I was on my own, to shoot, transfer the data and edit a small video for the meeting, did I mention stills as well. Yea, stills. Lots to do and little time. The camera, & Zylight performed very well and did a great job with the interviews. I will cover this in another blog, with sample footage with the light. Stay tuned.

Zylight Short

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 05:47:59 -0500

Zylight short showing off this sexy light. Shot with the EX1 and macro Zeiss 50mm and Lens Babies 3G lens.

Letus EX1 Fixed

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:55:38 -0500

Today I received the new acromat that fixes the edge to edge softness with the Sony XDCAM EX1 when used with the Letus Extreme. I am happy to report that the results are excellent and there is no more edge to edge softness!

The test chart was a dollar bill. I did the test quickly but one can view the movie and determine the results are grand.

Phil Bloom will no doubt put it through another test and report, Phil? The great news that the fixed is available for purchase. Click here to visit Letus it is under “Shop” , “Accessories” at the bottom of the page you will see “Sony EX1 Kit The much anticipated optimization kit for the Sony PMW-EX1 XDCAM.”

I created a short movie below that shows the fix in action. Note I did not turn on the motor on the Letus until the end, I comment on that at the end of the video. Enjoy the fix.. GREAT JOB LETUS TEAM

Vortex Media

Thu, 7 Feb 2008 21:30:43 -0500

Vortex Media, Doug Jensen spoke today about his released DVD on the Sony XDCAM EX1

Three hours of training on the use of the camera, also editing workflow. Well worth the price. Doug gets right to the point with beautiful shots taken with the camera and valuable tips and tricks.

Check out their website and order a copy today.

Listen to the interview below.

Lensbabies

Thu, 7 Feb 2008 20:40:57 -0500

What is Lensbabies? Take a look of this movie below used making this short. A good percent of the shots were made with the Lensbabies on the Letus and EX1.

Today I spoke to Craig Stong, Lensbabies co-founder and President. Check out their website.

Listen to the interview below.

Zylight

Thu, 7 Feb 2008 19:53:36 -0500

What is a Zylight? Take a look of this movie below showing this fanastic light. I could not believe what they have packed into this light.

I am taking one overseas next week and will post some footage, about its performance upon my return. Meanwhile check out Zylight’s web site for further details.

Meet Philip Bloom

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 23:09:39 -0500

Meet Hien Le, Letus Company

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:24:51 -0500

Had the pleasure speaking with Hien Le one of the principals of Letus. Hien Le talks about the company, his brother, and what is on the horizon for Letus.
Listen Below.

Sony Charger for the EX1 Autopsy

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:12:16 -0500

Took a X-Ray of the Sony charger, I wanted to change out the dc power cord. I was looking for extra screws, that might of been holding it together. Found none except 2. There are plastic sort of clips holding it together, used a small knife to get under the lip on the seam, then used my fingers to pry open the rest of the case. Just 2 screws under the label, Use a small flat head to wedge into the screw and a center post in the screw to turn, anti tamper screw.
Yes, I like to take things apart to see how they work or don’t work.

Letus

Sat, 19 Jan 2008 17:33:30 -0500

Frame grab above from Letus Extreme. Zeiss 50mm macro.

Lens Changing

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 22:32:33 -0500

Changing a lens simple eh? I cannot overstate clean, clean, and clean. I use a rocket blower, no compress air, the propellant can leave residue, if your not careful. The Rocket is always ready, always has air, never runs out.

We have lots of glass surfaces to keep clean.
Video camera lens
Acromat front
Acromat rear
Glass before flip prism
Glass after flip prism
Letus focus screen bottom
Letus focus screen top
Protector glass for Focus screen bottom
Protector glass for Focus screen top
Nikon lens rear element
Nikon lens front element
Netural density filter top
Netural density filter bottom

Sony XDCAM EX1 Battery Charging

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 08:38:00 -0500

Alex Dolgin, from Dolgin Engineering proudly holds his Four Position Fast Battery Charger .

Alex stopped by the other day so I could lend him a Sony XDCAM EX1 battery for studying. I think we will see a new generation of battery chargers from http://www.dolgin.net/Battery_Charger_TC400-EX.htm in the near future for the Sony XDCAM EX1.

Check out his products....

Brevis Cinevate Flips Arrives

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 22:32:46 -0500

No Lens Cap.... Ouch this hurts

Letus Batteries

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 22:13:50 -0500

Here is my solution to batteries, Now I do not turn the Letus off. When it comes out of the case it goes on, and stays on until I am done. Battery change @ high noon.

Re-chargeable batteries plain and simple.

Letus @ The Grog

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:28:13 -0500

Went to the local establishment where Wed night is open mic night. Shot with the Nikon 85mm with a Lowel Rifa light ,750 watts for fill light. Hand held. All stills below are frame grabs from the Letus Extreme

Corp Interviews

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 20:59:31 -0500

Did a few corp interviews this week with the Letus EX. I like to shoot tight. Being that tight means the subject’s movement will challenge your focus - sharpness.
One interview in-studio, on white background, high key. The other, in the office environment with lighting overhead with no extra lights @ all; Nikon 85mm. Camera shoots very well in this type of environment. See my Grog Blog... Open night mic..

Included below are a few samples with some beauty stuff mixed in. No audio.
Remember to turn the Letus “on” with the light @ the bottom, it is NOT flashing in my face. As a practice when removing the camera and Letus together out of the case, the power switch goes on until it goes back into the case. I now have a method for batteries for the Letus. I will blog about this in the near future,

Brevis on the Sony EX1

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:29:46 -0500

This was my first attempt to attach the Brevis Flip to the EX1. We have the same issues as the Letus with edge to edge. This video shows you how to mount and adjust each of the components, first attempts, captured through the lens of the EX1. First the flip then the tube with the motor in it.

As I discovered do each one separately. More tests are in order to get edge to edge, more on this stay tuned. Also noted that the Brevis grain is hardly noticeable based on this quick test. More tests to follow.

Critical Focus

Sun, 13 Jan 2008 16:40:42 -0500

Here is how I achieve critical focus with the Letus.

Letus @ The Airfield

Sun, 13 Jan 2008 09:38:22 -0500

Went over to our local airport, Plum Island, know as 2B2 and shot some Letus EX stuff there, with 180mm, 85mm, 85mm There is some footage below to view. I am really getting quite attached to this camera and the Letus EX as well. Just loving that DOF.

Letus Autopsy

Sun, 6 Jan 2008 09:50:39 -0500

Took the Letus apart to give it a good cleaning, and explore the forensic science of the Letus.

Letus and the Zacuto System

Sat, 5 Jan 2008 08:19:10 -0500

Letus EX adapter. Phil Bloom has some outstanding samples on his site here with the use of the Sony EX1.

I have been testing the combo and the first issue was cold weather. It appears that the cold affected the batteries, motor, mounts, focus screen in the Letus, I got huge ammounts of grain, I was unable to duplicate this when the Letus was warmed up. UPDATE: Hein has informed me I had the lens closed down too much under bright sunlight, should of used a ND filter over the lens.

Here are some pics of the Letus mounted on the Zacuto baseplate and rail system.
Very nice system I have it so it can quickly remove the Letus.

HD Video on the Web

Fri, 4 Jan 2008 07:56:15 -0500

One of my big efforts has been publishing video to the web. I have always been fascinated by the ability to put video to the web, first Mpeg-1 then Windows media, and now Flash video.
Adobe has just released the the new flash player that allows HD Flash video on the web in Mpeg4 encoded using H.264. The quality is outstanding, finally a format to show off video in HD on the web. Thank you Adobe.
Here is a program I did withthe XDCAM F350 and some HVX 200 footage as well I re-encoded in the H.264 format. Click Here to view. Its the story about the Rochester, Minnesota Police department’s Early Defibrillation program. You will need the latest Adobe’s HD flash player to view this content which was just released in December 2007.

Here is the same video below playing in the Quicktime player: