I visited a 546 set for the first time after the switch from 16mm film to XDCAM EX, and I was surprised to see the cinematographer using the Letus35 adapter in front of the lens that comes with the Sony PMW-EX3. I'm personally against using lens adapters (especially the ones that go in front of the camera's lens) for many reasons:
1. Degradation of picture quality that one gets after putting two sets of lenses in front of each other.
2. The static grain that one gets from the ground glass looks artificial and not organic.
3. The adapter loses light so one will need more light or open the stop more.
4. The possible vignetting that one can get because of the prime lens and / or the adapter.
I remember once Chris told us that the whole point of getting EX3s for 546 was because of the fact that the lenses are interchangeable, but I also remember him saying that there won't be any lenses for the EX3 at PEC in the near future. So since they (DPs) can rent lens adapters and prime lenses, I thought I should suggest something that I discovered while I was researching for another project that I shot on the XDCAM EX.
I once was picking up equipments from Birns and Sawyer and I saw one one order that has a 2/3" ENG-type HD camera with a set of Zeiss Digiprime Lenses. Now the EX3 is a 1/2" camera, so you'll need to get the Fujinon ACM-21 adapter to be able to use 2/3" lenses on it. If you still want to use 35mm PL-mount lenses, I'd recomment the P+S Technik PRO35 adapter. It still cuts down light but at least it sits on the Fujinon ACM-21 adapter and not on another lens, and it's the best adapter out there.
Here are the lenses:
http://www.birnsandsawyer.com/_camera-rentals/lenses/?filter=HD%20Primes
Here's the adapter: (couldn't find it on Birns & Sawyer's website)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/576005-REG/Fujinon_ACM_21_ACM_21_2_3_Lens_Adapter.html
Here's the P+S Technik PRO35 adapter:
http://www.birnsandsawyer.com/_Camera-Rentals/HD-Accessories/P+S-Technik-Pro-35.aspx
Here's a demo of the PRO35 setup:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8PdxMWX3z8
I'm sure there are other vendors with other price ranges out there, and there are probably other lens sets too, but I'll leave that to your research.
Enjoy and have a happy shooting!
Fady
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ReplyDeleteoops I deleted my comment by accident and I don't know how to bring it back!
ReplyDeleteI was talking about how EX3 are more useful than the EX1 for hand held because of the shoulder pad.
Also, all my suggestions will probably be too much for a 546 budget. So think wisely about this or any adapter for that matter. I attended that evening with John Bailey at Kodak (an event that Chris told us about -- thanks Chris!) and he said how he asked the producers on one film to take out the money budgeted for DI and add it to the production design budget, because he doesn't need DI and because he'll be shooting a better picture with better production design.
ReplyDeleteI just did something similar for a film I am prepping. I am pushing to finish photochemically and I found practical solutions to obviate our need for digital effects for a far lower cost.
ReplyDeleteMoney spent in front of the lens is money well spent.
BTW - the shoulder pad is a good idea, but not well enough designed on this camera - it is short, and not as useful as it should be.
There is, I believe, a PS Teknic mini 35 that fits a 1/2" mount as on the EX3 - but without the ACM-21 2/3 to 1/2 inch adapter. Otherwise, the adapter you write about is a viable option. (if appropriate for the visual design of your film)
ReplyDeleteI looked for it here in Los Angeles, but no one seems to have it (or heard about it.) The only rental house I found that carries it is in New Jersey!
ReplyDeletePerhaps the reason is that the image from the EX3 is good enough that there is not a big market for the adapter (which actually reduces the resolution)?
ReplyDeletePossibly. The fact that P+S Technik invested in an adapter specifically made for the EX3 says something.
ReplyDelete