The HV20 with LetUS 35mm adapter thread

[Mal]

Pics, footage and review to follow

[Mal]

Okay, I really haven't had any time to do anything serious. This is a few seconds, call it a teaser. HV20 with a LetUs35. Preliminary test to see how it fits mechanically. This footage was editied & corrected in Vegas 7. Lens was Canon 50mm 1.4.
link (http://hv20.info/Untitled.mov)

[Mark Dog2]

vegas 6 user here Mal , will i have to upgrade to 7 for the hv20 ???? and also i see you mention correted did you do some color correction on the fotage and if so what you do ????

peace n luv

Mark Dog2

[Mal]

Tweeked saturation and played with brightness/contrast. I had to though, it was so AWFULLY grey/dull outside right now.

Not sure about editing yet, and what is required; all that will need further study. I think you might need 7 though, I honestly can't remember if Vegas 6 could even handle HDV, lety alone create a HDV 24p project??

[Patrick Jennings]

hey mal. i would really like to see a photo of your setup. just to gage what the letus looks like attached to the HV20. also more footage!!! please :)

instead of full rez footage, you could just post arround 640x360 clips and then full rez stills just to make downloads/uploads quicker.

[Mal]

Will do, Patrick.
My LetUs35 has a loose "body" which makes it rather difficult right now. I handheld it for the quick test footage from before, in order to avoid the LetUs from falling apart. It was really just to see if the HV20 can focus on the GG, which seems to work fine.

Weather much better now, so I'll try and get some more stuff done.....

[Patrick Jennings]

do you have the LetUs35 or the LetUs35A?
and can the achromat be taken off?
apparently cameras with lenses smaller than 43mm don't need an achromat.
if the achromat can be taken off and the camera can focus on the GG, then you could save some of the light loss.

[Patrick Jennings]

and another request... :)

could we get some footage with 1/24th shutter speed vs. 1/48th for the film look. i think on fast moving objects like cars, it might look a bit weird on 1/24th. but that is another great thing about the HV20 - we get the choice of lower shutter speeds!!!!

[Mal]

Having a little difficulty with the LetUs35 & HV20, I think mainly because there's no rails, and the LetUs seems heavier than the cam.

But first off, a pic:

http://hv20.info/letushv20.jpg

[Mal]

do you have the LetUs35 or the LetUs35A?
and can the achromat be taken off?
apparently cameras with lenses smaller than 43mm don't need an achromat.
if the achromat can be taken off and the camera can focus on the GG, then you could save some of the light loss.

Not sure which LetUs. What defines the "A"? We had an ORIGINAL LetUs35, with plastic everything, including the lens mount. It was a very early model; however, Quyen replaced the unit after we broke the GG in it for the unit in the picture.
Like I mentioned, I'm having a bit of hard time with it, and MUCH prefer the SGpro, because of the rails. I need to rig something before really testing the LetUs35 + HV20 further....

[tgtn]

Just wondering if I just overpaid for this?

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=003&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=130091623414&rd=1&rd=1

Paid $ 690.00. :hv20-smilie51:

What do you guys think?

Nice footage, by the way, Mal. Thanks to you, now we know that the LetUS fits the HV20, which I am expecting anytime soon.

[Patrick Jennings]

tgtn - i think you got a pretty good deal. i'm even a bit jealous of you.

mal - the LetUs35A has an Achromat. the Letus35 just has a macro lens.
what sort of difficulties are you having with the letUs?

[Mal]

Congrats tgtn, hope you get some GREAT shots!

Patrick: okay, looks like it's an "A".

Problems: I'd definitely say the problems are that there's no rails.
The HV20 is 1 lbs 7 oz (670g), the LetUs35 with Canon Lens 1 lbs 12 oz (800g).
You certainly wouldn't want to have the LetUs35 be supported by the 43mm thread of the HV20!
Rails or some other support is a must, I'd say.

[tgtn]

Thanks for the reply guys. I'm new at this and got excited and actually put a really high max bid. Thank heavens, no one else wanted it as bad as I did.

I am so psyched about getting everything. My HV20 should be coming in 7 days. the letus35 package should be in soon too.

Mal: I saw the GSpro35 footage and I am really impressed but for $ 675 for just the adapter, it was a bit too much for me. But the footage you took looks amazing compared to the one taken with the letus35. Oh well.

How come you have so many nice toys.

[Mal]

Mal: I saw the GSpro35 footage and I am really impressed but for $ 675 for just the adapter, it was a bit too much for me. But the footage you took looks amazing compared to the one taken with the letus35. Oh well.

I wouldn't say the samples I put up are completely indicative though; my LetUs35 test was very flawed, as I had to handhold the rig. It needs some kind of rails in order to work better.


How come you have so many nice toys.

We're spoilt?!!
:hv20-smilie111:

[tgtn]

Let me guess, you have a brevis too, rights?

[Mal]

Let me guess, you have a brevis too, rights?

Wrong! We have two of them!
:hv20-smilie45:

Nah, just the LetUs and the SGpro...

[tgtn]

Still, having two different adapters rock. How does it compare to one another? I heard the SGpro is the cream of the crop.

Any experience on the GO35pro? It looks so simple and easy to carry around. I've seen footage and it looks nice too. If the letus doesn't work out for me, I might just get GO35pro.

Has anybody around here used this adapter?

[Patrick Jennings]

how's the testing with the LetUs35A going?

it looks like i'll be able to get my HV20 this week. YAY!!! they finally have it on some Australian websites. but I'm not sure if it's in stock though...
I'll also be ordering a LetUs35A this week too, so it would be nice to see some more footage and tests :)

[Rawfa]

The HV20 is proving to be a killer option to work with 35mm adapters. I simply love the look.

I've seen some amazing footage from the HV20 with the Brevis35.

[tgtn]

how's the testing with the LetUs35A going?

it looks like i'll be able to get my HV20 this week. YAY!!! they finally have it on some Australian websites. but I'm not sure if it's in stock though...
I'll also be ordering a LetUs35A this week too, so it would be nice to see some more footage and tests :)

Hey Patrick,

My 35mm ebay package is held up at the Canadian Customs. It should be here soon. In the meantime, here a pic of my Hv20 with a beachtek xlr adapter.

[Emanuel]

Okay, I really haven't had any time to do anything serious. This is a few seconds, call it a teaser. HV20 with a LetUs35. Preliminary test to see how it fits mechanically. This footage was editied & corrected in Vegas 7. Lens was Canon 50mm 1.4.

http://hv20.info/Untitled.movVignetting... What's the best bundle? HV20/SGPRO or HV20/Letus Enhanced Flip Version? Is it possible to watch other samples, please?

[tgtn]

Hey Patrick,

My 35mm ebay package is held up at the Canadian Customs. It should be here soon. In the meantime, here a pic of my Hv20 with a beachtek xlr adapter.

Finally got my Letus 35mm package that I won from ebay. Everything is there except that the planar lens inside the adapter got badly scratched because the achromat fell inside due to bad packing. I have since sent it for repair, courtesy of seller, but not before I took this nice pic which includes my beachtek audio adapter.

http://www.hidebehind.com/DEE237BA

I can't wait to get the repaired adapter back.

tgtn

[Mal]

Finally got my Letus 35mm package...

THAT'S a LETUS35??? :hv20-smilie51:
Is Quyen making them longer now? Why does that Letus look like it's longer than the one I have?
http://hv20.info/letushv20.jpg

Anyway, sorry to hear about the mishap; hope you get it back soon, and working properly...

[CBarce]

I earlier posted a picture of my device to flip the HV20 to get a right side up image here is the link.

http://www.hv20.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1176577958

I have posted a lot of letus footage shot with HV20 at megaupload. I have not been successful in negotiating uploads to this site, so I will give links. Some exceed size requirements anyway. This is intended as test footage, but taken in real life situations.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=Y2763PSV

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=7O4735R0

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=GGQM8XY3

[24Peter]

I took this nice pic which includes my beachtek audio adapter.

tgtn
tgtn - how is that Beachtek working out? Is it quiet? Can you actually boost the audio levels with it? Is there a way to set both inputs to one channel?

[tgtn]

THAT'S a LETUS35??? :hv20-smilie51:
Is Quyen making them longer now? Why does that Letus look like it's longer than the one I have?
http://hv20.info/letushv20.jpg

Anyway, sorry to hear about the mishap; hope you get it back soon, and working properly...

It's a custom by Quyen for a SONY HDR-HC1. This was the previous owner's setup.

http://www.hidebehind.com/E30F765E

I didn't realize this was longer than a regular Letus35 until I had it in my hands.

I actually might have to shorten the barrel because there is too much vignetting happening with this long barrel on the HV20.

I can't wait to get it back. Quyen has guaranteed the seller a repair once they receive it.



Peter,

As a passive device, this beachtek is silent. And yes, you could adjust the levels separately, the only thing that is lacking is a meter. They have one with a meter but it is too long for the HV20 and would have blocked access to the batttery release at the bottom of the camera. I haven't tried both inputs in one channel but I think you might have to do that in post. As far as I know it only records on separate tracks. I'm not 100% on that, though. I will do some tests and see.

[Muff]

And what about Letus35 Flip Enhanced? Which type of lenses are good? I have got HV20 last week and I want to get Letus35.. Thanks.

[Yann]

And is there an rail System for the Letus35 Flip and the hv20, or must i build an own?

[Mal]

LetUs35 was designed to be used without rails, but that was only for larger cams with larger thread size. For the HV20 I'd HIGHLY recommend rails. Unfortunately you'd have to make something yourself, yes.

[Muff]

I want ask. Light loss 1,5 with letus FlipEnhanced- does it increase depth of field? Thanks.

[Mal]

The idea is to DECREASE depth of field not increase it.

[Muff]

Yes, I know that "negative" effect - increasing DOF. I´m affraid, it will. Can anybody verify that?

[Mal]

Well, I think I know what you mean; but keep in mind that ALL 35mm adapters will have some light loss.
In the end, the specific 35mm lens you put in front of the adapter will have more influence on the shallowness of the DOF.
The Letus is a good unit.

[Muff]

Could you commend me the best configuration of letus for my HV20?
my tip: Nikon AI + Letus35 flip enhanced with achromat included + HV20 (+handmade rails).
Thanks.

[tgtn]

Finally got my Letus 35mm package that I won from ebay. Everything is there except that the planar lens inside the adapter got badly scratched because the achromat fell inside due to bad packing. I have since sent it for repair, courtesy of seller, but not before I took this nice pic which includes my beachtek audio adapter.

I can't wait to get the repaired adapter back.

tgtn

I got my repaired Letus adapter and just took a couple of shots this afternoon and this baby rocks. It is unbelievable what you can get with this combo. Absolutely gorgeous.

I wanted to upload some footage but I would have to first, invert the image in post. Because, as some of you might be aware, most adapter, capture the image upside down. I am thinking of building an upside down rail or get a monitor that can invert and mirror the image.

Fortunately, I do have a link to this. Check out my posts at the LCD monitor thread.

I just got the Avid Liquid 7.0 edit suite and will fool around with the footage.

[Muff]

Which letus is beteer for hv20 (letus FE) - 72mm or 58mm version? vigneting...zooming... Thanks.

[neocastillo]

Which letus is beteer for hv20 (letus FE) - 72mm or 58mm version? vigneting...zooming... Thanks.

Get the 58mm for the HV20.

[neolinski]

as long as you have a correct ring, what would be difference between 72mm or 58mm for HV20?

I talked to Quyen about HV20 and he wrote me The
Letus35 Flip Enhanced "works better in image quality". i am not entirely sure why.

anyone knows?

[neolinski]

btw, can someone tell me if there are big quality difference between letus (probably the cheapest adapter out there) and others (brevis, sgpro, etc)??

[neocastillo]

as long as you have a correct ring, what would be difference between 72mm or 58mm for HV20?

I talked to Quyen about HV20 and he wrote me The
Letus35 Flip Enhanced "works better in image quality". i am not entirely sure why.

anyone knows?

Maybe the extra couple of hundred it cost? Just kidding. I have seen side by side test and the quality of the 35A and the Flip look the same to me. I would recommend the 35A because it has less light loss.

[neolinski]

how do u flip the screen?
(hack or physically flip the cam?)

[Muff]

I am waiting for letus FE.... looking forward....

[africanmarty]

I earlier posted a picture of my device to flip the HV20 to get a right side up image here is the link.

http://www.hv20.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1176577958



can you tell me how you did this and what parts you needed to make this :

http://www.hv20.com/attachment.php?a...d=1176 577958

also do you have a better picture (larger) of this as me and my mates were very impressed how you solved the upside down issue.

- Marty.

[CBarce]

Hey Marty:

Go to this thread, post #5 to see some pics of the latest version. It has grown.

The original was devoid of anything.

The basic frame was easy to make from a 2 inch wiedthree foot aluminum strip I got from Home Depot. About $10 US. I simply bent it on the edge of a table. Bolt and screw are use for mounting, and I cut a peice of ply board to form a rest for the Letus. The frame ends up with a bit of spring, Which keeps all the weight of the camera and now my DVD monitor off the Letus....

Note I have the remote mount at back of camera. Someone posted some info about getting some fiber optic cable, and I ran it to the front of camera, and it works. Of course, only use it to zoom to max on the Letus.

The DVD player has video in, so I've turned it into my viewfinder.

I used this rig to shoot a film for a 48Hour entry. It actually worked very well. Even recorded all sound on the HV20, using a field mixer and a good mic I have. Here is YouTube version, though it is a bit dark in the YouTube transcoding process:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s3hDShqe18

[SalaTar]

That is a scary rig for sure

[Muff]

Hi, I made a combo - Letus Flip Enhanced + Canon HV20 - see photos and video test
http://tvorbavidea.wz.cz/letus_hv20.htm
I have problem with FTP, if doesnt work, try this:
http://megaupload.cz/5RuiGlfsxg8AAE0hXEQAAAAJ/canonhv20_letus35fe-wmv.html

[Hawaj]

Hi, I made a combo - Letus Flip Enhanced + Canon HV20 - see photos and video test
http://tvorbavidea.wz.cz/letus_hv20.htm
I have problem with FTP, if doesnt work, try this:
http://megaupload.cz/5RuiGlfsxg8AAE0hXEQAAAAJ/canonhv20_letus35fe-wmv.html

díky Muffe

[neolinski]

I have Letus 35A (72mm, achromat).
From reading a post about no need of achromat on HV20, should I try to take it off?

Also do you guys (with letus 35/A) use it without a rail? (meaning do you feel confident in your hv20's lens thread?)

[ForwardLooker]

I have Letus 35A (72mm, achromat).
From reading a post about no need of achromat on HV20, should I try to take it off?

Also do you guys (with letus 35/A) use it without a rail? (meaning do you feel confident in your hv20's lens thread?)

I dont own a letus 35 but i have a DIY adapter and I know mine needs an achromat or macro ring to stop my picture from suffering barrel distortion. I guess its the zooming in on the gg that cuases it.

[neolinski]

i know what achromat lens does.. but ive heard that hv20 doesnt need it (at least in Letus35) because of 43mm hv20 lens. anyone else??

also do one need to use (diy) rail system with hv20?
will it be too heavy for hv20 without a rail ??

[Adriano Apefos]

I am the maker of Apefos 35mm adapter www.apefos.com

Doing some tests with HDV footage I found a way to minimize blocking artifacts in HDV blacks

I would like to explain and if someone try it, let me know.

1 - put the same m2t footage aligned in two video tracks in Adobe Premiere.

2 - in the upper track apply gaussian blur and adjust between 4 and 6. (adjust looking the blacks)

3 - in the upper track apply arbitrary map and adjust between -5 and -1 (adjust looking the blacks)

4 - in the upper track apply luminance key (adjust the key to keep only the blacks of the upper track over the lower track, be carefull to not get color fringing in key edges)

5 - render to uncompressed.

The goal is to minimize the blocking artifacts in the blacks where HDV compression is more visible.

If someone try this, let me know.

Thanks.

[CBarce]

i know what achromat lens does.. but ive heard that hv20 doesnt need it (at least in Letus35) because of 43mm hv20 lens. anyone else??

also do one need to use (diy) rail system with hv20?
will it be too heavy for hv20 without a rail ??


HV20 requires an achromat. I shoot it with the Letus35a, which ships with an achromat. On some lens, you still have issues with not being able to zoom enough to avoid some vignetting.

I built my own set up to flip the camera, part of the set up includes an adjustable rest for tje Letus, to keep stress off. Search my name to see photos of rig I posted elsewhere.

[Rygy12]

It's a custom by Quyen for a SONY HDR-HC1. This was the previous owner's setup.

http://www.hidebehind.com/E30F765E

I didn't realize this was longer than a regular Letus35 until I had it in my hands.

I actually might have to shorten the barrel because there is too much vignetting happening with this long barrel on the HV20.

I can't wait to get it back. Quyen has guaranteed the seller a repair once they receive it.

Your link is to a porn site... Thanks admins so much for letting this one through



Peter,

As a passive device, this beachtek is silent. And yes, you could adjust the levels separately, the only thing that is lacking is a meter. They have one with a meter but it is too long for the HV20 and would have blocked access to the batttery release at the bottom of the camera. I haven't tried both inputs in one channel but I think you might have to do that in post. As far as I know it only records on separate tracks. I'm not 100% on that, though. I will do some tests and see.

You're link is to a porn site... Thanks admins so much for letting this one through

[CorbenT]

Haha, thats crack up! He was probably being serious about his question but accidentally copied and pasted the wrong link. He's probably so ashamed that he has left the forum forever to spare embarassment

[Rygy12]

Haha, thats crack up! He was probably being serious about his question but accidentally copied and pasted the wrong link. He's probably so ashamed that he has left the forum forever to spare embarassment

ROFL!!! :hv20-smilie81:


He's like... OH CRAP NOW THEY KNOW MY SECRET SITE :hv20-smilie36: