Test Twoneil Static - Thinner Washed Focusing Screen

[drapeama]

Hey guys!
Just thought I might share this with you. I recently been using my Twoneil Static adapter and I accidently touched the screen. Pretty much ruined you'll say? Usually yeah, but as I told myself, I have nothing to lose and there's some FS on ebay for 40, worth a try. I decided to wash it: water, soap...not bad. The I had the idea of using paint thinner...oh...then the traces disapear, rinsed the screen and dried it...boom, looks like a new one. And strangely, the dust doesn't stick on it like before, way less though.
So yesterday I went out with charlie to test it and here's what it produced:





I used an Hoya 28m lens for this.
I added a fine layer of grain in After Effect using a 4K layer downscaled to the comp size (1080p) and added a 1.85:1 matte to it, Anty just tell me what you think of it. The result is quite good, moody as it's been shot using an adapter, but the look is very nice. Nothing to compare to DSLRs.

Edit: I should try to post it directly on the hv20.com server because the crappy youtube REcompression removed all the grain there was in the video...and added some blocky compresion artifacts instead!

[drapeama]

Here's the Vimeo version. Better quality, despite the fact that online compression don't handle much well the grain in video:

[Braceface]

I love the adapter look!! The footage is pretty soft, but I love it anyhow. Its cushy, or something. Just nice, different, moody....

[Braceface]

This just convinced me to do my next short with my HV20 letus gear!!! Thanks for reminding me that its not always about a perfect image, but many times about a NEAT one!!

[drapeama]

I love the adapter look!! The footage is pretty soft, but I love it anyhow. Its cushy, or something. Just nice, different, moody....

Thanks. Don't ask me why I decided to play with my Twoneil again this week, but I did. With the Focusing Screen washed with thinner I think it gives that more moody look, and for some king of old 8/16mm look, it gives decent results. I was using a cheap macro lens from ebay, which produced some chromatic aberration which added to the final look in the highlight/shadow areas.
That being said, it's never as good as my kiwi35, but I think I might use it for the Horror contest #25 because of the look it gives. Could end up with a very nice looking short.

This just convinced me to do my next short with my HV20 letus gear!!! Thanks for reminding me that its not always about a perfect image, but many times about a NEAT one!!

I'm glad you liked it that much, and I'm also glad you plan to work using an adapter again. People are moving to DSLR and rejects adapters but I think they should be used more often. Pros and Cons for each toy.

[antman]

It looks good, I think with some subtle lighting you will get some very nice results. It does look a lot like 16mm. The grain looks good to. I would say as long as you shoot the entire short with the adapter on, you will achieve a great look, I wouldn't intercut it with non adapter footage. I think thats a big mistake many people make because they dont want to take the time to set up proper lighting. Im looking foreward to seeing it. thanks for posting.

What lens did you use, it says Hoya? They make 35mm lenses? I never knew. Of did you add a hoya on top of a lens? im confused.

[drapeama]

It looks good, I think with some subtle lighting you will get some very nice results. It does look a lot like 16mm. The grain looks good to. I would say as long as you shoot the entire short with the adapter on, you will achieve a great look, I wouldn't intercut it with non adapter footage. I think thats a big mistake many people make because they dont want to take the time to set up proper lighting. Im looking foreward to seeing it. thanks for posting.
What lens did you use, it says Hoya? They make 35mm lenses? I never knew. Of did you add a hoya on top of a lens? im confused.

1) Yeah, I agree it gives a certain look. Sure it'd need lights for indoor otherwise it'll looks like a disaster.
2) Yeah, Hoya lens, 28mm f/2.8. It's pretty wide (compared to my other lenses) but can't wait to receive the T2i from Taky...with the 18-55mm lens I think I'll be able to do quite good stuff.

Edit: for a focusing screen that was pretty much ruined because I acciddently touched it...once rinced with pain thinner it looks quite good to me.

[antman]

when do you get it? You will be blown away, Use your hv30 for wide shots, and audio unless you have an exterior recorder, or just use that. How much did you pay for it?

[drapeama]

when do you get it? You will be blown away, Use your hv30 for wide shots, and audio unless you have an exterior recorder, or just use that. How much did you pay for it?

1) Taky decided to sell his 2 T2i and get T3i instead, if it's not already done.
2) Yeah, I usually use a ZoomH2 plugged with a JuicedLink and records external audio. I use my MB4K plugged into another JuicedLink, plugged into the HV40 so I have a good and clean backup audio that I can use to sync, or as the main audio if something bad happens. Last short, I did ADR for the few scenes requiring other than VoiceOver. Ended up pretty synced, no one seemed to notice it was ADR.
3) Taky has been nice and did it for ~700$ shipped with a viewfinder, an extra battery and the hand grip. Very nice deal.

[antman]

Thats a very fair price. good deal!

[drapeama]

Thats a very fair price. good deal!

Yep, can't wait to start playing with it. But on the other side, with enough lights, I really like the look of the adapter, moody and gritty. As I posted in another thread, it's like the movie Blue Valentine; shot with both a RED and on 16mm to demonstrate the "contrast" between the strong love and the dying one. The 16mm being/showing the first one, and the RED, which looks more "sterile" compare to the organic look of the 16mm, to demonstrate the dying one... I find it very illustrative as itself.
Same could be applied/used: T2i vs Adapter...I'll have to check this when I'll get my T2i.

Edit: I washed my focusing screen with thinner and actually get a nice look. It's still sharp enoug and dust don't stick on it anymore, or a very little. People, thinner is the way to go with Focusing Screen!

[Shaunp007]

The vimeo version looks really nice. Like the shot.

[drapeama]

The vimeo version looks really nice. Like the shot.

Yeah, I like it too, that's why I shared it. But, I'm surprised of the clean image (it's moody, but dust free) I get out of that static adapter. Not as good as my spinning or any DSLR that's for sure, but...quite a nice look.

[charlie_tango]

Edit: I washed my focusing screen with thinner and actually get a nice look. It's still sharp enoug and dust don't stick on it anymore, or a very little. People, thinner is the way to go with Focusing Screen!

Very Nice Job for a thinner washed focusing screen....

But now,Mal will have to change your user title since you got a T2i!!!!!

[antman]

But now,Mal will have to change your user title since you got a T2i!!!!!

It will be worth the change, believe me. I love the little hv30, but to be honest, the t2i blows it away in 90% of all scenarios. And if you choose your shots and locations wisely, that will jump to 100%. You have to be careful with certain repeated patters, such as bricks, herringbone, plaid type patterns, It's close to equal when it comes to rolling shutter. And the audio is not as good. Thats about it. But if you install magic lantern, you will add about 20 fearures to the camera. It does need a shoulder rig, I use a cage for mine. Makes it a lot easier to shoot handheld. The battery grip is a must, and get a bunch of extra batteries, their about 5bucks each, the grip can be had for 40.00 us dollars. Not sure what you puck munchers up in Canada can get it for, I imagine it's about the same. (hockey joke).