Teemu

Here is from last summer a little test between FM Lens and Rectilux adapters. Kowa 8z inside on both.

Looking really good Zak Forsman!

You have the exact set I have been drooling after (Trump 58 + 38&88 attachments), want to get one also at some point when I have money to invest that set! Did you wait long time for your set? I know that Richard is quite busy with these orders and there is decent amount of waiting time. But also understand it in other hand, these are more or less hand crafted lenses after all : )

I still struggle with my GH4 but my daily job is so much easier with this camera body and for that use bmpcc or other raw solution would be overkill. But for personal stuff definitely would like to get more the "feel" and look than resolution and too sharp image. I use mostly vintage lenses on my GH4 (Canon FD set + russian lenses set) which helps + some anamorphic adapters on front, it works quite well...

SPOILER ALERT!

I finally could read this topic after seeing the film last night. Want to share my thoughts.

First of all I have to mention my experience have been a bit different from others. Here in Finland there is none movie theater that could show 70mm film, sad. But that is the truth and I have to accept it. Also noticed others talked about "intermission" between movie, not in this screening.

I like Tarantino's older movies (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown) but after those Kill Bill 1&2, Death Proof, Inglorious Basterds didn't like. And don't get me wrong there is good things for example I think Inglorious Bastards beginning sequence is masterful and the table scene later on the movie. But overall those movies are not the best Tarantino for me.

In my mind Tarantino is reacting after two of his latest movies like George Costanza (Seinfeld serie):

I thought: "Tarantino will make a comeback to roots, but maybe at older age...". After seeing Django I was really happy and excited because I thought that was the right direction. And now Hateful Eight, I liked it. A lot. Great characters. Great acting. Good looking images. Length didn't bother at all. I loved the tension building. Great soundtrack.

Things that I didn't like: Tarantino's voice over. Now that I heard there was intermission during the screenings in other cinemas I can understand the voice over a bit better. I believe the intermission was just before the first voice over in the movie where he tells about the poison, am I right?

The problem with the voice over was that it pushed me away from the movie feeling. It was first time I noticed sitting in theater. I didn't like it. Also I think it could have been better if the poison taking action on John Ruth&Bob was revealed just as a surprise from nowhere. And after that it could have been told as flashback.

Film looked great. Must be even better from 70mm screening. One stupid thing caught my attention in the first half of film: there was noticeable overexposing in the snow in few shots. Maybe because theaters digital copy or settings or was that the case in film screening? Anyway, not important in the big picture. Just stupid camera nerd attention

And here is my Tarantino list:

1. Pulp Fiction

2. Jackie Brown

3. Reservoir Dogs

4. Hateful Eight

5. Django

6. Deathproof

7. Inglorious Basterds 

8. Kill Bill

9. Kill Bill 2

I need help and suggestions to figure out few problems with Russian lenses. Hope someone could help...

I have few problems with following lenses:

1. Jupiter-9
This lens focus is ultimate stiff. It sometimes screws of from my m42 to EF adapter when trying to focus. I read from internet that this is quite usual problem. But is there anyting to do? Now I am trying to get it more smooth by working it out back and forth between infinity and close focus.

2. Mir-1B and Helios 44-2
On both lenses with m42-EF adapter on infinity focus rear of the lens backs over the EF mount. And I am sure it will hit my speedbooster lens on, if I ever would mount it. So these are unusable. The problem is definetly worse on Mir-1B. Helios 44-2 is just a minor issue. It might be possible to be mounted...

Two questions:

1.

I have a question for people who own a copy of Mir-1 B russian lens. Does your copy have issues with infinity focus?

My Mir-1 B isn't reaching infinity focus and actually I feel it won't reach like 10m away. Is there anything to do with it or should I just use it as paper weight?

I use it on my GH4 with RJ lens turbo (FD to m43). Mir-1 B has m42 to FD adapter. Tried also m42 to m43 adapter straight to my camera, same problems...

But soon I will change my RJ lens turbo to Metabones Speedbooster XL (EF-m43). And then use my m42 lenses with m42-EF adapters. 

2.

What m42 to EF adapter is best? Or does it even matter?

I don't need those focus confirmation chips on my adapters. Just want the one that is though and precise fit and reaches infinity focus.I will be using old russian m42 lenses with GH4+Metabones Speedbooster XL (EF to m43).

Anyone used James Miller DELUTS with GH4 V-LOG? Or Impulz/Film Convert "better"? Hard to say better because these are so much look and taste things

I am still waiting my copy of V-Log update. We are a bit slow in Europe with that or at least here in Finland... :/ I also recently invested in Atomos Ninja Assassin. Much to test and learn about...

Skintones on GH4 have been the hard one for me to this day. Been using Cine-D and Natural. Hope that after Vlog update + 10-bit recording I'll get better results!

The thing I am worried about is filesizes! How you guys handle this? Especially 10-bit recordings in 422 ProRes much be quite big files, right?

I've been shooting 4K quite long now and even the GH4 internal recording file sizes are quite big...

Well, I just did my decission and bought Ninja Assassin. Got this opportunity to buy it a little cheaper as "used" (actually never used) so it was even easier decission. But thanks for updating and telling your comments Aaron. I'll get back after some use about how I like it.

Hi Aaron! So have you had time with the Atomos Ninja Assassin? Any new comments and how you feel about it after some hours with it?

nice to hear that you are impressed and happy for the purchase! You are making the decission hard for me...

How about the screen? How reflective is it outside? What kind of solution do you have to cover Atomos frrom sunlight? I have understood there isn't any hoods shipped with it?

Batterylife on Atomos and SmallHD? I guess SmallHD wins 'cause smaller screen and it is just a monitor.

I have also noticed how easy it's to forget what razor sharp glass looks like. I really like older softer look. That is why I sold all my sharper lenses (those Panasonic lenses even over digital sharp in my opinion) and bought full Canon FD prime set. Which are my "normal" lenses to use daily. And when I want more look, I use russian lenses to play with the flaws.

At my work I use quite a lot new Canon L-serie primes. Those are quite sharp. But damn I hate those focus gears! You turn 1mm and you are from infinity to 0.30cm on focus scale! Try to follow with the focus on people walking in depth through your frame, challenge!

Some day I want to get lovely DSO Trump lenses full 3 lens set!

Yes, I have noticed the 702. But it is also bigger (Yes, Atomos that I talked earlier is also and that's clear downside for me) I like to keep gear as compact and easy of use as possible. In my experience if it's too big and crumble some it will be in my camera bag all day long in location shoot... :/

Sad they invented that display until 702 model. Would be perfect if 500 series had that bright display also.

Have you used anamorphic de-squeeze on 502. Does that make 5" monitor too small/hard to judge focus and composition?

This was great info about those "finger cuts". Didn't know that, thanks! I am just on same market here as jgharding is. I am looking good russian lenses with a lot of flare and other lovely character to combine with my anamorphic lenses (iscomorphot 1.5x and kowa 8z). And on my buying list st the moment are Jupiter-9, Mir-1B and Volna-9 (already have a Helios 44-2).

I have also read about serialnumbers that some years are better than others (manufacturing year are the first two digits in the serialnumber) like from 75-89 are good years or something like that.. Don't know might be just a haux  old russian lenses are often hit or mis. Those are plenty out there but there is bad and good copies. Good luck with the lottery!

great! I'll be waiting to hear your comments later! quick question: how useable 502 monitor is outside without hoods? 

In other words is it "glassy" material (=almost useless) or more like "matte" or something  i know Atomos is quite useless without hoods outside, like an ipad outside. Works as a mirror to style your hair

I have hard time deciding which one to get SmallHD 500 serie monitor or Atomos Ninja Assassin for my GH4.

At the moment I have been using Marshall VLCD-50 5" monitor as a external monitor. But I am not so happy about it's color accuracy and resolution. I would like to upgrade for a better and trustful monitor. So things I am looking for the monitor to have:

-colors that you can trust

-good resolution

-LUT capability

-Anamorphic de-squeeze

-compact size

I think on paper SmallHD wins and ticks more of those needed features vs Ninja Assassin. But soon I'll upgrade my GH4 with V-LOG then the atomos Ninja Assassin would be great for 10-bit recording. I am hoping to hear user experiences about these products from people who own or have used them. Hope to hear goods and bads on both, thanks!

tair-11 a or jupiter-11 could be one to consider. Those would fill the place for tele lenses. Helios 40-2 is definetly one I would like to have some day. But the Jupiter-9 can be that focal length for now... Industar-61 L/Z is almost same as Volna-9 but the Volna-9 can focus a bit closer so it wins for me. Jupiter-8 and 3 are quite unfamiliar for me, maybe... Industar 50-2 is quite small, bit slow and not so much character in the footage I have seen from it.

Domiplan 50 2.8 sounds interesting if it has the famous "soapbubble" effect. 

Thanks for the tips!

I would like to hear some suggestions/opinnions about m42 russian lenses.

So I am looking to build up characterful russian lens set. My "normal" lens set is full set of Canon FD primes. But I really like lenses with a lot of character. I am planing to use them as a "special look" set and also with anamorphic lenses (iscomorphot 8/1.5x and Kowa 8z 2x) as a taking lens.

I already have Helios 44-2 58mm/2.0 but here is list which I have been thinking to add to the set:

Mir 1-B 37mm/2.8

Volna-9 50mm/2.8 (because macro and special starshape bokeh in mid apertures)

Jupiter-9 85mm/2.0

---

What other lenses would you recommend for this kind of set?

Things I am looking from these "special" lenses are:

-milky look

-flares!

-colorful

-bokeh character

-just lovely vintage look

Sounds familiar a bit too familiar actually... But I tried to be as responsive and "first tuch" sharing as I could if you know what I mean.

I still hope you can share these and other comments "outside of the circle" to your client after you gather some. That is only possible way to get some true comments because you and your client are too much into that project anyway. Hard to be true for it anymore.

I can believe that you had totally diffrrent version of the video before, as you said "client is always right" as long as they are willing to pay us  

Nice images and feeling, but in my opinnion it could be shorter quite easily and it would back it up even better short story!

So I would cut the graphic elements (which are nicely animated) a lot quicker. Fasten up those like two times. There is not much text so those can be read easily. Speech could start already during these animated graphics (the comment about Briston) and the actual thing could start from the topic "how did I start in the business". And that topic should start around 30-45sec imo. Then it would be way more compact and effective start!

Now the actual story begins at 2:40 which is quite a bit of waiting... And if you feel like you don't want to lose all those b/w images cut in the beginnig because of shortening the beginnig use those during the beginnig of story. You can easily cut to those from the studio images mix&match those.

Well just my thoughts but wanted to share those. Keep up the good work!

Fotga DP 500 II S. One of the best CHEAP FF units I have used. And have heard from many places that "if you are in need of cheap one, buy Fotga".

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0z6euUeiVXA

Yeah, thanks guys for letting me know. I understand that he is one man band there. Maybe I was living too much with today "standards". Everything for me now and fast!  just have to be more patient. It's good exercise in that matter... So thanks for letting me know, that I should just wait and be patient.

Oh... Okay. It was in 3th of January that I contacted Rich first time... But well, if he is busy he is busy. that's how it is. I just have to wait then.

How you people have managed to contact Richard to ask some questions and make an order? I have contacted him via e-mail, (three time actually and yes tried with different e-mails...) Vimeo message and here at EOSHD private message. Never have got any answers. I don't have facebook so that's why I haven't contacted that way. I am quite pissed off 'cause I really have tried to contact and ask some questions but never get any kind of answers. And I am customer ready to order and pay... Some times it is just too hard to get answers nowdays.

My camera went for the Panasonic repair at Poland (here in Finland it's the place where all Panasonic products go nowdays). And I can just say the service SUCKS! Mine was there like 2 months and this camera is my tool which I use on paid projects, a lot! So was a bit problem because of that. But even that was told to Panasonic, they didn't offer any help with some other body for the repair time or anything... Only my local store (where I bougt the gh4) was nice enough to borrow some other bodies for me.

And the repair wasn't even under quarantee because they said that I had broken the port. Well I forced the HDMI cable there because, simply I needed to use external monitor and I was so pissed off the faulty port. Well my local store was still so kind for me that THEY paid all the costs. There wasn't much of costs like 5€ or something... And when they started to fix it tthe had to order seprate part (new hdmi port) all the way from China! What kind of repair service is that they don't have any parts ready at there! They even needed our confirmation first to pay the 5€ before they ordered the new part from cChina to repair it!

So all I can say.. Avoid Panasonic service at all cost! At least here in Finland! And I think it includes many other europe countries also...

Short movie I shot lately. I had visited this abandoned house last year and knew that some day I would like to shoot some short there. So now was the time. Also it was good time to test my new set of Canon FD lenses + RJ focal reducer on my GH4. Love the colors that FD lenses produce. Colorcorrection is just lightly adjusted: levesls and filmconvert. I recommend watching with captions because there is few texts written in finnish language in the video.