anti12

Happy new Year!
 
 
 

I commissioned RAF Camera to make me a metal focus gear for my FM lens, he's now selling them on his site. I expect to receive mine in a few days (so I'll see if my measurements were correct!) and I'll report back when I've got it up and running...in case others here might be interested in purchasing, here's the link:
http://rafcamera.com/en/gear-fm-lens-88-107-32mm
I don't have any association with Raf other than me being a happy customer of his for a couple of years...so I'm not getting a discount or kickback for sharing this link - I just thought a few people here might be interested in getting a quality metal gear for their FM lens.
 
I'm sure AnamorphicShop will release their own focus ring in the new year in ABS or metal, but I needed to get one made before then.

Hey guys!
I stumbled upon this thread while researching tricks and workarounds for single-focusing anamorphic lenses.  Initial searches brought me to the "Fokus|Automat" project: Technically very impressive, but bulky and seemingly complicated... and it appears to no longer be in development.  Later I found this thread and was inspired to have a try at focusing with a wide-angle adapter.
I received my 0.6x Wide Angle Adapter yesterday and came up with this short test.
Setup: Blackmagic Pocket + Metabones Speedbooster + Jupiter 85mm f/2 + ISCO UltraStar 1.75x + 77mm Hoya +4 macro filter + 82mm Cavision 0.6x wide angle adapter
(More details in video description.)

Stretched from 1920x1080 to 3360x1080 in After Effects, then exported at 1920x618.
 
 

Currently I'm looking for a large (77mm / 82mm) achromatic diopter, which I hope will minimize chromatic aberration and sharpen things up a bit.
Thanks for sharing your experiments here!

 
 

​Nahua, when I get more time I will show you how I did it, I will post some close photos on how I clamped the sankor to the FM, meanwhile I did one more video test.
 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/oa3tmrtw8d3stn6/Screen Shot 2014-12-22 at 9.43.18 PM.png?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6v9z5z6eim4kc88/Screen Shot 2014-12-22 at 9.42.56 PM.png?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9rcnqo8etwrcwfh/Screen Shot 2014-12-22 at 9.43.27 PM.png?dl=0
Screenshots and the video should be live below shortly.
 
 
 

Thanks Hans, this is just a quick video I did with the Sankor 16D inside the FM, nothing special. It's just to show that the hack was worth it.
 

Great job Cosimo!...that is the way to do it.
Before anyone attempts to go 'Dexter' on their lenses without knowing for sure what to do, please watch the video below. There should be NO reason to take a drill/ hacksaw or lathe to any lens!...the suggestion alone made me feel a bit unwell, so I made a short and basic video explaining how to remove the focus ring/cowl section to get the outside diameter reduced for the FM lens. (I know many here already know this...so bear with me).
This removal process will be quite universal to lenses of this type/size (kowa 8z/sankor/elmoscope etc) - I suspect that some variants will fit within 71mm diameter so if you have one of these there will not be an issue. This video shows a non-destructive disassembly method providing care is taken and the correct tools used. Being able to return the anamorphic to it's original condition is the goal here. 
Cosimo has a great idea of wrapping the uncovered section with plastic wrap before taping into the infinity position - this ensures the helicoid grease will remain contaminant free and enable the lens to be re-assembled if needs be without any ill effects from the disassembly and re-mounting process.
This video is meant as a visual guide only...do not attempt yourself if it looks too risky.
Edit: As I previously mentioned on the older FM thread, you can make your own version of the FM mounting tube for smaller anamorphics by getting some stock exhaust/ tailpipe tube in the correct diameter (all you need to do is cut it to length). These are made from stainless steel and have a thinner wall thickness than the FM aluminium version - allowing a bit more room inside for an anamorphic to fit: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321033449391?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

One chapter at a time, I'm translating to english my graduation work which is 90% focused on anamorphics. I hope it brings some light onto common questions as well as works as a good follow-up read after the original EOSHD Anamorphic's Shooter Guide.
I'll keep updating the links to each chapter on this post, please feel free to comment and correct me along the way. There are 22 chapters/topics and roughly a hundred pages.
WHO AM I AND WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?
http://www.tferradans.com/blog/?p=7166
 INTRODUCTIONhttp://www.tferradans.com/blog/?p=7174 LENS RESEARCHhttp://www.tferradans.com/blog/?p=7195 a ) FOCUS THROUGH (1.33x)http://www.tferradans.com/blog/?p=7204b ) ISCORAMAS (1.5x)http://www.tferradans.com/blog/?p=7225c ) DOUBLE FOCUS (2x)http://www.tferradans.com/blog/?p=7235d ) CINE LENSES (2x)http://www.tferradans.com/blog/?p=7260e ) DAMAGE AND SERVICINGhttp://www.tferradans.com/blog/?p=7278f ) DIOPTERS AND CLOSE UPShttp://www.tferradans.com/blog/?p=7282g ) LENS-YCLOPEDIAhttp://www.tferradans.com/blog/?p=7280h ) FAKING THE LOOKhttp://www.tferradans.com/blog/?p=7283 MAGICLANTERN RAWhttp://www.tferradans.com/blog/?p=7304 a ) CUSTOM CROPMARKShttp://www.tferradans.com/blog/?p=7305 ZONA SSPhttp://www.tferradans.com/blog/?p=7310 a ) LOMO: EPISODE 01http://www.tferradans.com/blog/?p=7311b ) ISCORAMAS: EPISODE 02http://www.tferradans.com/blog/?p=7317 THE PROCESShttp://www.tferradans.com/blog/?p=7318 a ) CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
http://www.tferradans.com/blog/?p=7319b ) ON SET PREVIEW
http://www.tferradans.com/blog/?p=7320c ) WORKFLOW CONCLUSIONBIBLIOGRAPHY

No Zooming, just downsizing the 4k image from 100% crop to 1080p
 
Snapshot (6660x2480):
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Unfortunately not much time for extensive testing.
 
Focus Module with ES Cinelux 2x:

 
Taking Lens: Nikon 35mm @ f2
GH4 4k Photo Mode @ 4:3
Picture Profile: CineV -5/-5/-5/-5/ 0 iso 200-1200
 

Unfortunately not much time for extensive testing.
 
Focus Module with ES Cinelux 2x:

 
Taking Lens: Nikon 35mm @ f2
GH4 4k Photo Mode @ 4:3
Picture Profile: CineV -5/-5/-5/-5/ 0 iso 200-1200
 

Unfortunately not much time for extensive testing.
 
Focus Module with ES Cinelux 2x:

 
Taking Lens: Nikon 35mm @ f2
GH4 4k Photo Mode @ 4:3
Picture Profile: CineV -5/-5/-5/-5/ 0 iso 200-1200
 

Not all VND Filters can be mounted backwards.
Some have no outer (female) thread at all.
The ones that do, might have an even larger outer thread to avoid vignetting.

Not all VND Filters can be mounted backwards.
Some have no outer (female) thread at all.
The ones that do, might have an even larger outer thread to avoid vignetting.

The "Grey Vignette" is often called a "veiling flare" or "veiling glare". Often caused by longer bodied anamorphics and/or the size of the front element. Most anamorphic lovers consider it to be yet another artefact that is attractive, watch Any film with beautiful Panavision C lenses flaring and you will often notice it. To minimise or eliminate it - don't point the lens at a bright light source! Or use a mattebox and flag to cut the light from hitting the front inside edge. I doubt the FM module would impact flare character much at all, the only thing to watch is the rotating front - if the glass is dirty or smeared it will create a spinning streak in its flare when pulling focus.

Here is a vid explaining most common artefacts asociated with anamorphic, a few "veiling glare" shots shown:

@comurit Rack focusing seems to be not possible with the FM.
 
Nonetheless, count me in for the discount.

no one is going to send money here till everything is safe and sound as I already told you.
thank you

@comurit definitely interested in getting the FM but would like to see some independent review first.