dwijip

If this really works as advertised, and has a reasonable optical quality, FM will be dud. Not to mention rectilux out of business before even starting out. At least FM guys made it into the market early. 

This is probably the most revealing interview I can remember with a Canon exec. Barney Britton and Rishi Sanyal at DPR have asked not just tough questions, but the right questions!
Canon imply a small GH4-like 4K camera is "under consideration" and they want to satisfy demand from the news media industry.
Read the full article - http://www.eoshd.com/2015/03/canon-exploring-4k-gh4-competitor/

​Made with the FM
Delta Airlines commissioned this piece to help celebrate the spirit of aviation, all the details here:
http://boydhobbs.com/delta
 
 

Wow so much drama people, chillout. Everyone has different views, getting angry at each other won't help anyone. 
Well I had much scepticism with the FM before I bought it because it was only a prototype product and the company wasn't being exactly clear on how to use it etc. However, the important thing is, it is of some use for budget end filmmakers like me who can't afford single focusing anamorphics. I find it definitely helps me quickly get shots when I'm out shooting because of the single focus. It's still got a lot of quirks but to the right people it is valuable. 
 
Anyway back on track, did a little test, getting shots have become much quicker since I can single focus with the FM now. This is a relevantly cheap setup as I got the takumar for about $70(US), Isco Ultra star for about $400, FM was about $750.
Pentax Super Takumar 50mm 1.4, Isco Ultra Star Anamorphic Lens, Focus Module Lens, Panasonic GH4, Natural Picture Profile with all settings dialed down, Simple color grade in Premiere, BGM : Bic Runga 'Listening for the Weather'

I was always interested in how different taking lenses with work with anamorphic lenses and how much character would come through even behind the anamorphic optics. I figured I will do a little test of the cheaper manual lenses I currently own. The test was for image quality and flaring.  All lenses used with Isco ultra star anamorphic lens with Focus Module. All shot on the GH4 using the 4K photo mode. Some shots may not have critical focus as it was a single man job. Graded shots at the end. All graded shots share the same setting and not ideal but just to give a basic idea. Would appreciate any comment on which image you prefer. 

Lens list 
#01 Pentax Super Takumar 28mm F3.5 
#02 Pentax Super Takumar 50mm F1.4 
#03 Pentax Super Takumar 50mm F1.4 with cheap focal reducer 
#04 Contax Zeiss 50mm F1.7 AEJ 
#05 Contax Zeiss 35mm F2.8 MMJ 
#06 Mamiya Sekor C 80mm F1.9 Medium format   

Wow so much drama people, chillout. Everyone has different views, getting angry at each other won't help anyone. 
Well I had much scepticism with the FM before I bought it because it was only a prototype product and the company wasn't being exactly clear on how to use it etc. However, the important thing is, it is of some use for budget end filmmakers like me who can't afford single focusing anamorphics. I find it definitely helps me quickly get shots when I'm out shooting because of the single focus. It's still got a lot of quirks but to the right people it is valuable. 
 
Anyway back on track, did a little test, getting shots have become much quicker since I can single focus with the FM now. This is a relevantly cheap setup as I got the takumar for about $70(US), Isco Ultra star for about $400, FM was about $750.
Pentax Super Takumar 50mm 1.4, Isco Ultra Star Anamorphic Lens, Focus Module Lens, Panasonic GH4, Natural Picture Profile with all settings dialed down, Simple color grade in Premiere, BGM : Bic Runga 'Listening for the Weather'

I did a quick test with the Must HD field monitor, GH4 and the Atomos HDMI cable (with isco ultrastar). I was meaning to do this earlier but a friend wanted to borrow the monitor to see if it was worth bulk purchase for their shop. This is for anyone who is interested in similar setup. 
Ok so to summarize what I think overall, this set up is great but not perfect (yet). The monitor image quality is good and works well with GH4 menu interface etc. but GH4 still needs firmware update for HDMI output for the 4k Photo mode, so that is a downside for the moment for anamorphic lens users like us. I don't think I can get a exact aspect ratio of the image I get from a 2x lens even if we get the firmware update because the monitor is fixed to certain aspect ratio modes (can't be customized). However I can get fair idea of the final outcome using these modes.  I think this monitor wins over even smallHD in terms of image quality and functionality, especially when you think of the price point. I just wish it had a better looking menu and a more robust body build. My friend who borrowed the monitor mentioned that the changeable battery mount on the back is a unique feature at this price point. 
The atomos HDMI to micro HDMI cable is GREAT.... like reallllyyyyy solid great. I don't need to worry about it one bit while shooting. Especially with the cable lock on the MustHD. Not sure if there are any other video purpose built cables like this but this is by far the best one i've used for a filming situation. 

Monitor hood flips out into place with a spring or something. Design is really good, materials not so much. I wouldn't want to drop it. This is a shame because I really think the lack of a solid steel body build will put a lot of people off from buying this monitor even though other features on this thing are great. 

Made a cluttery mess for the test. 

The Atomos cable you see here is the longer version (19.6-25.6") 

2x Squeeze from the Ultrastar lens. 

2.35 aspect ratio mode on the monitor. Exact same image as above, just desqueezed 

couldn't resist.... 
 
 

Chinese New Years!  Footage shot with FM Module + Cinelux 2x + GH4 4K + Tokina 28-70mm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFPkn1IF74Q

Central hotspots are a ghost image of the aperture stop.  They are caused by a pair of reflections between two surfaces located between the aperture stop and the image plane.  Often this is a first reflection from the sensor followed by a reflection from one of the lens surfaces on the image-side of the aperture stop.  However, it can also be caused by pair of lens surface reflections.
Because its a ghost image of the aperture stop it gets smaller as you stop down.   If the ghost image is well focused and has low aberrations then it is possible to clearly make out the individual iris blades in the ghost image.  The surface brightness of the spot remains constant during stop-down, only the size changes.  But of course, as you stop down the overall image gets dimmer, so the relative brightness of the ghost image increases.  So, hotspots are much more problematic at small apertures because they are smaller and better-defined and also because they are bright relative to the image content.
Hotspots are typically blue because the anti-reflective coatings of the lens are less efficient in the blue portion of the spectrum.  Hotspots are also prominent in IR photography because coating performance is generally very poor in the IR.  Improving the lens coatings can minimize hotspotting, but can't eliminate it.  The best approach to avoiding hotspots is to design the lens in such a way that the pupil ghosts are very large and diffuse, and also to use the best possible lens coatings.
Hotspots were well known years before the Speed Booster first went on sale in 2013, and many lenses are well known to have hotspot problems.

You could color correct this pretty easily with a circular mask and a wide feather. It's very subtle as is (in this shot at least)- pulling out the slightest amount of blue should do the trick. Obviously, this isn't a permanent solution, but it'll work if you need these shots.

FM Lens rack focusing test ‪#‎FMLens‬ ‪#‎Anamorphicshop‬ 
Super Takumar 50mm f1.4, Isco Ultra Star Anamorphic Lens, Panasonic GH4 
Did some tests with the FM. So far loving it, its working perfectly now that I've gotten used to it a little bit and also solved the slouching problem i had initially. It takes some time to get it configured to your rig and camera but oh man smooth rack focusing is orgasmic after a long period of painful double focusing. And I like the fact that it protects the anamorphic glass elements inside. Only downside I see is your rig becoming considerably heavier but thats not always a bad thing. Will do a review and full test at some point.

​Your products would be so much more interesting if you'd keep your communication professional.

​I'm wishing for the 4K photo hdmi out and a slog profile, but oh well, we will see 

​I'm wishing for the 4K photo hdmi out and a slog profile, but oh well, we will see 

​Yes you will need some sort of lens support.  If you think it sags down now, wait awhile and see...  I really wish Panasonic released a firmware patch for external monitoring in 4K photo mode.  Really frustrating to shoot 3:2 or 4:3 with no monitor support.

FM Lens rack focusing test ‪#‎FMLens‬ ‪#‎Anamorphicshop‬ 
Super Takumar 50mm f1.4, Isco Ultra Star Anamorphic Lens, Panasonic GH4 
Did some tests with the FM. So far loving it, its working perfectly now that I've gotten used to it a little bit and also solved the slouching problem i had initially. It takes some time to get it configured to your rig and camera but oh man smooth rack focusing is orgasmic after a long period of painful double focusing. And I like the fact that it protects the anamorphic glass elements inside. Only downside I see is your rig becoming considerably heavier but thats not always a bad thing. Will do a review and full test at some point.

FM Lens rack focusing test ‪#‎FMLens‬ ‪#‎Anamorphicshop‬ 
Super Takumar 50mm f1.4, Isco Ultra Star Anamorphic Lens, Panasonic GH4 
Did some tests with the FM. So far loving it, its working perfectly now that I've gotten used to it a little bit and also solved the slouching problem i had initially. It takes some time to get it configured to your rig and camera but oh man smooth rack focusing is orgasmic after a long period of painful double focusing. And I like the fact that it protects the anamorphic glass elements inside. Only downside I see is your rig becoming considerably heavier but thats not always a bad thing. Will do a review and full test at some point.

FM Lens rack focusing test ‪#‎FMLens‬ ‪#‎Anamorphicshop‬ 
Super Takumar 50mm f1.4, Isco Ultra Star Anamorphic Lens, Panasonic GH4 
Did some tests with the FM. So far loving it, its working perfectly now that I've gotten used to it a little bit and also solved the slouching problem i had initially. It takes some time to get it configured to your rig and camera but oh man smooth rack focusing is orgasmic after a long period of painful double focusing. And I like the fact that it protects the anamorphic glass elements inside. Only downside I see is your rig becoming considerably heavier but thats not always a bad thing. Will do a review and full test at some point.

FM Lens rack focusing test ‪#‎FMLens‬ ‪#‎Anamorphicshop‬ 
Super Takumar 50mm f1.4, Isco Ultra Star Anamorphic Lens, Panasonic GH4 
Did some tests with the FM. So far loving it, its working perfectly now that I've gotten used to it a little bit and also solved the slouching problem i had initially. It takes some time to get it configured to your rig and camera but oh man smooth rack focusing is orgasmic after a long period of painful double focusing. And I like the fact that it protects the anamorphic glass elements inside. Only downside I see is your rig becoming considerably heavier but thats not always a bad thing. Will do a review and full test at some point.

That's the cheap speed booster. I tried one out and kept getting the blue spot. Bit the bullet and got theMetabones version instead.

There might be a way to correct the footage that you have already shot.   You could make a reverse matte shooting a piece of black velvet/groovytene under the same/similar conditions.

Looks like ambient edge flare.  If so, you might be able to reduce it when shooting by using an aggressive lens hood/matte box.
 
On the other hand, if you are using a medium format lens on a GH4 with a plain adapter, you might have all kinds of light bouncing around inside the GH4/adapter (especially with such a high-key image).  Is the adapter matte black on the inside?
 
I think that there have been reports on some of the focal reducers causing a similar problem.

The older cheap speed boosters have that problem.
so much for reading. The mamiya is a medium format lens so maybe your adapter is reflecting light back on the lens and creating that flare, try another adapter with better anti reflection surface.

I did a quick test with the Must HD field monitor, GH4 and the Atomos HDMI cable (with isco ultrastar). I was meaning to do this earlier but a friend wanted to borrow the monitor to see if it was worth bulk purchase for their shop. This is for anyone who is interested in similar setup. 
Ok so to summarize what I think overall, this set up is great but not perfect (yet). The monitor image quality is good and works well with GH4 menu interface etc. but GH4 still needs firmware update for HDMI output for the 4k Photo mode, so that is a downside for the moment for anamorphic lens users like us. I don't think I can get a exact aspect ratio of the image I get from a 2x lens even if we get the firmware update because the monitor is fixed to certain aspect ratio modes (can't be customized). However I can get fair idea of the final outcome using these modes.  I think this monitor wins over even smallHD in terms of image quality and functionality, especially when you think of the price point. I just wish it had a better looking menu and a more robust body build. My friend who borrowed the monitor mentioned that the changeable battery mount on the back is a unique feature at this price point. 
The atomos HDMI to micro HDMI cable is GREAT.... like reallllyyyyy solid great. I don't need to worry about it one bit while shooting. Especially with the cable lock on the MustHD. Not sure if there are any other video purpose built cables like this but this is by far the best one i've used for a filming situation. 

Monitor hood flips out into place with a spring or something. Design is really good, materials not so much. I wouldn't want to drop it. This is a shame because I really think the lack of a solid steel body build will put a lot of people off from buying this monitor even though other features on this thing are great. 

Made a cluttery mess for the test. 

The Atomos cable you see here is the longer version (19.6-25.6") 

2x Squeeze from the Ultrastar lens. 

2.35 aspect ratio mode on the monitor. Exact same image as above, just desqueezed 

couldn't resist.... 
 
 

Thank you~ you are both very kind. 
I think its a bit like painting, where sometimes when I see my old work,
I want to rip it off the wall but can't because I've already sold it to someone lol. 
 
Really good point about the actors actually. I think at that time I was guilty of working with an age group that I could 
feel comfortable in.