35mm Adapters, an Overview Part 1
So you want to use a 35mm adapter? You’ve heard of these incredible pieces of equipment that give you that shallow DOF everyone raves about. You want to look professional, you want to have high production values, you want someone to watch your film and go “ok…who made that.” Hold the phone, there is much that needs to be known before you venture into the complicated and EXPENSIVE world of 35mm Adapters…What Do 35mm Adapters Give Me? (that I want) - If you didn’t know that, I’m not sure you would be reading this, but it seems relevant to answer it anyways. 35mm Adapters allow you to place lenses that aren’t standard to your video camera, on that camera. The DOF is just the result of that, but the main idea is to use lenses that your camera wouldn’t normally be able to use. This allows you to get a “look” and DOF that your camera on its own could never give you. Something positive about GG’s in adapters (Ground Glass is explained in the next section) that I should mention is that they add a certain texture to the image. It’s extremely subtle but some people are very good at spotting what footage was shot with what adapter, they often have a flavor of their own. I personaly like the texture my adapter gives me, it gives the footage a film texture without that texture coming from the result of digital noise or digital grain.
Don’t forget about your lenses as well. Lenses don’t just get you closer or farther away from the target subject, they give you different looks between each of them. The relationship between what is far away and what is close, is altered with each different lens you use. Even if its a slight shift, the difference can be seen. Keep that in mind when you go and buy lenses, what are you looking to achieve?
So…you get:
- Shallow DOF
- Different Lens Options
What Do 35mm Adapters Give Me? (that I don’t really want) - You’ll find the disadvantages of an adapter are in greater abundance than the advantages. Along with the advantages of using an adapter, ie. the “look,” comes the wonderful world of Ground Glass (or GG). It’s a fine glass that resides inside the Adapters housing. There are different kinds of 35mm Adapters that use the glass in different ways. The GG is visible to your camera, something you obviously don’t want. So each Adapter has its own way of “hiding” that. Some spin the GG, some vibrate.
Along with having a GG comes light loss, some adapters losing more light than others. Keep that in mind when you purchase, as each kinds of Adapters lose different amounts of light. The Letus Extreme is what we used on our film (Standing Firm) and it looses the least light of any adapter currently on the market, 0.5 stops. HOWEVER, put it on the camera, and you have to zoom in on the ground glass to the proper position. That means I gotta take the F1.6 20x Lens on my Canon XHA1 and zoom into the proper place causing my lens to stop down to about 2.8-3.2. Your already at 1.5 stops…but no that’s not all. You haven’t added a lense yet. Add the lens and pick the widest setting it has and your probably adding another stop if not 2 easily. That means bare minimum…2.5 stops of light loss, in most cases with the lenses you’ll use you’ll be at 2.8 or more so that means even more light lost. This is why the GG in an adapter is so important, the manufacturing of the GG itself is extremely important to the adapters eventual image and how easy or hard it is to get the image to where you want.
Adapters also make noise, some more than others. They all involve motors, and they all make some sort of noise. They don’t sound like a power drill, but they aren’t necessarily silent. Some being released now are, but I’m just stating it so your not surprised if you can hear yours. Odds are any well manufactured one is no louder than the tape drive in your camera (assuming that’s what your using, not Hard Drives or P2 Cards).
Don’t forget about weight, adding an adapter…adds weight to the camera setup. “Well duh Kyle! I’m not an idiot! Of course adding any mass to anything means more mass! I’m as buff as Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime, I can handle it.” Take it easy killer, let me explain. Using an adapter means you need to support the adapter. Adapters are DELICATE, expensive machines, and should be treated as such. If you have a decked out Adapter setup with all the thing you really should have (in my opinion) your talking about a big monstrosity. Some people have really figured out ways to mainstream the setups but no matter what, it ain’t no homemovie camera your gonna be swinging around during the family party, or sneaking onto your favorite roller coaster (although…eh nevermind). Just be aware that you need much more than an adapter to use one, and overall useability becomes more difficult. NOT IMPOSSIBLE! If you want the advantages of using an adapter, you better get used to the disadvantages.
Don’t forget what else using adapters gives you, a shrinking bank account. These things are expensive. What expensive means is different to many but as I said, using an adapter doesn’t just warrent an adapter purchase, but purchasing of other things as well by default. (I’ll talk about that later)
So…you get:
- Light Loss (The power must be out, I can’t see)
- Noise (Minimal)
- Weight (Oh! My Back!)
- A Lower Account Balence (yippie)
Something I will say…DO NOT LET THE DISADVANTAGES DISCOURAGE YOU! With the proper preparation and tools, 35mm Adapters will give you something incredible. The hills to climb to use them properly (and the money spent), are well worth it in the end.
Kyle Prohaska
CEO, Praise Pictures
http://www.praisepictures.com
Good explanation of 35 mm adapters. You covered a complex subject in such a way that us novices could understand. Cameras have facinated me since I was a kid, so I soak up this stuff like a human sponge! Thanks for the education!