35mm Adapter Buyer's Guide (page 2)

Mounts

Each manufacturer offers a variety of lens type mounts for their adapters. Most companies include your choice of one lens type mount at purchase and the additional types available at an additional cost. The type of mount on the adapter is easily changed by the user. Almost all of the adapter providers charge an additional fee for professional lens mounts such as PL, BNCR, OCT19 and B4.

The Adapters

JAG35 makes the least expensive adapters on the market, starting at a surprisingly low $99 for the JAG35ST, which features a static interchangeable ground glass element, and boasts 1/2 stop of light loss. The JAG35E adds a vibrating ground glass at $199 and at $299, the JAG35Pro adds an achromat to the mix. JAG35 models are available with Canon FD, Nikon and M42 mounts. All JAG35 models invert the image, making it upside down, but are available at a killer price.

Cinevate's Brevis35 features a vibrating interchangeable ground glass element, and starts at $850 and an optional image flip attachment (which corrects the image to display right side up) is available for a total of $1100. Cinevate makes 6 different ground glass pieces for the Brevis 35, each provide a different level of diffusion and light transmission. The Brevis 35 has 1/2 stop of light loss and is available with Nikon, Canon EOS, Canon FD, Minolta MD, Pentax M42, Pentax K, PL and OCT19 mounts. Cinevate also makes their own support system for the Brevis35.

Shoot35 produces the SGBlade, an extremely customizable adapter system. The SGBlade features interchangeable spinning ground glass elements that range in 1/2 stop to a full stop of light loss. Pricing for SGBlade packages range from $999 to $1650. An optional flip attachment is available to right the image, as well as a plethora of lens mounts, and a Shoot35 made rod support system.

Cinemek's G35 boasts itself as a low cost solid-state adapter, with an ultra thin ground glass and is available starting at $1199. The G35 differs from most other adapters in how it attaches to the camera as well. Its uniquely designed CS mounts are crafted with specific camera models in mind. This gives the mount a perfect custom fit that not only securely attaches the adapter to the camera but also covers camera focus controls, preventing any accidental bumps to the focus settings. This type of mounting system is a huge plus, and not available on any other adapter in this price range. The G35 has a static thin ground glass in a sealed tube, and unlike other adapters requires no power, as it has no moving parts. On the downside Cinemek's site states the G35 has whopping 1.4 stops of light loss, meaning it will need more light than almost any other adapter on the market.

Redrock Micro recently released the M2 Encore as the successor to its M2 adapter. Despite its deceiving similar looks, the Encore is not just an upgrade to the M2 but a complete redesign. Among the improvements are better light transmission losing only 1/2 stop of light, improved edge sharpness, a rechargeable battery and a collimating lens mount. Redrock offers a microX Encore flip accessory to correct the image orientation. The M2 Encore has a spinning ground glass and is available with Nikon, Canon FD, Canon EOS, Minolta, Olympus, Pentax K, and Pentax S mounts. Redrock recently started shipping its new Live Lens active lens mount for Canon EF lenses. The Live Lens mount allows users to electronically control their Canon EF lenses. The M2 Encore can be used with virtually any camera up to 1/2 inch chip size. Redrock Micro was the first company to bring an affordable 35mm adapter solution to the market. They also manufacturer their own support system, follow focus, mattebox and a variety of other affordable and well made cinema accessories. The M2 Encore starts at $995 on its own and is available in a variety of packaged configurations.

Letus35 makes a variety of adapter models, with varying features and price range. The Letus35 Mini features a vibrating ground glass and is geared towards consumer cameras with filter sizes smaller than 43mm, like the Canon HV30. The Mini model starts at $1099. The next step up is the Extreme, which is Letus35's entry-level model for larger prosumer cameras. It also features a vibrating ground glass and starts at $1199. The Letus35 Elite is similar to the Extreme, but adds a back focus ring and an optimized achromat, for $1899. Letus35's premiere model is the Ultimate, which adds a controllable variable speed off-center spinning ground glass, LED readout and flash memory. All of this and more at a whopping $4499, making it the most expensive model of all its US competitors. All models feature 1/2 stop of light loss, standard right side up image orientation and are available in most any standard lens mount.

Perhaps the oldest adapter company on the market is Germany based P + S Technik. P + S Technik makes a line of Pro and Mini 35 adapters that are built with quality that we've all come to associate with German engineering. In quality they are the Mercedes of adapters and come with the price tag to match. The Pro35 2/3" chip adapter model starts at $22,000 and a Pro35 model made specifically for the Sony EX3 is available for $17,000. The Mini35 400 is geared towards 1/3" prosumer cameras like the Panasonic HVX200 and starts at $5500, making it expensive but not much more than the Letus35 Ultimate. Like the Cinemek G35 the P + S Technik MINI35 400 has specific hard mounts made for each camera model that prevent the accidental changing of focus. P + S also makes the MINI35 Compact which is designed for small cameras like the canon XL H1 and it is also priced at $6500. All P + S models, with the exception of the MINI35 Compact, display the image right side up, and all models feature a variable speed off-center spinning ground glass. Light loss ranges from an impressive 1/3 stop to a monstrous 1 2/3 stops, making it much more light hungry than any of its lower cost competitors.

Conclusion

There are numerous things to consider when buying a 35mm adapter, cost, type of ground glass movement, amount of light loss, lens mounts, and image orientation to name a few. They will increase the size and weight of your camera; sometimes to a point making it extremely difficult to handle. If you can get your hands on one before you buy it'll give you a better idea of what you're dealing with. Demo footage is available on just about every company's website, showing samples of the types of images obtainable with their equipment. Before purchasing an adapter, make sure that the model you choose offers a lens mount compatible with the lenses you intend on using and also that they make a camera mounting solution that is compatible with your camera.

Nathan Beaman is an Apple Certified Final Cut and Motion Graphics Trainer.