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New SG35 'Real Spinning Ground Glass 35mm Adapter' Commercial version coming soon.

W

Wayne Kinney

Hello Folks,
Just thought now was a good time to announce that the commercial version of my spinning glass adapter will be availible to buy, by the end of this month. The new 'SG35' adapter focuses on quality while attempting to overcome most of the 35mm adapter limitations, like grain, vignetting, distortion, light loss, limited aperture use, limited shutter speed use, creating an adapter that gives quality with minimum limits on creative control.

Here are two video's showing the results from my prototype:

http://tinyurl.com/cgazu

http://tinyurl.com/aqpaf

The adapter will come with a 15mm rod support, that will be adjustable to suit different camcorders.

One thing to keep in mind is it wont come with macro/acromat. It will come with 58mm thread size, so the buyer will provide his/her own macro, then screw the adpater onto his/her own macro. The case will be a black ABS plastic project box. Would people perfer a glossy or matte finish?

I see this as a better option anyway, as it gives the buyer the freedom to choose the macro/acromat that best suits their camcorder and personal preference. I will provide exact distance between filter thread and GG so potential buyers test if they need a macro or not by trying to frame and focus on a 36x24mm frame from that distance.

My asking price will be £150 (around $270) for the adapter with 15mm rod support, plus postage and packing.

Ill get more video and shots of the unit up as soon as it happens.

Any questions please feel free to ask.

Thanks
Wayne.
 
OK guys,
I would like you all to see the unit, but it is not to the point of being a finished product. So instead I have put together 2 of the 15mm rods together with a small piece of hardboard, and my prototype adapter together with my panny cam just for you guys to get a good idea of the size of the unit. adapter box is 150x100x60mm. Notice the small rotary knob on top for speed control.

The final rods support will have a 12mm thick base for the cam to sit on, and another 12mm base that rests on the tripod. Anyhow, this pic is just so you guys can get a 'feel' for the size of the thing.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/wayne.kinney/unit prototype.jpg

Any input would be great.
Thanks,
Wayne.
 
'sup, good Wayne. :cool:

Neither of the .mov videos work for me. :no:

I get a page of text that (partially) reads:

J;mdatftypftypftypftypftypftypwidemdatþ© Ì/“ùe2¿Læ—Éü2™_&óËd~™Ì/UU ü½F6þg ¬ï®b6‡!3x# ftDBæ—Éü2™_&óËd~™.&QwFuâËÎmc ˜hÅ4Ï¢QŒâœ&£l…ˆIL0âÎÐ cf4²2  aŒ³Ñ%G4“zÝnOºQ7ÄHU2Ja„LˆGKd1É”Æ øÙ›•FkBìiÌǘ#Z&Bpc”¦&
Click to expand...

Looks like an interesting project you have going, though :)
 
Still looking into that. I think the XL cams are a bitch to get working. I'll do some reseach and get back to you.

Ok, i have bought a nice aluminium box which is smaller then the black ABS box.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/wayne.kinney/alubox.jpg

Question is, would you guys perfer it in its original shiny alu finish, or would you perfer it matte black? The Alu finsh is quite nice and goes with the chrome finish of the 15mm rods, but i want you guys to decide, so which is it guys?:D

Thanks,
Wayne.
 
FYI everything you make if you can help it should be matte black for the simple reason that you dont want any light reflecting off it into the scene, also if a camera accidently ends up in a shot, you'd like there to be as little to give it away as possible. Which is why most crew wears black and booms are black etc. Do you think this would work with an HDV like an FX1? I know redrockmicro has theirs working with FX1/Z1.
 
Thanks for the sujestion. Someone else made the same comment to me. Also said that, as these are made to order units, I gave give the option of finish, which is cool.

Thanks,
Wayne.
 
Wayne Kinney said:
Still looking into that. I think the XL cams are a bitch to get working. I'll do some reseach and get back to you.
Click to expand...
Cool!

Wayne Kinney said:
Ok, i have bought a nice aluminium box which is smaller then the black ABS box...
Click to expand...

Looks very nice, but I would opt for the black as WideShot mentioned.
 
OK, updated guys.

I have taken two pics of the SG35 unit:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/wayne.kinney/SG35_01.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/wayne.kinney/SG35_02.jpg

Has speed control at the top and power socket on the side to connect to either battery pack (8 AA's) or a 12v main supply.

There is a more expensive power option should the user wish to use it. This is the use of 3 cell Lithium Polymer packs. These give 11.1v, can be bought in very high capacities meaning long life, and are very light. They do require a special charger though.

I chose the 8AA batteries in my design for the best mix of price/accessibility. The user is by no means stuck with this power option.


I have not quite finished the support rods, so a pic of this will follow this weekend, along with the promised footage.

I have a contact with a DVX100 and FX1 in the next town from me, will be meeting up with him in a week or so to test out the unit. Ill post the footage of that soon along with pics of the DVX100 and FX1 on the SG35.

Any comments welcome,
Thanks,
Wayne.
 
Last edited:
Please definitely check out the FX1, from what I know its a 77mm size and Ive always been concerned with that.

BTW your unit looks good, keep up the test footage! :)
 
Anyway, please check and hopefully do a little test footage, I'd really like to see it. Ive seen the micro35 footage, but Id like to see yours as your will be much less expensive (hopefully). I'm not thinking necessarily I want to switch from static to moving right yet with my DV camera but its possible HDV might need it because of grain issues that I think might show up with all that res. My next camera will be an FX1 likely. Please keep us updated.
 
Hello,
Here are 2 pictures of the SG35 unit complete with 15mm rod support and baseplate as promised.

http://wayne.letus35.com/sg35.htm

I am meeting this sunday with the chap with the Sony HDR-FX1 to test drive the SG35. I will post footage sunday night.

Once i am satisfied with the results, Sg35 will be officially released.

Thanks,
Wayne.
 
That looks like really good footage! How much for the XL1s or any of them for that matter? Could we get them with rods that go through the unit to be able to attach matte boxes etc to the rails as well? How much for that?
 
Hello and thanks for your comments. Yes, the SG35 unit is availible now.

Prices:
-------

SG35 unit with adjustable 15mm rods support - £199 ($350)

Optional Quick Release Sliding plate - £50 - ($85)

The sliding plate is not needed but is an attractive option, as it allows quick and easy connection of the camcorder to the baseplate, and also allows the whole rig to slide up and down the rods to get the best balance on the tripod.

http://www.fotolab30.com/xcart/images/thumbnails/t_4573.jpg


Good question about the rods going past the box. The pictures there with the xm2 camcorder are with a baseplate that was too low for that particular cam, so he needed to move the rods back in order to get the sg35 unit low enough. I have now sent him a modified baseplate. Bigger cams like the FX-1, DVX100 and HD100 dont have that problem.

Thanks,
Wayne.
 
I'll have to pass then...sorry, I'm going to make my own for about $50...I'm one of thost annoying DIYers that make high end manufacturing folks get all bent out of shape. I wish you the best with these, but it's way out of my price range.
 
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