Is the redrock M2 adapter any good?

[AftonGrant]

"The RR uses 35mm STILL camera lenses, not 35mm cinema lenses like the P&S. There's a big difference. As an operator, not a DP, the biggest difference for me is that the still lenses have no gears, so you can't mount a follow focus without an additional adapter"

. . . as it's true that the P+S Technik Mini35 can use both still and Cinema lenses without a shadow of a doubt, according to Redrock, with the proper mounts the M2 can also use cinema lenses such as Cooke and Arri ultra primes, as well as whatever else might be available to you, so I'm not sure where Afton's assessment that the M2 can only use "Still" lenses is coming from. Maybe he hasn't tried it yet and he's just assumed that was the case.

Great post, man. You reiterated many of the points I was trying to make - from a different perspective. My comment about the still lenses probably should have been clarified some. That is the way it comes from the factory. The PL lens mount is an additional cost - it'll almost double the price of just the adapter itself.

I was speaking from a practical perspective, as one who has encountered the equipment many times in the field. Anyone purchasing the RR is probably budget conscious to begin with (we all are to a degree). In turn, I just don't think the majority of owners choose to go with the PL option. With the additional cost of the mount, not to mention the costs of the compatible lenses, the PL option suddenly isn't quite so optional.

I am just an operator which means I arrive on set to use whatever camera setup production has chosen. I have yet to work with the RR using anything but the SLR lenses.

 

[Larry McKee]

(People say it's my backfocus, but I'm repeatedly trying to adjust it, and never seem to get a substantial improvement)

Is it possible you have the ground glass mounted backwards? It should have the textured side to the front with the smooth side towards the camera. If it is installed properly, there may be a calibration issue. Try using spacers to move the GG forward and backward. A fraction of a millimeter can make a huge difference in image sharpness.

I don't understand the other issues you are having. My M2 produces sharp images edge to edge no matter the focal length. I have shot a lot of projects with it and haven't needed anything larger than a 1K tungsten for most interiors. I am shooting with the 72mm achromatic lens and F1.4 Cine and Nikon SLR glass.

 

[Júlio Taubkin]

Well, I never shot with cine lenses... I'm sure a 1.4 wide angle would help me a lot! Wich camera are you using, the HVX?

 

[Larry McKee]

Yes, sorry, forgot that part. Been using the HVX for the past year and a half with the M2. Before that I used it with the DVX.

 

[Júlio Taubkin]

Totally. I'm going to bring it back to the lab (again!) and see if I can make it work better! I surely like the images I get from it, when everything is working well...

 

[Omnius]

I am just an operator which means I arrive on set to use whatever camera setup production has chosen. I have yet to work with the RR using anything but the SLR lenses.

I couldn't imagine what you go through operating a steadicam with a RR setup there Buddy.
I can totally understand your preference for the P+S in this matter ( and in others ).

 

[AftonGrant]

I couldn't imagine what you go through operating a steadicam with a RR setup there Buddy.
I can totally understand your preference for the P+S in this matter ( and in others ).

It's far from ideal, that's for sure. The camera must be mounted upside-down since turning the Steadicam monitor upside down is not an option (at least on my rig anyway). Cameras aren't generally built to be mounted upside-down, but most Steadicam ops have a collection of different brackets and widgets to accommodate different situations.

The nuisance throughout the day as I've already said was the lack of rigidity. Now, we've determined a threaded mount would have helped, but with the amount of motion undergone on such a rig as a Steadicam, 100% rigidity is crucial and I'm still not convinced even a threaded mount would've solved the problem completely.

Fortunately, a Steadicam by nature is always kept generally at body level where adjustments can be made when necessary. I couldn't imagine operating with the rig off of something else with a lot of movement that is not so easily accessible: jib, crane, car mount, remote head, etc. The time constraints of production just don't allow for ongoing technical maintenance. If you're in charge of a piece of equipment, you want to be 100% confident that it is working properly.

Taking the focus/alignment issue for example, if something is off it's not like it's extremely obvious there's a problem right away. Nothing snaps and can just be swapped out for a replacement. Chances are, the problem isn't noticed until after a bunch of footage is shot. That can be very costly.

I'd have to say one of the worst feelings an individual can ever feel is being on set and a piece of equipment for which you are responsible breaks. The entire production then waits on you to come up with a solution. That is a very, very, VERY heavy weight. Seconds seem like minutes, minutes like hours, and hours seem like...well, you're unemployed. Believe me, you will give your annual salary to get out of that situation as soon as possible.

This is why trust in my equipment is paramount. It just needs to work. It can't work only if you do this.... or if you get this... or if you adjust this. It needs to be set up and then trusted to just plain work.

I do wish to once again state that I believe the RedRock is an excellent value. I truly don't prefer one over the other since I just don't think they can equally be compared. They have different customer and user bases. However, I felt there was a lot of criticism thrown at the P&S due to just its price, so I thought I'd take its side a bit.

Peace!