The Case for Micro Four Thirds on Scarlet (and perhaps Epic!)

[Deanan]

The ultimate small size lenses for the Epic are the Leica M series. They are the legendary series of lenses widely considered the finest lenses made. They are designed to cover a full 36mm width frame in the stills format so the Epic sensor is blanketed easily and then some. The back flange distance for these lenses just barely allow for a mount to be designed for the standard Epic case. Even then the camera can only accept lens in which the rear lens elements do not protrude aft of the lens mount itself. This limits the number of the shorter focal length lenses up to 35mm but the image quality is outstanding. These Leica M's test equal or superior to the newest Nikons and better than the latest Canons in a package that is generally one fifth the size and weight. (Check out independent tests of all). The Leica M mount for the Epic may be obtained from SpaceCam Systems on its webstore at spacecam.com It is a very rigid precisely engineered mount. One may also utilize any number of adapters to Canon, Nikon, contax or even Hasselblad but the spring tension type springs utilized in most of these mean that a secondary lens support should be used. The m4/3 format lenses simply cannot be mounted on the Epic without major reengineering of the camera case...
Ron.
SpaceCam

It should be noted that the chief ray angles on many of the wide M lenses are not so ideal.
You can get a fair amount of color shading and vignetting towards the outside.

 

[Ron Goodman]

This is true for the full frame 35mm sensor as found on the Leica M9 with an active sensor width of 36mm but these rays angles are reduced considerably when encountering the smaller Epic sensor. In the final analysis the image must tell the story and for the wide lenses useable on the
Epic, the image is exceptional with no discernable fall off.
R.

 

[Deanan]

This is true for the full frame 35mm sensor as found on the Leica M9 with an active sensor width of 36mm but these rays angles are reduced considerably when encountering the smaller Epic sensor. In the final analysis the image must tell the story and for the wide lenses useable on the
Epic, the image is exceptional with no discernable fall off.
R.

I'd disagree. I've seen falloff and shading on the wides.

 

[Ron Goodman]

The basic rule is that any Leica M lens that is wonderful on the Leica M9 will be equal or better on the smaller sensor of the Epic. Lenses that are not suited to the M9 might still be great on the Epic due to the larger incidence angles associated with the geometry of the Epic sensor size and position. The case design of the Epic precludes lenses whose rear element protrudes aft beyond the lens' own mount. This limitation in itself means that low incidence angles from mountable lenses simply cannot happen on the Epic. I would point out that even on the M9 Leica with a 36mm sensor width, very short focal length lenses protruding 14mm behind the mounting surface produce world class results. This includes the widest Leica M lens...at 18mm in a prime or 16mm in the Tri Elmar. I hope that a mod might be offered to open up clearance in the front wall of the Epic so all Leica M's can be used in the future. For the present, its really not too bad at all.

 

[Ron Goodman]

Haven't seen any falloff at all on the widest lens mountable at this time which is the 16-18-21 Tri Elmar set at 21mm.

 

[Deanan]

The basic rule is that any Leica M lens that is wonderful on the Leica M9 will be equal or better on the smaller sensor of the Epic. Lenses that are not suited to the M9 might still be great on the Epic due to the larger incidence angles associated with the geometry of the Epic sensor size and position. The case design of the Epic precludes lenses whose rear element protrudes aft beyond the lens' own mount. This limitation in itself means that low incidence angles from mountable lenses simply cannot happen on the Epic. I would point out that even on the M9 Leica with a 36mm sensor width, very short focal length lenses protruding 14mm behind the mounting surface produce world class results. This includes the widest Leica M lens...at 18mm in a prime or 16mm in the Tri Elmar. I hope that a mod might be offered to open up clearance in the front wall of the Epic so all Leica M's can be used in the future. For the present, its really not too bad at all.

The M9 (and M8) has a modified microlens pattern specifically to compensate for the wide rays as well as compensation in raw development (why each lens is coated).

I personally own a bunch of M cameras and lenses and have been wanting/testing this but there are limitations.

 

[Ron Goodman]

Understood..but in the final analysis, I have seen no fall off whatsoever on the widest mountable Leica Lens on the Epic and the smaller image circle necessary to cover the Epic sensor will only mitigate the low incidence angles encountered with the larger sensors. We have tested every single Leica M lens that is useable from the current Leica production line up on the Epic and all of them were extremely impressive in terms of resolution, total lack of geometric distortion and consistency of illumination across the entire sensor.

 

[Paul Ellington]

I am curious on how many Epic DP's use the RED lenses? Any guesses out there?

I do I love their glass. Better than super-speeds

 

[Maxi Claudio]

I have a GH-1 and 2. I love micro 43. A trade off of sensor size from APS-C and full frame, true, but at the benefit of smaller size and ability to use any lens pretty much ever designed.

 

[Arnold F.]

Whatever it will be, M43 or not, N3 will reveal the most incredible planet-altering piece of gear ever produced and if you disagree you're very anti-RED. N3! N3! N3! N3 is now part of my soul.

The upcoming GH3 with a Voigtlander / Leica kit will be tough to beat at the low end. I have a couple GH2's and an AF100 now and will say M43 is great at what it does. Scarlet is what it is at this point. Having been in manufacturing in a previous life - product design lock out happened a year ago. Jim is no fool - he will come strong with this product technically. Only question will be price/value.