Some good news for the format (including an 8,5 mm f/2.8)

http://www.vimeo.com/campcomet/anmamorphic (not a typo)

3.55/Non tweaked version

From the vimeo description: > WARNING: CAMERA SHAKE

I had to hold up NDs while trying to handheld and focus at the same time. You have been warned.

Music: Anma Mama - Eureka 7: Astral Ocean

UNCROPPED/NON SCAN VERSION/NON TWEAKED VERSION HERE: ( soon)

Hot Rod Cameras PL mount Kowa Anamorphics (40, 50, 75, 100) from Blacklist Productions GH2 w/Sedna Q20 Hack @ 1080/24 and 720/60 Smooth

Composed with TVLogic 5.6" w/2.40 stretch (close enough)

Just grabbed some whatever-kinda-footage to test out the new old set of Kowas. Really like them, much better than the set of Lomo squarefronts that I've used. Not Hawks or Panavisions but I'm considering shooting my next few projects (feature film included) on this set.

Stuff was lightly tweaked in final cut, just a straight log and transfer no 5DtoRGB this go 'round.

Interestingly enough I found a really cool way to rig up the Hot Rod PL mount, a Noga Arm, and a 5.6" that helps me hold it all a bit steadier...

UNFORTUNATELY... I had to hold up NDs while trying to handheld and focus at the same time as you were warned up front.

Will have to work that situation out, but it was still fun.

Desqueeze Process:

1. Convert from AVCHD to ProRes (was probably LT honestly) in Log and Transfer
2. Change Aspect Ratio in FCP on All Clips (drag one to the timeline, get the aspect ratio down, copy, drag all of your clips to the timeline, select them all, click paste attributes, select basic motion and distortion, click apply, drag all clips on the timeline to a new bin at once)
3. Adjusted the image as I saw fit as far as center

The reason I did this? Didn't see any worthwhile difference or benefit to doing another file conversion just to get the aspect right, nor did I think the time spent was worth losing the ability to reframe even if it was left to right.

Others mileage may vary.

If you're interested in pictures of the rig you can ask me.

Will put some pictures up of the rig here, forgot them on the work tower.

Specs and price will be available at CP+ start

2X anamorphic lenses provide a very wide 3.55:1 aspect ratio when shooting in 16:9. When I get an anamorphic, I plan to have my final product be either 2.39:1 (or occasionally 2.75:1 if I'm feeling gutsy).

I have found plenty of info on how wide of "taking" glass the various 2X anamorphic lenses can utilize without vignetting, but only when used at 3.5:1. (For example, a Kowa 8Z/16H in 3.55:1 is good down to a 35mm "taking" lens on GH2.)

But if I'm cropping off the sides of my final product to 2.39:1, I would assume I should be able to use a bit wider of a taking lens, even if it vignettes on 16:9, as long as I'm able to crop out the vignette on the sides when trimming down to 2.39:1 from 3.55:1.

What many people get excited with when thinking about anamorphic lenses (especially the 2X crop sensor GH2 crowd) is that the anamorphic gives a wider field of view. While this is true in the horizontal sense of the term, it is not true in the vertical sense. A 35mm taking lens with an anamorphic adapter on front may have twice the field of view horizontally, but vertically it is still a 35mm field of view (70mm equivalent on GH2). This doesn't really help you "get wider" for narrative work in which you are framing up people, where extra vertical field of view is what actually matters.

If cropping 2X anamorphic footage down to 2.39:1 allows the use of an even slightly wider "taking" lens, then I would encourage anamorphic junkies out there to start experimenting with this strategy. even if you loos a bit of horizontal resolution, remember the footage still maintains full 1080 lines vertical, which will keep it looking sharp, even when stretched.

Does anyone know how much more you gain when cropping like this? Using my example of a Kowa, could it be good down to 25mm with the sides cropped to 2.39:1?

The lens is quite old, regarding this, it is in very good condition. It doesn't have scratches, haze or fungus!

It comes with two Redstan clamps, which is a very good quality (and very expensive).

Since this is a rare lens with quality clamps, the asking price is 1100 USD (I can accept EURO also). I am opened for offers too, so please PM me!

I am in the European Union, between EU member countries there is not costum duty tax! I ship worldwide!

I hope to be able to afford a GH4 after I sold this. :)

All the best to you guys!

It'll give you 2X stretched image and beautiful anamorphic horizontal flares.

I will be at NAB show in Las Vegas. Feel free to test it. It doesn't come with a clamp so you'll have to get it from Redstan or Vid-Atlantic or make your own to fit your lens. If you buy this lens at NAB, I can throw a 50mm Canon FD lens.

Price: $600 + shipping. Item located in Las Vegas, NV.

Here's my test videos:

The price is $450.

Also I have an awesome 52mm RedStan steel clamp which I'm ready to give up for additional $20 (retail price around $75). It will fit most of lens like Sankor, Kowa, Eiki etc.

The lens is totally worth the money, don't miss the chance to get a great cinematic picture!

You can reach me via manymonkeez@gmail.com

Just thought I'd share some color grading that I've been fiddling with. I shot a bunch of footage at the local carnival a month back, and now I'm working on grading it for one of my personal music video projects.

I've used my own take on a bleach bypass process that simultaneously adds the teeniest touch of blue to the lows, then with a couple more nodes, I've tweaked exposure and of course that nasty red/orange/yellow/green zone of color (that seems to always make or break skintones) has had some subtle adjustments.

Lemme know what you think!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/68917223@N05/sets/72157634804640007/with/9375308962/

I shot it all on GH2 with @Driftwood Moon Trial 5. I used a Kowa 16-H with Redstan clamps and a Lightcraft Workshop Fader ND Mark II, mounted on a Konica Hexanon 40mm f1.8, usually stopped down to f2.8 or even f4.

This is the first, and has certain things that make it very successful in terms of capturing my concept for the project. But technically, I think I prefer the second film even though it is simpler in some ways.

I hope you enjoy it, and I hope it is of some use. Feedback and questions are of course welcome! (Note: I'm going to go ahead and post this, but Vimeo might initially be still in the process of converting the clip.)

This made me wonder what other type of taking-lens would be an option for my anamorphic adapter. As I read in Andrew Reid's anamorphic guide, my Kowa should cover a 35mm lens on a GH2, So my eyes fell on the inexpensive Slrmagic 35mm F 1.7

Has anyone had any experience with adapting an anamorphic onto the Slrmagic lens? Or in general using a 35mm lens for a Kowa-type adapter?

Thanks!

Panasonic Lumix GH2 | Standard Firmware | Mir-1B 37mm f2.8 | Kowa 16-H Anamorphic Lens | 72mm Lightcraft Workshop Fader ND MKII | Anamorphic front and rear clamps by Redstan

Here's a music video I shot recently with my friends. We've been working with Atlanta rapper Bre Fontaine for a while, and recently he was given a guest spot on Amon Tobin's new Two Fingers side project, which in turn gave us a chance to shoot a higher profile video than we have in the past.

I shot with the GH2 using my Kowa 16-D (I have the 16-H as well, but went with the lighter-weight D for this project) and Driftwood's Sedna 'A' AQ1 patch (Smooth -2 everything). The taking lens was an old Nikon 50mm f/1.4 AI. Redstan's anamorphic clamps (for orienting the lens and for mounting filters) rounded out the setup, plus a set of diopters (the +0.5 Redstan sells plus some lower quality +1 and +2's).

Graded with FilmConvert and a touch of adjustment layer curves in After Effects - mostly because I only had a couple days after editing and vfx were done to do the grade before we had to push it out. But I'm happy with the look overall. As a cinematographer it does pain me that the song is so short, because we had a lot of great looking stuff that you only see glimpses of in the video!

I'm linking the YouTube version up above because the streaming 1080p version looks better, but you can also check it out on Vimeo (vimeo.com/52431231) and download the original upload for a few more days.

Hope you guys dig it, it was fun to finally do a real project on anamorphic.