Personal View site logo
Make sure to join PV on Telegram or Facebook! Perfect to keep up with community on your smartphone.
Please, support PV!
It allows to keep PV going, with more focus towards AI, but keeping be one of the few truly independent places.
Optimizing your lenses
  • Both http://www.rplens.com/ and http://www.ducloslenses.com/Duclos_Lenses/Main.html will optimize your SLR and DSLR lenses to be used in more of a cinema situation. They put on a simi-permenant lens gear, a step up ring to 80mm OD/77mm ID threaded, and they de-click the iris. I beleave they also dampen the lens. You get all this for $250 per lens. I've been debating doing this to all of my lenses for a while now, but the problem is, I want to upgrade a few of my lenses first. Until I do I'd like to benefit from the standardized 80mm OD/77mm ID threaded step up rings. Does anyone know where to get these? They are more than just the standard step up ring especially the ones from http://www.rplens.com/.
  • 12 Replies sorted by
  • I found some incase anyone is interested. I haven't purchased them yet, but I'll get one to test before I buy enough for all my lenses. Not sure if they are metal or plastic, but I would assume metal.

    http://www.thecinecity.com/eshop/product.php?productid=96&cat=248&page=1
  • @Brian202020
    Having purchased one of the ProAim 15mm rail rigs, I wouldn't recommend anything made out of aluminum by CineCity. As far as I can tell, the step-up rings used by Duclos are functionally equivalent to any other 77mm female filter ring. Is there any practical significance in the 80mm outside diameter?

    Having added 77mm step-up rings to a number of lenses, I've had issues with filters getting stuck in the 77mm ring. Anyone have suggestions on either preventing this or semi-permanently locking the 77mm ring to the lens?
  • @LPowell
    Eighty millimeters is the standard
    ...because Zeiss works that way.
    Zeiss caps are 80mm inside diameter.
    I bought a bunch of Century 72-77mm step up rings that work with Zeiss caps during the Schneider Century clearance sale at $15 each or 67% off. They are smoooth. BW also makes an exceptional step-up ring that never binds -but I can't step up to those prices.


    BTW: I desperately need a source for 55mm lens hoods with 72mm inside diameter filter threads to finish converting the rest of my lenses. Any ideas?
  • not sure if these things work, cos many of the MF lenses have short focus throws. Even using a simple follow focus sometimes becomes a hassle.
  • hey, if you have any Canon EF kit lens, here is how to enhance their quality!!

    http://www.petapixel.com/2012/02/09/how-to-increase-the-performance-of-your-canon-kit-lens/

  • @Alex Ingenious :-)

  • @Brian202020 If you are still looking for 80mm "step-up rings", let me know. I sell some at cordvision.com and I could match the price of the Indian seller you found. Just use the contact form on the website and mention that you are a personal-view member....

  • @cordvision

    Nice site. I do still need those. I also have a question regarding your cage arm on your website. Do you know if the dimensions are the same as the Redrock matte box arm? I have a Redrock matte box and the arm is garbage. It doesn't tighten easily and you really need to wrench on it. I'd like a quality replacement if one is available. Also are the knobs metal or plastic?

  • Knobs are all metal. I don't know if it has the same dimensions. Do you live in LA, if so, you could come by and test it out....

  • I'm looking for some more 52mm to 77mm/80mm OD step up cine rings. I like the Cordvision ones, but the shipping to the USA is a lot for one. If I was getting many it wouldn't be bad, but I only need one or two. Anyone know of any others?

  • Brian,

    I'd recommend the Cordvision brand hands down. I've bought many from Michael/Cordvision and stocked plenty since I go through lenses like I go through soap. I since slowed down, but don't regret having spares that still aren't opened. Great product for the price.

  • Yeah thanks I went with Cordvision again. He was mistaken on the higher shipping charge he thought I was international.