Resources For the Indie Film-maker
Archive for July, 2009
Sgblade m42 tests
Jul 31st
Well the Sgblade has arrived and this is my first little test in lowlight. No lights were added, just what was there.
Lenses used:
55mm 1.8 SMC Takumar
50mm 1.4 Super Takumar
135mm 2.5 Super Takumar
85mm 2 Jupiter-9
So far I’m blown away by the images this thing creates, especially when there is adequate light. This is with the older unoptimised achromat. So far I don’t see any reason to upgrade to the newer achromat but it is definately on my shopping list along with a follow focus and external monitor. More test footage to come soon.
SGblade and M42 Lenses
Jul 25th
You know that feeling of bugs crawling around inside you? It’s one of the worst mental things I can think of. It’s so mental it affects you physically.
I only a couple of days ago received my Sgblade. Bought it 2nd hand with all the trimmings. Rotorazer 1 + 2, rails, a couple of lens mounts, basically everything you need to get started. Only that the guy who sent it, posted it off in two packages. One has arrived, the other hasn’t. Not only that but the tracking info suggests the undelivered package is still in limbo somewhere in the US. The sender has been good and has been in contact with the USPS but the tracking info has yet to be updated and I’m getting paranoid it’s been lost.
So here in my hands is the Sgblade and rails, except its missing the achromat and thumb screws needed to secure everything to the rails. The screws I can easily replace but the achromat and charger and everything else is pretty important. Without it, all I’ve got is a lump of cold metal in my hands. A lump of well engineered metal may I add.
Not only have I got a useless 35mm adapter, I’ve also now got a tonne of m42 glass sitting here waiting to be used. It’s not all bad, I can use the lenses on my dslr for stills. But i’m no photographer, stills bore me!
Speaking of M42 lenses, my collection now covers pretty much every focal length I think I’ll need. I’ve got a:
28mm f2 Vivitar coming to me in the mail
50mm f1.4 Super Takumar
50mm f2 Mamiya
55mm f1.8 SMC Takumar
85mm f2 Jupiter 9
135mm f2.5 Super Takumar
135mm f3.5 SMC Takumar
There’s nothing like holding an old metal lens in the hand. The term “they don’t make em like they use to” gets more meaning. You feel a sense of history in this compact solid piece of metal and glass, especially considering all of these lenses are at least a decade older than I am.
I haven’t seen many people using m42 lenses with their 35mm adapter’s and I wonder why. Their quality is still excellent compared to todays lenses and they are also quite relatively cheap. Everyone seems to be using Nikons or old Canon glass but i’m going to try something different and use old Pentax glass.
Hopefully USPS delivers my second package so I can start putting some footage up.