Tue Sep 19, 2017 4:55 pm
I did ask about that. The answer was "add the 82-86mm step-up ring." You can imagine there's an extra cost doing the manufacturing of each unique piece. If the 86mm does well, then SLR Magic may feel an 82mm version is appropriate. Right now I'm using the SLR Magic Vari-ND 82mm so it works perfectly. With the Vari-ND 77mm, you are faced with an additional cost but considering the low cost if the IEND1.2, it's not a significant cost to cover. I'm sure it's worth a try.
When you're doing an outdoors event and your light levels are changing from shot to shot sometimes, it's so convenient to add the ability to have that Vari-ND go from 5.1 stops to 10 stops. You really can use that range in very bright conditions where you may also need to cover subjects in the shade as well as the sun beating down on a beach or ski slope.
I really like the individual SLR Magic ND filters for their precision and minimal warm colour cast. But that's when you have the time to change screw-on filters.
When you really are in a hurry, adjusting that arm on the SLR Magic Vari-ND to go from ND1.6 to ND3.0, is a wonderful benefit to maintaining a cinematic look for your subjects with good control of infrared even at higher ND strengths while preserving those skin tones that are all about the image the BMD cameras strive to deliver.
Sunday's shoot was during overcast conditions with light rain and I was still able to work with that minimum ND1.6 strength by adding the IEND1.2 to the Vari-ND Min setting. I shot by changing the aperture from T8 to T5.6 to handle those inevitable fluctuations in illumination and the video looks quite good. Now that I have a better understanding of the behaviour of ISO 1600, I'm used that Sunday to get the depth of field I need since it allows me to stop down the iris without any ill effect on the daytime video with the 4.6K.
As an aside, I've gone back to using the APO T2.1 primes and now shoot exclusively 4.6K 2.4:1 raw 3:1 and loving it. Delivery is going to be 2K widescreen 2048x858 for the clients now from that 4K 2.4:1 capture. Highly recommend that to anyone whose client will accept it. Not going to cut it for HD broadcast, but looks fine for their web delivery.
One more thing: Even going full sensor width 4608x1920 and T5.6-T8 using 50mm APO, I didn't notice any of the original magenta issues in my extreme right side of the frame that plagued my shots last year. In part due to that magenta stripe on the right, I almost always shot 2K 16:9 with the Fujinon Cine Zoom. Don't have to do that now unless I want the extra reach of the zoom. When SLR Magic releases the 135mm APO, I may retire the Fujinon.
Apologies for the long post, but epiphanies tend to lead to verbose proselytizing!
Edit
Corrected my completely embarrassing error on the number of stops when using the IEND with the SLR Magic Vari-ND using the Min setting. I mentioned 4.4 stops or ND4.4; corrected to 5.1 stops and ND1.6! Sorry about that slip.
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Last edited by
rick.lang on Wed Sep 20, 2017 9:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Rick Lang