JSD Labs: Anamorphic at f/0.95

2017 Mar 26 By answer 0 comment

(Vimeo) One thing that I learned since getting into anamorphic is that fast apertures and anamorphic adapters do not mix. Most adapters will rarely work faster than f/2.0, with a lot of them going around 2.8-4.0. The fastest full anamorphic lens ever made is the Panavision 50mm f/1.0. Well, I think my 17.5mm f/0.95 has it beat. My anamorphic is an unbranded 1.33x from the 90’s. While it may look like something from the Century Optics line, it’s more similar to the Sony VCL-W169. I have modded it a bit and it now has a filter ring, and have cleaned…

Focus and Light Test #1

2017 Feb 11 By answer 2 comment

In one of many, I set up a quick lighting and focus test on my anamorphic rig. I have been shooting a lot with it, but there are still some things that I need to work out. The biggest issues are the flares and the focus. For awhile I have been shooting just on my 45-175mm zoom at f/4.0 because I wanted to be ready to shoot at a moments notice with few issues. But I want more bokeh for certain shots and the right kind of flares for others. The 42.5mm, as I have said before, is the…

JSD Labs: Zhiyun Smooth II, iPhone 7 Plus, and Mavis in Yoyogi Park

2017 Feb 05 By answer 0 comment

A few weeks ago I got a deal on a new Zhiyun Smooth II, the updated version. I had read, though I forget where, that it has really strong motors that let you use clip-on lenses on big phones. While the DJI phone gimbal seems to have good features, I had also heard that people had issues adding extras on their phone. I jumped on this one while I had the chance. That said, the Smooth II does not lack in features at all. In fact, in this video I only used a small fraction of them, the main…

JSD LABS: IPHONE 7 PLUS NIGHT ANAMORPHIC VIDEO TEST

2016 Dec 26 By answer 0 comment

(vimeo) It’s been awhile since Mavis updated their app to take use of both of the iPhone 7 Plus’s cameras. I had a bit of time, so I went out to try filming some night shots with the iPhone anamorphic rig. Some key differences and changes now are better PID settings on the Beholder for this rig, the ability to shut off the OIS, and the ability to lock things like shutter speed and ISO. I wasn’t trying for perfection for this shoot, as I wanted to see what ISOs worked on the iPhone. It’s not really known for…

JSD labs: 2.0x Anamorphic Rig Tests

2016 Nov 17 By answer 2 comment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZgbG634Ef4 (vimeo) Finally getting around to doing some test shots and setups with my anamorphic stuff. I recently picked up an Elmoscope-II and a SLR Magic Rangefinder to make the filming process a bit easier. I had done some tests with my other lenses (they’re on instagram) so I wasn’t completely lost as to what to do. But I still ran into some challenges. I originally filmed with a clamp and lens support on rails… but on the first day of shooting I had a few scary moments with the lens just… falling out of the tightened clamp. I NEVER…

JSD Labs: iPhone 7 Plus Anamorphic Video Test

2016 Sep 26 By answer 1 comment

(vimeo) After a week of waiting, I finally received my iPhone 7 Plus from docomo on Saturday. With little time for tests and setting up, I ventured out to Hakkeijima in Kanagawa the next day to shoot some video with a rig that I wasn’t even sure was going to work. Because none of the manual camera control apps worked with the dual lens setup yet, I decided to do this first test with just the Camera app. Keep it basic, no color correction just to see what the rig can do. I had tested the setup with my…

JSD labs: Show and not tell.

2016 Feb 18 By answer 0 comment

One of my biggest frustrations on youtube is how people feel they need to talk 10 minutes about what their doing before they show us what we came there to see. On top of that, even if you explain everything in the video, people will still ask the same questions in the comments. I just want to see whatever you have in action, not your inane initial thoughts. So, I made a channel that will only be for product demonstrations, tests, behind the scenes, and so on. It is my goal to keep it visual and pair it with a…