Ive always thought about LETUSdirect.com as the home of outstanding DOF systems for video cameras, but last week I got a package in the main with a prototype Anamorphic lens for the GoPro3 and 3+. I think its safe to say this little lens is likely to be a "must have" for GoPro fanatics around the world.
Lately you have probably seen lots of "fake anamorphic" video on YouTube.? Lots of people are shooting video and uploading productions with "trimmed" top and bottom to be "pretend anamorphic". LETUS are about to change all of that, because now you can get a REAL Anamorphic lens for GoPro cameras. delivering the real goods, REAL 2.25:1 widescreen in the best Panavision tradition.
ANAMORPHIC 101
Shocking as it might seem, Anamorphic goes WAY back in movie history, and was used already around the middle of last century. Movie makers were looking for wider screens wanting to produce more epic scenes. we all have enjoyed cavalary charges in phenomenal wide screen shots.
That kinda shots were technically challenging, because there were only 3 ways to get there.
Option 1. You "could" turn the camera on its side and use a longer frame, but that technically complicated and would require the cinema to have new projection equipment as well.. BAD IDEA.
Option 2. Do as many YouTubers do today, use a black frame in top and bottom of the image, and have the cinema use a wide-angle for projection and mask the top and bottom as well.. This WAS done for quite a few movies, obviously, the problem was the loss of quality by throwing away 30% of the negative... sooo BAD IDEA.
Option 3. Use a barrel shaped lens, and compress the wide vista into a standard 4:3 camera frame. Then have the movie theater buy a similar lens for their existing projection equipment. Benefit, the frame now had the same resolution as normal movies, but was projected in wider format, and the cost of new equpment was low. BEST IDEA. Anamorphic was official and is still used today.
Obviously, Anamorphic lenses were not exactly "cheap" by any definition, and were typically owned by camera rental houses such as Panavision. you could buy lenses but be ready to trade in your bentley motorcar. Even today, true anamorphic lenses for production use is not really cheap.
GREAT news.. LETUS are about to start shipping their new AnamorpX lens for the GoPro cameras. this lens is made to be a perfect fit for the GoPro crash case, and it fits like factory original parts would fit. incredible well made.
WHAT can Anamorphic do for me.?
The simple answer is.. capture video with a 1.33 factor on the sides.. so you can capture very wide video on a normal video frame. You will need to stretch this in post.
HOW wide is it.? LETUS posted a test video showing you their wall test pattern.. check it out.
BUT WAIT.. there is more... remember Anamorphic lenses is all about better resolution on existing frame formats. How about shooting 1440p on the GoPro and stretch this to 16:9 Bingo, now you have higher resolution video to use for editing base on a 1080p project, now you can apply filters to higher resolution footage and maintain beautiful final output quality. how is that for a cheap trick?
HIGHREZ 2:35 recipie:
Shoot 2.7K video, then use the GoPro Studion and apply the "4x3 to wide" preset. then export the resulting file.. using the 4x3 to wide preset, result in a more elasticc stretch to the image, less in the middle and more on the edges, resulting in the most accurate proportions across the frame when going from 16:9 to 2,25:1
Fred, any gimbal that fit a Nex 7 camera or a RX100 will do the trick. My personal favorite is the "little" AG400 from www.tppacks.com which is like a pro GoPro gimbal.
Posted by: Bo Lorentzen | 04/25/2014 at 11:23 PM
Bo
Can you recommend a gimbal that will support the GoPro with the lens in the plastic case?
Posted by: Fred Olsen | 04/25/2014 at 06:00 PM
Hello Fred, its a great lens. but you need a stronger gimbal to manage that lens, its too much offset weight for the stella gimbal.
Posted by: Bo Lorentzen | 04/23/2014 at 08:06 PM
The lens looks great. I will be getting one. I would like to download the hires test video that you made. The stella gimbal is wonderful. Do you think I can use the lens with that setup? Have you tried it?
Posted by: Fred Olsen | 04/23/2014 at 08:01 PM
so if i have a gopro hero 3+ and i want to add the battery bacpac, which housing do i need to get to mount the letus adapter onto? will the waterproof housings work too?
Posted by: c1asia | 02/13/2014 at 09:36 AM