The challenge of creating film-style footage using DV and HD/V

Independent filmmakers, documentary makers, film students and educators, and budget-conscious moviemakers have embraced digital video (and increasingly high definition video or HD) as the most cost-effective way to create high quality movies. Even with advances such as 24 frames/progressive (24p), cinema-style gamma settings, and post-production filters, digital video still appears, well, video-like. As filmmakers ourselves, we too have suffered this realization.

Our experience and research has lead us to believe the hallmark look of professional 35mm film is in large part created through the use of 35mm lenses. The use of interchangeable 35mm lenses allows filmmakers the freedom to achieve varying angles of view, focus, and a shallow depth of field (DOF) – an often-used cinematic technique where the objects the filmmaker wants to highlight is in focus, where everything else is blurred.

Although digital and HD video advances have solved many other challenges for moviemakers, the inability to use interchangeable 35mm lenses has left the depth-of-field problem elusive or too expensive to achieve.

That is, until now.

Redrock Microsystems introduces the M2 – enabling you to achieve cinema-quality video at a revolutionary price. M2 allows 35mm lenses to be used with your DV or HD camera to create incredible depth-of-field, angle of view, and focus typically found in high-end film productions. The M2 works even with DV or HD cameras that have fixed lenses, such as the Panasonic AG-DVX100, HVX200, and the Sony HVR-Z1U.

M2 uses the same core technology as products cost ten times as much. This approach - known as the rotating ground glass method – is completely transparent when translating the image from the 35mm lens to your DV camera. The M2’s revolutionary price point comes from our own product design philosophy that 100% of the critical features can be achieved for a fraction of the price – without the extra fluff features that drive prices up.

At the heart of the M2 is our patent-pending Cinescreen (tm) technology, a specially formulated, proprietary image element that delivers the unique M2 film-look. The Cinescreen comes standard in all M2 adapters.

Other approaches use a static or vibrating motion of the ground glass. While this approach has some merit, the image quality suffers from “grain” when moving the camera, or grain shows up when stopping the 35mm lens down past f5.6

The Redrock M2 adapter is the only adapter available in the market that enables you to use both large lens apertures for shallow depth of field, and smaller lens apertures to increase your depth of field. This revolutionary level of flexibility allows you to use a consistent 35mm look for all your footage, not just shallow depth-of-field shots. The following video clip helps illustrate this unique capability:

Unbeatable price-performance

We encourage you to look at other 35mm adapters and compare the quality, approach, and price. We are confident you will not find anything close that gives you:

• Superior image quality
• The right mix of features
• A revolutionary low price
• Professional build quality

Benefits and features

Works with the Digital video or HD camera you have today

The M2 is designed to work with just about every modern DV and HD/V camera available

• M2 has been tested with:

• Panasonic AG-DVX100, DVX100A, DVX100B
• Canon XL1, XL1S, XL2, GL1, GL2, GM2, HV20
• Sony Z1, FX1, FX7, V1, A1, HC1, HC3
• JVC HD100, HD110, HD200, HD250, HD10, HD20
• Panasonic DVC30, DVC60
• Panasonic HVX-200, 201, 202
• Sony PD150, PD170, PD100
• Sony PC9
• Canon XL-H1, XH-A1, XH-G1

If your camera is not on this list, read these technical requirements to determine if the M2 is for your camera. If you’re still not sure, drop us a line at sales@redrockmicro.com.

Achieves cinema-quality depth-of-field

• Create stunning images with shallow DOF using 35mm lenses
• Use techniques such as racking focus and follow focus to enhance your look

Supports interchangeable lenses to get the exact angle of view and focus you want

• Attach a 20mm wide angle lens for your master shots, switch to a 50mm for your standard scenes, then bump up to a 85mm for that shallow depth-of-field close-up.

Uses a wide variety of 35mm lenses – even 35mm SLR camera lenses

• Choose the type and brand of lens that works best for you and your budget
• Mounts are available for Canon MF, Canon AF, Nikon, PL, and OCT-19, and Pentax.
• Interchangeable mounts let you upgrade your lenses as your project or needs change – start with inexpensive Nikon or Canon still lenses, and maybe for the big shoot rent some Cooke or Arri Ultra Primes (just make sure you have the correct M2 mounts – check with us)

Works with the camera you will have tomorrow

• DV camera owners desiring the M2 but are looking to upgrade to HD cameras in the future can feel confident their M2 investment.
• The M2 is designed to be camera-independent, allowing you to preserve your investment in the M2 as you upgrade your camera. Make sure to check the list of M2 tested cameras to ensure compatibility

Compatible with popular accessories such as Matte Boxes and follow focus units

• Uses industry-standard 15mm support rods.

Works with other Micro products

• Redrock Microsystems is dedicated to bringing cinema-quality products at revolutionary prices.
• The M2 will be compatible with future products from Redrock Microsystems including the microFollowFocus and microMatteBox. Please sign up for our newsletter and we will notify you of future product announcements.

Giving back to the community

As filmmakers ourselves, we feel a responsibility to help all filmmakers be free of the technical restraints often imposed when faced with limited budget.

In addition to offering the M2 product, we also offer the Redrock DIY Guide. This inexpensive guide explains how to build your own 35mm adapter using parts you can purchase on your own. Our desire is to enable anyone with a little bit of money, a lot of passion, and some elbow grease to create their own 35mm adapter with a minimal amount of money. Redrock Microsystems is committed to continuing to offer revolutionary prices and approaches to advance the art of digital filmmaking without technical boundaries.