This is the drill for my 15,- Pentax 6mm 1.2

THE DREMEL: IF THIS DOESN'T WORK, NOTHING WILL...

I cannot get my Pentax 6mm 1.2 c-mount lens to focus on my Panasonic GH2. I am stuck with a fixed focus lens while others have been able to shoot good stuff with this wide-angle, fast lens I bought for €15,-
I am going to give this lens one last shot and bought a Dremel (mini-drill) that will help me modify my lens even further. I have instructions from people that have been succesful at getting infinity focus with comparable lenses... Either I'm going to shoot some lowlight, wide angle stuff pretty soon or I'll be stuck with a handfull of scrapmetal...

PRECISE INSTRUCTIONS FOR MODIFICATION

Entering New York City - a timelapse

It was many years since I last visited New York and, like most people, have never driven a car into the city. How many people would?! It is madness to visit any metropole in the world by car- traffic is alien&hectic, parking spots are impossible to find and if you do find one... it costs the price of a motelroom for 2 in rural Georgia...
But I would have not wanted to miss the experience of driving into this place. Nothing makes you feel at home quicker than being cut off by other cars, being cursed at and fighting for your lane with cabbies, bike-messengers and bus-drivers. In my Jeep Grand Cherokee I felt like a modern-day Mad Max at the Tunderdome. Arrived at the hotel without a traffic jam or a scratch... Home!

Shot on a GH2 with a Lumix 20mm 1.7 pancake lens, in a Puma sneaker stuck on my dashboard.


Entering New York City - a timelapse from Filmersblog on Vimeo.

Mailbox: Russian Helios 44-2

I just couldn't resist when a Russian made Helios 44-2 came along, a 58mm f2 lens, and I bought it for 20,-
I took it outside to play for a few hours and shot this footage of raindrops in the park. I called it 'dewdrops' because it sounds better ;-)
Unfortunately I couldn't fit my Fader ND filter on the lens to be able to shoot wide open. Most of it is actually almost closed at f16. From what I've seen and read, you get some really funky bokeh with the Helios- which isn't too apparent here. Shots came out nice though and the lens is pretty sharp.

Shot with the Panasonic GH2 and Helios 44-2

Dewdrops from Filmersblog on Vimeo.

Mailbox: filmlens super comat f1.9 Taylor Hobson

I received another interesting lens today, from Salem, Oregon, USA: a filmlens, 1 inch f1.9 super comat by Taylor, Taylor & Hobson. It's mechanically in great shape, aperture and focus rings run very smoothly, lens looks fine. It's obviously old and has some cosmetic dents and scratches but that only adds to its character. Just wondering: is it possible to get a ND-filter on this one? I'm going to start taking pictures and report back soon!

Mailbox: television lens, Cosmicar 25mm 1.4

I'm going a little nuts with the lens business. A buying frenzy has taken possesion of me but I promise this is the last one in this series of C-mount 16mm lenses. (there's just 2 more coming from the States- a birthday present from my wife! although she doens't know it yet...)
This Cosmicar-for-Bolex lens is a 25mm 1.4 version and in absolute pristine condition. It produces this wild, swirly bokeh. Can't wait to shoot video with it on my GH2.

Mailbox: power from Germany

Just for the name you should get this one: the Voltcraft Steckernetzgerät. (The German language sometimes sounds like good pastry or juicy sausages) It's less than half the price (26,-) of the overpriced Panasonic ac adapter and I can hereby confirm that it works perfectly in combination with the DC Coupler.

Conrad Electronics went totally nuts with the foam and box (it's an adapter, not a Swarovski egg) but at least they take their packaging seriously.

Stop! Adapter madness

A SELECTION OF MY UNUSED ADAPTERS

I have 20+ fixed adapters lying around and none of them output 8.4v. I have one 'universal adapter' that outputs from 1.5v to 12v in steps of 1.5. No 8.4v option. Panasonic charges around 55 euro's for their 8.4v AC adapter. Why 8.4v?
I went to several different electronic stores and they roll their eyes when you say you're looking for an adapter that outputs 8.4v. "No, we don't carry that. It's a very unusual output voltage. Why do you think Panasonic made one different from all the others? So you'd have to buy theirs! Har har har!"