When using the microX with your M2, you have to adjust the Redrock Support Base with the new Riser Block that comes with the microX. The camera will sit a little higher on the support base to make up for the extra height required by the lens-side of the microX. Once I added the riser block and adjusted the shims, I decided I wasn’t going to use the M2 without the microX ever again. When you finally get those vertical and horizontal adjustments correctly aligned, you won’t want to change it either! (It would be nice if Redrock considered making an all-in-one version of its adapter and microX, similar to how Letus35 makes theirs.)
The microX also requires a new achromat, which is much smaller than the HD achromat (55mm) and has special threads for use with the M2. The achromat is included, but make sure you figure out which step-down ring you need (85-55mm or 72-55mm) because you don’t want to pay extra shipping for forgetting that tiny item.
Adding the microX to your M2 lens adapter does more than just flip the image. It also increases ‘edge-to-edge sharpness’ of your lenses by equalizing the distance between the achromat and the center and edges of the ground glass. It fixes the fairly common gripe of barrel distortion that the M2 has had in the past. (Though often that problem is due to improper set up or just a crappy lens!) One thing to keep in mind when buying lenses is the size of the rear lens element. You want a larger rear element, as some of the lenses I have tested with small rears (approx. the size of a dime) create some vignetting, even with the microX.
I guess you could call it a leap of faith, but I tested the microX for the first time on the production of my web series, Infamous. This was my baby, and I wanted it to look great. Something told me that the guys over at Redrock wouldn’t put something out there that made the image quality worse. We had a grueling six day/six episode shoot with two HVX200 cameras and Redrock adapters equipped with Nikon lenses.
Everyone’s big complaint with the M2 adapter is the light loss. But once you are used to shooting with a little more light, it’s fine. I have never had a situation I couldn’t shoot through, and I don’t have any sources larger than a 1k. The great thing about the microX is that it doesn’t add a lot of light loss. People measure light loss in many different ways, but I think the practical answer to that question is that the microX takes about a half stop. M2 owners who are used to lighting with their camera set ups simply won’t experience a huge difference in how they light.
