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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Birger Lens Mount Reservations

Nothing wrong with an update to postpone an update. The channels are open! I'm feeling good!
 
We just returned from a very successful underwater filming project in Belize.
I just wanted to share a pic of the Birger software in use. Here it is shown on two separate laptops to control our Canon lenses. We filmed underwater using two duplicate set-ups using Aquavideo housings, Biger mounts, Canon lenses and Red cameras.

The software is included for free with the mount and works very well to control Iris and focus remotely. Each laptop is using a USB-DB9 serial adapter to convert to Birger's lemo-to-DB9 cable to USB. Most laptops these days to not have 9 pin serial ports so the adapter is necessary. It would be nice if eventually Birger's cables would ship with a USB connector instead of a DB-9 connector or if Erik would include the USB-db9 adapter with each mount.

We ran 200' tethers down to depth and used the Birger software to control Iris and focus. We filmed for 5 days from sun-up to sun-down and Birger performed very well. About once a day the software would lose control of the lens and would display a power too low error. It wasn't very difficult to fix the problem, we would just closed the application and re-executed the software. The software would the again find the lens and allow control. We suspect that our 200' tethers had something to do with the control interrupt. But we need to perform more test to confirm.

The software was extremely valuable for the DP as it allowed precise focus and iris control that no diver could ever accomplish while viewing a 6" lcd underwater. The 720p HD-SDI feed allowed the DP to view footage on two 22" monitors at the surface while using the Birger 1000+ step control to adjust the focus.

We used the following Canon lenses during the shoot:
EF-s 10-22
EF-S 17-55
180mm Macro
EF 15mm fisheye

We also used the Viewfactor on/off button to allow our DP to start and stop record at precise times to minimize unnecessary recording time. I've heard that Erik may actually have added this feature to the Birger software. There has been two software changes made since our version.

We look forward to the two knob controller that Birger has planned, but in the meantime the Birger software seemed to do the job just fine. The manual focus ring on the Canon lens can be used to adjust focus for land based filming and the iris buttons on the Birger mount can be used to adjust iris, but I don't believe that anyone can get as accurate focus step control as compared to using the software. We may still lug around the laptop to adjust focus for some instances on land.

The installation of my mount was done by Erik, so I cannot comment on how difficult the installation may be. However collimating took about 45 minutes. It is a pain, but a necessary process. Birger is working on software that will help speed up the collimation processes which may already be available. As Mike (Aquavideo) mentioned in a post above, you do not need to fully remove the mount to collimate, you just need to loosen a few screws.

While on land we have been experimenting with the EF-S 28-300 zoom and the 600mm tele and the Birger mount. I worry about the weight of the lenses on the Birger mount just as with regular SLR cameras, it is very important to support the lens. In most SLR cases the tripod supports the lens while the camera hangs off the lens to reduce torque at the mount. Both the camera and the lens need to be supported while shooting with Red.
Zacuto offers a great solution to help support heavy lenses using the Studio 19. The robustness of the PL-mount is truly admired after comparing it to the Birger mount. Both are very awesome and have their advantages. I think it may even be common for people to have two Red cameras while shooting: a PL-mount version and a Birger mount version until it becomes easier to switch back and forth.
 
Erik,

thanks for the update--so close! so close! arghhh!! -- I've got an important but low budget 6 week shoot in Africa coming up very, very, very quickly.

the drama, the deadlines, the excitement, the anxiety...
 
yah I've got a big shoot that I've bet the farm on financially coming up like a freight train. I'm crossing my fingers for a tracking number. I can go to a backup if I have some warning but man I need that mount or I need that warning fast. Holding tight here erik. Very very tight. :)

help me obi wan kenobi you're my only hope.
 
Just to stop the phone ringing.... we'll do the update in two parts: one now, one tomorrow morning.

We have had some minor production issues as we ramped up from a few to many. We did not start shipping the new version of the mount in volume until yesterday. We have had about two dozen of these with various customers for the past ten days. We have about fifty more mounts going through testing right now alocatted for the remainder of the first batch. We were having some yield issues, and now have our yields to the point where only an occasional board doesn't just fly right through programming and testing.

There are fifty cables fully assembled and tested.

There are fifty plus, red adapters mechanically assembled, with all connectors installed. The PCB that is inside this is going through testing right now in some quantity, and will need to then be soldered to the connectors.

So, we are in the final phases of getting the rest of this batch out the door. But, I will be out from friday afternoon, until tuesday morning... Wedding plans in Maryland... the first meeting of the parents...

If you are a 107, and have paid up, you will ship today or tuesday. I don't know how many will ship out today.

We have enough materials in house to build another 100 mounts next week. So I do expect to make quite a few more reservation holders happy next week.

Tomorrow I will let people know how many have shipped before I get on the plane.
 
Erik, might those next 100 mounts include some of us 109s? (Specifically, ahem, 109.251655? I ask because a friend of mine...)

Also, how are those knobs coming along?
 
AKABAKA said:
Erik, might those next 100 mounts include some of us 109s? (Specifically, ahem, 109.251655? I ask because a friend of mine...)

Also, how are those knobs coming along?
Click to expand...

Yes, can we have some idea what 100 mounts means in terms of getting through the 107's, 108's, 109's?

Thanks.
 
One thing I havent read, does the PC app use bluetooth to control the mount or is it wired only?
 
no tracking number for me tonight. I have a sinking feeling in my gut.
 
Well my card was charged, but no sign of a tracking number. Does anyone know if tracking number emails are being sent out, or should I hang around the front door for a few days?
 
no tracking number here either.... sigh...

I would imagine if Fedex has picked the parcel up you would automatically get an e-mail from Fed-ex. My guess is we're not shipping till Tue (if we're very lucky)
 
darkline said:
I would imagine if Fedex has picked the parcel up you would automatically get an e-mail from Fed-ex.
Click to expand...

Well, not necessarily. They would need your email address for that, of course, and Erik may be using Birger's email as the contact address. That could be what happened... :detective2:
 
Just a few more mounts went out yesterday. I am pleased that we have resolved the issues, but just a little disappointed that we did not slide a few more out the door. We will be emailing all of the remaining people in this batch regarding the shipping delay, and that the batch will be closed out on tuesday/wednesday August 26/27.

We designed new test fixtures for each of the two boards, that will be here on tuesday which will help us crank through the production programming and testing much faster. On wednesday/thursday august 27/28, we will email the remainder of the reservation holders with a ship date. The next batch should include through 110s. Knobs scheduled will be addressed at that time.

I am out of the office until tuesday morning.
 
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