Birger Lens Mount Reservations

[Erik Widding]

I would still really like to know how much it is going to cost to upgrade the Imperos to work with both the Birger mount and Inclino motors.

The Impero is the same in either kit, whether bought from Birger or ViewFactor. ViewFactor moved to a long range BlueTooth radio for their systme, that is compatible with our shorter range radio BlueTooth. So no more radio swapping is needed.

It is the accessories included in those kits that differ. I think as a rough rule of thumb, you can look at subtracting $600 from a full kit from Viewfactor if you want to reuse the Impero from Birger as part of a Viewfactor system.

If you want to use an Impero bought from Viewfactor with your Birger system, you just need to buy an $85 cable from Birger, and flip a couple of switches inside the battery compartment to make that Impero talk RS232 instead of CAN over the cable.

If you want to use an Inclino from Viewfactor to control zoom with your Birger setup, you will need a $200ish smart cable to go between the mount and the motor. WHich will be available as soon as we get the software to support this in the mount.

Birger and ViewFactor cables are not compatible. Birger cables are pins 2 and 3 crossed over. Viewfactor cables are wired straight through.

 

[Paul Cronin]

That is great news Erik.

Zoom will be a nice feature. Would it possible to have a second dial for zoom? For instance flying on a shoot today the director wanted a slooooow zoom in as we approached the subject while keeping focused nailed. This would give me the options to change focus while changing zoom if for some reason back focus was off. Not going to redo back focus while in the air.

 

[Joe Vinson]

Anybody get a weird "Choose Your Own Adventure" vibe off of this post? I do. I feel like I am 12 again...

I always cheated at those books. Is there a way to "hold the page" before installing the mount, so if we mess up and break something (or, say, get eaten by the Giant Ants of Krankor), we can go just back like it never happened?

 

[Jesper Kodahl]

Not too be a stickler or anything, Eric but you might wanna change your date on the website from 2007 to 2009. ;O)

 

[Chris Swinbanks]

is it bulletproof?

is it bulletproof?

The order form is back up at:

http://www.birger.com/pdf/cinema_order_form.pdf

Just being picky here, since its a legal document... but we want the camera to shoot pictures, not bullets. Can we consider "Cannon" to mean Canon... :bleh:

"3. Installation of the BIRGER Lens Mount Adapter and Lens Mount
After approval from BIRGER and disassembly is complete, CUSTOMER may install the Cinema Lens Mount adapter from BIRGER (part number RD-X-RC1-
X) which serves as the interface from the camera to the standard BIRGER lens mounts. Only the Cannon EF mount (RD-EF1-X-X) is currently approved
by RED for installation. "

 

[Joel Kaye]

The Impero is the same in either kit, whether bought from Birger or ViewFactor. ViewFactor moved to a long range BlueTooth radio for their systme, that is compatible with our shorter range radio BlueTooth. So no more radio swapping is needed.

If you want to use an Impero bought from Viewfactor with your Birger system, you just need to buy an $85 cable from Birger,

You can use an Impero to control the Birger wirelessly, right? It's just if you want a hard wired connection then you'd need the $85 cable?

 

[ericyoung]

These things need to happen for a shipment to go out the door:

1. Update order form to include the forms and warranty statement.
2. Email all customers with instructions on the process, and the forms.
3. Customer fills out form, and returns to Birger.
4. Birger reviews the the form and does one of the following two:
   • Authorizes installer, go to # 5.
   • Denies installer, requests forms be resubmitted with alternate plan, go back to #3.
5. Bills balance due, if any.
6. Ships and emails FEDEX tracking number.

Hi Erik

Congratulations on making the deal!

The above quoted procedure doesn't quite cover my situation, although hopefully there should be no need to amend the warranty/appendix agreement. The above procedure assumes that each of my two ordered mounts when shipped will be immediately mounted on a RED One that I own.

Reading between the lines, I would guess that Birger will be responsible for reporting serial numbers of RED One bodies which have had the Birger installed - correct me if I'm wrong.

I own 2 RED Ones, but currently intend to use one as my personal camera with a Birger mount on it. But the other will probably stay as PL mount for renting out or selling. The second Birger I've ordered is currently intended as a spare for my personal camera.

But of course, there may be situations (maybe never, maybe tomorrow or a year from now) where I have to install the Birger on the second camera. Eg, my personal camera develops a fault on a shoot, or I want to shoot with two cameras with Canon EF lenses. Only then would I be wanting to notify you and RED that I had installed one of my Birgers on the second camera.

How can I take delivery without tying down when, or if, Birger/RED will determine I actually install the Birger mounts on either or both of the two RED Ones I have? See the potential problem?

It would be better that I can take delivery and only when I'm imminently going to install a mount on a particular camera to then contact you and/or RED to let you know I've done so. The certification for being a qualified installer could take place now or then, but the notification of actual install needs to be on demand as it were.

 

[Erik Widding]

You can use an Impero to control the Birger wirelessly, right? It's just if you want a hard wired connection then you'd need the $85 cable?

Yes you can use the Impero wirelessly. But you need a cable to get them two radios paired. The Impero goes out over the RS232, talks to the mount, finds its radio, and clones its settings. Once you unplug you get a unique point to point connection between the two devices.

[added] You will also need the cable for software upgrades. The Impero will be upgradeable using our MAC and PC applications, over BlueTooth through the mount, through the cable... Curt has some really interesting ideas for new features, and I am excited to be working with him.

 

[Meryem Ersoz]

The first customer was certified to install his own mount... his declaration started:

Customer holds a PhD in electrical engineering and has more than 20 years experience designing and building electromechanical devices such as accelerator magnets, superconducting magnets, MRI-devices, electrical machines, electromechanical locks, actuators and so on....​

Normally I wouldn't authorize a PhD to even be in the same room as a screw driver.:clown2: The bar isn't that high...

I can guess who that is...but all these impressive qualifications pale in comparison to his ability to shoot really pretty nature and wildlife footy...maybe he should have written that instead:sarcasm:

looking forward to some samples...

 

[Yean Loon]

Do current reservation holders need to fill up the order form again? I didn't get any email from Birger!!

 

[Roberto B]

Do current reservation holders need to fill up the order form again?

 

[LEON]

Believe it or not.. it's done

Let the games begin....

For the feast to be total, could we have the same procedure agreement for the Muse FD mount ?

 

[Michael Hastings]

There is a groove for the wire to fit in and at end of the groove the channel is dug out wider so the connector for that wire has room to live. If you need further assistance feel free to contact me directly.

Sean Ruggeri
sean@red.com
949-206-7900 ext. 7922

Sean, last week I helped install a wicked circuits dumb mount on a 3000 series RED and noticed that there was a lot of extra machined out space on the adjuster of the RED pl which looked like it would make the installation easier. The machining appears to have been done after the original manufacture of the mount since it was not anodized. Is this something that will be done (or swapped) when we send in the camera for i/pins audio board upgrade?

I would guess that this mount has been responsible for the sale of over 100 RED Camera kits...

TJ

I suspect it is more than that since I believe I have been responsible for at least a dozen red sales that happened specifically through promotion of the RED/Birger combination which drastically alters the financial equation/risk for making extreme high quality pictures without much financial downside. I suspect several hundred were sold based on the capability to use EF lenses with full control, but many punted back to using a nikon dumb mount in the interim. I also suspect that a number of orders were canceled during the delays - which may be resurrected.

I think in the long run this will only be good for RED. The real breakthrough of the RED camera was taking the DSLR paradigm/technology and applying it to a motion picture camera. Integrating modern high quality SLR glass with all that has come from the economies of scale - merely completes the picture.

The potential of slr glass in the areas where budgets dominate is obvious. But don't be surprised when SLR glass gets used more and more often on shoots where budget isn't an issue. While cine glass will still have its place in certain environments, the technical capabilities provided by Birger/Viewfactor (and others in the future) and the integration of smart lenses with onboard focus/iris motors and computer/camera control will open a LOT of new doors - with capabilities that are not possible/feasible with traditional cine lenses.

 

[Frazier Nivens]

Paperwork emailed to you

Paperwork emailed to you

The first customer was certified to install his own mount... his declaration started:

Customer holds a PhD in electrical engineering and has more than 20 years experience designing and building electromechanical devices such as accelerator magnets, superconducting magnets, MRI-devices, electrical machines, electromechanical locks, actuators and so on....​

Normally I wouldn't authorize a PhD to even be in the same room as a screw driver.:clown2: The bar isn't that high...

Erik,

I tried to fax my agreement but for some reason it wouldn't go through. I sent the scanned signed agreement to you via email.

Please confirm that you got it just fine and it's ok to my email when you've time.

Have a good weekend,
Frazier

 

[Ivan Cortazar]

Thanks Erik and Jarred,

This is great news. I just came back from shooting some footage with my new Canon 50 mm 1.2L and the combination Red-Birger with Canon lenses is amaizing. Can't wait to get the Imperos.

This is a great day for Red Users.

Cheers.

 

[Paris Remillard]

I think as a rough rule of thumb, you can look at subtracting $600 from a full kit from Viewfactor if you want to reuse the Impero from Birger as part of a Viewfactor system.

The Impero is $995 from Viewfactor. Why would one not subtract $995 from the price of the full kit from viewfactor? What am I missing?

 

[Harmonica]

It's nice to come back from a shoot and find that all Heaven has broken loose on the Birger thread This is going to be a great year! Congrats, Erik and team! Thanks, Jarred!

[edit] Did anyone get the e-mail that Erik posted about yesterday?

 

[Harmonica]

The Impero is $995 from Viewfactor. Why would one not subtract $995 from the price of the full kit from viewfactor? What am I missing?

It looks like the $995 includes the wireless receiver, which would explain the price difference. I'm guessing he's also anticipating future packages that would bundle the Impero with the Inclino, from which you could subtract the $600.

 

[Cristina S]

Erik,

Will the Nikon mount ever see the light of day? If so, what are the chances it would transfer over to an Epic?

Congratulations . Good news. Nikon next please.

or add ons like autofocus etc..

The promised autofocus feature please?

 

[Isaac Babcock]

[edit] Did anyone get the e-mail that Erik posted about yesterday?

Nope, I didn't get the email either... I'm a little anxious for it. Monday??? I hope...please...