Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • 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 :)

Epic Nikon mount

richard cook

richard cook

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 30, 2009
Messages
46
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
SCOTLAND www.cameramanscotland.com
Website
www.cameramanscotland.com
I know its early days for the Epic. I am thinking of taking the stage 2 option but can anyone tell me if a Nikon mount of any sort for the camera will be available at the same time the camera ships? I have a vast array of these lenses that I use with the Red One and I will need to carry on using them with the Epic as soon as it arrives. Many lenses have been modified to do certain projects I am currently working on so the PL mount wont be much use to me for a good while.
Many thanks Richard Cook
www.cameramanscotland.com
 
Hi Richard,

My understanding is that Jacek at Optitek is planning on modifying his Nikon Pro Locking mount asap for the Epic, and that really is the Nikon mount you want, imo.

From previous experience with the R1 I would guess that a Red brand mount will be some way behind the camera release, but perhaps with the success of Nikkor lenses on the R1 they will have revised that strategy and will have one available sooner - maybe one of the Red team will be able to advise on that...

The other option would be to get one made to order - I'm guessing you're UK based from the Scotland reference in your URL, so you could get in contact with Les Bosher (www.lesbosher.co.uk) and have him reverse-engineer one from the PL mount supplied with the camera - although if you go this route I would strongly advise liaising with Red over any potential warranty issues...

HTH,
Dom.
 
The fact that they are pushing the DSMC system leads me to believe you will have plenty of mounts to choose from when then camera ships. Especially Nikon and Canon.
 
RED is making a full electronic Nikon mount for the Epic. It should be available when the cameras ship. I suppose it depends on how it all works out during the TATTOO phase. It will have full communication with the Nikkor electronic lenses and provide iris control, auto-focus, etc.. As I understand it, the only thing it won't do is drive those older lenses that require a motorized mount. You'll still get the electronic communication on those, just no focus drive -- similar to using those lenses on many of the newer DSLR bodies that also don't support the motor drive.

The mount system on the Epic is a whole different animal than compared to the RED One.
 
Hi,
i am curious if the epic mounts can be changed (from pl to canon to nikon) without having to readjust backfocus. In other words will a very quick change from pl optics to canon optics be possible?
Thanks, Holger
 
Holger Neuhaeuser said:
Hi,
i am curious if the epic mounts can be changed (from pl to canon to nikon) without having to readjust backfocus. In other words will a very quick change from pl optics to canon optics be possible?
Click to expand...

All things are subject to change, but Red has said changing the mounts on Epic and Scarlet will be as easy as four bolts, and take about a minute. Flange distance/back focus will be quick and easy to set via one hex nut to unlock, one to adjust, then re-locking the first nut.

It wouldn't surprise me if there were also FD/BF pre-sets for each mount type to make the FD/BF re-adjustments even faster. Unlike Red One, where the collar rotation adjusts the FD of the mount itself, my understanding is with Epic and Scarlet the hex screw will slightly move the sensor block itself forward or backward as needed to set the FD/BF.

If all of the above ends up in the final specs, changing mounts and setting FD/BF on Epic and Scarlet will be a quick procedure - which opens up tons of field production possibilities. The overall process in the field will be slower for cine style crews who need to manually measure shots and manually focus, because FD/BF is especially critical in that workflow. But the FD/BF procedure, and return to use, should be very fast and efficient for crews whose field workflow and genres serviced will involve eye focusing Epic and Scarlet.
 
I was thinking of just getting the Canon mount and then having all my Nikon mount lenses either converted over to Canon mount or just use the adaptors that I'm using now to get my Zeiss ZFs on my 5D2.
 
Jeff Kilgroe said:
RED is making a full electronic Nikon mount for the Epic. It should be available when the cameras ship. I suppose it depends on how it all works out during the TATTOO phase. It will have full communication with the Nikkor electronic lenses and provide iris control, auto-focus, etc.. As I understand it, the only thing it won't do is drive those older lenses that require a motorized mount. You'll still get the electronic communication on those, just no focus drive -- similar to using those lenses on many of the newer DSLR bodies that also don't support the motor drive.

The mount system on the Epic is a whole different animal than compared to the RED One.
Click to expand...

Jeff what about LDS support? Jarrard confirmed it would be supported at NAB. I assume it would be yet another mount? And when would it ship?

These are the mounts shown in the October 30 announcement....

M
 

Attachments

  • poison.jpg
    poison.jpg
    60.4 KB · Views: 0
Hmmm... They look like locking mounts, too... Do we know if they're the electronic versions?

[EDIT]
On further inspection, maybe not. For those who don't need electronic feedback (which is most pro video shooters, I would guess) I would definitely recommend Jacek's locking mount over any non-locking variant, should he be able to get it working on the Epic, which he seemed confident of a while back...
[/EDIT]

Great news, and even more so if they are available at shipping time.

Mark, I would imagine (Jeff will probably jump in and correct me, though!!) that the LDS support will be built into the standard PL mount - it uses the same contacts system as /i, so it would make sense to me...
 
The PL mount is an electronic mount, supports /i and LDS, or so I have been told.

The Nikon and Canon mounts have the locking collar mechanism to secure the lens firmly in place. These mounts are also electronic for full communication with the lens and support of AF, electronic iris and other functions.
 
Jeff, that would be great if the one PL mount supports both systems. Since the contacts are on opposite sides, I guess that should work. If so, cool beans.

One mount, any PL and lens data system. Happy days :)

M
 
I think with EPIC we are basically going to see RED's own verison of an IMS system.

IN terms of back focus, remember that with EPIC, it's the sensor block that adjusts, no shims or rings or anything like that. So a system like PROLOCK will be obsolete or need to be retooled.

My guess is that RED have though this through and will not be relying on third parties for mounts. Both PS-TECKNIK IMS and BIRGER Canon mounts were effectively banned for use on RED one. IMS cost Sanjin Juckic $17500 US because he can not use his camera for an upgrade because the IMS mount is installed.

I'd say RED takes this pretty seriously.

David
 
correction?

correction?

Jeff Kilgroe said:
The PL mount is an electronic mount, supports /i and LDS, or so I have been told.

The Nikon and Canon mounts have the locking collar mechanism to secure the lens firmly in place. These mounts are also electronic for full communication with the lens and support of AF, electronic iris and other functions.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure about the LDS or I systems since:
1. They are completely different protocol
2. They are located in different places on the mount cavity
3. RPPs don't have i pins or LDS so what's the point on the camera?
I just don't think that it's that important to RED considering all the errors reported and support they had to provide. It's probably safer to do away with it alltogether. RED just demonstrated it by removing the system from their current lens lineup.
Optitek Nikon ProLock will NOT be obsoleted- on the contrary- I see it a much more appealing with traditional iris ring rather than navigating through menu to access control(although I'm sure that RED will come up with friendly GUI for that)
As soon as the flange depth and bolt pattern for RED Epic(Scarlet) face plate are available I'll make the adapter available.
From what Jarred told me the plan is for locking mount much like the
Prolock-insert and turn (I suppose imitation is the highest form of flattery :coolgleamA:)
Chill guys- I DON'T think that locking Nikon Mount is such a unique idea and RED would not come up with it without ProLock- they are more than capable of that. I'm just happy that I was first for RedOne(ha, ha)
They would have done it anyway I suppose...
From the looks of the proto mounts at the Red Day and Vegas the mounts were not fuctional yet- they did not appear to have the locking functional(I could be wrong) so they may be little further down the road-just sayin'....:thumbup1:
 
OptiTek said:
I'm not sure about the LDS or I systems since:
1. They are completely different protocol
2. They are located in different places on the mount cavity
3. RPPs don't have i pins or LDS so what's the point on the camera?
I just don't think that it's that important to RED considering all the errors reported and support they had to provide. It's probably safer to do away with it alltogether. RED just demonstrated it by removing the system from their current lens lineup.
Optitek Nikon ProLock will NOT be obsoleted- on the contrary- I see it a much more appealing with traditional iris ring rather than navigating through menu to access control(although I'm sure that RED will come up with friendly GUI for that)
As soon as the flange depth and bolt pattern for RED Epic(Scarlet) face plate are available I'll make the adapter available.
From what Jarred told me the plan is for locking mount much like the
Prolock-insert and turn (I suppose imitation is the highest form of flattery :coolgleamA:)
Chill guys- I DON'T think that locking Nikon Mount is such a unique idea and RED would not come up with it without ProLock- they are more than capable of that. I'm just happy that I was first for RedOne(ha, ha)
They would have done it anyway I suppose...
From the looks of the proto mounts at the Red Day and Vegas the mounts were not fuctional yet- they did not appear to have the locking functional(I could be wrong) so they may be little further down the road-just sayin'....:thumbup1:
Click to expand...

Jacek,

Jarred and I spoke about the LDS mount at NAB and he confirmed RED will support it on EPIC. I just wasn't sure if it was on the "standard" PL mount or would be a separate mount.

The point of having either/both data systems implemented on EPIC is simply that not everyone has RPPs ;). As someone with a full set of LDS UltraPrimes, I sure am happy to see the system implemented. As are others, with either Zeiss or Cooke glass with lens data support.

Lens data either as a control option and/or metadata is a very useful thing.

I can't offer up a reason why RED stopped supporting the i/ system on their lenses. My guess would be to keep costs down so they could offer a lower priced prime to the RED market.

M
 
Dominic Jones said:
Hmmm... They look like locking mounts, too... Do we know if they're the electronic versions?
Click to expand...

I can guess that it could be electronic mounts for Canon Ef and Nikon F G/DX with a limited functionality only to aperture/iris opening/closing

and without any of AF functionality that actually you don't need for moving pictures or cinema work.

Those AF functionalities are probably patented by Canon and Nikon and you have to have a high volume production of more than 10.000 units as Sigma has

with its lenses to justify "buying" those patents for Epic.

Also not even Sigma or who else today is making a DSLR with sort of universal exchangeable electronic mount option(s).

Sigma, Tokina and Tamron are making lenses with different mount option as we know well,

but not a DSLR with universal exchangeable electronic mount option(s).

For this solution you have some of third party options that are already available.
 
Sanjin Jukic said:
I can guess that it could be electronic mounts for Canon Ef and Nikon F G/DX with a limited functionality only to aperture/iris opening/closing

and without any of AF functionality that actually you don't need for moving pictures or cinema work.

Those AF functionalities are probably patented by Canon and Nikon and you have to have a high volume production of more than 10.000 units as Sigma has

with its lenses to justify "buying" those patents for Epic.

Also not even Sigma or who else today is making a DSLR with sort of universal exchangeable electronic mount option(s).

Sigma, Tokina and Tamron are making lenses with different mount option as we know well,

but not a DSLR with universal exchangeable electronic mount option(s).

For this solution you have some of third party options that are already available.
Click to expand...

As I understood the Epic Canon/Nikon mount will have AF and focus control through the Redmote Pro.
 
All things are subject to change.

The Red MX in part are what the original specs were for the Red M.

From experience, Canon will come first with it's remote function.

The rest is like playing 'Clue'. Each time you play the game you get a different out come.

Even guessing can be successful though, look at the Russian chimpanzee who outdid her human conterparts playing the stock market.

As far as the promises by Red. Just keep these and all be happy:
Stage three will get a:
  1. Working option for a electronic Canon mount
  2. it will have more dynamic range with less noise then the MX
  3. it will have less bugs both in shooting and in post then the present build of the MX
  4. can be configured to shoot with a 16-35mm L at under 10 lbs.
  5. I will receive it by Jan. 2011.
  6. and I can use it in -15 degree Celsius weather as easy as I use my present Red.

I digress a little :devil:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top