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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 :)

Auto Focus for Cinema Lenses, remote F.I.Z.

R

radiant

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We recently tested the Academy Awarding winning Cmotion wireless F.I.Z. unit. It is currently integratabtle with Cinetape and Cfinder (optical distance measuring tools) which combine with the F.I.Z. to take the focus from your subject and display it on a LCD - so you can cross reference the distance from your subject and your current focus mark. It has remote start and stop and a trigger button which allows the data from the optical distance finders (cinetape/Cfinder) to automatically adjust focus - that's right extremely responsive autofocus for cinema lenses.
 
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We just received our Cinetape module and remote start and stop cable for the RED. I can not believe how cool and easy it is.

I highly recommend you try it again with the cfinder or cinetape add-on.
 
The cmotion is ultra cool and I would want to buy one for myself as soon as I bump up to 1st AC.

Unfortunately assistants don't really want to use it cause it's too complex and intimidating. The Preston FIZ 3 was intimidating enough for those guys. So as for rentals from other assistants, I'm not sure it would work out for me.

The second strike against it is that arri is suing them right now cause they reverse engineered arri's smart lens system. I don't think Arri will loose that battle, and hope they don't take the cmotion guys out completely.
 
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ayarbro said:
The cmotion is ultra cool and I would want to buy one for myself as soon as I bump up to 1st AC.

Unfortunately assistants don't really want to use it cause it's too complex and intimidating. The Preston FIZ 3 was intimidating enough for those guys. So as for rentals from other assistants, I'm not sure it would work out for me.

The second strike against it is that arri is suing them right now cause they reverse engineered arri's smart lens system. I don't think Arri will loose that battle, and hope they don't take the cmotion guys out completely.
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As far as Preston and Cmotion we have both units, I honestly think that the cmotion is allot easier to set up and use.
 
This is perhaps a Hollywood-centric post, but I agree that the vast majority of assistants are wary of the C-motion. I am a long-time Preston owner and have played around with the C-motion at trade shows, it seems like a good system to me but I would never get one because I would hate to have to explain how it works to the AC's on every job I go on, unlike the Preston. This sort of mentality may seem frustrating or even counter-productive, but one has to remember that people like the tools they are used to, many feel that if it ain't broke, don't fix it and they have plenty to deal with without having to learn a new piece of gear. The Preston HU3 interfaces with the Cinetape and Panatape and displays their readouts also. It doesn't have an autofocus feature, but honestly I can't imagine a situation where anyone would use that, there are too many possibilities for the horns to force a momentary buzz for one reason or another; they aren't meant to be absolute and continuous readouts. A dedicated long-range finder for extreme telephoto work (like the Light Ranger) is more logical but that requires a separate person to aim the laser.
 
I love that thing - been using it forever. The little "cheater" button rocks.

That said, Charles's point is perhaps the most pertinent. Technical achievements and fantastic design aside... if an AC opens a case to find something they've never used before, it can be all kinds of bad news. Sure it's any AC's duty to stay up on current technology, but 3/10 ACs will just look at you and say "what's this thing? Where's my Preston?"

Doesn't keep me from wanting another shiny new toy, though...
 
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Charles Papert said:
This is perhaps a Hollywood-centric post, but I agree that the vast majority of assistants are wary of the C-motion. I am a long-time Preston owner and have played around with the C-motion at trade shows, it seems like a good system to me but I would never get one because I would hate to have to explain how it works to the AC's on every job I go on, unlike the Preston. This sort of mentality may seem frustrating or even counter-productive, but one has to remember that people like the tools they are used to, many feel that if it ain't broke, don't fix it and they have plenty to deal with without having to learn a new piece of gear. The Preston HU3 interfaces with the Cinetape and Panatape and displays their readouts also. It doesn't have an autofocus feature, but honestly I can't imagine a situation where anyone would use that, there are too many possibilities for the horns to force a momentary buzz for one reason or another; they aren't meant to be absolute and continuous readouts. A dedicated long-range finder for extreme telephoto work (like the Light Ranger) is more logical but that requires a separate person to aim the laser.
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That reminds me of the first time I toke my RED camera onset I got the same response from everyone. They also said the same exact thing to me about the RED.

"if it ain't broke, don't fix it"

Just as RED is just another tool, to enable some filmmakers to capture their vision, this is just another tool which they can use.
We also have a Preston and I love it, I have used the cfinder for lots of applications.

It's very easy to use, I think its far easier than the Preston. Give it another try. Just as I did.
 
Charles Papert said:
it seems like a good system to me but I would never get one because I would hate to have to explain how it works to the AC's on every job I go on, unlike the Preston.
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How about training a handfull of AC's you regularly use on shows, no worries then.

I hate switching AC's out from show to show anyway, an AC should be like your wife without the physical contact. :turned:
 
The C-Motion is a fantastic bit of kit and hardly rocket science to get used to (a matter of minutes), just as easy to use as the Preston IMHO....looks nicer tho' :wink:
 
BASSAM MSSALATIE said:
Michael : How you provide power to all those motors ,cmotion ,accessories ?
ALL cominog form red batteries throught Red ??
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Hello Bassam,
Cmotion has P-tap power cable which powers the main unit.
They just released a new combo cable which powers the cmotion unit as well as remote start stop for RED.
 
radiant said:
So for a full F.I.Z Unit like ours it's approx $45K
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Damnation! That definitely puts it out of my reach, at least for the time being, but, are they available as a rental? Any idea on the daily and weekly rates? These units, to me, are one of the most revolutionary pieces of kit to appear in the industry, and having seen a crew in France work wonders with a Preston, constantly changing focus remotely (and achieving accurate results) while the operator ran around following a complex chase sequence WITHOUT a focus puller running for dear life by his side, or the need to stage the scene with the perennial measuring tape really made a convert out of me. Why EVERY production that can afford it does not use one of these ALL THE TIME is totally beyond me...
 
Rudi Herbert said:
Damnation! That definitely puts it out of my reach, at least for the time being, but, are they available as a rental? Any idea on the daily and weekly rates? These units, to me, are one of the most revolutionary pieces of kit to appear in the industry, and having seen a crew in France work wonders with a Preston, constantly changing focus remotely (and achieving accurate results) while the operator ran around following a complex chase sequence WITHOUT a focus puller running for dear life by his side, or the need to stage the scene with the perennial measuring tape really made a convert out of me. Why EVERY production that can afford it does not use one of these ALL THE TIME is totally beyond me...
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Hello Rudi,

The rental rates are $450.00 per day and weekly $1,350.00
Preston FIZ is $350.00 per day and $1,050.00

Thank You
 
Also, I have a single channel Preston that controls focus or iris (as opposed to the FIZ which controls focus, iris and zoom) that I rent for $175/day. It comes with p-tap power cable and RED start/stop cable.
 
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