Birger Lens Mount & Follow Focus

[Jim Arthurs]

We won't know for sure until we try it on the red but from some of the things Erik said in my only conversation with him, I think the focus is going to be very smooth.

Thanks, this was very helpful... I think I'll put a deposit down when they put up a form for it...

I agree that we'll have to "wait and see" how this translates into actual hands on...

Exciting times...

 

[Andrew M.]

What is the status, any updates about the order form to be posted? where?

 

[chuck colburn]

Just a little teaser before we put out pricing and reservation forms on Thursday 5 July... (I am taking the holiday off.:bye2

We will be releasing Canon EF (August), Sigma SA (August), FourThirds (September) and Nikon F (October) lens mounts for the RED ONE camera. These lens mounts, through a mechanical adapter, can also be used on a RedRock M2, and other 35mm adapters.

Attached are pictures of the rail-mount follow focus knob and Canon EF lens mount prototypes. These were printed on a Dimension 3D printer using ABS plastic. The main housings of both will be made from aluminum, and the knob from injection molded polycarbonate. The bayonets will be made from stainless steel.

The follow-focus knob contains a 4096 count magnetic encoder; is selectable between single turn with hard stops, and multi-turn; has a friction adjustment; and has snap-off markable rings (white part). The lens mount has a built in bluetooth antenna. Each module has two LEMO 0B connectors for daisy-chaining power and RS232 from the camera to these (and yet to be announced) modules.

In addition to the open Birger protocol, the lens mount also speaks Fuji and Cooke-like lens protocols so it can be used with existing lens control, data-logging and data-display equipment. The protocol used on each of the three ports (bluetooth, 2 x RS232) is configurable on a port by port basis.

Changing lens mounts requires disconnecting one (or two) LEMO 0B connectors from the bottom of the mount, and removing and replacing the four screws (visible from the front of the mount in the images) with an allen key.

More on Thursday...:whistling:

Erik,

I can't see the back of the mount and it looks like it's laying flat on the table in your photograph. What I'm wondering is what locates the mount to the bore of the front of the camera. I'm sure it's not the four mounting screws as they would be just for retention and not mechanical locating.

 

[Joel Kaye]

Revisiting those pictures I see that the focus knob needs a whip socket. Maybe that was mentioned in the thread, but hopefully it'll become part of the design.

 

[GATES]

Hello all,

I just spoke with Erik and he is alive and well. The Birger mounts proceed forward. As you may surmise with ongoing changes to RED there are domino effects to those of us designing accessory products. Erik is moving as rapidly as circumstance allows. I am confident the Birger mounts will be worth the wait.

John

 

[Mark Pugh]

Great he's still with us!
So are there problems with the mount when firmware upgrades are released?
Or is it to do with the hardware upgrade?

 

[Mark Thorpe]

Hello all,

I just spoke with Erik and he is alive and well. The Birger mounts proceed forward. As you may surmise with ongoing changes to RED there are domino effects to those of us designing accessory products. Erik is moving as rapidly as circumstance allows. I am confident the Birger mounts will be worth the wait.

John

Great news John,
Looking forward to late December.

Cheers,
Mark.

 

[Fergus Meiklejohn]

Glory Hallelujah!
Did he say when he thought he might start production?

 

[GATES]

Hi,

These are all good questions -- for Erik. I expect he will answer in due course.

John

 

[Fergus Meiklejohn]

...

 

[Joel Kaye]

Hello all,

I just spoke with Erik and he is alive and well. The Birger mounts proceed forward. As you may surmise with ongoing changes to RED there are domino effects to those of us designing accessory products.

There's no reason to blame RED for this delay.

I can see the machining of the RED physical mount changing but nothing else RED does should affect the electronics between the Birger and the Canon. There was supposed to be an order page online around July 6th. It's now November 10th. Is that RED's fault too?

Just give a honest progress report so we know if we're days, months or weeks away from seeing something. And post a video if there's any proof this thing does anything like what it's supposed to do. Otherwise it's officially vaporware as a unit that works independently of a PC and rolls a slow, smooth focus.

Someone had to say it.

 

[David Nardini]

update on Birger mount ?

update on Birger mount ?

... with ongoing changes to RED there are domino effects to those of us designing accessory products ...

Given the fact that RED is by definition in constant state of flux (changes for the better) I could interpret your statement to mean that we may never see these accessories ? :bye2:

Joking aside, I struggle to see why we cannot have an update of what is done and what is subject to the 'domino effect' ?

My understanding of the Birger mount is clearly limited, but I would suggest that if we could get a BASIC unit (ie : powered by the RED camera with an aperture control only), this would provide the key piece of functionality we require.

The more ADVANCED unit could be worked on in parallel, with all the bells and whistles that are perhaps being affected by RED changes. Folk could elect to wait for this to happen, or get going with the BASIC unit.

Perhaps the re-designed RED PL mount is the issue (and Birger needing to comply) ... just a guess on my part.

It's the lack of communication/update/status that is the main frustration.

 

[jaadgy akanni]

It sounds to me like the Birger mount is gonna take a while, especially the Nikon version. Oh well.

 

[Dexter Gregoire]

Have Faith, for without it, nothing is possible.

Call him up! You'll find out a few (beta) units are out there and working. Television shows, Gibby has one, etc... The unit exists, pictures are here on the forum, look for them.

When it's ready to launch he'll show up. Some people don't want to give play by play Status/Update about everything that's happening.

Have Patience, believe everything will work itself out in due time.

 

[PaulClements]

Problem is that lack of knowledge on the part of the customer means that as delivery of cameras approaches many people are having to rethink their lens options because they cannot be sure the mount will be available anytime soon. I had expected the mounts to have been readily available by now, if only the Canon mount. And I certainly thought the reservation page would have been up.

I have every faith that Birger will produce a competent product but as time goes on I can see many people buying PL mount lenses so they can actually shoot. Instead of their initial still lens setup. Demand for the Birger mount may well dwindle somewhat.

Simply put, it is in the interest of Birger, just as it is Red, to keep their prospective customers informed of any delays and provide at the very least tentative shipping schedules just as Red has. Having that knowledge may well stop people taking other lens options instead.

Only a suggestion.

Paul

 

[jaadgy akanni]

Ditto.

Ditto.

Desperate times call for desperate measures and I agree that Birger should make an effort to ease our anxiety with some update. I mean, show the tip of your nose at least!

 

[Rocco Schult]

Spoke to Erik last friday. Following him, he will post news very soon.

 

[Andrew M.]

anybody got confirmation yet?

 

[Erik Widding]

anybody got confirmation yet?

I am starting to process confirmations/deposits now... I expect to have most of the backlog cleared by wednesday afternoon. I will post in each of the active threads that I have processed all of the reservations, as of a specific time/date.

 

[Sanjin Jukic]

Erik you rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!