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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

Anybody else hear of people having trouble getting their money back after canceling their order from Birger? I've sent numerous emails and made several phone calls - but, no one answers or returns my messages. I'm at my wits' end over this - especially since I was sent a confirmation of my cancellation and promise that my card would be credited back on 12/4/08.
 
Kenn Christenson said:
Anybody else hear of people having trouble getting their money back after canceling their order from Birger? I've sent numerous emails and made several phone calls - but, no one answers or returns my messages. I'm at my wits' end over this - especially since I was sent a confirmation of my cancellation and promise that my card would be credited back on 12/4/08.
Click to expand...

I canceled my order on the 18th of December by email and got a phone call from Erik within about 5 minutes asking me if I was sure....

He said that the policy was a refund within 30 days, but they should be able to do much better than that.

I've received nothing back yet. They've had my deposit since Nov 07 and full payment since June or July 08.
 
I was told my card would be credited within 10 days. So I should have had my money by 12/14/08.

A little P.S. - Just got off the phone with Erik and was promised that I will receive confirmation of my credit, by Wednesday of next week.
 
One too many missed deadlines for me.

I have sent 2 emails now, asking them to cancel my order and refund my money and I have heard nothing back either.
 
Erik,

Please let us know what the status is of our mounts and if you are going to be able to ship them out. I have paid for the mount in full, got my FEDEX notice from you the first of October. We also need to know what's going on with the installation procedures.

Please answer your customers, simply not answering and letting us know is not good, or let us know why you can't. It's not too much to ask.

Best to you,
Frazier Nivens, Ocean Imaging
 
Ocean Imaging said:
Erik,

Please answer your customers, simply not answering and letting us know is not good, or let us know why you can't. It's not too much to ask.

Best to you,
Frazier Nivens, Ocean Imaging
Click to expand...

Yes Eric, please tell us your customers where you are going with this latest warranty problem. Thanks!

While at it, I am curious why your mount design demands the unscrewing of the RED back focus ring while a newcomer like the Alesniak Canon mount's does not? My only guess is that your mount (maybe Andy's too, we will see) has to be closer to the sensor for achieving high accuracy of the back focus.

I am currently switching between RED's PL and Nikon mount depending on the job. Since I am only using the Nikon for documentary style of work the back focus ring has been untouched since leaving the RED HQ. (I just left the camera for a back focus check at a rental house in Stockholm and it was right on.)

I am not interested in using the Birger for a cine style kind of work with accurate FF. To me the most important things are smooth focusing and iris adjustments, IS and a possible AF upgrade. You and your cooperation with View Factor really have made something huge here. If the only reason for your current mount design (with the unscrewing of the back focus ring and replacing it with your RED adapter ring) is to be able to offer your customers a low budget cine style option, maybe you could make two different kinds of mounts? One for ENG/DOC work, without accurate corresponding focal marks (this one would keep the RED back focus ring intact plus the RED warranty and upgrade path), and then make one for CINE work that uses your current design. (I am not an engineer and maybe I am suggesting something stupid here.)

Best wishes,


Calle
 
Ocean Imaging said:
Erik,

Please let us know what the status is of our mounts and if you are going to be able to ship them out. ... We also need to know what's going on with the installation procedures.

Please answer your customers, simply not answering and letting us know is not good, or let us know why you can't. It's not too much to ask.

Best to you,
Frazier Nivens, Ocean Imaging
Click to expand...

I second that!!!
 
Carl Dieker said:
If the only reason for your current mount design (with the unscrewing of the back focus ring and replacing it with your RED adapter ring) is to be able to offer your customers a low budget cine style option, maybe you could make two different kinds of mounts?
Click to expand...

Erik uses the space that the RED backfocus ring uses for his electronics. Alex's mount has no electronics on board which allowed him to create a mount similar to the Nikon mount. His electronics are on a box connected by wire.

Erik would have to pull his electronics off and stick them somewhere else to mimic Alex's design. I think the way Birger did it is a better design for a smart mount personally - we just need this warranty thing figured out.
 
"He said that the policy was a refund within 30 days"

they are going to have to rethink that 30 days .... birger has NOT delivered a working product ...
i have the mount and from reading this thread it needs some kind of FIX for the back focus then on top of that it needs to have a certified tech install it ..the fix & install was never told to any customers untill after mounts shipped ( i've never received any notice about them .. only learned about the issues thru this thread) ...
until the fix is released and a install program is available the mount is not usable (here)...

i'm giving them until Jan 15 to come up with a fix solution and dates of fix/shipping/install ...
 
... as Frazier and Ralf says an immediate update of the situation is needed.

Sigh ... what can one say anymore on all this related to the Birger mount. One positive thing though: read somewhere else that Curt was going to announce something today (about the knob for the Birger mount?)
 
With all the headaches and red-asses that seem to be included as part of the Birger package, am I the only one who has re-evaluated our cheap-glass by Canon dilemma by considering a total move towards Nikon and the Nikon mount by RED?

I love Canon's glass, but it seems more practical, now, to use a mount that requires no additional drain on power, is totally manual, more traditional iris control and does not require some awkward paddle and wheel to operate.

Plus, as an added bonus, we are not subject to none of this fickle and unreliable third-party none-sense.
 
I would have gone Nikon a LONG time ago if it weren't for the fact that Canons L Primes are all f 1.2-1.4... well at least the 24-35-50- and the 85... I have Andy's mount on the camera now and it's working great (although lenses are wide open) EXCEPT for the damn 85mm's no focus without power
 
Erik,

Please call me as soon as possible. Tried to call your office and your voicemail box is full. So this is my only means of getting in touch with you.

Will try again tomorrow if i don't hear from you.

You may also email at frazier@oceanimaging.com

I've also sent you a private message.

Frazier Nivens, Ocean Imaging
 
Mark Mannschreck said:
I would have gone Nikon a LONG time ago if it weren't for the fact that Canons L Primes are all f 1.2-1.4... well at least the 24-35-50- and the 85... I have Andy's mount on the camera now and it's working great (although lenses are wide open) EXCEPT for the damn 85mm's no focus without power
Click to expand...

you do know you can change the aperture with a canon camera, right?
 
With all the headaches and red-asses that seem to be included as part of the Birger package, am I the only one who has re-evaluated our cheap-glass by Canon dilemma by considering a total move towards Nikon and the Nikon mount by RED?
Click to expand...

Well, if you already have more than 10 EF L lenses and think Nikon does everything backwards and would need to get a FF solution from Arri or other, and then some strange gizmos to wrap around the focus ring to hook into the follow focus, then you'd probably be a little hesitant to bail as well.

I tried the Nikon mount with some Zeiss glass. Even though it makes decent pictures, I find the solution a little flimsy.
But as my friend who lend it to me puts it: "Look forward to seeing that phantom mount of yours".
 
Jesper Kodahl said:
Well, if you already have more than 10 EF L lenses and think Nikon does everything backwards and would need to get a FF solution from Arri or other, and then some strange gizmos to wrap around the focus ring to hook into the follow focus, then you'd probably be a little hesitant to bail as well.
Click to expand...

Jesper

I understand where you're coming from. I've been using Canon EOS glass for the past 15 years and know NOTHING about what Nikon has manufactured since the early 90's.

However, I bought a RED ONE on the premise that I would be able to use my collection of Canon lenses. Though not as extensive as yours, I still have some money invested. I guess my point is is that I am sick of waiting and need to get on with it. I have contacted Birger numerous times concerning development and release dates and have ALWAYS hung feeling even more discouraged.

Finally I have reached the point that when or ever the Birger makes a real appearance, it is likely to be plagued with problems and issues that I want nothing to do with. (This is based only on Birger's early claims and subsequent history of said claims.) RED's Nikon mount is manufactured in house (or close enough) therefor will not have the warranty issues. But again, I have no knowledge of Nikon's lens or how they might function as possible cine-like lens.

One final discouragement has been a lack of real concrete information from Birger about their product. If you have ever been to Birger.com and I am sure you have, their web site leaves a LOT to desire.

*Ever seen "Shattered Glass" about Stephan Glass? If you've seen his "corporate web site" http://www.penenberg.com/jukt.html <- LINK HERE

going to Birger.com might seem like familiar territory.
 
I have two Birger mounts on two Red One's. They both work spectacularly. I had a full day studio shoot today taking both stills with my 40D and video with the Red One all using the same Canon lenses. Birger is at the final phase of product developement with integration of Curt's remote. I just want everyone to know that, even without the remote, the mount is awsome. With the remote it will be game changing.
 
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