Birger Lens Mount Reservations

[paul engstrom]

Not so sure now--tried again todAy and 17-55 was jumpy and I could not get lens data with it while 10-22 and 70-200 4L were perfectly smooth focusing with lens data (although slightly slow data readout).

This is with wired Impero control and latest versions of all firmware and software

 

[David Nardini]

What is the latest for lens data ...

What is the latest for lens data ...

Having never had data (and I've tried everything bar taking the R1 back to Red Europe for them to check it out), what is the 'official' latest on lens data when running the latest release for R1 (v20.1.3) and the latest Birger firmware (Canon EF-232 Library 20a) and Birger_Imperio (Impero Controller v1.8) ?

Personally I've switchcd off the lens data 'switches' in the R1 until it is officially (!) supported ... as some comments above seem to suggest the jumpiness is introduced as a result of these ...

TTFN ... waiting patiently :sifone:

PS : looking to get the EF-S 17-55/2.8 IS for land use and wondered if people are happy with this lens (and Birger behaviour) ?

 

[Paul Leeming]

PS : looking to get the EF-S 17-55/2.8 IS for land use and wondered if people are happy with this lens (and Birger behaviour) ?

David, the lens itself is gorgeous, for APS-C size cameras it's a no-brainer.

I'm getting twitchiness with current Birger stuff but doubtless it'll be rectified soon.

HTH

Paul

 

[David Nardini]

David, the lens itself is gorgeous, for APS-C size cameras it's a no-brainer.

I'm getting twitchiness with current Birger stuff but doubtless it'll be rectified soon.

HTH

Paul

Ordered and on it's way ;-)
Is twitchiness still there with RedOne set to 'no-lens-data' (as for Erik suggestion) ?

 

[N_Villers]

Shipping at last !!! My impero has come in. Yippy !!!

-noel

PS. Anyone in the boston area with an impero ? I'll be there for 3 weeks from the 22nd and would love to test it out. My camera will be working in europe during that time.

thnx in advance,

noel villers

 

[Joel Kaye]

David, the lens itself is gorgeous, for APS-C size cameras it's a no-brainer.

I'm getting twitchiness with current Birger stuff but doubtless it'll be rectified soon.

I happen to have 2 Imperos here with different firmware. With the original firmware from Curt the 17-55 focuses smoothly and with the 1.8 firmware focus is jumpy. I emailed one of the guys at Birger about that a while ago. Hopefully it's a clue that can lead to a resolution of the jumpy focus with some lenses.

I like being able to use wired mode, reduce power and turn off the sound like you can in 1.8... but I really like smooth focus.:thumbup1:

 

[Erik Widding]

I happen to have 2 Imperos here with different firmware. With the original firmware from Curt the 17-55 focuses smoothly and with the 1.8 firmware focus is jumpy. I emailed one of the guys at Birger about that a while ago. Hopefully it's a clue that can lead to a resolution of the jumpy focus with some lenses. I like being able to use wired mode, reduce power and turn off the sound like you can in 1.8... but I really like smooth focus.:thumbup1:

Twist my arm... can't use it on the 5D... didn't want to buy it...

Lens will be here on friday, and we will figure this one out next week. Ken has also been on my case to add it to the test set.

 

[David Nardini]

Twist my arm... can't use it on the 5D... didn't want to buy it...

Lens will be here on friday, and we will figure this one out next week. Ken has also been on my case to add it to the test set.

By installing latest Red release 20.1.3 most lenses I've tested seem to stutter now (when focusing actuated via Imperio) ??? ... including the EF-S 17-55/2.8 IS that has just arrived. Switched off all lens-data setting on the R1 (I've never had lens data so great loss there !).

Any suggestion for a work-around ... other than going back to a prior R1 build ;-(

 

[Erik Widding]

By installing latest Red release 20.1.3 most lenses I've tested seem to stutter now (when focusing actuated via Imperio) ??? ... including the EF-S 17-55/2.8 IS that has just arrived. Switched off all lens-data setting on the R1 (I've never had lens data so great loss there !).

Any suggestion for a work-around ... other than going back to a prior R1 build ;-(

Go into the mac app, configure device, and turn off third party protocol support. This will tell the lens mount to ignore the camera. Tell me what happens.

 

[paul engstrom]

By installing latest Red release 20.1.3 most lenses I've tested seem to stutter now (when focusing actuated via Imperio) ??? ... including the EF-S 17-55/2.8 IS that has just arrived. Switched off all lens-data setting on the R1 (I've never had lens data so great loss there !).

Any suggestion for a work-around ... other than going back to a prior R1 build ;-(

This happened to me too David. For some reason, the next day most of my lenses were working great and just the 17-55 was still jumpy.

Have you let your camera sit with the power off for more than 10 minutes since you've updated the firmware and software?

p

 

[Paul Leeming]

Ordered and on it's way ;-)
Is twitchiness still there with RedOne set to 'no-lens-data' (as for Erik suggestion) ?

David, I see you just got your lens. May I suggest one thing and that is to attach a high quality UV/protect filter to the front of the lens and let it live there forever. Reason being the lens, whilst stunning, does tend to suck in dust from the front element due to its design. If you attach a filter now (77mm) you'll never have the issue and will enjoy dust-free images for many years!

HTH

Paul

 

[David Nardini]

This happened to me too David. For some reason, the next day most of my lenses were working great and just the 17-55 was still jumpy.

Have you let your camera sit with the power off for more than 10 minutes since you've updated the firmware and software?

p

Just spent quite some time trying to figure out what is what :banghead:
I've tried many combination of power down intervals (including overnight !).

Also disconnected the iPins cable (and disabled third part product support via the BEI app), reloaded 1.1.9 Imperio, reloaded Library 20a and sadly I still have non-smooth focus pull issues. When driving the lens (wirelessly) from the BEI Interface the focus moves smoothly ... it's hard to compare the action of turning the Imperio vs. running a slider, but the lens does not seem to stutter in the same way (by stutter I mean a delay before the lens respondes to the new position of the Imperio). Very strange ...

If I leave the R1, Birger & Imperio plugged in and powered up, as I swap lenses (ignoring the 17-55 for the moment) the Imperio never chimes ... press focus adjust and all lenses map ok but aside from the 16-35/2.8 mk2, I can make all lenses stutter when pulling focus at different speed (the brief test involved cycling the 16-35/2.8 mk2, 70-200.2.8/IS, 100/2.8 macro lenses).
If I mount the 17-55, the Imperio seems to re-boot (chimes) and I'm now wondering if this lens is changing something in the Birger/Imperio combo ? perhaps affecting the focus behaviour ?
Need to do some more testing ... last resort is to go back to build 17 and see if focus pulls settle down.

BTW : all comments are for wired Imperio, NOT wireless (trying to keep potential variables down !).

Bottom line, all I REALLY wish for is to have smooth focus behaviour (via the Imperio), the rest is all nice to have :laugh: (ie: aperture and lens data).

 

[Yean Loon]

Hi Erik,

Any updates on my mount?

yean

 

[Michael Hastings]

re: 17-55 is

re: 17-55 is

Twist my arm... can't use it on the 5D... didn't want to buy it...

Lens will be here on friday, and we will figure this one out next week. Ken has also been on my case to add it to the test set.

Erik, I understand your thinking - I was thinking the same thing and was considering selling the 17-55 since it seems the rumors of a new 24-70 markII with IS are pretty solid that we will see it in the next few months.

However, I started thinking how perfect the range of the 17-55 is for S35. For regular use I think it is more of the perfect range than the 24 - 70 (although that isn't bad either) as it goes from the really wide to short tele that you would normally use. Shots requiring more tele would probably be both more unusual and more amenable to the setup time neededto change lenses.

In addition, particularly for underwater the 17, while not ideal, is wide enough to be effective for decent underwater wide angle, yet 55 is long enough to do macro with a diopter so you could effectively do both on the same dive - which isn't all that feasible with the 10-22 or 11-16 or even the 16-35. (The diopter actually helps with a dome port). (PS for the underwater guys - the 10-22 or 11-16 are still the main choice for most normal underwater people/shipwreck/shark/etc. type of shots, the 17-55 would be for a situation where you know you need to do a fair amount of macro on the dive but want some wide angle capability as well.)

So I have decided that even if I end up buying the new 24-70is at some point I'll probably keep the 17-55 as sort of the permanent REDONE/EPicX lens. If you need to borrow the 17-55 let me know as my camera is going back to red next week.

 

[paul engstrom]

Erik, I understand your thinking - I was thinking the same thing and was considering selling the 17-55 since it seems the rumors of a new 24-70 markII with IS are pretty solid that we will see it in the next few months.

However, I started thinking how perfect the range of the 17-55 is for S35. For regular use I think it is more of the perfect range than the 24 - 70 (although that isn't bad either) as it goes from the really wide to short tele that you would normally use. Shots requiring more tele would probably be both more unusual and more amenable to the setup time neededto change lenses.

In addition, particularly for underwater the 17, while not ideal, is wide enough to be effective for decent underwater wide angle, yet 55 is long enough to do macro with a diopter so you could effectively do both on the same dive - which isn't all that feasible with the 10-22 or 11-16 or even the 16-35. (The diopter actually helps with a dome port). (PS for the underwater guys - the 10-22 or 11-16 are still the main choice for most normal underwater people/shipwreck/shark/etc. type of shots, the 17-55 would be for a situation where you know you need to do a fair amount of macro on the dive but want some wide angle capability as well.)

So I have decided that even if I end up buying the new 24-70is at some point I'll probably keep the 17-55 as sort of the permanent REDONE/EPicX lens. If you need to borrow the 17-55 let me know as my camera is going back to red next week.

Yes, 17-55 is a range you move back and forth in constantly...

p

 

[Kyle Mallory]

Erik,

I was on a shoot this weekend, and my Impero batteries went dead. After I replaced them, I couldn't get the Impero to sync, or beep, or blink little red lights. Just the far-right yellow light would come on when powered on. I tried to use the short tether cable to power the Impero and it did the same thing.

Any ideas? At the moment, my Impero is useless... I'm hoping its something stupid and simple.

 

[Dave Dessel]

One Lens Sticky

One Lens Sticky

Hey,

Did a shoot today with the Canon 50mm 1.4. No problems with the Birger and the Impero, worked perfectly. We also used the 24-70 2.8L, and it worked perfectly.

The Canon 70-200 2.8L is sticky and does not focus correctly.

I'm running the Birger 20a and Impero 1.5 firmware. Can't seem to get my Impero to upgrade after several attempts.

The images look awesome, still love this system in spite of the imperfections.

-Dave Dessel

 

[David Nardini]

Erik,

I was on a shoot this weekend, and my Impero batteries went dead. After I replaced them, I couldn't get the Impero to sync, or beep, or blink little red lights. Just the far-right yellow light would come on when powered on. I tried to use the short tether cable to power the Impero and it did the same thing.

Any ideas? At the moment, my Impero is useless... I'm hoping its something stupid and simple.

After months of working fine, for some reason there is now a 'delay' (only way I can describe it) between an Imperio move and the lens 'catching up' ... a delay in the lens/mount responding, resulting in inconsistent stutter during a focus ull ? I guessed that moving from Build 17 to 20.1.3 was the cause, but after much checking, etc ... the behaviour is the same if I restore back to B17.
The only lens that is smooth is the 16-35/2.8 Mk2, all the other lenses 'stick-&-catch-up'; very very odd ... 70-200/2.8 IS has been flawless to date, and now it's unusable.
One thing I have observed is that the focus calibration (which used to settle on minimum focus is no longer consistent ... some lenses finish there, others settle at other distances ... the resulting 'mapping' to the one full revolution on the Imperio may be screwing things up ? Interestingly, the 16-35/2.8 Mk2 does endup on the minimum focus point during a focus calibration (with Imperio wired or wireless).

The mount itself carries on performing perfectly ... (ie: buttom operation) which is the good news ;-)

Gone back to Build20 and parked the Imperio on a shelf until I have more time to pis* away ;-(

Cheers ...

PS : the 17-55/2.8 is nice, sharp & even ;-) great everyday lens for the R1 ... shame about the poor close focus, but hey, cant have everything right ? Noted tip for dust hoovering ;-)

 

[John Terendy]

Any updates on new software?

 

[Arnaud Paris]

So I have a birger mount that gives the following error message on the BEI program (both mac and PC) 'Can't make connection with lens Error ERR21'

Yet, I checked that all the softwares are updated to the most recent releases and I've exclusively been putting L series lenses on the mount.
And the bluetooth connection with this mount works just fine.

I also have another mount that is an older one that got updated and this one does not show up on the bluetooth connection at all.

Can anybody help?

Thanks,