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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

Erik Widding said:
Any differences between IS on and IS off?
Click to expand...

I'm not noticing a difference. It's MUCH better than before, 70-200/2.8 IS can get stuck but significantly less times.

The 17-55/2.8 IS is finally behaving as expected.

Proof will be after some real world field tests ... it's the only way to now for sure ...
 
Forgive my memory but I want to install all the new updates and check my lenses but I've totally forgotten how to do it all. :-/ (I haven't touched it in months)

I cant find the thread, is there an instruction manual somewhere?

I seem to remember something about going into bootloader first (holding down the 2 auto keys), but right now I cant get the BEI device to see my mount.
 
sorry folks, I remembered. lens results coming soon
 
Stephen Williams said:
I had issues with the following:-

Canon EF L USM 24mm 1.4
Canon EF L USM 35mm 1.4
Click to expand...

Those 2 lenses have been rock solid for me since day zero. I just got a 50mm F/1.2 and so far that seems perfect too but haven't used it a ton.

I did have one AC that kept hitting buttons on the Impero before the unit synced. That caused all kinds of problems until I figured out what he was doing. He thought the blinking red sync light meant it was in sync and just started operating the unit.
 
Well I just updated to Impero Version 2.0 and Library 20c and I'm pretty excited.

Focusing is smooth on the 17-55 using the alternative focusing mode. And it's smooth using the new Limit Knob option which maps your lens to TWO rotations of the knob. This really should help out with certain pulls on wider lenses especially.

Erik - I think either the release notes are wrong or you reversed the functionality of Limit Lens and Limit Knob.

It reads - “Limit Knob” mode means that one half turn of the Impero will map to the full focus range of the lens. “Limit Lens” mode means that two full turns of the Impero will map to the full focus range of the lens."

I get the reverse behavior. Limit Knob gives me 720 degrees and Limit Lens gives me 180 degrees.


Request: It would really be cool if you could press Fn +Limit Lens(Knob?) and get it mapped to 4 rotations instead of two. I've had some racks with the standard 360 degrees that probably were 1/4" or less. So expanding that by 4x might give me a more usable 1 inch on those occasions.
 
Erik, you can absolutely be proud of your work! The Birger-Impero-combo is wonderful. And yes, it was quite a ride. :-)

As Joel I see the same reverse behavior with "Limit Lens" and "Limit Knob". I like the 720° mode especially for the wider lenses.

FN+Cal works well, I just ordered more marking rings from View Factor. They are in stock and ship immediately.

Feature request: It would be nice to be able to set hard stops for the lenses.

Sending lens- and bug-reports to Erik is always a good idea…
 
some tests...

RED Release Build 20 (v20.1.6)
Canon EF-232 Lens Library 20c
3rd Party Protocol Support Red 18.3.6.4
Impero Controller v2.0


Lenses that do work smooth (Impero in "normal focusing mode"):

Canon EF L USM 24mm f/1.4

Canon EF L USM 35mm f/1.4

Canon EF L USM 50mm f/1.2

Canon EF L II USM 85mm f/1.2

Canon MP-E 1-5x Macro 65mm f/2.8

Canon EF L II USM 16-35mm f/2.8

Canon EF L USM 24-70mm f/2.8

Tokina AT-X Pro 11-16mm f/2.8
The Tokina has only issues at infinity and short focus, the AF motor spins.


Lenses that do work smooth (Impero in "alternate focusing mode"):

Canon EF L USM 135mm f/2.0

Canon EF L USM 200mm f/2.8

Canon EF L IS USM 70-200mm f/2.8

Canon Extender 1.4x + Canon EF L USM 135mm f/2.0

Canon Extender 1.4x + Canon EF L USM 200mm f/2.8

Canon Extender 1.4x + Canon EF L IS USM 70-200mm f/2.8


Lenses that do not work smooth:
Canon EF L USM Macro 180mm f/3.5
Aperture is ok, but sticky/no focusing
 
some more tests...

RED Beta Build 21 (v21.1.2)
Canon EF-232 Lens Library 20c
3rd Party Protocol Support Red 18.3.6.4
Impero Controller v2.0


Lenses that do work smooth (Impero in "normal focusing mode"):

Canon EF L USM 24mm f/1.4

Canon EF L USM 35mm f/1.4

Canon EF L USM 50mm f/1.2

Canon EF L II USM 85mm f/1.2

Canon EF L II USM 16-35mm f/2.8

Canon EF L USM 24-70mm f/2.8

Tokina AT-X Pro 11-16mm f/2.8
The Tokina has only issues at infinity and short focus, the AF motor spins.


Lenses that do work smooth (Impero in "alternate focusing mode"):

Canon EF L USM 135mm f/2.0

Canon EF L USM 200mm f/2.8

Canon EF L IS USM 70-200mm f/2.8

Canon Extender 1.4x + Canon EF L USM 135mm f/2.0

Canon Extender 1.4x + Canon EF L USM 200mm f/2.8

Canon Extender 1.4x + Canon EF L IS USM 70-200mm f/2.8


Lenses that do not work smooth:

Canon EF L USM Macro 180mm f/3.5
Aperture is ok, but no focusing

Canon MP-E 1-5x Macro 65mm f/2.8
Aperture does not work
 
Alexander Christ said:
some more tests...

RED Beta Build 21 (v21.1.2)
Canon EF-232 Lens Library 20c
3rd Party Protocol Support Red 18.3.6.4
Impero Controller v2.0


Lenses that do work smooth (Impero in "normal focusing mode"):

Canon EF L USM 24mm f/1.4

Canon EF L USM 35mm f/1.4

Canon EF L USM 50mm f/1.2

Canon EF L II USM 85mm f/1.2

Canon EF L II USM 16-35mm f/2.8

Canon EF L USM 24-70mm f/2.8

Tokina AT-X Pro 11-16mm f/2.8
The Tokina has only issues at infinity and short focus, the AF motor spins.


Lenses that do work smooth (Impero in "alternate focusing mode"):

Canon EF L USM 135mm f/2.0

Canon EF L USM 200mm f/2.8

Canon EF L IS USM 70-200mm f/2.8

Canon Extender 1.4x + Canon EF L USM 135mm f/2.0

Canon Extender 1.4x + Canon EF L USM 200mm f/2.8

Canon Extender 1.4x + Canon EF L IS USM 70-200mm f/2.8


Lenses that do not work smooth:

Canon EF L USM Macro 180mm f/3.5
Aperture is ok, but no focusing

Canon MP-E 1-5x Macro 65mm f/2.8
Aperture does not work
Click to expand...


Hello Alexander,

How has i-data been on beta 21.1.2?
I seem to only be able to read data on my zoom lenses now (Tokina 11-16, Canon 17-55, Canon 70-200). None of my primes read now though they did ,albeit inconsistently, before.

I am running 20a 3rd party protocol though I also tried the build 18.6.4 protocol too with same results.

Lens port function on new RED beta build does seem to work.

I sent a report to Birger about this.

Brian Timmons
britim-media
 
Updated to build 21.1.2 and no problems so far with lens data.

Erik, how is it going with the Win app? The manual update of Impero software sounds bit clumsy.
 
Canon 70-200 4L works great

This latest round of improvements is fantastic. Wow.

Thanks for the great solution with the 17-55 Erik. Works great now.

This is what I'd been hoping for (actually better than I'd hoped for). Arriving feels so good.
 
What on earth is the "alternative focusing mode" on the Impero?

What on earth is the "alternative focusing mode" on the Impero?

What on earth is the "alternate focusing mode" that Alexander mentions?

I'm suddenly having trouble with my 135mm and my 200mm lenses, but since both are shown by Alexander to work smoothly with the "alternative focusing mode," perhaps that will do the trick for me, too. I LOVE those lenses, especially the 200mm.

BTW, I can also state that there are no issues with the Tokina, the 24, the 35, the 50, or the 85. My 16-35 is out on loan at the moment.

If I can get my 135mm and 200mm back, I'll be in 7th heaven.

Any thoughts?

Stephen
 
Talk about lightning fast service response times!

Talk about lightning fast service response times!

I just sent Erik an email about my 135mm and 200mm issue, and he sent me back an email with just a few minutes and provided me with the instructions for the 135mm and 200mm "alternate focus mode" instructions.

And guess what? It works perfectly now!

I absolutely love the Birger and hope that RED and Birger will allow me to use the Birger on my Epic-X, as well. I know it isn't a lot of money to you pros, but I'd really be unhappy if the $10,000 I've sunk into L-series lenses wouldn't work on Epic-X.

Thanks.

Stephen
 
While we are on the subject of "strange" Impero buttons. . .

While we are on the subject of "strange" Impero buttons. . .

. . . like the "secret 'F' push for alternative focus mode," can anyone point me to a resource that explains what all of the other buttons actually do? Like that FN button and that ADDR button. And how to make the memories work, etc.

But, man, I love this system. I got very tired of waiting for the Impero/Inclino combination (I actually jumped on the day I saw how big those focus motors were!) and then put my hope for a reasonably-price remote focus system with Erik and Birger. I have not been disappointed.

Thanks.

Stephen
 
Stephen Pruitt said:
. . . like the "secret 'F' push for alternative focus mode," can anyone point me to a resource that explains what all of the other buttons actually do? Like that FN button and that ADDR button. And how to make the memories work, etc.

But, man, I love this system. I got very tired of waiting for the Impero/Inclino combination (I actually jumped on the day I saw how big those focus motors were!) and then put my hope for a reasonably-price remote focus system with Erik and Birger. I have not been disappointed.

Thanks.

Stephen
Click to expand...

At this point its a good idea to print those notes, laminate them and bring with you when you shoot. The little follow focus has gotten quite sophisticated. Many ways to conserve battery life, to reduce the beeps (or remove altogether), to maximize or minimize knob rotation, etc. Fantastic.

Again, great work Erik (and Curt).
 
I will definitely print those out. I didn't know there was a manual until right now. I had a beta unit and it is possible that those were not available when I got mine.

I love this system!

Stephen
 
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