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Birger Lens Mount Reservations

Hi all,

I had a similar black screen issue with previous build combination of 20c and Impero 2.0 along with camera firmware 21.2.1, using build18 v3.6.4 protocols, when booting with a lens attached to the mount. (Wow, that's a LOT of numbers in one sentence!!)

Have updated today to the following combo and problems have disappeared, at least using 16-35mm II and 24-70mm Canon L lenses (haven't tested others yet).

This seems to be a WORKING combination:

- Red One build 21.3.1
- BEI 1.1.10 (used on MacBook Pro to update rest)
- Lens Library 20d
- Impero firmware 2.1
- No protocol adjustment after updating, left at defaults

HTH

Paul
 
Do not do this!

Do not do this!

The mount was not designed to be hot-plugged into the camera adapter. The instructions clearly state that the mount should be installed on the camera, and THEN powered. Do not do this in reverse. If one rotates the lens mount to find the orientation, while it is powered up, it can do damage to the electronics. This damage generally manifests as apparent random button pushing (lens homes, and or opens/closes the iris), or intermittent bluetooth connections. This failure mode is generally not seen until many days or weeks after the incident.

We know when this happens, as there are signatures. When the electronics are inspected under a microscope, and appear to have excellent solder joints, the contacts will look as they do in the attached picture, with diagonal stripes and/or the unit draws high current.

The handful of people that have done this by mistake have gotten a free repair. That ended today. A customer who did this multiple times, after being warned not to, was the first to get charged $300 for the repair.

It should be noted, that this is the first time in the ten year history of Birger that we charged for a repair, regardless of when the equipment was purchased. When the PL-mount comes out shortly, there will be more opportunities to make this mistake, and we want to make it very clear that this failure is not due to a manufacturing defect, and will no longer be treated as such.
 

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Paul Leeming said:
Have updated today to the following combo and problems have disappeared, at least using 16-35mm II and 24-70mm Canon L lenses (haven't tested others yet).

This seems to be a WORKING combination:

- Red One build 21.3.1
- BEI 1.1.10 (used on MacBook Pro to update rest)
- Lens Library 20d
- Impero firmware 2.1
- No protocol adjustment after updating, left at defaults

HTH

Paul
Click to expand...
Just a quick followup, I tested all my lenses today and all passed with flying colours (tested smoothness of focus range, iris functionality through Impero, wired and wireless modes):

EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5 USM - Normal focus mode OK
EF 24mm MkII f1.4L USM - Normal focus mode OK
EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM - Alternate focus mode OK
EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS USM - Alternate focus mode OK

HTH

Paul
 
Erik Widding said:
The mount was not designed to be hot-plugged into the camera adapter. The instructions clearly state that the mount should be installed on the camera, and THEN powered. Do not do this in reverse. If one rotates the lens mount to find the orientation, while it is powered up, it can do damage to the electronics.
Click to expand...

Erik,

Can you please clarify:

Are you saying that we should not swap lenses with the mount powered up?

So...to swap a lens, unplug lemo cable from either the mount or port on the camera, then replace lens, then plug the cable back in?

Or is this referring to an error that's occurring while people are installing the Birger mount itself to the camera body?

Thanks,
p
 
Not to be a Party Pooper but I wanted to give a heads up that we are re-evaluting the warranty on the Birger mount at this time.. When we made the agreement for the Birger mount to bypass the warranty issues it was a very different mount than what it has evolved into... both mechanically and the electronic connection with the camera.

I hope we can find a happy medium, but Just wanted to let people know ahead of time for those that may be concerned about warranty restrictions for the upcoming trade-in program.
 
Jarred, I would imagine that this is not a situation that the users who have used the mount up to this point will all of a sudden not be able to participate in the trade-in program like every other Red One owner? It's such an about face to something that was approved that it seems silly to ask, but I just wanted to be 100% sure. Thanks.
 
Jason Ing said:
Jarred, I would imagine that this is not a situation that the users who have used the mount up to this point will all of a sudden not be able to participate in the trade-in program like every other Red One owner? It's such an about face to something that was approved that it seems silly to ask, but I just wanted to be 100% sure. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Hey Jason, users that have their mounts already registered with us or have them registered before November 15th are fine as long as that mount is in the same state as when the agreement was signed.
 
Alexander Alexandrov said:
how does one go about registering the mount?
Click to expand...

Don't worry, Birger should of done it for you on your behalf at the time you purchase the mount, it was one of the conditions to maintain your warranty ( and trade in ability ). You should of signed a little form.
 
Lens Adaptor

Lens Adaptor

Erik Widding said:
No, hot swap lenses as much as you want. Just don't mate the lens mount to the camera adapter while the camera adapter is powered up (i.e. plugged into a camera that is powered up).
Click to expand...

Eric,

Just to clarify what is a camera adaptor? Are you talking about the 4 pin connector for lens data? Sorry, still not understanding.
 
The Birger comes in two parts. The larger diameter rear section which bolts to the RED body which is the "camera adaptor" and the smaller diameter front section which is the "lens mount". Don't mate the front and back sections with the camera adaptor powered up or you risk putting power where it shouldn't go - and it's bad practice anyway to hotplug anything electrical or electronic unless it's specifically designed for it.
 
Effective immediately, RED will no longer allow customers to remove the RED lens mount and replace it with the Birger lens mount on the RED ONE camera. Any RED customer that modifies the RED ONE camera with the Birger lens mount will void the camera warranty. For customers that have already modified their camera with the Birger lens mount and have submitted a notification form that has been sent to RED, both in accordance with the RED/Birger Statement of Warranty, the camera warranty will not be effected.
 
Hello Pedro,

No worries about getting your mount back quickly. Erik is awesome about getting your mount in fixed and back out in a matter of a few days. Birger support is top notch.
 
Hello Erik, I have just checked the Impero's thread and Kurt stated the following.
Will this improve our Birger/Impero as well?

Thank you

***
I've also been spending a lot of time revising firmware on Impero to make them more reliable and at the same time finish up the last remaining features that were promised. The wireless protocols have been totally re-written to eliminate random beeping and glitches. I've also modified the protections on the bootloader section so we will no longer have bricked units in the field.

Other features that are going to be in place:
-Lens limits (for setting soft stops rather than auto calibrating)
-Knob limits (adjust range of travel on the control knob)
-Digital clutch (correlate actual lens position with the knob position)
-Damping adjust (for crisp / smooth real-time control)
-Speed/Accel adjust (for auto positioning movements)
****
 
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