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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

Thanks for the update. Exciting stuff! Question: Is it easy to detach/attach the antenna? Will it hold up to frequent detachment/attachment?

I'm just worried about that thing bouncing around in my Tamrac.
 
Very cool. I think some people have been getting antsy that maybe this was never going to happen. I've been a true believer all along but I think the pictures should help to convince the doubters.

It looks great, Erik!

birgerEngineer said:
Steve Sherrick invited me to the REDuser party at NAB. We will bring a mount, knob, camera to the event so people can be very hands on... I believe we will be demonstrating the Cooke /i data interface on the mount as well.
Click to expand...

I'll be there - I spoke to Steve and I am planning to bring one of our underwater housings along too. Looking forward to finally meeting you and seeing the final version in action.

IMHO I think modern high end still lenses are optically on a par with their cine counterparts - with the main differences being mechanical. Your mount has the ability to narrow or eliminate that gap. I think people are going to be amazed at the capabilities of the RED with your mount and Canon lenses. And Cooke /i data will be some sweet icing on the cake.

This is cooke's description of /i:
"Absolute encoders positioned inside the lens monitor focus, zoom and iris settings to ensure that outputs are available immediately from "power on."

Electronic microprocessor and software are embedded in the lens that read focus, zoom and iris settings and calculate important picture format data. This data and current settings are then transferred via a serial link to either an Arri camera equipped with LDS via the LDS contacts within the mount, or via the lens' external connector to the Cinematography Electronics S4/i Data Display unit."

Exactly the same info is available in all EF and EF-S lenses and we get access to it through the Birger smart mount. I don't have a cooke price list but Arri gets about 3,000 Euros ($4700 US) extra for an LDS (lens data system lens) over the same lens without it. We get it included in every EF lens and capability to use it with our $1450 mount/follow focus/iris motor/data system. VERY COOL!!!!

BTW I think that is my 17-55 EF-S in the picture. Bring it along.

I will also be bringing a 10-22 EF-S as well as a 70-200 f2.8 L IS and a (whisper) Sigma 18-50 Canon EF mount. I will also bring a 50mm f1.4 and 85mm F1.4 Zeiss Contax mount (and maybe a Nikon) with adapters to show how easy it is to use a manual lens on the EOS mount as well. It's nice to have for emergency backup, lower light, etc. KM9000 just shot his feature using these lenses.

Another BTW. If you have been reading the Nikon mount thread you know that one of the drawbacks with still lenses is that they don't lock supertight so you sometimes get a little shift when you move the focus or iris ring. Again, Birger eliminates this because the focus shift is via motors in the EF lenses.
 
I know things are busy there. But can we get an idea of how this all works yet?

Where do we mount the knob to control focus? Do those buttons on the side switch the knob control from focus to Iris?

I think I'm one of the first batch, it would be nice to get a little tundown of how it all operates.

thanks
 
darkline said:
Where do we mount the knob to control focus? Do those buttons on the side switch the knob control from focus to Iris?
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On the side of the mount not visible in the pictures last posted, there are three pushbuttons. These are programmable, with each able to execute any command. Initially these will be, from top to bottom: (1) iris incremental +1/4 stop; (2) not sure yet, any requests?; (3) iris incremental -1/4 stop. Pushing 1&3 simultaneously will cause the system to learn all axis and home (or if knob hooked up, move that axis to current knob position).

Knobs are also not pictured, and will mount on the rails, or off camera. The visible LEMO connectors are for connecting the knobs and other accessories like the remote and eventually a zoom motor. I will bring a knob to NAB, and they should start shipping that same week.

Also, someone asked about the bluetooth antenna. It is removable. THere is a standard RP-SMA connector (1/4-36 thread). The camera adapter and camera will serve as a counterpose (ground plane) for the antenna, so the pictured 1/4 wave antenna should get decent range. It can also be replaced with a 1/2 wave antenna that is about five inches long... which should give much better range. Or, you can use a cable and antenna mounted somewhere else.

I am probably going to go dark for a few days after this post...
 
birgerEngineer said:
Also, someone asked about the bluetooth antenna. It is removable. THere is a standard RP-SMA connector (1/4-36 thread). The camera adapter and camera will serve as a counterpose (ground plane) for the antenna, so the pictured 1/4 wave antenna should get decent range. It can also be replaced with a 1/2 wave antenna that is about five inches long... which should give much better range. Or, you can use a cable and antenna mounted somewhere else.

I am probably going to go dark for a few days after this post...
Click to expand...

Good to know. Thanks. When you emerge from your dark place in a few days, I'd be interested to know if you will be selling the alternative antennas and for how much. Of course, whether or not I would need them will depend on what the 1/4 wave's range actually is.
 
AquaVideoRed206 said:
Another BTW. If you have been reading the Nikon mount thread you know that one of the drawbacks with still lenses is that they don't lock supertight so you sometimes get a little shift when you move the focus or iris ring. Again, Birger eliminates this because the focus shift is via motors in the EF lenses.
Click to expand...

I've got the Nikon mount now and would say that this is not a problem. Unless your lens is a stiff manual focus lens there will be no movement during a follow focus. Even if it were to move we're talking about 1/2mm rotation and there's no visible result I could see. But I will test more thoroughly to verify this issue really is complete FUD.

OTOH, if you've been reading the Canon lens reviews it appears that the mechanics on a number of the lower cost EF lenses aren't very good and may not be suitable for Birger use. Again - I want to see tests.
 
Can i know if i'm in and i'm gonna receive my mount according to my order number or i still have to swim in the dark?

edit:
birgerEngineer said:
I am probably going to go dark for a few days after this post...
Click to expand...

I didnt see this before. The Birger's way...
 
This is great

This is great

Exactly the same info is available in all EF and EF-S lenses and we get access to it through the Birger smart mount. I don't have a cooke price list but Arri gets about 3,000 Euros ($4700 US) extra for an LDS (lens data system lens) over the same lens without it. We get it included in every EF lens and capability to use it with our $1450 mount/follow focus/iris motor/data system. VERY COOL!!!!
Click to expand...

Aqua is right on target - everybody is just so anxious - I can't wait - but this is such a cool thing Birger is making available to us!!!

Thanks!
 
Um... yeah. What exactly are those of us who still haven't received any confirmation or had our cards charged supposed to do at this point? Should we re-order? Or are there still reservation forms that haven't been processed?
 
With all the speculation I'm confused as to what I would have to do if I want to use a Pl mount lens when the Birger mount is installed - do I have remove the Birger Mount or use an adaptor?
 
AquaVideoRed206 said:
If you have been reading the Nikon mount thread you know that one of the drawbacks with still lenses is that they don't lock supertight so you sometimes get a little shift when you move the focus or iris ring.
Click to expand...

My Nikon mount holds lenses pretty tight. I do have two lenses that are sloppy and the elements in the lens shift as I reverse focus, making it seem like the mount is moving, but it really parts moving inside lens. I never noticed this with my Brevis, but the Red really brings out any flaws in your lens.

I can't wait to get I Birger Nikon mount!!!!


Mahalo,
Dusty
 
Chris Kenny said:
Um... yeah. What exactly are those of us who still haven't received any confirmation or had our cards charged supposed to do at this point? Should we re-order? Or are there still reservation forms that haven't been processed?
Click to expand...
Good question Chris. Actually, I had already mentioned the hassle on subject (and target). You'll need to provide a full answer there, Erik. As soon as possible. Or you'll have a problem around the corner.

Emanuel said:
Emanuel said:
Thanks for the post. I don't want to be the complaint-type 'cause actually I'm not used to be! :-) Besides, there's already a stick-thread properly opened there, so don't take it like that.

Although, just for the record... Since I didn't get confirmation on my 2nd order in any way other than as far as the 1st one is concerned, how should I proceed?

Waiting for your confirmation on my 2nd one?

Or sending it again by NAB? (in order to keep the free remote control offer)
Click to expand...

birgerEngineer said:
Yes.

Those that have been kind enough not to call me for status aren't aware of this... :whistling:
Click to expand...

Seems clear that you have no answer on subject yet. But it would be good to have the troops prepared. Or, as far as it is possible to follow up from that infamous sticky thread -- with so many people with no confirmation yet, you'll have a serious problem with cloned orders before you can take care or notice them... :)
Click to expand...
 
metal porn...

metal porn...

Just a few pics from the machine shop. They sent them over on friday to shut me up. :ranting2:

From top to bottom, left to right:
RED Camera Adapter Front (first operation)
RED Camera Adapter Back (second operation)
Collimation Insert (first operation)
Collimation Insert (second operation)

The adapter needs to be threaded on the back in a lathe (third op) and radial holes drilled and tapped (fourth op). The collimation insert needs to have slots milled and numbers engraved (third op). First batch should go to plating tuesday morning, and arrive at our office wednesday afternoon...

There is a third part, a pin to extend the push buttons out to the edge of the adapter, that is being made this morning.

This batch of parts today is to qualify the CNC programs, and give us stuff to start shipping. In the next few days parts will start rolling in volume.
 
Erik, I couldn't follow much of what you just wrote nor make too much sense of the pics, but I do get that it's generally good news and things are starting to roll.:) Thanks for the update.
 
Erik,
going to change again the shipping address.
I really hope that someone gets my emails there.
 
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