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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

No idea about shipping schedule, but I received my Impero yesterday.

Both the Birger and Impero are of excellent build quality.

As usual I'm crazy busy and hope to get a chance to install the latest updates and test. Hopefully this weekend.

Erik, thanks for the hard work you put into this and the wisdom in partnering with the View Factor crew. This is an impressive rig and your engineering expertise is apparent in both the hardware and software.

Congratulations to Birger Engineering and View Factor Studios for the winning combination!
 
OneHouse said:
Hi, Erik and all of you Birger-fans!

Have receaved my Birger Canon mount and it's really a great piece of craftmanship! Near to Canon finish! Still waiting a few more days for my R1 to show up...

The discussion about firmware problems and so is only regarding use of the Impero I guess? While waiting for a solution of these problems (then my plan is to order the Impero) I'm going manually using the pushbuttons on the mount, and expect no conflicts with the R1 or problems with that, right? Anyone?

Ulf @ OneHouse
Click to expand...
Ulf, you should be ok using the latest firmware and following Erik's instructions about the /i data pin setting. The Impero is not needed to use the lens, it just means you have to set your lens to manual focus and use it that way until the Inpero arrives.

HTH

Paul
 
order number

order number

Hi Robert

What is your order number?. That would give a idea how far the shipping is.

Bo


Robert Frank said:
No idea about shipping schedule, but I received my Impero yesterday.

Both the Birger and Impero are of excellent build quality.

As usual I'm crazy busy and hope to get a chance to install the latest updates and test. Hopefully this weekend.

Erik, thanks for the hard work you put into this and the wisdom in partnering with the View Factor crew. This is an impressive rig and your engineering expertise is apparent in both the hardware and software.

Congratulations to Birger Engineering and View Factor Studios for the winning combination!
Click to expand...
 
Got my Impero yesterday as well. As is often said - very exciting times. My order number was 107.261927.
 
Paul Leeming said:
Ulf, you should be ok using the latest firmware and following Erik's instructions about the /i data pin setting. The Impero is not needed to use the lens, it just means you have to set your lens to manual focus and use it that way until the Inpero arrives.

HTH

Paul
Click to expand...
Thanks, Paul!

So I do need some programming and firmware even if I only use the mount?! Where do I in that case put the firmware? Haven't seen anything about it on the forum or in the instructions. Read somewhere that you connect the Impero to your Mac and program it but not the mount itself?! Am I lost in translation here...?

Ulf @ OneHouse
 
Perfect timing - I just happened to be coming to Boston when Amy wrote to say that the Impero was ready to ship. I dropped by the Birger shop mid-week, swapped my early Birger Mount for the more recent edition and picked up the Impero.

It was excellent to meet Erik and see his impressive operation as well as see the seeming hundreds of the recently rare Birger Mounts waiting to be shipped.

Sadly our camera is back in Los Angeles so I still have to wait a few more days to finally have the Impero/Birger experience we've been imagining for what seems like an eternity now.

I couldn't be happier.
 
OneHouse said:
Thanks, Paul!

So I do need some programming and firmware even if I only use the mount?! Where do I in that case put the firmware? Haven't seen anything about it on the forum or in the instructions. Read somewhere that you connect the Impero to your Mac and program it but not the mount itself?! Am I lost in translation here...?

Ulf @ OneHouse
Click to expand...
That's right Ulf, you can use any computer (PC or Mac) with Bluetooth to update the firmware and control the mount, even without your Impero. Download the BEI software, install it, sync your mount with the Bluetooth on your computer and from there, download and update the firmware to the mount wirelessly.

You can then control the autofocus from your computer if you like until the Impero arrives, or use the manual focus on the lens itself.

HTH

Paul
 
New MAC app, which will upgrade an Impero; and new Impero software, that has working speed buttons, are up on the server. Ken is taking a break for a few days, so wired support for the Impero, and a PC app that is every bit as cool as the MAC app, won't happen until after the July 4th holiday. Amy and I should run out of stuff to ship in a couple of days, so I should get to the manual on wednesday or thursday.
 
underwaterdop said:
Hi Robert

What is your order number?. That would give a idea how far the shipping is.

Bo
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what the actual number is at the moment as I'm not near the paperwork. It's 107.xxxx something. Not sure this helps though.

I hope to get back to the office to check it out today.
 
Erik Widding said:
New MAC app, which will upgrade an Impero; and new Impero software, that has working speed buttons, are up on the server. Ken is taking a break for a few days, so wired support for the Impero, and a PC app that is every bit as cool as the MAC app, won't happen until after the July 4th holiday. Amy and I should run out of stuff to ship in a couple of days, so I should get to the manual on wednesday or thursday.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the updated info and new software Erik!
 
Erik Widding said:
New MAC app, which will upgrade an Impero; and new Impero software, that has working speed buttons, are up on the server. Ken is taking a break for a few days, so wired support for the Impero, and a PC app that is every bit as cool as the MAC app, won't happen until after the July 4th holiday. Amy and I should run out of stuff to ship in a couple of days, so I should get to the manual on wednesday or thursday.
Click to expand...

OK ... I'm running OSX BEI Device Interface 1.1.6 and have downloaded the 'Imperio Controller Application V1.5.ebin' file.

BEI interface connected to Birger mount via BlueTooth; Imperiod switched off and connected to mount via cable.

How to I apply the v1.5.ebin to the Imperio ? Had a look around the BEI Interface App and cant see it ?! Anybody figured it out ? Erik ?

Cheers ...

PS : the 'Update Firmware' button I assume is for the Birger Library updates (eg : Lib 20a) and not for the Imperio updates ?
 
David,

Couldn't get it to work either, neither with BEI Device Interface nor manually via the Birger mount, but succeeded in updating Impero directly via Bluetooth (using the manual update procedure).

PM me if you want to go down that route.

Cheers,
Hans
 
WAAAAAAAAA

Im struggling here too. I assume you pair to the Birger mount and plug the Impero into it and hold down the 2 auto keys to get it to lock. But I am now stuck. :-( There doesnt seem to be a way to upgrade the impero. The 'Update Firmware' button seems to only accept lens librarys

Ive tried pairing the impero to the mac instead of the Birger, but it asks for a passkey. I used the same passkey as my mount but that didnt work.

very puzzling...lol
 
best of luck guys.

seems that each Impero is married to each Birger.... otherwise when several Imperos and Birger herd together for multicam shoots Imperos would be controlling different Birgers.

In Jay's video I don't remember him using a computer.
 
Edited:

Alternative Impero Update instructions removed in order to avoid confusion.
The following posts include clarifications by Erik that should enable you to update the Impero according to official procedures.

Cheers,
Hans
 
Hans, thanks very much

I may give the manual update a go. However I was hoping the new automatic procedure was fairly simple, I think something is missing or there is something really simple we're not doing to get the BEI program to auto detect and upgrade the Impero.

Im not really familiar with terminal apps, but if it works I'll certainly have a bash.
 
EDITED DOWN ORIGINAL POST : to avoid confusion, removed my post (following post #5840 from Hans-Georg Daun)

==> SEE POST #5849 which spells out THE approved way to update the Imperio firmware <==
 
David,

Once you have calibrated, Focus is very smooth on my 24-70 (as long as the Impero is close to the mount).
The steps in Iris control are noticeable (which is probably a limitation of the lens, not the mount), but it works more reliable than before, though not as fast as via the Mac App.

Cheers,
Hans
 
Hans-Georg Daun said:
David,

Once you have calibrated, Focus is very smooth on my 24-70 (as long as the Impero is close to the mount).
The steps in Iris control are noticeable (which is probably a limitation of the lens, not the mount), but it works more reliable than before, though not as fast as via the Mac App.

Cheers,
Hans
Click to expand...

I would imagine that the 'steps' (1/4 stop) will be the same when driven by the Mac App. It will be interesting to see the responsive differences between BT and wired driven.

Cheers ...

BTW : I did try to use your approach ... using the Mac App to connect directly to the Imperio ... and seeing if it 'knows' that it is the Imperio and thus the firmware upgrade allowing the [...v1.5.ebin] file to be uploaded ... but I have just run out of juice on the Imperio / have no spare AAA batteries :mad2:
Will have to wait until the morning, interestingly just before my batteries died the MacApp did connect !

EDIT : anybody measure Imperio AAA-battery life expectancy ? I need to test with Duracells, but 1st set have gone after approx 1.5 days work.
 
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