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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

Hey Guys,

I'm a DIT taking responsibility of a Red with a Canon Birger mount on it. Neither the Red or the Mount has ever been used (despite it being 3 months old). I myself have never operated a Red with the Birger so I need some help getting up to speed.

It sound like there is a firmware update for the Briger Mount - where can I find that? Also, where can I find instructions on calibrating all the Canon lenses and getting this set up for use?

Thanks guys
::Chris
 
start with the thread in this section entitled : "using impero and birger"

Chris Rupert said:
Hey Guys,

I'm a DIT taking responsibility of a Red with a Canon Birger mount on it. Neither the Red or the Mount has ever been used (despite it being 3 months old). I myself have never operated a Red with the Birger so I need some help getting up to speed.

It sound like there is a firmware update for the Briger Mount - where can I find that? Also, where can I find instructions on calibrating all the Canon lenses and getting this set up for use?

Thanks guys
::Chris
Click to expand...
 
Nice work Erik

Nice work Erik

The new software is a big leap forward. Nice work Birger team. All of my lenses are working now (list below), including the 100mm Macro, which I never really expected to work well. My old 70-200 even appears to have stopped dropping frames. The Auto presets and Limit functions are great as well.

Working Well in normal mode (Red build 20.1.6, Birger/Impero/Library up to date):

11-16 f/2.8 Tokina
17-40 f/4 L
24-70 f/2.8 L
70-200 f/2.8 L (old style - no more dropped frames!)

Working well in alternative mode are:
17-55 f/2.8
Extender EF 2x
100 f/2.8 macro (not perfect, but very usable, Limit knob helps)
 
No Lens Data?

I've gone through and check everything (even took the plate off to check the little data cable to the plate - no obvious kinks) and I'm still not getting any of the lens Data on screen.

This Red & the Birger plate are both brand new. I didn't install it but it all appears to be installed correctly, I followed Jeff's great video on setting up the prefs and such but still no lens data being transferred. Any ideas.

Red = Build 17 (going to load Build 20 once I get access to it)
Birger firmware all updated
Wireless remote seems to be talking to mount.

Thanks
 
Chris Rupert said:
No Lens Data?

I've gone through and check everything (even took the plate off to check the little data cable to the plate - no obvious kinks) and I'm still not getting any of the lens Data on screen.

This Red & the Birger plate are both brand new. I didn't install it but it all appears to be installed correctly, I followed Jeff's great video on setting up the prefs and such but still no lens data being transferred. Any ideas.

Red = Build 17 (going to load Build 20 once I get access to it)
Birger firmware all updated
Wireless remote seems to be talking to mount.

Thanks
Click to expand...

I don't think build 17 supports the lens data.
 
Just updated to Build 20 - and still no Lens Data. I can see the data in the BIE software. Is this enough to Collimate the unit?
 
Hello Chris,

Please carefully read this post from Erik Widding, creator of the Birger Mount,
for the proper software updates regarding i-data.

http://reduser.net/forum/showpost.php?p=500460&postcount=6298

In short, update to the latest RED BETA build 21.2.1 and the latest Birger Firmware v20D for proper lens data across all lenses.

Brian Timmons
britim media
 
Last edited:
Chris Rupert said:
Just updated to Build 20 - and still no Lens Data. I can see the data in the BIE software. Is this enough to Collimate the unit?
Click to expand...

Yes, you can collimate the mount using the BEI software. I did it once, and if I remember well by hitting the left and right arrows you can adjust focus in small steps.
 
Update to Build 21

Update to Build 21

Chris Rupert said:
Just updated to Build 20 - and still no Lens Data. I can see the data in the BIE software. Is this enough to Collimate the unit?
Click to expand...

Update to BETA Build 21 (v21.2.1)

Also update your Birger and Impero software to latest.
 
Thanks Brian,

That was the trick. I downgraded my Birger to the 20c software and I got all the lens data. But I'm having the same problem you said you were having. Except my happens every time.

I was getting this error when I tried to record (Recording Error INTERAL_FAULT) and then the sensor would go dark. But only when the Red is powered up connected to the Birger mount. Things work fine if I powered up camera and then connected the Birger power cord (except for the fact I got no lens data).

I just loaded Built 21 on the camera and updated the Birger back to 20D and exact same issue.

I saw some talk about this issue but didn't see any solutions - Am I missing something?

My main concern is I would like to know what F/Stop I'm shooting at.
 
Chris,

If I were you I would contact Erik directly. If possible, send him some info. in advance.

p
 
Chris Rupert said:
I was getting this error when I tried to record (Recording Error INTERAL_FAULT) and then the sensor would go dark. But only when the Red is powered up connected to the Birger mount. Things work fine if I powered up camera and then connected the Birger power cord (except for the fact I got no lens data).

at.
Click to expand...

As I reported earlier I experienced this problem a few times after updating to 21.1.2 and Birger software 20c and 20d.

After reinstalling the Birger software the problem went away. I shot for a few hours the last few days prepping for an upcoming project and noticed no issues.

I know Erik from Birger stated that it may be loose contacts inside of the mount
(http://www.reduser.net/forum/showpost.php?p=502990&postcount=8)
but I wonder if there may be a software component to the problem.

Whenever the mount would act funny (random iris or focus movements- record problem) a software reinstall would pretty much always fix the problem.

Brian Timmons
 
Last edited:
Hello Brian

I'm one of those guys who is having all sorts of problems getting the Birger to work. I even had an aerospace engineer look at it over the weekend and he suggested that the mount adapter that bolts onto the camera body "may" be warping the Canon mount enough that it losses contact with the with the gold sensors. After some further testing, this theory was nixed.

Again, the problems I'm having is that after re-seating the lens adapter and lens mount, I'll have lens data (I have three L Series lenses and they all work once in awhile), but I'll have lens data for maybe five minutes before the data readout will begin flickering on and off then I'll loose all control of the iris which will stop up and down on its own-- which makes it useless.
 
Joe Taylor said:
Hello Brian

Again, the problems I'm having is that after re-seating the lens adapter and lens mount, I'll have lens data (I have three L Series lenses and they all work once in awhile), but I'll have lens data for maybe five minutes before the data readout will begin flickering on and off then I'll loose all control of the iris which will stop up and down on its own-- which makes it useless.
Click to expand...

Hello Joe,

Yes I have experienced this same problem a few times on build 20c. I have not experienced this on 20d though.

Whenever I have a problem it seemed to be triggered by something interacting with the mount like the impero working with certain lenses, problems connecting to the BEI software with bluetooth, or i-data to name a few. Sometimes these issues cause the mount to behave somewhat erratically(iris clicking, focus changing by itself, refuses to connect via bluetooth).

NOTE

1) Many of the issues I experienced with the Birger and Impero have been
pretty much resolved in the latest 20d build. The mount and Impero even with i-data is much more solid than it was during the summer with 20a.

2) Whenever I had a problem, even with earlier builds, reinstalling the mount software would usually resolve it for a while. A problem might come back (perhaps triggered again) but a reinstall would usually wipe the slate clean and bring back stable operation.

I have had a few occasions where I would have to power the camera and mount down for 15-30 minutes and then power back up to reinstall the Birger mount software after a particularly bad bout of the mount misbehaving. After the reinstall, it's back to normal.

I'm not an engineer so I can't say I know for sure what the problem is but from my experience as a user I think it's some leftover bugs in the software.

Having said all of this. The mount with the Impero (wired and wireless), i-data, and all of my lenses have been operating very well for the last couple of weeks.

I would try to reinstall the Birger software and perhaps the Impero software and see how it goes and keep reporting the results to Birger.

BTW as of this date 11/9/09
RED BETA 21.1.2 and Birger Software 20d & Impero software 2.1
definitely seem to give the best overall operation and stability.

Hope this helps.

For ways of vastly improving Bluetooth operation with the Birger mount and the Impero, check this thread.
Good info here.
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=36706

Brian Timmons
 
Hello Brian,

I never invested in the Impero so as far as I can tell the Birger software upgrades does not apply to myself and others who are going solo, so to speak. I'd really hate to have to shelf this thing and take a $1300 bath, but unless somebody can offer a solution I see no other choice.
 
Hey Joe,

True the Impero software won't help in your situation. You still might consider reinstalling the Birger software for the mount. I can only recommend what worked for me.
Understand that when I say the "Birger software" I mean the latest Canon EF-232 Lens Library (version 20d)
not the BEI software you download to your computer though it won't hurt to get the latest version of that too.
They do increase stability.

Definitely follow up with Birger as well. Both Erik and Ken have been quite responsive to problems.
I hope you find a solution soon.

Brian Timmons
 
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Joe Taylor said:
Hello Brian,

I never invested in the Impero so as far as I can tell the Birger software upgrades does not apply to myself and others who are going solo, so to speak. I'd really hate to have to shelf this thing and take a $1300 bath, but unless somebody can offer a solution I see no other choice.
Click to expand...

Seems obvious, but have you contacted Birger? They can help you trouble shoot and determine if the mount needs to go back to be tested to see if it is a hardware problem.
 
Hello Michael,

Calls and emails have been sent to Erik and I am waiting out for a reply.
 
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