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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 :)

FS: Viewfactor Impero/Inclino three motor kit

Tony Lorentzen

Tony Lorentzen

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I am taking offers for this system and depending on the offers I will decide whether or not I want to sell it or not.

I want to be completely honest and say that the current status of the system just doesn't cut it for me. The motors aren't strong enough for my lenses and the (current) limited functions of the system and the bugs it has makes me think I'd be better off with a normal follow focus and rent a wireless system when I need it. My reason for buying into the Viewfactor was that I had hoped it could be an alternative to a regular follow focus, which it isn't (for me, that is).

As described - this is a three motor kit in the case with custom cut foam, with four bus cables (two long and two short) and one DTAP power cable (not depicted below). Everything else is there: transmitter, receiver, antennas, 7 marking rings, batteries and USB adapter (for software upgrades). Missing are two kits of gears and a bracket for mounting the Impero to rods, which I should receive shortly. If someone picks this up before I get the missing items then I'll let Viewfactor know where to send them instead.

I know this is not the best way to sell the system, but I don't want to be dishonest. Consider this an "in-the-making" system. I'm sure it will get there eventually (with software upgrades), but right now I need something that works every time.

I'm looking to get at least the same price as it's selling for on viewfactor.net - which is $5.484 USD. PM me any offers.
 

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Guido - I wasn't looking to inspire anybody. This system works - just not the way I had hoped for and I can't wait for the right software upgrades to be released who-knows-when. I'd rather be completely honest and not sell, than claim everything's dandy and sell it to someone who might feel I've betrayed them. My mom told me to be honest in life; sorry - can't help it.
 
Yes, does sound odd. I thought the VF motors were about the best thing going for them. If you say they aren't strong enough for your lenses then that is rather worrying. No firmware fix is really likely too resolve this, sounds like a hardware issue.

Paul
 
Well, I tried Tonys kit with our Ultra primes, at room temp and the system was not performing....it stopped working at modereate focus pulls.
The UP's are not as buttery smooth as a Masterprime or cooke s4, but much easier to work with than an old superspeed at freezing temps.
 
Yep, did a test with one, and found it "good for the price" but mostly not-good-enough.
Just canceled my order.
 
As Anders said. I've tried the motors on Ultra primes, ZF lenses (with Redrock Micro lens gears) and with the RED Pro Primes. I have no doubt the motors will run the Cookes and Master primes without problems. I'm sure Curt can adjust the power draw limit with a software upgrade.
 
It's working, but it's just not as reliable as I had hoped for, but I really hope Curt can adjust this with a software upgrade. It seems like it's working right on the edge of the limit of how much power the motors are allowed to draw. But I still think they aren't strong enough for Ultra primes and Std. speeds.

I'll post a video tomorrow and you can judge for yourself :-)
 
I want to be completely honest and say that the current status of the system just doesn't cut it for me. The motors aren't strong enough for my lenses...
Click to expand...

Hi Tony

Would you be willing to estimate, in terms of %, how close to "acceptable" the power is?

Please give a % estimate for the lemo and a separate % estimate for the D-tap (I'm under the impression that there should be a noticeable difference).


Thanks in advance
 
I'm getting a lot of private messages from worried Viewfactor customers. Let me make things clear. I have absolutely no intention of burning Curt or Viewfactor with this post. The Impero/Inclino is a great system in terms of price/performance and I'm absolutely sure that Curt is going to fix these issues with either a software update or a hardware fix. Looks to me like he's 90% there, but... As of writing this I'm not getting the performance from the system that I had hoped for and I can't wait any longer for this system to be perfected. I wish I could afford to put the system on the shelf and wait another 6 months (or whatever it's going to take) and then be a happy customer, but I need something that works now and not in a week, two weeks or months from now.

Curt has made a lot of promises in the past - some haven't been kept within the given timeframe. The man is obviously not good at giving estimates, but he sure doesn't deserve to be called some of the things he's been called in other threads. In the end Curt has bent himself to help me out and has been nothing but helpful when I've had problems. He has shipped me several versions of the impero/inclino at his own expense and he's meant well every time, but nevertheless - the wait for me is over. I'm moving on... I don't need a beta product on a real shoot. I need something that works without problems and glitches.
 
Tony, can you be more specific on the performance issues. Are you experiencing the problems powering this with the LEMO cable connecting to the RED or with the DTAP cable powering with a standalone battery. Also, other than the MPs, does it perform well with other lenses? Thanks
 
Michael - I have only tried the Viewfactor with Ultra primes, Zeiss ZF lenses and my RED primes, but I'm quite sure it will work fine with lenses like the Master primes, Cooke S4's and possibly some Angenieux lenses (as they're considerably smoother than the others). I will make a video tomorrow when my RED returns from a rental job and then you can see what the problem is for yourself.
 
Michael Panfeld said:
Tony, can you be more specific on the performance issues. Are you experiencing the problems powering this with the LEMO cable connecting to the RED or with the DTAP cable powering with a standalone battery.
Click to expand...

When I had Tony's system in my hands, we powered it with a D-tap cable straight off a tiffen powercube V-lock battery with an unfused IDX v-lock bracket.
This battery setup should manage a peak power of 10A.

It did seem to work ok until a resonable fast move, then the motor or reciever shut down.
 
Tony Lorentzen said:
I'm getting a lot of private messages from worried Viewfactor customers. Let me make things clear. I have absolutely no intention of burning Curt or Viewfactor with this post. The Impero/Inclino is a great system in terms of price/performance and I'm absolutely sure that Curt is going to fix these issues with either a software update or a hardware fix. Looks to me like he's 90% there, but... As of writing this I'm not getting the performance from the system that I had hoped for and I can't wait any longer for this system to be perfected. I wish I could afford to put the system on the shelf and wait another 6 months (or whatever it's going to take) and then be a happy customer, but I need something that works now and not in a week, two weeks or months from now.

Curt has made a lot of promises in the past - some haven't been kept within the given timeframe. The man is obviously not good at giving estimates, but he sure doesn't deserve to be called some of the things he's been called in other threads. In the end Curt has bent himself to help me out and has been nothing but helpful when I've had problems. He has shipped me several versions of the impero/inclino at his own expense and he's meant well every time, but nevertheless - the wait for me is over. I'm moving on... I don't need a beta product on a real shoot. I need something that works without problems and glitches.
Click to expand...

You might be right sadly, with all the problems cropping up it might be time
to throw in the towel.
 
Can i swear on here?

This is seriously bad news, i don't particularly want gear that works on some but only some lenses.

I also am holding on to the hope that when mine comes it is fine...after such a long trip i'm kinda trying to hang in until the end and see it through. Besides, i parted a long time ago with my $ so it doesn't even feel like i even had it in the first place.

Anyway, i should be putting this on the other thread.

Good luck with selling the VF kit Tony, and thank you for the straight review and honesty. Not all would do that when selling gear.
 
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