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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 :)

GROUP BUY: Cinegears Wireless Follow Focus Christmas Special!

I think there are issues, but Chris this isn't your fault and you shouldn't feel bad, you've been very proactive on this buy.
The guys at Cinegears needs to resolve the communication. I have been told the replacement motor is getting sent out, but no mention of Customs, missing parts in my kit etc and if and when ill get the missing parts and what the situation is regarding customs. I dont want to be hit again for a replacement motor.

Hopefully it will all come good in the end though :)
 
It's not Chris fault. My experience with Steven at the beginning was some of the best communication from ANY supplier.. That was until the communication got bad, then the purchase went to crap.

So I got a refund for my first order due to B.S. Unfortunately what's panning out here is "normal" in my experience.

Hopefully these communications AND supply problems get sorted out. From the beginning I've been deliberately waiting till the last minute to pay, that way I see what the issues are and if cinegars respond with action. Turns out it was a good call.
 
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Hi everyone, I understand that some of you might have issues or questions regarding your purchase, please kindly sent me an email to sales@cinegears.com with details, and we will put every effort to solve your issue.
I apologize for any miscommunication or delay that you might experience as our office closes during holiday time and I am the only one responding to all of the inquiries right now.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.

The remaining Accessories included in your order will be shipped at first week of January 2015.

I wish everyone a happy new year!
 
Hi everyone, I understand that some of you might have issues or questions regarding your purchase, please kindly sent me an email to sales@cinegears.com with details, and we will put every effort to solve your issue.
I apologize for any miscommunication or delay that you might experience as our office closes during holiday time and I am the only one responding to all of the inquiries right now.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.

The remaining Accessories included in your order will be shipped at first week of January 2015.

I wish everyone a happy new year!

Steven thanks for each reply you did when i asked you something. Good communications, clear reply, I appreciated it :)

I wish you a happy new year and for the Cinegears staff too !

Alex
 
Thanks Steven. I just send my 3rd email to you this morning - haven't heard back from you on the last two emails. Handful of issues that I hope we can resolve - D tap and noisy motor. Thanks
 
Just got call from DHL to pay customs on the replacement motor sent out to me, not overly impressed by all of this i must say.
 
Steven,
Will you please make a public announcement here on the board of where we stand? How many of the core units (motor, controller, etc.) have been shipped? We were told that the USA orders would be shipped from the US, thus avoiding any customs fees. Is this the case? I received a shipping notice saying the product was shipped on 12/19/2014, but with no tracking number. If it was shipped in the United States, this is too long. Where are we in the process?
Jim
 
Steven,
I received a shipping notice saying the product was shipped on 12/19/2014, but with no tracking number. If it was shipped in the United States, this is too long. Where are we in the process?
Jim

Was it a FULL shipping notice or a notice that the waybill had been electronically created but the item not dropped off/picked up?
 
THIS IS WHAT I RECEIVED (leaving out my address information):

This automated e-mail serves as confirmation that your order has been shipped.

Shipping Summary
----------------

Invoice #: 0000001314

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Qty | Item # | Description | Date Shipped | Tracking #
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 | DI-GROUP-0001 | CINEGEARS Special Group Deal - Customize | 12/19/2014 |
| Wireless Follow Focus
Controller: Express Plus
Motor: Standard
RED Trigger: Yes
Bracket Size: 15mm
Additional Power Cable: Yes
SonyFS700/BMCC/URSA REC Trigger(LANC): Yes
Quick Releasing Sony L Serie Battery Plate
for Controller: Yes
Shipping: USA/CANADA
 
Jim,
My last two emails have been that way, and I've been told tracking is coming later. Tracking number never arrives, BUT usually within a few days DHL contact me in the UK ofr customs.
So, i think if you get that email its pretty good an indication it should be shipped, i could be wrong, but in my case ( twice) it has been.

Andrew.
 
THIS IS WHAT I RECEIVED (leaving out my address information):

This automated e-mail serves as confirmation that your order has been shipped.

Shipping Summary
----------------

Invoice #: 0000001314

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Qty | Item # | Description | Date Shipped | Tracking #
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 | DI-GROUP-0001 | CINEGEARS Special Group Deal - Customize | 12/19/2014 |
| Wireless Follow Focus
Controller: Express Plus
Motor: Standard
RED Trigger: Yes
Bracket Size: 15mm
Additional Power Cable: Yes
SonyFS700/BMCC/URSA REC Trigger(LANC): Yes
Quick Releasing Sony L Serie Battery Plate
for Controller: Yes
Shipping: USA/CANADA

That looks like internal DIYFilmtools email not a courier email.

Back in October I was told mine had shipped (but it hadn't) so unless you see something official from DHL or whoever AND that official thing says it HAS been picked up (not just had a tracking number generated online) then I wouldn't hold your breath.
 
Stephen, when does the 60 day money back guarantee start? Do I have 60 days from when I paid or when I actually receive my full order? Also if you can, would love a tracking number on my motor.
 
Got mine over a week ago, although a couple random pieces were missing. Like I got two 19mm rod clamps instead of the one 15mm clamp I ordered, and no p-tap splitter but I called Stephen and he quickly sorted me out. So check your packages when they arrive. Also he didn't even ask for those 19mm clamps back, which would be fair.
I have to say the unit works pretty darn well, I just don't really like the manual calibration for still lenses. Why not set the close focus and infinity points with the handwheel? As Ive done, it you press one button to make the motor rotate to the infinity point but it just keeps going till you set the point...it required really good timing and it's hard to make it accurate. Am I doing it wrong?
 
So Steven said all orders should have been shipped...missing accessories getting shipped this week hopefully.

Got mine over a week ago, although a couple random pieces were missing. Like I got two 19mm rod clamps instead of the one 15mm clamp I ordered, and no p-tap splitter but I called Stephen and he quickly sorted me out. So check your packages when they arrive. Also he didn't even ask for those 19mm clamps back, which would be fair.
I have to say the unit works pretty darn well, I just don't really like the manual calibration for still lenses. Why not set the close focus and infinity points with the handwheel? As Ive done, it you press one button to make the motor rotate to the infinity point but it just keeps going till you set the point...it required really good timing and it's hard to make it accurate. Am I doing it wrong?

Glad you're happy Alex. I think we could make a firmware request to have the manual calibration be done via the focus knob, as I agree, that would make things easier. You could also barely tap the C and D buttons as you're doing the calibration, and it will go slowly, as opposed to holding it for a second and it going all the way around by itself.
 
I am finding that this unit is pretty flaky. I have three focus points set, I can switch between them however about 50% of the button presses do not register. I will press "A" once and nothing will happen, then I'll press it again and point "A" will come in focus. Even worse, at random times the ability to use the focus wheel will just stop. I might press "A" or another point, the lens will focus to that preset, but then the wheel is disabled. I can correct this if I press one of the preset buttons again but otherwise the wheel is just dead. I have also seen this mode occur after an automatic lens cal -- the calibration completes but then the focus wheel is dead.

Is anyone else seeing this? I am thinking about returning it. Even if this is user error of some sort it is just too easy to get into a non-responsive mode.
 
I just don't really like the manual calibration for still lenses. Why not set the close focus and infinity points with the handwheel? As Ive done, it you press one button to make the motor rotate to the infinity point but it just keeps going till you set the point...it required really good timing and it's hard to make it accurate. Am I doing it wrong?

I think if you re-map the controller, rather than mapping the lens, you will get what you are asking for. Check this video at about 4:30. It seems like a better alternative to mapping the lens to me.
 
I am finding that this unit is pretty flaky. I have three focus points set, I can switch between them however about 50% of the button presses do not register. I will press "A" once and nothing will happen, then I'll press it again and point "A" will come in focus. Even worse, at random times the ability to use the focus wheel will just stop. I might press "A" or another point, the lens will focus to that preset, but then the wheel is disabled. I can correct this if I press one of the preset buttons again but otherwise the wheel is just dead. I have also seen this mode occur after an automatic lens cal -- the calibration completes but then the focus wheel is dead.

Is anyone else seeing this? I am thinking about returning it. Even if this is user error of some sort it is just too easy to get into a non-responsive mode.

How are you powering your motor? Also, how much pressure do you have from the motor onto the lens? It should barely come into contract with the gear...make sure you're not applying too much force as that will send the motor out of commission.
 
I think the power and pressure are fine, as I said the motor works great in moving to the focus points. It works great in those modes. What does not work is turning the knob. I have tested without the lens attached as well and it still has the same issue.
 
I think it's better to map the lens. Especially on a stills lens that doesn't have hard stops at either end. I was just doing it wrong, the combination of long press and short press makes it much easier. Overall I've found the accuracy/repeatability of the presets is quite good, as is the range. I was controlling the motor from outside while the camera was inside and upstairs...so if the signal can punch through a house...that's pretty good. Not many bad things I can say about it, although I ended up getting the high torque version and it is a bit louder than i was hoping. Also you do need to check your packages as they arrive. As I mentioned above, I was sent two 19mm clamps when I ordered one 15mm...anyway I got the 15mm one in my hands yesterday and it was broken...so I just had to use pieces from one of my free 19mm ones....In the end I'm all good, but I do recommend that everyone check everything thoroughly when they get it.
 
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