Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • 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 :)

matte box with long valley equip 15mm rods

I noticed you have the two stage CF legs from Miller. How do you like them? I have the same set as a backup, typically getting used on lighter camera setups (HVX/EX1) but have heard them poorly handling RED weight on the second stage.
 
Love the CF2 sticks - we rarely use the second stage (I assume that means the 3'rd, single rod extension, rather than the initial, double stick extension) - its quite tall just with the first extension set. We almost always use either no extension or single extension - shooting dolly, jib and ground shots of action sports, low shots seem to be the rule. But the key is adjusting tension on the releases for all the legs/stages. I think other users ignore or miss that adjustability, and its not tight out of the box.

The 2nd and 3rd stage locks were too "loose" out of the box and would crush, but its very easy to adjust the tension on any stage / leg to be as tight as you desire - this fixed the problem 100%. Never had a bug. I can literally sit on top of the sticks at any extension setting and they don't move once adjusted. These sticks are ROCK solid - we were in very high winds with the setup on the photos last week, dead solid. WE've also shot timelapse in high winds, where slight movement would be a killer, dead stable. Can't say enough about the product. Wish it were lighter...
 
Hey Afogel -

Thanks for the nice review of our gear!!

In the photo on my website, I'm using some dirt cheap and very lightweight accessories. One is a JBK Cinequipt follow focus. Had some play in it when I got it but I was able to eliminate quite a bit by tapping the gears together. I think it cost me $250 or so. It's made of delrin or similar plastic and is very light. Works OK. The matte box is one of those that you see on eBay from India. I got it and six 4 x 4 trays for about $350. It's flippy floppy - the bracket that holds it to the rods is flexible plastic, and I keep waiting for something to go wrong with it but it has held up fine. Very lightweight. I now have a tray for all my most used filters which makes changing from one to another very fast. I think the matte box is sold by someone here in the states as well, anyone know? I might remake the floppy bracket but having some flexibility can often prevent something from snapping. So I'll wait and see.

I have a RED handle and 15mm adapter on my rods with a special bracket that I made in between them, but my new set up has a later style Arri blade type grip, which is my favorite. I might try to stuff an Origo into it. Would love to have that beep sound to let me know what's going on. I miss the whirr from shooting film - told me exactly when I was running.
 
Hi Douglas

Almost ready to buy your LWS system, but it's not quite what I want as it is. For one of my lenses I need a rod length of 6.5 inches to take account of the barrel extension when zooming.

I think it'd be great if, as well as the current bundle, you could offer all the parts separately, and more choice of rod lengths all with male and female threads, sold in pairs.

That way everyone could make up their preferred rod lengths.

Suggested rod lengths would be 4.0", 3.5" and 2.5" [ EDIT: Actually 4.0", 3.0" 2.5" gives better series of combinations. See later post below! ].

A bundle of these three lengths could give a complete versatile series of combined rod lengths of 2.5, 3.5, 4.0, 6.0, 6.5, 7.5 inches. Buying one of these lengths as an additional pair could make some inbetween lengths, and longer ones too.

Also just noted that the Lemo power cable for my Birger EF mount may physically clash with the body bracket. It'll probably fit, but may need to take the body bracket off to attach and detach the connector - a real shame as this system is a natural combination with the lighter weight stills lenses. I wonder if the two rod mounting sockets can be made a little shorter without compromising strength? The length would need to be 1.85cm or less from the RED body front plate to allow the Lemo to connect cleanly without strain.
 
Eric

We currently sell 7.5 inch rods (comes with the bracket) and 2.5 inch rods. They both have female and male ends so that 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 inches are possible.
We may make other lengths as you say if there is a demand. I don't quite understand how the lemo on the Birger interferes with the bracket. Do you have a photo to share?
 
I, and at least two posts on page 2 of this thread imply they want a rod length that lies in between 5 and 7.5 inches (2.5" is too big a gap). With the current available lengths that's impossible to achieve. But I understand the need to gauge demand.

The issue is with certain lens lengths, and the rods hitting the sunshade or rear rotating tray if a 4x5.65 or 4x6 filter is used of a LWS mattebox. The rod lengths need to match lenses quite closely for it all to work, especially with the more varied lengths of stills lenses us indies want to use and some of the zooms which change barrel length significantly.

Here are some pictures illustrating the potential Birger Lemo clearance issue - I don't know the exact dimensions of your bracket, but it looks like it will prevent the Lemo attachment/detachment.
 
Actually rod lengths 4.0", 3.0" and 2.5" is better as they leave no gaps bigger than 0.5 inches in the 5 to 7.5 inch range!

A bundle of these three lengths (without the 7.5 inch rods to keep price down) could give a completely versatile series of combined rod lengths of 2.5, 3.0, 4.0, 5.5, 6.5, 7.0, 9.5 inches. Buying one of these lengths or the 7.5 as an additional pair could make some inbetween lengths 5.0, 6.0, 7.5, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0 and longer ones too.
 
Thanks for the photos, Eric.

I've had two requests for different rod lengths so far. Might do that.

As for the Birger Lemo - there are right angle Lemos. Or, our Lightweight Support could be cut to make clearance for the straight Lemo. Looks like the straight Lemo clears the 15mm rod in the picture, so our support could be cut far enough so as not to interfere with the cable on the straight Lemo.
 
Ok, will check out the right angle Lemos! May be the best solution as it looks like it might weaken your bracket to cut into it.

The straight Lemo does just barely clear the 15mm rod, and the cable is flexible. But if your bracket extends past 1.85cm in front of the camera, the rigid Lemo shell probably won't be able to be inserted or extracted without removing the bracket first, so it would be great if your bracket can be shortened or modified to allow for it without compromising its strength!
 
Mine completely bumped the lemo and could not be installed. How did you get it even snug? Also, where can we get a right angle?
 
Avenger007 said:
Mine completely bumped the lemo and could not be installed. How did you get it even snug? Also, where can we get a right angle?
Click to expand...

I haven't bought the Long Valley LWS yet for this reason and the rod lengths, as I guessed it would happen from seeing where LWS rods would exit the camera body. Looks like you've confirmed this!

I found what I believe is the correct Lemo part number for a right-angle. Unfortunately, I haven't found any dealers who stock it in the UK yet!

I think the part number is: FHG.0B.304.CLAD52, and will want the larger collets part number FGG.0B.752.DN (or possibly largest FGG.0B.756.DN), and collet nut without stain relief FGG.0B.130.LC (or possibly largest FGG.0B.132.LC), but still looking into it. It's also being talked about on the Birger thread, and Erik might be looking into supplying a right-angle version of the cable.

See:
http://www.lemo.com/display_product_detail.do?partNum=FHG0B304CLAD52
or
http://www.lemo.com/display_product_detail.do?partNum=FHG0B304CLAD56
 
Eric, have you found a solution to make the Birger mount work in association with Doug's LWS? I'm in the same boat and it seems they would make for a very nice lightweight combination if we could figure out a solution. Otherwise I've been thinking of using Allstar's lightweight dovetail plate with 15mm clamp. But I'd rather not have to use a dovetail at all if possible.
 
Not yet Steven. Going to call Lemo on Tuesday after the Easter Holiday to see who stocks those particular connectors locally/in the EU. But I agree, this would make a great lightweight solution.
 
If the right angle Lemo doesn't solve the problem, perhaps someone with a Birger would like to stop by and I can take a look? I think it's possible to clearance the Lightweight support to make it work.
 
I'm missing something probably, but I have a Birger mount on right now, with Doug's/LVE's lightweight adapter, and its fine. I'm using the straight lemo power cable Birger supplied, it just misses the LVE rod receiver, cable touches it, but fine. The antenna is a different issue of course, but....
 
Photos of my Birger Working Well with LVE Plate/Rods

Photos of my Birger Working Well with LVE Plate/Rods

Here ya go - works fine. Yes, the cable touches and is slightly bent by the LVE adapter, but its not at all problematic - I can plug and unplug the stock Lemo that came with Birger no problem. No need for 90 adapter in my book.

(odd side note, I always feel sort of guilty about the dust on my red rig when I shoot it for examples like this - like I'm not showing my baby off well! - it spends it life outside in dust, snow and other wild locations, shes tough, oh yes she is.)

Not so odd note - I have gaffers tape over the gap between the Birger and body to keep dust out - that gap is not bueno, as noted in other threads. For that matter, I have gaff over everything. :thumbsup:
 
Afogel said:
Here ya go - works fine. Yes, the cable touches and is slightly bent by the LVE adapter, but its not at all problematic - I can plug and unplug the stock Lemo that came with Birger no problem. No need for 90 adapter in my book...
Click to expand...

Well that's good news! It looks like it would be really tight and awkward to plug and unplug still.

Avenger007 said:
Mine completely bumped the lemo and could not be installed. How did you get it even snug? Also, where can we get a right angle?
Click to expand...

Avenger seems to think it does interfere though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top