NEW FF+ Cine Lenses... For DRAGON... In the works...

[Ketch Rossi]

Seen it before Kacey, as well as how they make the Master Primes, and the Leica glass (various types, and actually hope to be able to bring a couple of Shot on Epic vids form the new Leica Head Quarter, or depending on timing at list form the current head quarter of the making of the Leica Summilux Cine Primes, plus a little surprise form an other NEW Cine Lens Maker...


Exactly David, some times we are too quick to judge on prices without truly understanding not only the ingredients, but what it takes and what is going on behind the scenes, in the making of Cine Glass.

In al honesty, even I, which I do know a bit about Still glass and cine glass, had no true idea of the complex process and delicacy and precision and time that goes in to making great Cine Glass, and just in recent years since my interest to design my own set of Cine Primes, I came to find out how truly difficult of a process it is, and found a new sense of appreciation for Lens Manufacturers.

 

[PC Greene]

An ambitious and exciting venture Ketch.

There is obviously a pressing need for very high quality, fast, small, light, and hopefully electronic controlled (thus automat able) lenses. I'd guess the most likely path forward would be to make a deal with an existing company (as you are) and see if they'd build a "Ketch Rossi" line with your input. Best of luck!

PCG

 

[Maz Mawlawi]

RED did a good job with their RPPs...except they were heavy.I believe you can do it as well Ketch. Exciting for sure! You should find who RED used for their lenses...
Looking forward to your achievement !

 

[Ketch Rossi]

An ambitious and exciting venture Ketch.

There is obviously a pressing need for very high quality, fast, small, light, and hopefully electronic controlled (thus automat able) lenses. I'd guess the most likely path forward would be to make a deal with an existing company (as you are) and see if they'd build a "Ketch Rossi" line with your input. Best of luck!

PCG

Thanks PC!


FINALLY!!

Some one that truly understands and posts exactly what I am doing here!

Despite the fact that they are several lens manufacturing companies out there, very capable of doing a fantastic job themselves without any outsider's input, they are also Lens Manufacturing companies, that despite how big they already are do welcome new input as did Leica with their new Summilux Cine Primes.

For me, even so I did had the intention to goo full out on them and start from scratch as the first of several projects in line with our Technology section of the Company, I decided that after waiting around and seen my dreams and goal been pushed further out i years, it was time to just seek out collaborative aid from some one already in existence and that is when I started contacting existing Lens Manufacturers companies to whom present the opportunity to do just that, a "Ketch Rossi" edition of one of their existing products or in the creation of a new one.

I am happy to report that I have found several "4 to be exact" such companies wishing to make such a collaborative work come to life, and now it is just a matter of me making the trips ot each of their manufacturing bases and discuss in detail what is that I want and what is that they already have as far as R&D and or design and how we can proceed forward under a strict NAD of course, and bring to life ASAP this new set of FF+ set of new Cine lenses.

RED did a good job with their RPPs...except they were heavy.I believe you can do it as well Ketch. Exciting for sure! You should find who RED used for their lenses...
Looking forward to your achievement !

Thanks Maz!

 

[Les Hillis]

I thought your saying you were going to make your own cine lenses sounded crazy at first, but that was just due to my own lack of knowledge in the matter, and when you explained in more detail what you're trying to do, it made more sense.

I didn't know it was possible to work with established lens designers and manufacturers to make custom lenses, or that you'd already researched how to go about it. Still sounds like a lot of work, but not impossible. Hopefully you can get something organized and find enough buyers to make it viable. In any case, it would be interesting to be kept up to date here with details of your progress.

Oh, and...'Ketch Pro Primes'...Just sayin. Just putting it out there, lol. :biggrin:

 

[Ketch Rossi]

There is still a plan in the works to build a "Brand New" set of Cine primes, but this is not what I am doing here, that project has been put to sleep till I have my Lab open some time in the near future.

This is a collaborative effort with my self and an established Lens Manufacturer.

As of today I have already talked and heard back details from several companies, few of them which are amongst the world's most renown lens manufacturers, have couple more to go to get things were I can then decide exactly whom to do this project with.

I am awaiting from the CEO and Marketing Director of a German Len sManufacturer to return from Summer vacation to make my trip to their Factory in Germany and I'll be headed there in person, and while it would have been cool to see their new to be Head Quarters, I can not delay this project, I will not delay it any longer then I already have, so I will be content to see them at work in their current Head Quarters.


The trick here for me, as I explained in an other post, is that not only for this collaboration to work, the lens manufacturer must be capable to produce a fantastic set of Cine Lenses to please my specs, design and overall price range, but also most importantly they must be capable to allow for a very fast finalization of R&D and development, which means that we'll make use of some of what they already have done extensive R&D on it, coupled with my own, and bring to life a new set of Cine Primes with a large FF+ image circle to cover sensors such as the DRAGON and beyond.


Two such lens manufacturers which I would have loved collaborating with, unfortunately while on one hand are surprisingly very eager to do this with me, have absolutely no possibility to bring a new set of lenses to life before two years time, as they are already working full time on their current machine shops and assembly lines with products already in the market, so we would be talking 6 months just to set up a new space to work in, then and other 6 months to set up and finish all parts, and no less then 1 year to get them out to the world.

Good news is that there are few options currently in open discussion which could cut those time frames in half, and that is what I am looking for, as I intend not to pass the 1 year mark to deliver the first sets of this new cine lenses to their costumers, my self been first in line.

I'll continue to report progress as I go, but for obvious reason I will continue to keep private whom I am actually talking to, unless the Manufacturer them selves tell me it is okay to make any info public, you have no idea what heavy NDA's look like, I tough I did, since I have been under several NDA's for the past years, but go and discuss business proposals with some of this global giants and you'll be re-introduce to what an NDA really is... Wow!


One thing I can say is this, that form the smallest guy to the biggest guys, such as Zeiss, Leica, and few others, no matter the email body in question, they have been extremely responsive and never too quick to answer till the email got forwarded to the top tier in charge of what ever I emailed them about, and that is refreshing to see, and very honoring to one self to see even the biggest giants respond and take the proper time for considerations, and I like to thank them again for their courtesy and prompt responses and continue to look forward to the process to follow with some of them till a collaborative deal is signed with one of them, or possibly even with multiples for different Lens projects.

 

[Lee Saxon]

You can only use Kickstarter if you have prototypes built already.

Where'd you get that idea? More product design Kickstarters don't than do.

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Update...

Update...

Looks like with only one more trip to Germany, and one meeting in the USA, we are now down to the last 4 companies with whom I might end up signing up for this Lens Collaborative work...

It is surely not an easy task that which I tucked upon myself, but it is looking good after each meeting, well, not after each of them, as some of them go on the south side of bitter sour taste, as some seem that they just don't want an other NEW lens Manufacturer emerging... Yet they resist bringing new well made FF+ Cine glass decently priced.

Good news is that 3 out of 4 have the possibility to bring to life a Cine Set with my specifications by 2014...

 

[Antoine Fabi]

Hi Ketch,

That would be great really!
What do you consider reasonable pricing?

Thanks

Antoine

 

[Ketch Rossi]

What I mean Antoine is that some manufactures resent the fact that companies such as Canon, and Zeiss have brought Still glass rehoused in Cine 'Like" bodies, full of flows, yet at such cheap price in the 5k per lens, and resent even more that Schneider amongst few others like Sony, have entered the Cine glass arena with such cheap glass, to them cheap both on price and over all lens qualities.

What my goal stands is to bring high quality true FF+ Large Image Circle Cine Glass offering an in-between form the Top Leica Summilux C, Arri/Zeiss Master Primes type Cine Glass to that of which I just mentioned before end, while providing impeccable craftsmanship, well built, beautiful design, perfect and precise Focus Markings, well controlled artifacts i the overall list of knowns, have them ready ASAP, meaning by 2014, with a strong presence at NAB 2014, and form the Wide to the Telephoto have them priced well below 10k per lens.


That to me would be considered "Reasonable Pricing" in fact that would be "VERY" reasonable pricing for such Cine Glass, and of course with so much cheap Cine want to be glass around this days, it might not seem so, yet I urge to leave any decisions till you see an actual prototype at work and first reviews and both still images and motion picture imagery starts rolling out with experience users reviews.

 

[Antoine Fabi]

Thanks Ketch,

A "well below 10K per lens" would indeed be great for such a quality lens

 

[Brandon J.F.]

Where'd you get that idea? More product design Kickstarters don't than do.

From Kickstarter. It's a somewhat recent change.

Projects must show details (photos, videos, sketches) of their progress so far, along with a prototype demonstrating the product's current functionality. Projects must explain how the final design is likely to differ from the prototype, and include a production plan (i.e., how you're going to make it) and an estimated timeline.

http://www.kickstarter.com/help/guidelines

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Well, now two of 4 companies with whom I might strike a final collaborative deal for the production of this lenses, will have a Prototype lens ready for me to shoot with before the end of the year, so if should we decide to go the Kickstarter route we are good with their policy too.

And in all honesty it makes sense that it is so, as IMO gives just a more clear prospect of what it is to come when some one pledges for it, instead then just been on paper, and of course minor changes are understood to happen in the process, or big ones if in favor of the Pledge's makers.

Fact is I can't wait to have a deal signed and the process started were the lens gets to be exactly were I wanted to be and show it off to you guys.

I must say that the two that I have seen already (not yet usable to shoot) are impressive, and the changes needed should I choose to collaborate with either or, are not many yet imperative that they are made...

However, I have been contacted by yet an other company that will be a new kid in the block as far as Cine Lenses, yet so far by our communications I am pleased of what I am hearing, and as soon as I will see them in person and sign an NDA I will be able to know all about it and have yet an other possible way of bringing this project to life...

So, stay tuned...

 

[Medavoym]

This feels like great project. My best wishes!

Ketch - just curious, as far as the collaboration with a big lens manufacturer is concerned - what will you bring to the table, specifically?

Funds? Expertise?

Good luck and I hope to hear some good news soon.
Thanks!

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Thanks!

As I am under NDA and not yet finished a final deal were I have chosen the company I'll collaborate with, I can no t release any info about it as to not compromise a forthcoming agreement.

But I can tell you that is not "Funds", what I have already spend in the past years in R&D of the various Cine gear is enough to share and bring results to the table, and the chosen Manufacturer needs to show financials capabilities to be able to conclude the R&D and delivery of the goods, but no matter what we'll be engaging in a Pre-Order and possibly a Kickstarter campaign to do that.

However till a final deal is closed with the chosen manufacturer/s I can not say were we'll take this, other then REDUSER will benefit first of this collaboration, then all else will get their chance to get the lenses, and even if we should go to Kickstarter I'll be sure to give REDUSER first option here, then take it to Kickstarter should we chose to do so.

 

[Ketch Rossi]

UPDATE 31

UPDATE 31

Well, with yesterday's meeting here in LA, I have completed the talks with the various companies and Lens Manufacturers and now I need to make a final decision to whom do this with...

It looks good, it in fact looks very good, especially with two of this companies which have also done a great amount of R&D, and have a fantastic capacity to produce amazing GLASS and Mechanics to fit my specifications, and together with what I have been doing in the past 6 years in R&D, my Passion, Love and experience with lenses we have a very good chance to bring to life an amazing new set of FF+ Cine Lenses!!


Stay tuned for more... Just sign up for it if you wish, but do not expect any news for awhile, need some time to Choose my partner company in this amazing new Venture, figure out all legal aspect of it, get Designs done, start Prototyping and then BRING OUT THE NEWS!!

 

[Christopher Probst]

No offense intended here, Ketch, but what exactly do you bring to a lens manufacturer other than every-day end-user opinions? We all have specific likes and dislikes of various lenses on the market... Some of us take even those opinions even a step further and try to get more into understand the design nuances of the lenses we like and why, but that hardly qualifies us as lens designers...

Now I have done my fair share of studying into cine optics and the more I dig into the topic, the more daunted I am at how little I really know... I'm a heavy tech-nerd and tweaker and I'm even involved in a few redesign/rehousing projects of various lenses from the ground up... and while I have myt own opinions and some influence on what parameters are addressed in my redesign, it's mostly because I will be funding some of that redesign and not for my technical "prowess" amongst the actual optical engineers, lens technicians and other truly qualified individuals...

I think all of manufacturers get the idea that their lenses should look "sexy"... I just fail to find the upside of any serious lens manufacturer having to defer their years of design effort and skills to a random end user with an opinion. Now I really don't want to sound harsh, but it's just as simple as that. If they are willing to hear what you have to say, that's great. And more power to you for going after it and getting their attention. I guess I'm just not familiar with any of your work to warrant a "Ketch Rossi" set of lenses... I've looked at your links and for the life of me, have you shot anything I can see?

I know you're working on a short film soon, and that's awesome. Could you just help me understand why a "Ketch Rossi" set of lenses needs your stamp of approval? I certainly have opinions on lenses but I don't think I deserve a Christopher Probst signitature set of glass... I just feel that would be way presumptuous and slightly a little pretentious of me...

 

[Jiri Vrozina]

:willy_nilly:

No offense intended here, Ketch, but what exactly do you bring to a lens manufacturer other than every-day end-user opinions? We all have specific likes and dislikes of various lenses on the market... Some of us take even those opinions even a step further and try to get more into understand the design nuances of the lenses we like and why, but that hardly qualifies us as lens designers...

Now I have done my fair share of studying into cine optics and the more I dig into the topic, the more daunted I am at how little I really know... I'm a heavy tech-nerd and tweaker and I'm even involved in a few redesign/rehousing projects of various lenses from the ground up... and while I have myt own opinions and some influence on what parameters are addressed in my redesign, it's mostly because I will be funding some of that redesign and not for my technical "prowess" amongst the actual optical engineers, lens technicians and other truly qualified individuals...

I think all of manufacturers get the idea that their lenses should look "sexy"... I just fail to find the upside of any serious lens manufacturer having to defer their years of design effort and skills to a random end user with an opinion. Now I really don't want to sound harsh, but it's just as simple as that. If they are willing to hear what you have to say, that's great. And more power to you for going after it and getting their attention. I guess I'm just not familiar with any of your work to warrant a "Ketch Rossi" set of lenses... I've looked at your links and for the life of me, have you shot anything I can see?

I know you're working on a short film soon, and that's awesome. Could you just help me understand why a "Ketch Rossi" set of lenses needs your stamp of approval? I certainly have opinions on lenses but I don't think I deserve a Christopher Probst signitature set of glass... I just feel that would be way presumptuous and slightly a little pretentious of me...

 

[Ketch Rossi]

No offense intended here, Ketch, but what exactly do you bring to a lens manufacturer other than every-day end-user opinions? We all have specific likes and dislikes of various lenses on the market... Some of us take even those opinions even a step further and try to get more into understand the design nuances of the lenses we like and why, but that hardly qualifies us as lens designers...

Now I have done my fair share of studying into cine optics and the more I dig into the topic, the more daunted I am at how little I really know... I'm a heavy tech-nerd and tweaker and I'm even involved in a few redesign/rehousing projects of various lenses from the ground up... and while I have myt own opinions and some influence on what parameters are addressed in my redesign, it's mostly because I will be funding some of that redesign and not for my technical "prowess" amongst the actual optical engineers, lens technicians and other truly qualified individuals...

I think all of manufacturers get the idea that their lenses should look "sexy"... I just fail to find the upside of any serious lens manufacturer having to defer their years of design effort and skills to a random end user with an opinion. Now I really don't want to sound harsh, but it's just as simple as that. If they are willing to hear what you have to say, that's great. And more power to you for going after it and getting their attention. I guess I'm just not familiar with any of your work to warrant a "Ketch Rossi" set of lenses... I've looked at your links and for the life of me, have you shot anything I can see?

I know you're working on a short film soon, and that's awesome. Could you just help me understand why a "Ketch Rossi" set of lenses needs your stamp of approval? I certainly have opinions on lenses but I don't think I deserve a Christopher Probst signitature set of glass... I just feel that would be way presumptuous and slightly a little pretentious of me...

No offense taken Christopher,

but the problem here is that you assume all my life and all that I do, unless published some were on the net, it hasn't existed or does not, while it could not be further from truth, as I in fact happen to do few things that nor you nor anyone else in the public life I share has any idea of.

You would not know how many years of R&D and or how much money I my self have in fact spent in the Design of a lens, nor would you know I would have acquired such knowledge in mechanical engineering, glass polishing possibilities and capacities, nor you would you know how all fits together unless I made it public, since we never share private talks.

All the above said, if I was just to happen to know absolutely nothing about nothing, and just found some one willing to just put my name on a set of lenses, then there you go, more power to me right?


What I have shot?

I have only shot few little things for fun mostly, were I was the Director, Producer, and Cinematographer...

I'm sure I don't need to put up links here for the Fashion Film, called Carly, few tests, and my only Paid gig made public, the "Skydive Dubai 2012" piece, but what does it mean any ways??

It is just fun some times to see how some react to what I do or why I do it, but offense? No, I of course take none...

 

[Christopher Probst]

Fair enough. Well I'll be watching to see what you come up with. There certainly is nothing wrong with the idea. And there definitely is room in the market for this niche of product. I just was curious on your level of expertise... If Iain Neal came out and said, "Hey I wanna create this new series of lenses", no one batt an eye as to his background to do it... Take that obvious example a step further, with similar logic, if Roger Deakins said the same thing, we all would be very interested to see the outcome... I think You get my point.

Sorry if I could think of no delicate way to convey my point, so I do hope you mean what you say and that you aren't offended... Good luck.