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NULL Lens now shipping -- and Announcing the NULL Target

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Mitch Gross

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The NULL Lens (aka RED Null) has begun shipping. We are fulfilling preorders first and expect to be caught up before the end of August.

The NULL Lens is an optical collimating tool for the RED One camera. Attach the NULL Lens to the PL lens mount, loosen the clamp screws on the side of the camera’s mount, point at something far away (150ft +) and adjust until the image becomes sharp. It really is that simple. Properly adjusted, the NULL Lens can set the RED One’s mount accurately to within five microns. To see how easy the NULL Lens is to use, please check out our new online instructional video on our website:

http://www.abelcine.com/articles/in...null-lens-operation-manual&catid=24&Itemid=45


The NULL Lens is the centerpiece of a family of optical products for Digital Cinema. There are several items and accessories coming in the product line. The first to be released will be the NULL Target. The NULL has its focus locked to infinity. Point it out a window across the street or even across a large soundstage and that is far enough to set the mount accurately. But sometimes one may not find it convenient to do this, so the NULL Target mounts to the front of the NULL Lens and projects a focusing screen that is set to infinity. The whole unit is small, lightweight, internally powered, reliably accurate and easy to use. Price and release date have not yet been set for the NULL Target, but we are committed to keeping the price as low as possible and deliver as soon as we can. Abel Cine Tech is not taking deposits or reservations for the NULL Target at this time.

If you would like to order a NULL Lens, please contact any Abel Sales Rep. in our New York, Los Angeles or Chicago offices or use or website. For international orders, please use the Contact Us tab or you can PM me directly and I will put you in touch with the appropriate person. Here’s the Abel Cine Tech sales webpage for the NULL Lens:

http://www.abelcine.com/store/product.php?productid=1001394

Setting the correct lens mount depth is a major issue with these cameras and a tool such as the NULL Lens should be an essential part of every camera owner’s kit.

Here is a photo of the final shipping version of the NULL Lens and a render of the NULL Lens with the NULL Target mounted.
 

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A couple of people emailed me a bit unclear as to what the NULL Target was and how it worked. Let me try to clarify.

The NULL Lens works great when you are outside and can point at a far away building or tree line. Anything over 150' and you can set focus accurately to 5 microns. But that might be tough when you're setting up in a van at night. So that's where the NULL Target comes in. It has a backlit Siemen's Star, which is a focusing target that's very easy and accurate to use for judging focus. There are optics in the NULL Target to make the Siemen's Star come into clear focus at infinity. It screws into the NULL Lens and then that device is used to set backfocus the same way as normally, only now one doesn't have to worry about pointing the camera because it is all built into the NULL assembly.

Anyone familiar with the Zeiss Sharp Max or the Schneider Optics HD Collimator will recognize the design concept of the NULL Target, and in fact those devices will work with the NULL Lens. But the NULL Target will physically mount to the NULL Lens without additional support and because it is specifically designed to work with the NULL Lens the NULL Target will be both smaller than the others and -- most importantly -- considerably less expensive.

The NULL Target is in prototype now and as soon as we have a realistic forecast of delivery and pricing we'll be sure to let everyone know. We're shooting for the lowest possible cost in the quickest realistic timeframe. That will help the NULL family of products ship in volume, which means that everyone will be able to confidently shoot knowing that they can trust the focus of their lenses.
 
The NULL Target is a great addition to the NULL lens!!! This gives the NULL lens the same functionality as the upcoming collimating devices from UniqOptics and Optitek. It will be interesting to see how the price compares to the other offerings. It also seems to make the NULL lens with NULL Target a unique option in that it can be a self-contained battery powered unit, but also able to be separated into just the NULL lens when desired.

I think it's safe to assume that one could own a single NULL Target and eventually purchase NULL lenses in other mounts such as Panavision, Nikon or the upcoming RED mount...
 
Brilliant, thanks Mitch, it will definitely be something i will add to my RED NULL.
 
looks great, looking forward to hearing how people get on with it. Do you think it is a sensible investment for an A.C? Or a bit excessive?
 
Andrew clemson said:
looks great, looking forward to hearing how people get on with it. Do you think it is a sensible investment for an A.C? Or a bit excessive?
Click to expand...

I think it's a sensible investment for anyone with a camera to check and maintain their back focus. If you're an AC who doesn't own and maintain your own gear, it's probably not something you need.
 
This sounds great, Mitch. The Target is especially intriguing...looking forward to price and availability info, when it's available.
 
Jeff Kilgroe said:
The NULL Target is a great addition to the NULL lens!!! This gives the NULL lens the same functionality as the upcoming collimating devices from UniqOptics and Optitek. It will be interesting to see how the price compares to the other offerings. It also seems to make the NULL lens with NULL Target a unique option in that it can be a self-contained battery powered unit, but also able to be separated into just the NULL lens when desired.

I think it's safe to assume that one could own a single NULL Target and eventually purchase NULL lenses in other mounts such as Panavision, Nikon or the upcoming RED mount...
Click to expand...
Jeff, you're a smart guy. This is the beauty of the NULL concept. There are other attachments coming as well to do other forms of analysis. Lots of useful devices can be mounted into a NULL system.
 
Andrew clemson said:
looks great, looking forward to hearing how people get on with it. Do you think it is a sensible investment for an A.C? Or a bit excessive?
Click to expand...

Personally, I think that every RED owner using PL mount should own one, or at least some device specifically designed for this. Of course I'm partial to the NULL ...

And if you are an AC who is doing a lot of work on the RED One, then yes, I do believe it is a proper investment in a kit. I know lots of ACs with various items in the kits that cost a great deal more than this. It is an item that should be used daily to confirm proper depth of the mount. If using heavy lenses, then some may find the need to check during the course of a day. That's why the NULL was designed to be quick and easy to use and to be small enough to carry in any kit. It even comes with a nice Lowepro pouch to protect it in your on set ditty bag.
 
A Sharp Max isn't for any specific lens mount. It goes in front of any lens. Set the lens to infinity focus and then adjust either the backfocus of the lens (B4) or the mount itself (RED One) to achieve proper focus. The Sharp Max is a great tool but

- it's expensive

- it doesn't hard mount to the lens so you have to hold it in one hand while making the adjustments with the other. Sometimes not so easy.

The NULL Target will be dramatically less expensive and will solidly mount directly onto the NULL Lens. I imagine many will just leave it on.
 
Not at this time. As soon as I can give a fairly realistic estimate you'll all know.
 
Nice going Mitch. Don't see how you can sell it for $160.00. I would have charged that much or probally more, just to make someone a PL mount.
Also I seem to remember the Sharpmax did attach to the Zeiis primes.
 
Mitch Gross said:
A Sharp Max isn't for any specific lens mount. It goes in front of any lens. Set the lens to infinity focus and then adjust either the backfocus of the lens (B4) or the mount itself (RED One) to achieve proper focus. The Sharp Max is a great tool but

- it's expensive

- it doesn't hard mount to the lens so you have to hold it in one hand while making the adjustments with the other. Sometimes not so easy.

The NULL Target will be dramatically less expensive and will solidly mount directly onto the NULL Lens. I imagine many will just leave it on.
Click to expand...

the sharpmax is ridiculously overprized - like Mitch said, it is a great tool, but the prize is way to high. i was close to build my own (chuck colburn gave me valuable input) or better i have a working prototype, but i love to shoot and not to construct ;-)

the sharpmax can work with any lens (again what Mitch said) and there is also a connecting kit to different lenses so you don't have to hold it in your hand while making the adjustment of the backfocus. (see the attached picture)

what will be the target prize of the NULL target and lens?

kind regards,
martin
 

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