Product release - The RED Null

[Mitch Gross]

I've posted about this a bit before and many of you saw this at NAB and the REDuser party.

The RED Null is an optical collimation device to set the flange depth (aka backfocus) of the RED One's PL lens mount. Simply stick it into the mount and adjust the lens mount's collar until the image pops in sharp. The process is really that easy. The RED Null is small, lightweight and inexpensive. We truly believe that this is a device that belongs in every RED kit as it is an incredibly important and simple-to-use tool. We've posted a video by your's truly on our technical blog Cine Technica that shows what the RED Null is and how to use it. Here's the link:

http://blog.abelcine.com/2009/05/12/red-null/

Please bear with us as we have not yet completed the process of locking down the price and delivery schedule with IB/E, the manufacturer. This is a Abel Worldwide Exclusive product that we developed directly with IB/E and we still need to finalize some packaging and other final cost details. We will have it all sorted out next week with a firm price and delivery schedule. I promise to announce here on the forum as soon as we know more, but if you wish to get yourself on the list now (no obligations mind you -- we don't even have a price yet!) then you can go to the product page on our website and click on the CONTACT SALES tab. Here's the link:

http://www.abelcine.com/store/product.php?productid=1001394&cat=858&page=1

This isn't to tease you all as much as we've had a tremendous amount of interest in the product since we first unveiled it at NAB and we didn't want to delay getting information out any longer. If you watch the video I think you'll agree that it is an extremely useful item that is long overdue. The delays are in part because we want to keep the price as low as possible so that it is not a barrier to everyone with a PL mount RED One buying a unit. We're going to come in at what we believe to be a very reasonable price.

Feel free to ask any questions here and I'll do my best to answer.

 

[Jonathan Stevenson]

Bad. Ass.

Thanks for the video, that makes it all the more obvious how simple it is to use. Can't Wait!!!

 

[Sanjin Jukic]

Great!

 

[Curran Giddens]

Thanks Mitch. You just sold me. Now, exactly how much did I just spend?

 

[Steve Sherrick]

It's a brilliant product Mitch. I know it will be in my kit. Sign me up.

 

[Steve Sherrick]

By the way, great videos you're putting up too.

 

[Brook Willard]

That's awesome, Mitch. I love it.

 

[Shawn Nelson]

This looks very worthwhile...come'on for $995!

 

[Kwan Khan]

I test it at abel, Must-Have tool for AC/Red owner

 

[Mitch Gross]

Thanks Mitch. You just sold me. Now, exactly how much did I just spend?

We'll announce a price next week. As soon as we finish crunching the numbers we'll let everyone know.

 

[Matt Gottshalk]

That is fantastic.

 

[Damien Molineaux]

This looks very worthwhile...come'on for $995!

Great product, but I would hope it can be less than that. At the right price, this thing will definitly sell like hotcakes.

Cheers,
Damien

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Noooo.... It's too easy!

Anyway, I'm ready to buy one.

 

[Patrick Tresch]

Is Epic going to have an adjustable flange like the RED ONE? Just curious if this investment would be obsolete in a "few" months.

Great product BTW.

Patrick

 

[Paul Kalbach]

My thoughts exactly. I'm hesitant to buy any accessory that's incompatible with Epic.

 

[Dominic Jones]

The way that tool is designed, it will work on any camera that allows you to adjust the FFD whilst you can see what you're shooting (and that has a PL mount, of course!). I believe the Epic and Scarlet cameras will also allow this, but by moving the sensor block rather than moving the mount.

99.9% certainty you're investment is safe, I would say!

Cheers,
Dom.

 

[Rick Darge]

Awesome presentation!

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Hmmm.... Obsolete? Incompatible?

We've been told that EPIC / Scarlet will collimate themselves automatically by shifting the sensor block. Sounds like an elegant solution, but I would imagine that we will need to double-check this automated process from time to time.

I see no reason why this IB/E RED Null would be incompatible with EPIC (or Scarlet). In fact, it should work just great assuming you have a PL mount on the camera. And should serve as a quick way to verify that the camera has properly set its back-focus.

It also will depend on the price of this null lens. How often do you check and set backfocus now? I try to check mine all the time and try to have it set with proper equipment whenever I can. I see this as a great tool for a RED One owner, especially those who regularly are out i the field. A means to quickly and easily check back-focus and even fix it right there on the spot if necessary.

While this may theoretically become an obsolete process with the DSMC cameras, it could easily pay for itself, and then some, by the time the EPIC / Scarlet start shipping.

 

[Rick Darge]

Mitch, do you have an idea of ship dates?

 

[Mitch Gross]

Dominic is correct. Epic & Scarlett designs call for a sensor that is on an adjustable mount. The lens mount is then stationary. This is also how the Sony F35 adjusts flange depth. All of them will work perfectly with the RED Null.