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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 :)

Raptor Lens height/Center line.

Russ Fill

Russ Fill

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Hey all, just about to take delivery and was wondering a few things I see as needed to fit in to my current Monstro work flow.
Does anyone know or have a link to what might be needed to get the camera up high enough to match the lens center line from the cameras base to be able to use similar lens support.
Even on the Monstro and other DSMC2 cameras there is a base plate on the camera and then my Arri Dovetail connection. This base plate was needed to bring the lens height to a standard that most lens support and other accessories need to line up with the lens.
On the Raptor I see that the lens is quite a bit lower to the base than the DSMC2 cameras and know that I will be needing a spacer or riser to get the camera up to the same height to match the lens center line. This will be very needed Im sure inside my Gates housing to match up where the focus, iris and zoom along with the port need to line up with the lens.
Any suggestions or maybe someone has taken a look at the White paper on Raptor to see its lens Center line or height from the bottom of the camera.
 
As I await eagerly the new baseplate system, I am currently utilizing the Wooden Camera Komodo kit, which uses Arca baseplate into a 15mm rod clamp at correct height which then goes into a 19mm plate that slips onto a dovetail. Bright Tangerine has similar things. But much like Komodo's launch, certain accessories aren't here just yet. And that new arca/dovetail system will be the thing that rests beneath my Raptor's belly.

Also, good idea to reach out to Gates and see what they did when they dipped a Raptor a week or two ago now.
 
Thanks Phil, for the info. Im starting the search. And yes Ill give Pam a call and see what they did for the housing...
any links to these items??? So I know what exactly your talking about???
Also not that it matters much Im using 15mm studio spacing.
Is the Komodo the same lens height from the bottom of the camera as the Raptor?
 
I'm currently using this to get to 15mm:
https://woodencamera.com/products/lw-15mm-baseplate-red-komodo

then going into this to get to 19mm:
https://woodencamera.com/collection...-kits/products/quick-release-bridgeplate-19mm

But I'm hoping that sometime in October this new baseplate system RED teased comes out.

Two reasons why. 1. It is also built on an Arca/Arri Dovetail thing, which I went on a warpath for a few years for anybody to make. Wooden Camera did the thing. Also, I believe, though not sure, it will likely interface with my DSMC2 Assault plates for correct rod height as well. I have plenty of 19mm bolt on plates which I use for arrays just in case that's the direction that I need to go.

For Bright Tangerine, this:
https://www.brighttangerine.com/store/red-komodo-leftfield-qr-baseplate-dji/

Should work to get you to 15mm and then go similarly to 19mm from there.

Somewhat off and on topic. Worth grabbing some Titanium Rods if you've never used them. Lighter weight than steel or aluminum, not bendy like carbon fiber, and very lightweight. Switched all my CF stuff out for Titanium long ago.
 
Is there a riser for 15mm standard -- BP-9 or whatever??

Or does one attach the whole LWS bridge-late to the 15mm Standard BP? - I suppose that might add the additional 33mm. But what about offset?
 
Mark Wilkinson said:
Is there a riser for 15mm standard -- BP-9 or whatever??

Or does one attach the whole LWS bridge-late to the 15mm Standard BP? - I suppose that might add the additional 33mm. But what about offset?
Click to expand...

Ive been trying to figure this exact issue out. Some say to get the Komodo LW bridge and add to your Studio or standard 15mm setup and that should get you to the right height but its still not right if you have a rods mount Matt box. Then the height will be off. Im trying to 3D print an audition block to see what I might need then Ill take it to a friend who has a CNC mill to machine one out for real.
Id buy an adapter if someone made one. But everyone seems to be looking at LW rods and everyone has moved away from 15mm Studio setups.. Shame.
 
This is what I got from Wooden Camera: "in the meantime, you can use our Easy Stick + this Unified Baseplate + Unified Bridgeplate (15mm Studio) to achieve the appropriate 15mm rod to camera sensor distance. " - I asked what the Easy Stick was for but Holly hasn't gotten back to me yet.

Bright Tangerine has a solution, but Rob said there would be a 5-6 mm vertical offset and that if one has a height adjustable matte box, then you'd be ok. He's going to send me options soon.

I may just pivot to LWS for this shoot - too many moving parts otherwise...
 
Komodo optical center is 47.63mm
Vraptor optical center is 54mm

If you use that wooden camera komodo plate you are going to be 6.37mm too tall for 15mm LWS.
If you then put that on the WC quick release bridgeplate linked, that is the older version that is 3mm too tall, you would then be 9.37mm too tall for 19mm.

Until a riser is out, just make a plate to adapt what you already have as long as its taller, not shorter like Komodo.
Monstro is 95.9mm, Venice is 73mm, mini LF 70mm, alexa lf 85mm, I think canon c70 is closest at 64mm
to use the DSMC2 assault plate you would need a 41.9mm spacer and some longer screws.

If you just want lws, look for something designed to be used with a Komodo cage on top.
Smallrig magnesium 3067, 8sinn 15mm baseplate
the cages look like they add about a .25" in height to komodo, so with Vraptor probably within tolerances for 15mm LWS height.
its holiday extended return period time, no harm in trying, report back if you do.

here is a helpful chart that explains all the rod standards.
 
So the Easy Stick was to adjust the height...

Bright Tangerine directed me to their Leftfield QR baseplate Varicam set up - only 6 mm shorter than the Raptor requirement - which is an easy adjustment on my BT mattebox. When it arrives, I will report back.




Mark Wilkinson said:
This is what I got from Wooden Camera: "in the meantime, you can use our Easy Stick + this Unified Baseplate + Unified Bridgeplate (15mm Studio) to achieve the appropriate 15mm rod to camera sensor distance. " - I asked what the Easy Stick was for but Holly hasn't gotten back to me yet.

Bright Tangerine has a solution, but Rob said there would be a 5-6 mm vertical offset and that if one has a height adjustable matte box, then you'd be ok. He's going to send me options soon.

I may just pivot to LWS for this shoot - too many moving parts otherwise...
Click to expand...
 

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Thomas Sidney McCallum said:
Figured out that the 8Sinn Baseplate + Riser Plate 1 gets you to optical center. Not a bad solution for now.
Comparing the sizes with Dan Soderberg at Element Camera, we found out the V-Raptor is basically the same size as the Komodo with their 8Sinn Cage.

https://www.8sinn.com/8sinn-15mm-baseplate-riser-plate-i-8sinn-10-arri-dovetail-plate.html
Click to expand...

Thanks for the recomendation Thomas, that helps a lot!
​​​​​​Offtopic, how are these Otus paired with the V-Raptor? That's going to be my kit very soon
 
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