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RED Lens collimation

Brigham Edgar

Brigham Edgar

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Does anyone know if i have to get specific lens shims from RED for their 18-50 and 50-150mm lenses?

I am planning to get our two correctly collimated here in Australia and i thought i read somewhere that they are specific shims available only from RED.

Also if someone knows of a good lens tech here in Australia it would be great too!

Thanks all.
 
If you are using the lenses on a red camera, then no you don't need shims due to the back focusing mechanism designed into the collar of the lens mount.
 
That is not correct. The backfocus on the camera is exactly that, for the camera. This in by no means effects the lens. If the lens is incorrectly collimated it will not line up with markings and will not hold focus through it's zoom range. So if for example you have a subject at 10 feet it may not line up at 10 feet on the lens markings or in my case it does on the 50mm end but zoom it out to 18mm and to be focused it is about 15feet. A focus pullers nightmare. And yes the backfocus is correct on the camera, been checked with control lenses at different lengths.
 
And zoom lenses have individual adjustments for front (telephoto end) and back focus (wide angle end) of the focale length range. So your lenses need to be properly collimated themselves before adjusting the backfocuser on the camera.
 
this is a question which came up several times:

if the camera / the mount is properly collimated (e.g. checked with wide test lens) and the lens i want to use needs to be collimated - what exactly happens with the lens which is off?

if i am using a fixed focal length / prime lens - could i work around with redesigning the marks on my follow focus or do i always have to bring the odd lens to service?

regards,
martin
 
martinnoweck said:
this is a question which came up several times:

if the camera / the mount is properly collimated (e.g. checked with wide test lens) and the lens i want to use needs to be collimated - what exactly happens with the lens which is off?

if i am using a fixed focal length / prime lens - could i work around with redesigning the marks on my follow focus or do i always have to bring the odd lens to service?

regards,
martin
Click to expand...

Yes you could use it but your focus marks on your lens will be off. Just don't measure up to focus, your focus pulled won't like this though. You would have to focus by sight and it's fun doing it with RED...Ha!
 
But my question still remains, I heard you need specific LENS shims from RED for their lenses...does anyone know the answer? I might have to call the 'Bomb squad' if nobody from RED or elsewhere can comment??
 
Yes, you need the shims from RED. I had my 18-50mm collimated the other day. It is 32 microns off. Red said if they shimmed it, that would void the warranty. The lens is 8 months old. Red wants the lens back. Able said they needed Red specific shims if they were to do it. For now I need to pull just short of the mark.
 
Sounds like the best thing you can do in this case is have Able tech the lens and provide a report.

Send it back for warranty attention and make sure Red is able to confirm the (I assume) trusted measurements done by Able. If they get a different result when they check the lens than Able got then that would be a red flag for sure, if not they address it as a warranty issue and then you can retest when the lens comes home to make sure it's been addressed to your satisfaction (and I can't imagine it wouldn't be done properly).

I wouldn't see this necessarily as a bad thing.. if Red wants to do the work then it just saves you a few bucks.

:)

J
 
Mind you if I was in Aus and this lens is under warranty, I would want it shipped express and the manufacturer/dealer to pay for expedited shipping, repair, handling if the lens was not within spec when you purchased it. These aren't cheap Canon FD zooms after all...

Now, on the other hand, considering they are just Cooke lenses, I can't imagine why a certified technician can't handle this for you if time is a serious consideration.

If the bill for the work is astronomical (and I can't believe it will be) then you can balance the cost of renting a replacement until your lens can be repaired under warranty, but any good, reliable shop (be it Able or whomever) should be able to manage this. It's not rocket science.
 
Get the shims from Red

Get the shims from Red

JonathanF said:
Mind you if I was in Aus and this lens is under warranty, I would want it shipped express and the manufacturer/dealer to pay for expedited shipping, repair, handling if the lens was not within spec when you purchased it. These aren't cheap Canon FD zooms after all...

Now, on the other hand, considering they are just Cooke lenses, I can't imagine why a certified technician can't handle this for you if time is a serious consideration.

If the bill for the work is astronomical (and I can't believe it will be) then you can balance the cost of renting a replacement until your lens can be repaired under warranty, but any good, reliable shop (be it Able or whomever) should be able to manage this. It's not rocket science.
Click to expand...

Seriously, no lens manufacturer voids warranty for shimming. It's just part of regular maintenance. And I've done this for over 20 years.
Get a set of shims from Red(they are lens-specific) Arri, Cooke, Angenieux all sell them separate. Sometimes(like Cooke or Angenieux) you'll get a set with a lens purchase.
This is something that needs to be done frequently if you want optimum performance. Shimming lenses is a main technical chore of every rental house lens tech. And they are full time emplyees for a reason- it's a full time job.
Jacek Zakowicz, OptiTek
 
JonathanF said:
...

Now, on the other hand, considering they are just Cooke lenses, I can't imagine why a certified technician can't handle this for you if time is a serious consideration.
...
Click to expand...

What...

Where did you hear that ? And you believed it ?

Red lenses are not Cooke lenses.

Cheers,
Damien
 
Well i can tell you that if you do open up your RED lenses for collimation they WILL VOID WARRANTY. This i have been told directly from RED and from more than one person. I am on my fourth 18-50mm and as they repeatedly tell me that if i do go to a third party it will void them.
Secondly, RED's 'tolerance acceptance level' in no way means they are collimated correctly. It means they find it acceptable to them.
Ultimately i'm gonna keep the lenses as they are great for the price and just void the warranty so they work as a lens should.
 
bris-vegas said:
Well i can tell you that if you do open up your RED lenses for collimation they WILL VOID WARRANTY. This i have been told directly from RED and from more than one person. I am on my fourth 18-50mm and as they repeatedly tell me that if i do go to a third party it will void them.
Secondly, RED's 'tolerance acceptance level' in no way means they are collimated correctly. It means they find it acceptable to them.
Ultimately i'm gonna keep the lenses as they are great for the price and just void the warranty so they work as a lens should.
Click to expand...

I think that's outrageous. We are in the business of making movies. RED is in the business of make tools for our movies. Don't get me wrong. I have lots of praise for RED, but if one were to flub focus for just one day on a moderate budget film... It could cost more than the lens is worth. Of course, we check and double check before the production, it's just the thought that makes me want to buy something else.

Maybe someone from the RED team would be kind enough to explain their reasoning.
 
This just seems like a list of products they design in some kind of bubble isolated from the real world of moviemaking (red handles, cradle, Nikon mount, hand held ergonomics and now add a lens). Do they have any cameramen on retainer?

I would never buy a lens that I couldn't send to a tech for repair and have it voided.
 
Just so you guys know a couple of facts.

RED lenses do NOT require specific shims from RED, they can be added by any lens tech as they are standard.

Opening up the lenses for collimation DOES void warranty.

I have just recently had my issue with these lenses resolved once and for all and i am very happy with the final result. Big thanks to RED. Give these guys a break, no matter what issues there may be with specific gear, they are there to keep customers happy and are prepared to go to lengths to make this happen. As mentioned many times on REDUSER their customer support is second to none, and at the very least will keep this customer for the long haul for many years down many paths. Big thumbs up and a couple cold beers await these lads down under.
 
Lenses are designed to have adjustments for front and rear focus. Making these adjustments are common practice for lenses. If you take apart a lens i can understand that they would void a warranty but to collimate? I don't understand. It should be allowed for a lens tech or at least someone who has the proper tools and the know how to be able to do the adjustments. After all, what do I have my Richter collimators for.
 
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