Red wireless follow focus?

[CVB]

I sure hope Curt and the gang at View Factor can deliver their remote FIZ pieces soon. The combination of quality, price and integration into the RedOne architecture is very attractive.

No sleep for you Von Badinski :matrix:

Sleep is over rated anyhow. We're working hard to get several products out the door but luckily the software and hardware overlaps so we can leverage the design of one product and roll it into the design of another. We'll be posting info and new proto pics of the remotes in a few weeks.

http://viewfactor.net/forum/index.php?topic=14.msg53#msg53

There is some info about Curt's wireless follow focus on the VFS forum. I'm sure the design has changed from the renders shown, but the price probably hasn't. $750 or less for the Standard Impero.

Yup, the design has changed... price is still the same (or less).

A growing number of AC's are moving to working with remote focus for all applications. However the need for such a system to be super reliable, accurate and fast is critical with a 35mm front end. It is unfathomable to me that a remote system that can approach the performance of a standard follow focus could cost less.

Prepare to be fathomed.

Also understand that each time a lens is changed, the remote system needs to be recalibrated for that lens. The high end systems (Preston, C-motion) will automatically do that with a high degree of repeatability, allowing one to reuse marks from previous times that the lens was marked out.

So does red's...

Having suffered through 3 early models of remote lens control before buying a Preston 10 years ago, I can tell you that it's a white-knuckle affair, having to deal with erratic remote systems for both operator and assistant. Buzzing shots is not sexy or an arguable "choice", they are just plain out of focus and the enhanced resolution of RED will only amplify this.

Our remote is completely digital all the way from the 14bit resolution (.04 degrees) on the control knob to the zigbee transceiver that digitally encodes all the data before transmission... so basically no erratic behavior. You can run as many units as you like right next to each other and have no interference problems. A super-low cost wired version of the remote will also be available.

 

[Matthew Rogers]

Sleep is over rated anyhow. We're working hard to get several products out the door but luckily the software and hardware overlaps so we can leverage the design of one product and roll it into the design of another. We'll be posting info and new proto pics of the remotes in a few weeks.

Yup, the design has changed... price is still the same (or less).

Do happen to have any idea when you think you'll start shipping it?

Thanks,

Matthew

 

[CVB]

Matthew, Mid-February.

 

[Curran Giddens]

Great! Mid-Feb. works for me. :calm:

 

[Brook Willard]

When do we get to see new renders?

 

[Curran Giddens]

When do we get to see new renders?

Looks like we will get some actual photos of a prototype in a couple weeks.

We'll be posting info and new proto pics of the remotes in a few weeks.

 

[Matthew Rogers]

Matthew, Mid-February.

If you can knock out the Mattebox too around that time then you've got a customer for both! (Oh wait, this also depends on RED shipping the motor at that time too...sigh...)

Matthew

 

[Shawn Nelson]

Okay, just so I understand this correctly.

The Red Focus Motor is $1250.

Curt's kit is $750.

So a complete wireless follow focus is just $2000? Then for an extre $2500 I can make the same setup be ff+iris+zoom?

 

[Jim Bartell]

The Bartech controller doesn't cost $10k but is supposed to be a lot of bang for the buck. .

FYI, the BarTech Focus Device (BFD) is $1850. The M-One motor is $2100. Together, that totals $3950. Throw in a Red run/stop cable ($110) and you have remote focus and run/stop for $4060.

And thanks to everyone for all the kind words.

Jim "dollars and sense" Bartell

 

[zak forrest]

its coming.. and its bad ass.

What is coming, a red motor or a red wireless follow focus?

 

[Matthew Rogers]

FYI, the BarTech Focus Device (BFD) is $1850. The M-One motor is $2100. Together, that totals $3950. Throw in a Red run/stop cable ($110) and you have remote focus and run/stop for $4060.

And thanks to everyone for all the kind words.

Jim "dollars and sense" Bartell

Is there any chance that the BarTech Focus Device will work with the new RED motor that is coming out?

Even if it doesn't, that's only about $700-$800 over a Arri FF-4 unit...not bad for something that is far more versatile!

Matthew

 

[Greg M]

Matthew,
I wouldn't consider dumping a follow focus in favor of a wireless unit...you really need both.

Being able to physically turn the focus barrel (w/ a ff knob), especially when handheld is not an option.

 

[CVB]

Okay, just so I understand this correctly.
The Red Focus Motor is $1250. Curt's kit is $750.
So a complete wireless follow focus is just $2000? Then for an extre $2500 I can make the same setup be ff+iris+zoom?

Yes.

What is coming, a red motor or a red wireless follow focus?

Both

Is there any chance that the BarTech Focus Device will work with the new RED motor that is coming out? Even if it doesn't, that's only about $700-$800 over a Arri FF-4 unit...not bad for something that is far more versatile!
Matthew

It would probably require some sort of adapter... as I recall the Bartech is setup for analog motors that use a potentiometer for feedback.

Matthew,
I wouldn't consider dumping a follow focus in favor of a wireless unit...you really need both.
Being able to physically turn the focus barrel (w/ a ff knob), especially when handheld is not an option.

Well.... actually it is an option. You can run the motor wired using a digital control knob (similar to the one that Birger is coming out with).

 

[Greg M]

Well.... actually it is an option. You can run the motor wired using a digital control knob (similar to the one that Birger is coming out with).

Agreed, but personally I prefer to feel the lens turn on my hand...maybe I'm just old school.

Dont get me wrong, wireless is incredible...but there are times you want to feel the lens. For me I have to have both options.

 

[CVB]

Agreed, but personally I prefer to feel the lens turn on my hand...maybe I'm just old school.

Dont get me wrong, wireless is incredible...but there are times you want to feel the lens. For me I have to have both options.

I understand... to each his own. BTW, the knob will have adjustable dampening... you could feel the lens resistance then dial in the knob to feel the same

 

[Dan Blanchett]

A noob question but here it goes, will the RED motors work with any 35mm lenses, or only RED lenses?

 

[Greg M]

I would assume they are motors with focus and iris gears...and should work with all cine lenses.

 

[Bill Goehring]

Hmm, does this mean that those of us going the Birger route will be out of luck on a zoom interface with the Red Motor or is Curt planning on supplying flexible gearing that can be un/mounted to 35mm still optics and mesh with the Red Motor gearing?

 

[CVB]

Both of our systems have auxiliary serial ports on board... it would only require some firmware tweaks to get our stuff to talk to his and visa versa. I'm sure some gearing options will crop up to allow you to use the motor on a still lens, if red doesn't do it then we definitely will.

 

[Erik Widding]

Hmm, does this mean that those of us going the Birger route will be out of luck on a zoom interface with the Red Motor or is Curt planning on supplying flexible gearing that can be un/mounted to 35mm still optics and mesh with the Red Motor gearing?

Curt and I have been really busy lately... so we haven't been chatting much.

Some combination of RED, Birger and ViewFactor stuff will all be interchangeable... give us each time to get these things shipping first...