The Allstar A-Mount Rocks!

[Tom Greenberg]

I have to say that the Allstar A-Mount lens mounting system is one of the best accessories we ever purchased for our RED. This system is really ingenious and flexible, and also extremely well made. The A-Mount allows us to instantly switch between PL glass (we have the RPZ 18-85) and still glass (a great set of Nikkor primes from RP Lens) in literally a matter of seconds. I was looking for a system that would allow us to use all our glass without requiring changing mounts in the field (something I was really not crazy about letting students do) and the A-Mount is the perfect solution. We have the PL adapter (only one required), and individual Nikon F-mount adapters that are "permanently" mounted on each of the Nikkors. Allstar also makes A-Mount adapters for Nikon G series, Leica R, Contax C/Y, M42, BNCR, OCT-19, and Hasselblad. I should mention that the A-Mount is fully "RED-approved" and does not void your warranty. Check out the introductory video for the A-Mount system: https://vimeo.com/37060165

Allstar products are manufactured in Taiwan, and Tom (Allstar) is a working DP who designs his own stuff. His website could use some work, but his products more than make up for it and he is very responsive to questions and support issues. Here is the link: http://allstar-cine.myweb.hinet.net/

I am not affiliated with Allstar in any way...just a very happy customer who wants to recognize an innovative lens mounting solution for RED cameras (versions available for RED One, Epic, Scarlet) that you may not be aware of.

 

[Tom Greenberg]

More pix of the A-Mount with RPZ 18-85mm installed using PL adapter (also showing Allstar lens support for 18-85):

 

[Tom Greenberg]

Nikkor 50mm on the A-Mount - Steadicam style...

 

[Harrison Diamond]

Surprised more people haven't jumped in here yet. I just got mine last month and so far I'm only using PL and Oct-19 with it but it's awesome!

 

[Tom Greenberg]

I'm surprised at the lack of response too, Harrison. This is such a great solution for anyone who wants to interchange a variety of different lens types quickly and easily. It makes it easy to strip the camera down to a lightweight configuration for Steadicam or handheld use, and then go right back to PL quickly for stationary shooting.

 

[Joseph Seuferling]

Hi Tom!
So if I have the Canon mount for the Epic, I just need to buy the Allstar A-mount and I don't need to buy the RED PL mount to use cine lenses?
Also, How much is the Allstar A-mount?

 

[Brian M Lynch]

I would love to get one of these. Does anyone know the price/where I can get it?

 

[Tom Greenberg]

Hi Tom!
So if I have the Canon mount for the Epic, I just need to buy the Allstar A-mount and I don't need to buy the RED PL mount to use cine lenses?
Also, How much is the Allstar A-mount?

Joseph, you can't install the A-Mount directly on the RED Canon Mount. You can remove the RED Canon mount and install an A-Mount system for the Epic...it consists of an Epic Mount Base ($180), and the A-Mount Universal Mount ($320). Then you add the specific adapter rings for the lenses you want to use. PL ($290), or Nikon ($180) or Contax ($180) or Leica-R ($190), etc.

Unfortunately, there is no A-Mount adapter ring for Canon lenses, because the A-Mount is strictly a mechanical mount (no electrical control of lenses with internal iris motors), so it only works with lenses that have an aperture ring.

Hope that helps...
Tom

 

[Tom Greenberg]

I would love to get one of these. Does anyone know the price/where I can get it?

Brian, I just listed some prices in the post above to Joseph. You can only get the A-Mount direct from Allstar. This is their website: http://allstar-cine.myweb.hinet.net/. Or you can email Tom (Allstar) at: allstar.cine@gmail.com

Hope that helps...
Tom

 

[Dave Blackham]

Your right its certainly the best accessory we purchased also.

It allows us to work with Glass we want to work with such as Leica R, Nikon, BNCR, M42, Contax Y/C and of course PL. Thats not to say we always mic and match but we can should we choose to. Main thing is we can mount a lens in seconds which is really good news.

its well built and accurate too. Tom who runs Allstar Cine is a good supplier and always ships what he commits to.

 

[Joseph Seuferling]

Thank you, Tom.
That clears it up for me. Unfortunately, I have a good amount of Canon glass so it doesn't look like the best choice for me right now. Pity, because it seems really useful!

 

[Tom Greenberg]

Thank you, Tom.
That clears it up for me. Unfortunately, I have a good amount of Canon glass so it doesn't look like the best choice for me right now. Pity, because it seems really useful!

I had a feeling that was where you were coming from. Even so, it is still a great, cost-effective way to add PL, Nikon, or other lenses to your kit and interchange them quickly. After all, it is only 4 screws to remove the Canon Mount...

 

[Nick Morrison]

I had a feeling that was where you were coming from. Even so, it is still a great, cost-effective way to add PL, Nikon, or other lenses to your kit and interchange them quickly. After all, it is only 4 screws to remove the Canon Mount...

Tom I have a LARGE collection of Contax glass, a growing set of M42s, and even some PL glass now. It would be too expensive to Leitax all my Contax glass, so I am seriously leaning towards cinemodding all the stills glass and rocking them with the All-Star mount. I already have one CY All Star adapter, and it just gives the lens a very "PL" look. With additional cine-modding, the All Star mount lets these still lenses live side by side with PL glass on a big shoot.

Thanks for sharing your experiences so openly, and continuously! Been very helpful.

 

[Matt Gottshalk]

I love mine and it allows me to go from my Red Zooms to my Zeiss ZFs.

 

[Josef Gatti]

Does anyone know how this plays with Red Armor?

Jarred posted a little while back, informing all to be careful with what types of 3rd party lens mounts to be directly installing into the camera, as it can void warranty - but apparently there is a list of certified mounts. Could never locate this

 

[Tom Greenberg]

Does anyone know how this plays with Red Armor?

Jarred posted a little while back, informing all to be careful with what types of 3rd party lens mounts to be directly installing into the camera, as it can void warranty - but apparently there is a list of certified mounts. Could never locate this

As quoted by Jarred on 10/11/11 in this thread specifically talking about the A-Mount for Epic - http://bit.ly/NBVSQi (Post #254)

Got the mount... Fantastic work Allstar as usual. This one is approved, Good to go

Josef, I have read many times on REDUser that the A-Mount was fully RED-Approved. I don't believe there are any issues with it, including affecting RED Armor

 

[Tom Greenberg]

Tom I have a LARGE collection of Contax glass, a growing set of M42s, and even some PL glass now. It would be too expensive to Leitax all my Contax glass, so I am seriously leaning towards cinemodding all the stills glass and rocking them with the All-Star mount. I already have one CY All Star adapter, and it just gives the lens a very "PL" look. With additional cine-modding, the All Star mount lets these still lenses live side by side with PL glass on a big shoot.

Thanks for sharing your experiences so openly, and continuously! Been very helpful.

My pleasure, Nick. I think you will find this a great solution for accessing your vintage glass. Not to mention how fast it lets you work...no more tedious lens mount changes in the field, or only being able to use half your glass at any one time.

BTW, it looks like you work with Vin...tell him I said HI...he was at REDucation with me.

 

[Nick Morrison]

My pleasure, Nick. I think you will find this a great solution for accessing your vintage glass. Not to mention how fast it lets you work...no more tedious lens mount changes in the field, or only being able to use half your glass at any one time.

BTW, it looks like you work with Vin...tell him I said HI...he was at REDucation with me.

Haha. I do work with Vin. He's in London right now editing for CBS on the Olympics. He's an amazing guy, and completely dedicated to RED. As a seasoned editor, he brings an amazing pov to RED and shooting. I'll tell him you said hi!

 

[Tom Greenberg]

Haha. I do work with Vin. He's in London right now editing for CBS on the Olympics. He's an amazing guy, and completely dedicated to RED. As a seasoned editor, he brings an amazing pov to RED and shooting. I'll tell him you said hi!

We had a great time chatting and hanging out at RSH, and since I used to own a post house and worked as an editor/compositor for many years, we had plenty to talk about. Hope he is having fun in London...if they ever let him see the outdoors, that is, lol...I have done some of those on-location gigs and they are pretty intense!

 

[Tom Greenberg]

Here are a couple of photos of the A-Mount for Epic and Scarlet: