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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 :)

The Future of Follow Focus Now- Optitron by OptiTek

ericyoung said:
Knowing your commitment to quality I'm sure you've also got plenty of clearance around any electrical connections. Of course it would be good to have official Red word that this is approved.

How do we set iris to a particular f-stop? Without an electrical camera connection, there won't be an iris readout on the camera.
Also presumeably we will still be limited to the steppy iris control of the Canon EF lenses.
Click to expand...
The F-stop is very easy to setup and track- we'll have more detailed video of this feature.
 
Robino,
Email me and we'll get you going.
These are available now BTW....
 
Jacek,

Very interesting but would love to see video of very slow focus pulls using Canon L series primes and maybe workhorse glass like the Canon 24-70 and 70-200mm. Are you finding different performance with older or newer lenses?

One advantage of the coming Nikon version will be the reverse focus direction should be a non issue. Will be intersted to see if the Nikon lens motors are better or worse than Canon for buttery smooth pulls.

For most people running and gunning the cable version would be good but the wireless version would suit productions with a focus puller.
 
Jacek, very interested in a purchase, could you please mail me indiefilmltd*at*mac.com so we can get the ball rolling.
 
OptiTek said:
You've been asking for it...:yesnod:
Here you go guys (and girls)!!!
Canon ProLock-i with full out Pro FF/Iris control - OptiTron
-professional system that uses internal motors and electronics in Canon lenses for iris and focus control
-positive locking, PL style mount for standard unmodified Canon EF mounted lenses.
- intelligent mount recognizes all conceivable Canon EF mounted lenses
- direct replacement for Red DSMC base mount.
- fully supports IS on lenses so equipped.
-OptiTron automatically remaps the tiny focus travel on the lens focus ring to 300 deg rotation on the knob.
-one button remapping for even more precision with custom focus in/out points
- wireless ready for the upcoming receiver.
- removable, replaceable long life battery (approx. 2 day continuous operation )
- backlit, easily removable marking disc
- adjustable tension (drag) for the focus knob.
and more.....
Check out the video link for more info. http://vimeo.com/52483323
This is the short version of the video- we have a more detailed one available please inquire via email...
Exclusively from OptiTek:wink5:
Click to expand...

Hi Jacek, what prices are thinking about?

Best
Robert
 
Very cool device. Really looks like a great solution. Curious about the price too...
 
Prices are in in the $1600-1700 range for the mount and in $1800-1900 range for the Optitron. That includes battery, cable, charger.
These are "early bird " prices I don't know how long they'll stay...
We offer sweet discount for the first 20 orders.
 
If you offer a version that works with PL mount lenses I would be very interested.
 
Tom Gleeson said:
Jacek,

Very interesting but would love to see video of very slow focus pulls using Canon L series primes and maybe workhorse glass like the Canon 24-70 and 70-200mm. Are you finding different performance with older or newer lenses?

One advantage of the coming Nikon version will be the reverse focus direction should be a non issue. Will be intersted to see if the Nikon lens motors are better or worse than Canon for buttery smooth pulls.

For most people running and gunning the cable version would be good but the wireless version would suit productions with a focus puller.
Click to expand...
We use 14 bit encoders in the OptiTron and the rest is up to the lense's encoders.
The pulls are very smooth.
100% repeatable.
If you mark a ring for a particular lens it stays true to that lens forever. I haven't seen multiple samples of the same lens but I suspect they would be identical.
The L lenses usually have motors that are very silent, fast and responsive.
The kit lenses are louder and sometimes struggle to keep up with snappy focus pulls.
For "normal" work they are all fine...
 
Brandon J.F. said:
If you offer a version that works with PL mount lenses I would be very interested.
Click to expand...
Greg is right- as it stands the OptiTron on its own can't do that since it needs motors to work.
Once we are done with the Nikon we'll look into controlling external motors as well.
It should not be a big deal but you are going to need two motors like Preston, Heden, etc.
 
Jacek, how do i get on the list for the first 20? I have a shoot coming up next week, and then shoots booked through the new year that would be perfect for this application.
 
OptiTek said:
Prices are in in the $1600-1700 range for the mount and in $1800-1900 range for the Optitron. That includes battery, cable, charger.
These are "early bird " prices I don't know how long they'll stay...
We offer sweet discount for the first 20 orders.
Click to expand...

So the total will be close to 4000 USD ?

If yes, sorry but this is very expensive. Really expensive. I hope something around 1500 USD max.

Lot of redusers are using canon lenses because it is less expensive than PL lenses and the second hand market is huge if you compare with PL lenses...

So, I really don't understand your logic...You hope that people will pay 4000 USD to have simply the confort to use the aperture smoothly ? Because with a good follow focus, you can already have good results for focusing. The only problem is the aperture.

Maybe you thought that a high end Arri follow focus or O'connor follow focus cost 4000 USD or more, so why not our follow focus ? Bad conclusion... Because people using very expensive PL lenses can buy very expensive follow focus. People using canon lenses probably can't put 4000 USD on the table for a follow focus even it is high tech and cool. This is logic.

Anyway, sorry to say that but so sad to see this tool at this price. Maybe you'll have lot of success with it (I wish you lot of success) and I am just totally wrong.

Good luck.
 
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