Why (formerly not) Canon EOS lenses?

[Mark A. Beal]

Whoa, sexy . . . not exactly what I visualized using to focus my SLR lenses with.

 

[Erik Widding]

I'm sure they can do better than the Foxi.

What are the three best and three worst features of this?

 

[Mark A. Beal]

What are the three best and three worst features of this?

The concept of the Foxi is cool and I like that it can be had for under $500. I think something similar would work well for controlling an EOS lens. In keeping with the spirit of those users who are mounting SLR lenses on their Red cameras, I would hope for something similarly basic and inexpensive.

The knob on the Foxi is a little stiffer than I'd like (better too stiff than too loose, though) and I wish the knob was shaped a little differently and rubberized -- more like the Arri or Petroff designs. The iris controls are also touchy and hard to use.

 

[Evin Grant]

Primarily the problem with the Foxi is the HVX200 and it's limited focusing range, but the knob should be more traditional with a slight bevel like the the Arri LFF1. I would almost prefer an Iris wheel to the dial the foxi has. The Preston (Which the Foxi copied in this respect) Iris slider is cool for iris ramping, maybe it's a good design but the foxi implementation wasn't so good. I guess the wired unit should have an iris dial and the wireless a slider.

 

[Mark A. Beal]

Yes, beveled. That's it. And rather than a slider, what I would like to see is an iris ring similar to what you would find on a manual lens, but situated around the focus knob.

 

[Evin Grant]

interesting idea, but a little too easy to move accidentally I think.

 

[Mark A. Beal]

What if you had an aperature ring but it was only exposed in a the area where your thumb came in contact with it? This would be close to what the Foxi has now, only smoother.

 

[Fergus Meiklejohn]

Basic lens data in the evf

Basic lens data in the evf

Will the Birger EOS mount be able to send basic data to the RED camera evf? Simply: what is the current f-stop and focus distance? It would be very useful for docos and solo operator filming, when you can't take your eye from the viewfinder.:turned:

 

[Hugh]

So this will work with EFS lenses as well?

Although do be aware (I'm sure you are already...) that EF-S lenses are designed to work with a crop-frame sensor - on a full-frame sensor, you may find some serious vingetting, softness and distortion around the edges of the image...

 

[Justin K Phillips]

The crop-frame sensors EF-S lenses are designed for are very similar in size to RED's sensor.
20D: 22.5 x 15.0
RED: 24.4 x 13.7 (in S35mm mode)
RED: 22.2 x 12.6 (in 35mm mode)

EF-S lenses will certainly work with 35mm mode and probably with S35mm mode, too.

 

[Hugh]

Oops - my apologies then....

I had assumed (bad idea!) that the 35mm mode used a 35mm-sized chunk of the sensor...

As a stills photographer who shoots on a 5D, I really appreciate the full-frame capabilities....

That said, a crop-frame-sensor RED is still far better than anything else!

 

[ColinSmith]

The Red's sensor is the same size as that used in a 35mm movie camera, it is just that those both have smaller frames than that of a 35mm stills camera.

It's explained better in the FAQ

 

[Justin K Phillips]

Well, technically, it is full frame--a full motion picture frame, which is ~1/3 the size of a full 135 still frame.

 

[Hugh]

Oh... shit... of course - I did know that....

Working in film post production, I should have remembered, although it's usually just pixels by the time it makes it to us.... The only image aquisition that I'm involved in is the stills photography side....

 

[Clint Johnson]

Yup, the film is run horizontally through the still camera and vertically through the motion picture camera. The limit on frame size is the width of the film strip itself so when it is going horizontally through the camera it can be 24 mm tall where in a motion camera it can be 24 mm wide. The camera's construction and lens will define the other axis.

The old VistaVision film cameras ran the film horizontally and they captured a negative that was eight perforations wide (36mm x24mm) like 35mm stills.

 

[Hugh]

Yup - I did know about that....

Incidentally, I worked on one film about 3 years ago where they shot some shots on VistaVision.... This was specifically so that we in VFX had a larger plate to play with and could therefore reframe the shot in post (useful, as we were adding a large creature into the shot, and the camera operator wouldn't necessarily know where the top of the creature would be...)

 

[A. Bastaki]

When is this birger ef mount going to come out?
any idea?
________
Gm ultra engine history

 

[Vicente Nogueira]

Since we will have the Birger mount and consequently Canon EOS lenses will be a great alternative, I suggest that this tread sticker "why not Canon EOS lenses" be removed since it is no longer the case.

I, for example, am very happy with the quality of my Canon 24-70 2.8L and my 70-200 2.8L IS in my 5D, and think they will produce great images with Red and the Birger mount.

 

[Michael Hastings]

birger

birger

When is this birger ef mount going to come out?
any idea?

You should be able to get one with your camera. I think they will have some prototypes ready at the end of the month and final units shortly after.

 

[Evin Grant]

I suggest that this tread sticker "why not Canon EOS lenses" be removed since it is no longer the case.

Still a good thread. I just changed the name and updated the first post to reflect the Birger mount's existance.