lens motors for 3d

[Michael Ragen]

Can anyone recommend some motors other than Viewfactor's that will work for 3d. 1 controller controlling both motors in sync basically. Thanks.

[Michael Hastings]

Birger mount is perfect for dual synchronous control for 3D - but we know where that leads :-) :tongue_smilie: :nono: :banghead: :Angel_anim: :smilewinkgrin: :cry:

(what's the emoticon limit?)

and can't forget: :reddevil: it's my high school mascot

[KETCH ROSSi]

Currently testing some Prototypes, and will see ET and other companies offerings extensively the week of the 18th will report then for more, but give ET a call, Element Technica that is, he he.

[Michael Ragen]

yeah... this would be a pl-mount thing. and it needs to be something currently available. thanks.

[Mark L. Pederson]

Can anyone recommend some motors other than Viewfactor's that will work for 3d. 1 controller controlling both motors in sync basically. Thanks.

FIZ, C-Motion and ARRI all have 3D options.

[Michael Ragen]

Thanks Mark! Which is your favorite?

[Pedro Guimaraes]

C-Motion is the best in my honest opinion. I've used Preston as well but it was lacking in features and I had issues with one of the cameras cuting early (by itself) and false triggering.

When the C-motion is in 3D mode you can actually adjust each motor independantly of each other to calibrate focus discrepancies on the lenses or to match magnification. With the preston we phsically had to calibrate the unit and then skip a tooth on the lens/motor to calibrate the lenses to each other.

i imagine Preston will eventually release an firmware update to add this feature as well.

The c-motion is also a bit more ergonomic than the preston but that is totally a matter of personal preference.

[Michael Ragen]

Thanks guys, all very helpful.

[Mark L. Pederson]

Thanks Mark! Which is your favorite?

I own three of the new ARRI WCU systems - which we really love for 2D work - we used two of them slaved with new 3D software on The Mortician - but we some real issues as the lowest setting or torque on those motors is still too much. And you can not make adjustments to individual motors.

I suspect ... next 3D feature film we'll invest in a set of C-Motions.

[Chris Burket]

CMotion, Arri and Preston all work. Cmotion does have the nice feature of being able to offset one motor from another, but its only a linear offset, if the lenses have different rotational travel, it won't help. No system can handle full lens mapping yet. I would probably prefer Preston because the motors can be adjusted so they have zero backlash which is very important and they can be calibrated one motor at a time, not just one axis at a time. They also calibrate at a slower speed (dm2) which usually leads to getting a little cleaner calibration.

I have used the Cmotion system a lot though, probably more than Preston and with good results. Have also used the Arri. They all work well. I'm eager to see who releases full lens mapping control.

[KETCH ROSSi]

One strong vote for the Cmotion C3D Focus Set, we are looking in setting up the systems with them for a configuration With two camin and 2 coperate: up to 6 motors – 2 Focus, 2 Iris, Interaxial and Convergence, as posted on Cmotion, to bad we don't have the funding yet or we would have taken advantage of the special they had last month.

BTW, Chris hope to see you at ET's new home on Monday the 18th while during my visit there with Joey.

[Nick Gardner]

So this is just a quick question because I imagine a bunch of folks looking at this thread know the answer....Obviously you can't use a manual FF with a dual idler gear, because the lenses are not parallel. Has anyone made a modified manual articulated FF for this purpose? I am sure that back in the '60s they were not using computer controlled lens mapping wireless FF units, so how did they do it back in the day?

Nick

[Samuel Martin]

I have used the Cmotion 3D several times and have found it excellent. I have never had to consider using anything else.

Buying the whole FF rig with the 3D box is somewhat expensive though... You can buy a house for the price you have to pay for it..

[Pedro Guimaraes]

One strong vote for the Cmotion C3D Focus Set, we are looking in setting up the systems with them for a configuration With two camin and 2 coperate: up to 6 motors – 2 Focus, 2 Iris, Interaxial and Convergence, as posted on Cmotion, to bad we don't have the funding yet or we would have taken advantage of the special they had last month.

BTW, Chris hope to see you at ET's new home on Monday the 18th while during my visit there with Joey.

We did it like this, for last movie we shot just a couple months ago...

2 Reds with angeniuex rouge 16-42mm

8 Heyden motors - 6 for Focus, Iris & Zoom x 2 cameras and one for IO and one for Convergence.

3 "Camins" - 1 for each camera and one for IO&convergence.

2- "Cooperate's" - One to control FIZ and one for IO and convergence.

Also one wire to connect them together and wires for remote start and stop of cameras.

!!!! That's alot of wires, cables & Stuff to attach to the camera rig!! Was a pain when we had to setup and break down everyday. it was great when we finally arrived at locations when we could walk away at the end of the day! I will post a picture when I get a chance. It all worked perfectly for 7 weeks of shooting in rain, mud, humidity and swamps of Louisiana.

FYI-
Currently this full setup cameras, beamsplitter rig, lenses, c-motion, transvideo monitor is all owned and ready to rent from 21st Century 3D. Offices in LA and NYC.....and yes it all costs a ton of money.... renting is definitely the way to go.

[Pedro Guimaraes]

if the lenses have different rotational travel, it won't help.


yes this travel issue is a problem. A system with full mapping would be awesome and the ultimate solution we will need from remote focus manufactures. I'm sure it will come eventually.

For Air Racers 3D, (that we shot last year) we had the lens technician at Keslow camera "map" our ageniuex lenses on the bench using a special process he made the focus on both lenses "match". They no longer matched the marks on the barrels but they matched as a pair thru the travel. We then just used a chart and when thru the distances and marked the preston. Problem solved. He mentioned something about the design of the ageniuex's that allowed him to do this (these were not the rouges). He also said he could make the zoom track together. But that he could only do one or the other. Since we were not planning on zooming during a shot we chose to have him match the focus.


They also calibrate at a slower speed (dm2) which usually leads to getting a little cleaner calibration.


Important to note that the c-motion "camin's" have 2 torque settings as well. Normal and "boost" mode.