Changing PL mount to B4

[Arthur Levy]

How easy will it be to change to a B4 mount in the field? Will the lens have to be collimated? I plan to use a 2/3" B4 HD lens since much of my work will be for 1080p release.

[Stephen Williams]

Hi,

B4 lenses have a back focus adjustment so don't need collimation. It's an adapter so should be very easy to change in 30 seconds or less.

Stephen

[Arthur Levy]

Thanks for the good news. How difficult will it be to set the back focus in the field on the Red LCD display? Will it be accurate enough on the small screen?

I will mostly shoot corporate and TV shows and would like to be able to deliver 1080p material. 4K will be great for stock footage, but I need to generate income from Red. Hopefully, more shows will go to HD in the next year. I am looking at the new Angenieux 19X zoom for EFP work.

[Stephen Williams]

Hi Arther,

I guess you are using a Zoom lens, should be very easy as long you inside or somewhere fairly dark, you want to set the back focus with the lens wide open.

Spend 2 minutes doing back focus after the camera has warmed up, I have no idea if heat will be an issue but it is with existing 2/3 inch cameras it is. On the first day check the camera every hour or so hopefully it wont change.

I am sure a small screen with enlargement function or eyepiece will do fine.

Stephen

[Arthur Levy]

Thanks Stephen. Sounds as easy as setting the back focus on my BetaSP lens.

Arthur

[Andrew Benz]

Hi Stephen,

Hope your doing well... so due to the b4 lenses back focus adjustment we do not need to worry about collimation and the ease of putting the RED/Abekus converter on and off the pl mount is quite easy... This is great news, for much of my work (sports, wildlife, docco, corp, com., broadcast...) I plan to use a b4 lenses and RED lenses to capture all my needs... If you have any caveats to share, I would love to hear them.

BTW, Jim said earlier tonight... "Our B4 converters are ready now..." I cannot wait for LART.

Thank You Stephen.

Cheers,

Andrew Benz

[Stephen Williams]

Hi Andrew,

I don't see any issues at all with collimation using HD lenses, as long as they are good quality the should work well.

Stephen

[Andrew Benz]

Hi Stephen,

Thank you for your time and knowledge... I hope to check out several HD b4 options at Abel Cine and at the LART in October.

Cheers Stephen--- Andrew

[Stephen Williams]

Hi Andrew,

If you are going to buy a new Video zoom, try to test 6 examples of the same lens, they do vary quite a bit, you will be surprised. The S16 versions of the same lenses (Canon) have tighter tolerances, and are more predictable.

Stephen