Retrofitting a B4 mount

[Brainstorm]

A question for anybody from RED who can answer....

If anybody buys a RED with the standard PL lens mount and then requires a B4 mount at a later date, will it be possible to "retrofit" one once they become available... and if so, will the camera have to visit the home of the RED doctors for the surgery?

[Brook Willard]

You'll be able to change lens mounts on your own. I'll let those who are more experienced with such things discuss potentially necessary collimation.

The guys at RED make it seem like changing the RED lens mount will be an easier task than the very in-depth process [mount swap, calibration, etc.] required on other cameras. How easy it will be and what equipment will be necessary is unknown.

[Brainstorm]

You'll be able to change lens mounts on your own. I'll let those who are more experienced with such things discuss potentially necessary collimation.

The guys at RED make it seem like changing the RED lens mount will be an easier task than the very in-depth process [mount swap, calibration, etc.] required on other cameras. How easy it will be and what equipment will be necessary is unknown.

Thanks Brook. I look forward to hearing more on this if anybody else "in the know" has further information they can reveal.

[Brook Willard]

Just for the record, I'm not "in the know" - I've just been around the forums long enough to soak all of this up. It's always worth taking what I say regarding the RED project with a grain of salt because I find out about these things at the same time you guys do.

[tj williams]

The problem with the B4 is that the lens is set for a 3 chip camera. This has to be corrected for it to work properly with a single sensor system. Abekas makes an adapter for your HD B4 mount lens. to adapt for film/single sensor and PL mount. They are available from a variety of suppliers the one I know is:

ZGC Les Zelig, who is a great guy, and very knowledgeable. here is a link

http://www.zgc.com/zgc.nsf/product/abakus

[Harry Clark]

tj...
Just FYI, it's Les ZELLAN. But yes, he is indeed a great guy; the man who saved Cooke Optics:
http://www.cookeoptics.com/cooke.nsf/press/press
Cheers,
Harry