Arri FF4 and RED

[Petros Nousias]

I know there's people that have allready purchased the ff-4 so it should be an easy question...
I recently ordered an ff4 from arri and I was told today that it doesnt fit properly in RED and that I should purchase the ff5 hd. Im not using a bridgeplate so the rails will be attached directly to red, in that case they will be elevated a bit. Im mainly going to use a zeiss 2.1 set but occasionally S4s, Ultraprimes and the rest. Will the ff4 fit or not? If not, I guess I just have to purchase a bridgeplate, right?

[Finner]

Buy the bridge plate. It is one of the best pieces of support equipment red sells.

[Petros Nousias]

I will buy it eventually, but from arri, since I get both top and bottom for the same price more or less.

[Finner]

I will buy it eventually, but from arri, since I get both top and bottom for the same price more or less.

Thats a good idea if you plan to use the arri bridge plate with an arri camera, not the best idea if you want to use it on a red camera. The arri bridge plate is different from the red ET plate and the arri one will not work on a red camera.

[Mike Prevette]

Finner do you know how much different? I'm assuming its the rod center to optical center HEIGHT dimension thats different is that correct?

[Petros Nousias]

Ill have to look into that, I had no idea, thanks. Anyways, anyone tried the ff4 without a bridgeplate?

[Fredrik Callinggard]

Ill have to look into that, I had no idea, thanks. Anyways, anyone tried the ff4 without a bridgeplate?

Just buy the bridge plate. Element Technica is working hard on making their accessories changing RED into more like the cameras we're used to (ARRI for example). That baseplate will render the RED to an ARRI. Isn't that exactly what you want? At least it seems so.


fred

[Petros Nousias]

What I AM trying to figure out is whether the ff4 will fit WITHOUT the bridgeplate...

[Cüneyt Kaya]

you mean 19mm base plate, this one, right?

http://www.red.com/store/product_detail/45

asfaik, the ff4 will also fit to the RED BOTTOM Plate (included in the Baseproduction set)

http://www.red.com/store/product_detail/47

[Greg M]

DO NOT GET THE FF5!!!!

The FF4 is the perfect solution for the Red and your lenses.
Who ever told you this is clueless.

[Greg M]

What I AM trying to figure out is whether the ff4 will fit WITHOUT the bridgeplate...

How are you attaching the Rods?
Are you getting the base production pack?

btw- both the FF4 and FF5 fit all three standards (19mm, 15mm and LW15mm), so I dont understand what your dealer is talking about. The problem w/ the FF5 is that it does not properly fit Cine lenses.

[red1225]

Thats a good idea if you plan to use the arri bridge plate with an arri camera, not the best idea if you want to use it on a red camera. The arri bridge plate is different from the red ET plate and the arri one will not work on a red camera.

Hey Finner,

I'm just asking...are you sure the Arri bridge plate won't work with the RED? My deal is I have an Arri FF-2, Arri MB-18, (both 15mm based) Arri bridge plate and dove tail I was hoping to use with my RED package. I would hate to have to spend another $600 for the 15mm ET (arri) bridge plate.

I wonder if I could go to a shop and get another hole drilled, tap/dyed with my current bridge plate and have it be able to work on my film and RED cameras.

[Petros Nousias]

I am getting the base production pack, so the rod-lens distance is less than with the bridgeplate combination, hence my question. It doesnt have to do with the rod diameter. Also that was not the dealers guess but arri's(he contacted them about the ff4 and they suggested I purchase the ff5)

[Alexander Nikishin]

Every Arri rep I've spoken to has pointed me towards the FF4, not the FF5.

The FF5 is designed with a longer gear arm made for HD lenses with a smaller diameter construction.

This retailer wouldn't happen to be Filmtools would it? They seem to be stuck on the idea that the RED camera is meant for the FF5, not true.

http://www.filmtools.com/red-one-camera-outfitters.html

Someone needs to speak with them on their reasoning....?!?

There have been complaints of the FF5 not working properly with a RED/Cine lens setup.

[Mike Prevette]

Petros the Rod distances will be the same as the 19mm arri ET base. it's a standard set of dimensions.

[Greg M]

I am getting the base production pack, so the rod-lens distance is less than with the bridgeplate combination, hence my question. It doesnt have to do with the rod diameter. Also that was not the dealers guess but arri's(he contacted them about the ff4 and they suggested I purchase the ff5)

I dont understand- the rod-lens distance is standard, it cant be different or it simply wont work.

Regardless, the FF5 is not appropiate for Cine lenses. I bought it per Arri recomendation when it first came out and had to return it after a dozen calls to Arri, when they finally admitted that it is really for Video Lenses.

There is an entire thread I started last year on this topic with complete details on why it doesnt work.

Bottom line is if you are using Super Speeds and Ultra Primes, etc... DO NOT BUY THE FF5.

The FF4 works perfectly.

[Petros Nousias]

Thanks, that was a clear answer. I was not talking about the rod to rod distance, bat the rod-lens one. If the red bottom plate positions the rods higher than the bridgeplate(which seems like it does if you take a close look at the picture) then the follow focus will be positioned higher, and could be in the way of some bigger lenses. Enough said though, I will be getting the ff4 since Ive used it a million times and find it excellent in every aspect.

[Mitch Gross]

I believe the RED rods are properly positioned. This is how they were able to mount an MB20 and have it line up correctly with their lens. There are lots of pictures of this setup floating around.

Mitch Gross
Abel Cine Tech

[Greg M]

the height is exactly the same either way....otherwise it wouldnt work.

see image below of attached MB20II and FF4.
I am using the RED- Arri 19mm Base, but also have the RED basic production pack and the Red bottom plate is exactly the same positioning.

Note how short the gear arm is, on the FF5 the gear arm reaches to the top of the lens, which creates many issues. It wont allow positioning the arm under the lens (which I do all the time), it creates problems with the matte box and prevents the clip on from fitting properly. Not to mention is geared differently.

[Petros Nousias]

Thanks for all the answers, it was quite stupid of me not to think of the issues the mattebox would have if the rods were set higher...