Arri FF5HD with Red 18-55 & 300mm

[david_winters]

Yeah yeah I know, not the ideal setup, and you can read all about it here.
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=5734

However, it is a workable setup. The only issue is the brake lever for the FF gear arm does not fully release when in position, as the diameter of the lens prevents the lever from complete travel. But, it can be released enough to move the gear arm away from the lens, for lens changes, without changing FF position on the rods.

In the setup below the 19mm rods we had were not long enough for a lens support + MB20. With longer rods there appears to be enough rod space for MB20, lens support, FF5.

To date the current setup has worked with superspeeds, 2.1 standards and the two released Red lenses.

[david_winters]

300mm images

[T. Glen Phelps]

Hi David,

I'm going with basically the same set up, FF5 with an MB20II. What gear are you using with the 18-50? Is the the 64 tooth gear? And have you tried moving the gear to the other side of the arm an having it make contact on the side of the lens instead of the bottom? It seems this would allow you to move the FF5 further aft and maybe give you a little more room for the arm release to work.

Tracy

[david_winters]

Yes, moving the arm to the side of the lens does allow the arm release to travel fully with the 300 and 18-50. The problem with mounting the gear on the other side, and to the side of the lens, is the arm blocks view to the focus marks on the lens. Since the lens does not have calibrated focus marks anyway it may be a non-issue.

I prefer the arm under the lens, the limited release arm travel really is not an issue, provided you remember to "lock" the arm before installing a new lens.

Gear is the 64 tooth, which had just the right amount of travel for the 300mm doing focus pulls from 20 - 21 feet, racking focus between objects on a desk.

I prefer the MB20 over the "II" as it's got more rugged mounting points for the eyebrow and sidewings, which are also made of thicker material vs the II. My take is the original is better in a rental environment, where as the II is slightly lighter with eyebrow and wings similar to Chrosziel.

[T. Glen Phelps]

Sounds good David. I'm looking forward to getting my first camera, hopefully Monday.

Cheers

Tracy

[Alexander Nikishin]

It's an 18-50. :glare:

[Greg M]

So why exactly are you guys ordering a FF5 instead of a FF4?

[david_winters]

18-50, I know sorry, can't figure out how to edit the subject line. I shoot a lot of product for a company which makes an 18-55, which I why I'm constantly mixing things up.

[Alexander Nikishin]

So why exactly are you guys ordering a FF5 instead of a FF4?

That's the same thing I'm wondering.....

Maybe because it's black and looks "cooler". :shifty: