Birger Lens Mount Reservations

[Michael Hastings]

Originally Posted by The Third Man

Could you drop some pics about all Birger EF mount sides here?

I already mounted it and have to ship out in a couple of hours but here is the assembly picture. The third picture shows the intermediate portion with the connectors.

BTW the cable you see is what will be changed, the cable exit will have another 4 pin lemo bulkhead instead of the cable.

I saw someone post that we are looking at months more of delays. They just have to drill out and tap that wire hole and if the new circuit board doesn't take too long it might not be as long as it seems.

[Joe Vinson]

Originally Posted by AquaVideoRed206

I saw someone post that we are looking at months more of delays. They just have to drill out and tap that wire hole and if the new circuit board doesn't take too long it might not be as long as it seems.

I just think that some of us are learning from experience. But if you really don't think it will be that long, can I have yours?

[Michael Hastings]

Originally Posted by AKABAKA

I just think that some of us are learning from experience.

I understand, I'm just suggesting it isn't as big as it seems.

Originally Posted by AKABAKA

But if you really don't think it will be that long, can I have yours?

HaHa - good point. I'm shipping it off to a secret location - some of you know my address!!!

[Jorge Díaz-Amador]

I helped Mike install the Birger Canon EOS mount on his RED ONE #206. I had previously seen a prototype mount with the USB connector and a spacer made on a "parts printer". This prototype was not anodized, except for the cylindrical part that held the EOS mount.

The production mount is a big improvement. Fully anodized, the electronics look much better, good connectors, and a simple but effective method for adjusting the Flange Focal Distance.

I set up Mike's camera using my back-up Autocollimator, a portable Richter unit with LED light source. It was difficult to see the reflected image through the EOS zoom lenses. I was able to see enough to verify that we were reaching infinity focus before hitting the end stop on the lens.

I'm wondering if anyone knows if true infinity focus on an EOS lens (I'm talking primes here, I know the zooms are wacky), is at the hard stop, or if the focus past infinity by design.

Although I still think that high end production work will be done with PL mount lenses, it seems to me that this mount will open up some very interesting possibilities. I would still advise users to stick with the pro series prime lenses and avoid the temptation of the compact zooms. The AF still zooms are designed totally differently than a cine zoom.

Without a doubt, Canon has some superb prime lenses in the L Series for the EOS mount. Some of these are the best performing still camera lenses in their focal lengths. I'm looking forward to mounting a Birger mount on my lens test projector and getting a look at how they perform.

If anyone needs to get a Birger mount installed and focus calibrated on their RED ONE, PM me.

[Joel Kaye]

Originally Posted by AquaVideoRed206

I saw someone post that we are looking at months more of delays. They just have to drill out and tap that wire hole and if the new circuit board doesn't take too long it might not be as long as it seems.

Well when you add in that the knob isn't done and consider that 2 months ago we saw a working version that only needed a knob it's hard to imagine a WORKING version will be shipping within a month from now.

At least the aperture adjustment works currently, right?

Have you tested breathing and vignetting on your EF-S lens?

[Joel Kaye]

Originally Posted by CinemaTechnic

Although I still think that high end production work will be done with PL mount lenses, it seems to me that this mount will open up some very interesting possibilities. I would still advise users to stick with the pro series prime lenses and avoid the temptation of the compact zooms. The AF still zooms are designed totally differently than a cine zoom.

Is there a reason you couldn't use a zoom as a variable prime? You might need different focus markings for different focal lengths but it should work, right?

[Erik Widding]

Originally Posted by CinemaTechnic

I'm wondering if anyone knows if true infinity focus on an EOS lens (I'm talking primes here, I know the zooms are wacky), is at the hard stop, or if the focus past infinity by design.

Lenses focus past infinity by design. We believe this allows for the less expensive lenses and/or camera bodies to not need to hold the same tolerances as the more expensive ones, and yet still be fully interchangeable.

Also, Cinematechnic and Aqua did the collimation/setup the hard way - because I did not give them the collimation software yet. It only gets easier from here...

Originally Posted by joelnet

it's hard to imagine a WORKING version will be shipping within a month from now.

It is literally drilling out a hole, and tapping it; and putting two 4 pin LEMO connectors on a cable - for each mount that we need to ship. Turns out, we did not need to makes any board changes. Machine sho is already setting up for the rework, with a promised delivery date of tuesday, and more LEMO connectors will be arriving the same day.

Also, Brian said yesterday that they were already working on my camera, and usually repairs take one day...

[Chris Kenny]

Originally Posted by birgerEngineer

It is literally drilling out a hole, and tapping it; and putting two 4 pin LEMO connectors on a cable - for each mount that we need to ship. Turns out, we did not need to makes any board changes. Machine sho is already setting up for the rework, with a promised delivery date of tuesday, and more LEMO connectors will be arriving the same day.

Thanks for the update, Erik. Any word on on when the focus knobs will be done? We're starting to get a bit concerned about how long it's going to take to have a usable system here, and I don't think we're alone....

[Joel Kaye]

Originally Posted by birgerEngineer

It is literally drilling out a hole, and tapping it; and putting two 4 pin LEMO connectors on a cable - for each mount that we need to ship. Turns out, we did not need to makes any board changes.
Also, Brian said yesterday that they were already working on my camera, and usually repairs take one day...

Great, but I said "working"... as in the "knob is done and the the thing can actually adjust aperture and function as a follow focus unit". Are you saying the Monday after this (10 days) we'll see 50 fully functional units ship?

[Jorge Díaz-Amador]

Originally Posted by birgerEngineer

Also, Cinematechnic and Aqua did the collimation/setup the hard way - because I did not give them the collimation software yet. It only gets easier from here...

Hey Eric!

Actually Mike told me about the software but could not explain it. I just did it the way I'm used to. I took your suggestion of +0.20 mm from the deepest setting and it was a good starting point. I ended up going about 0.1 mm deeper. For a truly accurate setting I would need to check it on my bench collimator (Möeller-Wedel), and with a wide, fast prime lens.

I like lenses that focus past infinity. The only problem is, I can't know if the focus scale infinity mark is accurate.

I'd certainly like to learn about your adjustment software and how that works. Please feel free to PM me when you have time.