Lenses

Are your lenses good enough for that 4k high definition camera?

There are a lot of claims on the camera side that the resolution is so high, the lenses are now the weaker link and dictate the maximum resolution of the produced image. But check this out: even with a resolution of 50 line pair per millimeter your lens beats a 4k video camera by a comfortable margin. Download the complete paper on this topic.

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Cooke Lenses

Cooke S4 (/i) 100mm Rear Glass Replacement: Which way does the glass go in the lens?

This information is for qualified technicians only; do not attempt the replacement if you do not have experience in handling the glass properly. “For the Cooke S4 (/i) 100mm the glass part number is 99-1492, it has a flat side facing the film plane and a convex curve toward the front of the lens.” One word of caution, the third glass from the rear is a thick element held by a very fragile thin glass flange. Refrain from disturbing any more glass and limit your repair to the rear element only.

Cooke S4 Prime Lenses: What is the Field of View for a 2.40 Aspect Ratio?

shows a table for all the 35mm Cooke S4 Prime Lenses.

Is there a Service Drawing for the Cooke S4 Prime Lenses?

The outer body on most of the Cooke S4 prime lenses is built the same. Attached is a drawing and a part list of the outer body components

Cooke S4 (/i) 25mm Front Glass Replacement: Which way does the glass go in the lens?

This information is for qualified technicians only; do not attempt the replacement if you do not have experience in handling the glass properly. For the Cooke S4 (/i) 25mm, the front glass part number is 99-1476. It has a shallow convex curve facing to the outside and a steeper convex curve toward the film plane.

Cooke S4 (/i) 32mm Front Glass Replacement: Which way does the glass go in the lens?

This information is for qualified technicians only; do not attempt the replacement if you do not have experience in handling the glass properly. This one is easy, the glass is symmetrical so it does not matter which way you put a replacement glass. However it is always a good practice to keep the glass in the same position as it originally was when the lens is serviced. A small pencil mark on the very edge may be needed to keep track of the relative position.

What is the latest version of the /i viewer?

Check out the latest /i viewer version, it is V3 for your PC or MAC. You find it at: http://www.cookeoptics.com/cooke.nsf/technical/downloads.html

With this software and the serial cable (part number 472-8443) you can display the lens information on your PC without being connected to a camera..

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Z-Scon-Cooke

What is included in the Cooke 9-50 CVK to Super 16 Conversion Kit?

The Super 16 conversion kit is a small external optical adaptor that mounts on the rear of the lens, inside the existing mount. It includes the optical cell, a spacer to be placed under the existing mount, a zoom and iris scales, plus the screws needed to mount the unit.,What are not included are extra shims needed to make the fine adjustment of the back focus after the conversion.,This is a semi-permanent modification as it can be easily removed and the lens returned to its original format. However the iris and zoom scales will probably be damaged in the process and may need to be replaced next time the lens is converted back to S16.

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Fujinon Lenses

Fujinon Th13x3.5BRMU

Great Performance Lens with JVC. "…Fujinon already has one other 1/3” lens available; the higher-quality 13:1 zoom; the Th13x3.5. For anything other than HD for television – I would recommend going up to the better Th13x3.5 lens – especially if you think there is a chance it might be blown up to film projected digitally. "Circuit, Digital Film Group's Online Magazine, "Focus, JVC's GY-HD100, The Evolution of HDV", http://www.digitalfilmgroup.com/english/circuit/circuit_issue2.09.07.05/circuit_2.09.07.05_focus.htm

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P+S Technik

BROCHURES

Mini35 Brochure: A Successful Tool Becomes a Versatile System

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Mini35 400 Series and Mini35 Compact

The Mini35 compact and the new JVC GY HM700 is a perfect match. The easiest and fastest setup yet, the camera’s existing support shoe fits directly on the Mini35 compact support platform. The camera is ready to use in less than 10 seconds.

For an expanded FAQs section on the Mini35 and Mini35 Compact click here.

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Pro35

Pro35 B4 Mount - Do you have difficulty locking it properly?

Here are a couple of things to check:,The back focus adjustment may be extended too far toward the back and interferes with the camera mount. The locating pin may be partially unscrewed and prevents the locking of the lens.

For an expanded FAQs section on the Pro35 click here.

PRO35 Test Footage DVD

To request a Test Footage DVD shot by Jon Fauer, ASC, email us at:, Pro35dvd@zgc.com with your name and address. Jon Fauer compares various video and 35mm film lenses with and without the PRO35 on both Sony and Panasonic 2/3" video cameras.

PRO35: Adjusting Back Focus / Light Loss Table / Tips for Using the P+S Technik PRO35

Provided by Clairmont Camera, "Adjusting Back Focus", 1.) Mount the PRO35 on the camera and remove the PL lens cap. 2.) View the image of the ground glass on a good monitor or view through the camera's viewfinder. 3.) Make sure the power to the unit is off. Loosen lock knob on back focus adjustment ring and rotate the ring to make the texture of the ground glass as sharp as possible. Lock the ring with the lock knob.

Tips for best using the Pro35:,To minimize visible grain or texture from the PRO35 ground glass on the HD image, the iris of the film lens on the PRO35 should not be set smaller than T2.8. The closer to wide open the iris is, the less apparent the texture will be.,Exposure can be compensated for by:,Adjusting the exposure ring at the rear of the PRO35. ,Using the ND filter wheel in the camera. ,Placing ND filters in front of the film lens. Adjusting the GAIN on the camera.. A combination of any of the above. Camera shutter speed (exposure time) can also be adjusted, however, care must be taken to insure that the shutter speed selected does not make the texture more visible. In this case, the speed of the PRO35 motor can be adjusted to minimize the texture. Note that it is more difficult to see the grain or texture on smaller monitors.

The Pro35 MKII is now digital

The main electronic board has been updated; the motor functions are now controlled by a microprocessor.,The part number for this new board is 24254. A better voltage regulation has also been built on the board to improve the compatibility with the higher voltage battery systems now on the market.

Trouble shooting the Pro35: Green light with no movement of the Ground Glass stage

The green light indicates a correct voltage is applied and the motor is running at speed. In this case it is likely the belts are broken or are disengaged.,Red light with no movement of the Ground Glass stage: The red light indicates a voltage is applied but the motor is not running. Either the electronic or the motor is at fault.

How do I identify the connector board I need?

Attached is a picture showing the different versions of the connector board for the Pro35.

A  was in the original Pro35 and did not offer any voltage protection.
B  was the first attempt at voltage protection
C  was introduced with the MKII and had a complete voltage regulator on the board.
D  is the current one as of July 2009; the voltage regulator is now on the main board.

Upgrade kit for the Pro35? What units should be upgraded?

This upgrade applies only to the Pro35 MKII sold between June 2007 and July 2008.,The Pro35 was updated to the MKII level for the 60p cameras; its speed was increased to reduce the screen noise at the higher frame rate. Several counter-weights were also added to minimize the vibrations and mechanical stress. ,The upgrade addresses the issue of the original belts breaking prematurely. The thicker section of the new material for the belts is more elastic and wear resistant. Some other parts are included in the upgrade kit, like the motor bracket and motor pulley. The end result is better reliability and a reduced motor current.,The upgrade is straight forward but requires an adjustment of the top speed so a tachometer is needed for the re-calibration of the speed dial and a small resistor has to be added to the speed potentiometer.

Using the PRO35 with the Sony HDW-F900 Camera

How to Remedy for Shading Error

Follow these steps:,1. Open FILE menu.,2. Go to LENS FILE page and select a file number that has no name or offset (for instance, #15 may work).,3. Name this file "PRO35".,4. Open MAINTENANCE menu.,5. Go to WHITE SHADING page,6. At bottom of page, select "V MOD : ON".,7. With lens attached to PRO35, aim at a light box or very flatly lit white card. (The flat lighting is extremely important.),8. Perform a camera white balance.,9. Using a vectorscope, switch calibration to variable and expand until white dot in center becomes fairly large.,10. Looking back on your WHITE SHADING menu page, you will find near the bottom a "V MOD" adjustment with four columns for R, G, B and M (which stands for "master").,11. While observing this white dot on the vectorscope, adjust "V MOD : M" until the white dot becomes as circular/round as possible (not oval; must be round).,12. Go back to the LENS FILE page in the FILE menu.,13. Select STORE FILE.,This adjustment is stored in the camera's LENS FILE and will remain there until someone clears it. This adjustment is camera dependent and will not save to a memory stick. You should only have to perform this adjustment once. When using the PRO35, just select the LENS FILE that you named and stored.,The feature, 30 Miles, was shot with a Sony HDW-F900 and P+S Technik PRO35 Digital Image Converter.

What screw thread is used on the Pro35 short support post item #19221?

The screw thread that engages in the Pro35 is a metric 6mm diameter x1mm pitch. The thread at the bottom of the post is a UNC 3/8-16 thread.

How do you supply power to the Pro35-EX3?

Currently there is one solution to the power supply of the Pro35-EX3. The Anton Bauer QR-EX3 gold mount designed to fit the EX3 and the D tap cable to power the Pro35-EX3 via the 7 pin Fischer plug.,The only other possibility offered by P+S Technik so far is to use the battery holder for NP-F 7.2v type of batteries that will require a separate charger.

P+S Technik PRO35 User Manual in PDF Format

To get the latest version of the user manual, copy and paste this link: http://www.pstechnik.de/downloads/PRO35_Manual_e.pdf This manual was created for the Pro35 2/3" but it is also relevant to the Pro35 1/2". In the attachment you will find the manual for the Pro35 MKI

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SKATER Mini Dolly

Is the tilt angle of the regular 20 degree rocker plate included in the SKATER Mini Dolly package too limiting for your application?

The 30 degree rocker plate gives the camera a slightly higher point of view while increasing the tilt amplitude. As with the 20 degree rocker plate, the included removable dovetail is designed to work with the Arri standard sled (part of the Arri support system). Without the dovetail, the top of the rocker provides tie-down screws for all other cameras.

What will the SKATER Mini Dolly Case accommodate?

The SKATER flight case will accommodate the SKATER and accessories, including both rocker plates, 30 and 20 degree.

SKATER Mini Dolly Preprinted Card with Useful Angles

This is what you need to determined precise rotation at a given distance from your subject.

SKATER Dolly Laserpointer

This accessory is very handy when you want to spot the proper radius around your subject without calculation. ,All you need to do is place the pointer on each wheel and turn the laser point toward the center of rotation. One of these is included in the SKATER Kit.

SKATER Dolly motor holder bracket.

This motor holder bracket was originally designed to motorize the SKATER Mini Camera Dolly or the SKATTER Junior Mini Dolly, now it can also be used for the damping module SKATER Smooth Gear. It is intended to work with motors that attach directly to 15 or 19mm rods. Used in conjunction with the Skater remote control unit, the motorized configuration gives you ramping motion with good speed control. However this is not a motion control system as the repeatability will depend on the quality of the surface you are using. In manual mode, SKATER Smooth Gear offers a small amount of resistance to the movement thus giving you better hand control of the unit.

How do you attach a motor to the SKATER Mini Camera Dolly or the SKATER Junior Mini Dolly?

Any motor designed or adapted to work with 15 or 19mm rods can be mounted on the SKATER Dolly with the motor holder bracket 21258.

SKATER Control Unit Configurations

SCU and SKATER Motor: When used with the original SKATER Motor, the SCU is usually powered through a 3 pin RS connector cable (#19920) utilizing the power from the camera, which can range from 10v - 35v. Only one cable (#22100) runs between SCU (#21502) and SKATER Motor on the SKATER Mini Dolly. With Arri cameras, the run function can be activated.,Alternatively, the SCU and the SKATER Motor can be powered through an external battery.,SCU with Third Party Motor: When a third party motor is used, like Heden digital motor or Arri CLM2) together with the SCU, both are powered with one cable from an external battery or the camera. When connected to the camera, camera run functions on Arri cameras are available.,Wireless Control with CMotion's Coperate: When used together with a cmotion wireless Lens Control System, the SCU can be directly connected to the hand unit, Coperate. All functions are transmitted wireless to the receiver, Camin, and the SKATER Motor would use the third axis, usually used for the zoom lens. This configuration works as well with an Arri CLM2 or Heden digital motor.

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SKATER Scope

P+S Technik SKATER SCOPE MOUNT CONFIGURATIONS

The Skater Scope in not designed for mixed mount configurations, for example: a PL mount on the front and B4 mount on the back is not an acceptable combination. The only configurations available are:

- PL mount on the front and PL mount on the back.,

- Panavision mount I on the front and Panavision mount on the back.

For video:

- B4 mount on the front and B4 mount on the back.

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3D Rig

What are the angle of view of the standard 3D rig

Cooke as wide as 27mm,Ultraprime as wide as 24mm,P+S C mount lenses as wide as 12mm,Digiprimes as wide as 7mm.

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Steadyframe Film Scanner

What makes this scanner so good for archived films that may be too fragile to be scanned on a typical machine?

The transport is totally stabilized electronically; the light sources are synchronized to the perforations on the fly without mechanical contact nor any sprockets. The only small amount of torque applied is to guaranty the image flatness over the sensing area. All this means is, we have been able to scan and preserve very fragile emulsions that would not have survived any of the other scanners currently on the market.

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IMS

What does P+S Technik mean by the phrase “C mount for the IMS”?

Well it may be because it is not a C mount but an adaptor that is designed to be used on the specially modified C mounted Linus lenses. This adaptor does not have the threaded part normally used for the C mount but it locks the lens on a groove specially cut on the Linus lens body.

New IMS solution for heavy Nikon lenses.

The P+S Nikon-F professional lens mount is a positive lock mount of a new design that entirely solves the weakness of the original mount. Even heavy lenses are held firmly in place and will perform reliably. The original springs have been replaced with bayonets locks that pull the lens on the mount regardless of their weight. This mount is compatible with IMS (interchangeable mount system created by P+S Techink)

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JVC ProHD Cameras

I noticed a dead pixel on my JVC GY-HD110U camera. How do I correct it?

On the GY-HD110U/GY-HD200/GY-HD250 series cameras this process is provided in an advanced Menu accessed while in 24p mode. You must be in 24p mode for this operation: Hold the Focus Assist button (the one on the camera body) simultaneously with the Menu/Status button for at least 5 seconds.,You will see an advanced menu where the second line says CAMERA1. Move the cursor down and push the shutter wheel to enter that menu. Now you see a list with the sixth item being PIXEL COMPEN. Move down to it and select that item. The word CANCEL blinks. Change it to EXECUTE and push again. It takes about 10 seconds or so to perform the operation then it tells you to power off the camera. You are done. Make sure Focus Assist is now OFF and exit 24p mode if desired.,NOTE: This works best on a camera that is warm. We advise turning the camera on and let it sit for ½ hour or so before doing this operation. You can even wrap it in a blanket. It may be necessary to perform the procedure more than once. This works for all the ProHD JVC cameras.

I just opened my GY-HD250 and the HD-SDI connector is not working.

To turn the HD-SDI on, open the camcorder's menu. Then, go to the second page of the "Video Format 2/2" menu. Turn the "HD/SD-SDI OUT" menu item "ON". (This is only for GY-HD250U)

What are your battery power solutions for the Nebtek NEB70HDS monitor?

There are adaptors designed to mount the battery directly on the back of the monitor for the following cameras: Sony BP-U series, Sony L series, Sony M series, Panasonic, Canon, JVC. There are also adaptors for the more general battery systems from: Anton Bauer, IDX, PAG.

Are the JVC ProHD cameras good in low light?

The JVC GY-HD110U is rated F5.6 @ 2,000 lux. With the upgrade in the A/D converter and DSP, the “200 series” (GY-HD200UB/GY-HD250U) are rated F8 @ 2,000 lux. Also, with the 14 bit A/D & DSP you are able to use higher gain settings with little or no noise. This will compensate for the low light conditions. This applies to all JVC ProHD camera models.

How do I get an image with more contrast on my JVC ProHD camera without going into the full “Cine” mode?

Try setting one of the User buttons for Black Compress. You can chose level 1, 2, or 3. We find that level 2 gives a nice contrast in the image but not too much. This will work for any of the JVC ProHD cameras.

DR-HD100 QuickTime HDV Support Upgrade is Available Now.

Product Update DR-HD100 QuickTime HDV Support Upgrade is Available Now. With the DR-HD100 v2.2.1 firmware upgrade, JVC GY-HD110, HD200 and HD250 series camcorder owners can record 720p/30,25 and 24 clips in the native QuickTime HDV file format. QuickTime HDV clips can be imported directly into Apple Final Cut Pro without the need for capture or conversion first. The upgrade can be purchased directly from Focus Enhancements. NOTE: DR-HD-100 Units purchased after 10.4.06 include the v2.0 Support Upgrade. This upgrade is for v1.1 customers.

JVC GY-HD100 Shooting Angle Calculation Table: 1/2" Lens to 1/3" Camera

Image magnification will occur when you use a 1/2 inch video lens on a 1/3 inch format camera using a non-optical adapter. See the attached for the calculated focal lengths.

JVC GY-HD100 Shooting Angle Calculation Table: 2/3" video on 1/3" camera

Image magnification will occur when you use a 2/3 inch video lens on a 1/3 inch format camera using a non-optical adapter. See the attached for the calculated focal lengths.

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Z-Hot Mirror Filters

Tiffen Hot mirror, when do you need this series of filters?

The hot mirror is specially designed for cameras that do not have a built-in infrared filter. Cameras with 3 CCD or 3 CMOS sensors do not need this filter as the prism system effectively filters out the infrared wave lengths. Only cameras with single chip and without infrared cutoff filter built in will benefit from this series of filters. Different materials reflect infrared wavelengths in different amounts, creating an unnatural color shift in the objects with most infrared reflection. The filter removes those infrared reflections and restores the natural colors as seen by the human eye.

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ARRI Universal Quick Release HD

I can confirm the ARRI Universal Quick Release HD Base-plate for 15mm rods, (product number338351) is compatible with most video cameras Also known as the DigiCine quick release base-plate, it includes a bridge plate sled and a sliding plate. We checked the alignment on several Sony cameras and found the center line and height to be easy to match. We checked on the Panasonic HDX900 and found that there are enough adjustments available for a proper heigh and centering as well.

Does it work with Sony and Panasonic video cameras?

Also known as the DigiCine quick release baseplate and it includes a bridge plate sled.,There are adjustments to make it compatible with Sony and Panasonic cameras.like the HDX 900.

What about other video cameras?

I can confirm the ARRI Universal Quick Release HD Base-plate for 15mm rods, (product number 338353) is compatible with most video cameras Also known as the DigiCine quick release base-plate, it includes a bridge plate sled and a sliding plate.,We checked the alignment on several Sony cameras and found the center line and height to be easy to match.,We checked on the Panasonic HDX900 and found that there are enough adjustments available for a proper hight and centering as well.

The sturdier and more stable Arri Quick Release Plate replaces the Quick Release Plate that came with the camera. Unlike your camera's quick release plate, this one is designed to be mounted on the Arri bridge plate sled and is fully compatible with the Arri support system.

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Batteries

What are the current TSA rules concerning transport of batteries?

Considered a Class 9 Hazardous Transport, as with all lithium and lithium ion batteries, Dionic 160 must be transported in accordance with IATA, IACO and 49CFR regulations regarding classification of lithium and lithium ion transportation. Equivalent lithium content of Dionic 160 is greater than 8 grams and must be transported as Class 9 Hazardous Goods. Shipping companies typically charge additional fees for Class 9. Download the TSA guidelines here.

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Putora Test Charts

How do you use the MC bar on the Putora charts?

The MC are based on cycles or line pairs (one black and one white line). It was originally designed for the 2/3" broadcast format that is with horizontal line of 8.8mm across the sensor.,The 2/3" camera has to be placed so the two arrows on the ends of the MC bar are just outside of the frame without cutting in the MC bar. Setup this way the MC 1 represents 80 cycles, if it filled the entire line you would have 80 pairs of black and white lines and you would need a minimum of 160 horizontal TV lines to resolve this pattern. MC2 is 160 cycles and 320 horizontal TV lines,and so on to MC12 with 960 cycles and 1920 horizontal TV lines. If you need a value in line pairs per millimeter, 80 cycles / by 8.8 gives us 9 lp/mm for MC1, 18.2 lp/mm for MC2, 27.3 lp/mm for MC3, 36.4 lp/mm for MC 4, 45.5 lp/mm for MC5, 54.5 lp/mm for MC6, 63.6 lp/mm for MC7, 72.7 lp/mm for MC8, 81.8 lp/mm for MC9, 90.9 lp/mm for MC10, 100 lp/mm for MC11, 109 lp/mm for MC12, Again theses values are valid for a 2/3" camera setup as described above.,If your sensor is of a different size and you fill the screen with the MC bar, a corrective factor has to be applied.

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