In the release notes for SUP 5.0 it is stated that the WCU-4 can control both focus and iris of EF lenses. But in the user manual it's indicated that only iris control is possible via the WCU-4. Focus control is only available for the master grips.
Which is it? Or am I misreading anything?
Kind regards,
Joachim
EF lens focus in SUP 5.0
-
Guenter Noesner
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2015 6:13 pm
- Location: New York
The WCU-4 user manual is from last year and needs to be updated.
With SUP-5 you can control both, iris and focus of an EF lens from the WCU-4.
Keep in mind that most EF lenses do not carry distance data, so you won't see marks on the right side of your WCU-4.
Best,
Guenter
With SUP-5 you can control both, iris and focus of an EF lens from the WCU-4.
Keep in mind that most EF lenses do not carry distance data, so you won't see marks on the right side of your WCU-4.
Best,
Guenter
-
Joachim Heden
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Wed May 31, 2017 5:15 pm
Hi Guenter,
I wasn't referring to the WCU-4 manual, but rather the Alexa Mini user manual updated for SUP 5.0, dated June 27th 2017.
In section 4.8.2 it seems focus control is not possible with the WCU-4, only iris.
I wasn't referring to the WCU-4 manual, but rather the Alexa Mini user manual updated for SUP 5.0, dated June 27th 2017.
In section 4.8.2 it seems focus control is not possible with the WCU-4, only iris.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
Guenter Noesner
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2015 6:13 pm
- Location: New York
oh, that is new indeed
I'll have to verify again next week.
I'll have to verify again next week.
-
Joachim Heden
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Wed May 31, 2017 5:15 pm
Also looked at the release notes for WCU-4 SUP 3.0 dated June 29 2017.
In the release notes EF lens support for focus/iris is not mentioned specifically. But under section G (known issues) it's stated that there are problems with accuracy of set focus marks and pre marked / custom rings when using EF lenses...
So, there seems to be some confusion on EF focus abilities of the WCU-4...
Alexa mini SUP 5.0 release notes: It works.
WCU-4 SUP 3.0 release notes: It kind of works.
Alexa mini SUP 5.0 user manual: It doesn't work.
Which is it?
Anybody tried yet?
J
In the release notes EF lens support for focus/iris is not mentioned specifically. But under section G (known issues) it's stated that there are problems with accuracy of set focus marks and pre marked / custom rings when using EF lenses...
So, there seems to be some confusion on EF focus abilities of the WCU-4...
Alexa mini SUP 5.0 release notes: It works.
WCU-4 SUP 3.0 release notes: It kind of works.
Alexa mini SUP 5.0 user manual: It doesn't work.
Which is it?
Anybody tried yet?
J
-
Michael Jonas
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Thu Mar 26, 2015 3:28 pm
Sorry for the confusion...
It does work on the WCU-4, but it has severe limitations as the EF Lenses are not using absolute positioning.
The focus dial on the WCU-4 will not relate to a focus position (it will slip over time) and since the dial has end stops you will inevitably run into them. You can then use the zoom rocker to adjust the position again. No way to use markers or pull focus the common way.
It will work if you need to get the focus to a specific setting on a drone or for very simple use cases.
So pretty limited... and that's the reason for the confusion. It's not a real feature actually - more of a side product of the work we did for the Mastergrips.
If you haven't tried. The Mastergrips and EF lenses ROCK!!
It does work on the WCU-4, but it has severe limitations as the EF Lenses are not using absolute positioning.
The focus dial on the WCU-4 will not relate to a focus position (it will slip over time) and since the dial has end stops you will inevitably run into them. You can then use the zoom rocker to adjust the position again. No way to use markers or pull focus the common way.
It will work if you need to get the focus to a specific setting on a drone or for very simple use cases.
So pretty limited... and that's the reason for the confusion. It's not a real feature actually - more of a side product of the work we did for the Mastergrips.
If you haven't tried. The Mastergrips and EF lenses ROCK!!
-
Joachim Heden
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Wed May 31, 2017 5:15 pm
Ok, got it.
Will try it for what it is and see how useful or not it can be.
Are these issues that you expect to be able to address in future updates to enhance functionality?
J
Will try it for what it is and see how useful or not it can be.
Are these issues that you expect to be able to address in future updates to enhance functionality?
J
-
Joachim Heden
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Wed May 31, 2017 5:15 pm
Ok, so updated to 5.0/3.0 and...
Yes, No -- EF lens focus doesn't really work work with the WCU-4. You can "drive the lens" but just like was said above, the focus wheel will have no "absolute position" so it is quite impossible to work with any kind of marks. Also, the focus wheel will easily go "out of range" -- you will hit the hard stop of the knob before you hit infinity/MFD. Some patience and clever twists and turns of the focus wheel can bring it back into "full range" (or you can dig into the menus and re-assign the focus axis to the Zoom-rocker and use that to bring the lens back into the "knob range". Also, while "driving the lens" is pretty smooth, it will occationally go spastic.
Iris control however seems to be rock solid.
Hopefully full EF functionality will be gained in future SUPs because it would be very practical to have...
As it stands, the Optitek solution seems to be the only workable solution for reliable EF lens focus control. It works really well actually. Absolute positioning and perfect repeatability, so premarked rings and marks (pen) works.
http://optitek.org/products/canon-prolo ... i-cameras/
So for now franken-WCU-4 is it if you want workable remote EF focus control and all the other goodies of the Arri unit -- I'm only half kidding
Yes, No -- EF lens focus doesn't really work work with the WCU-4. You can "drive the lens" but just like was said above, the focus wheel will have no "absolute position" so it is quite impossible to work with any kind of marks. Also, the focus wheel will easily go "out of range" -- you will hit the hard stop of the knob before you hit infinity/MFD. Some patience and clever twists and turns of the focus wheel can bring it back into "full range" (or you can dig into the menus and re-assign the focus axis to the Zoom-rocker and use that to bring the lens back into the "knob range". Also, while "driving the lens" is pretty smooth, it will occationally go spastic.
Iris control however seems to be rock solid.
Hopefully full EF functionality will be gained in future SUPs because it would be very practical to have...
As it stands, the Optitek solution seems to be the only workable solution for reliable EF lens focus control. It works really well actually. Absolute positioning and perfect repeatability, so premarked rings and marks (pen) works.
http://optitek.org/products/canon-prolo ... i-cameras/
So for now franken-WCU-4 is it if you want workable remote EF focus control and all the other goodies of the Arri unit -- I'm only half kidding
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.