Birger announces Canon EF mount for Sony F3 is shipping soon

TwinCitiesShooter

Active member
Just got this blast email from Birger. Looks like the F3 adapter might be shipping "soon" (I've never had to use that term more loosely than when in connection to Birger.) The AF100 and FS-100 adapters are still on the back burner.

In a few hours I am flying off to Stuttgart Germany. Birger will be exhibiting at Vision (www.vision-fair.de). Find us in hall 4, stand B50. We will be demonstrating our real-time focus control system for Canon EF-mount lenses. We will be using an Imperx camera for the demonstration.

On the broadcast front, we are finishing off the final details on the adapter for the Sony PMW-F3, and expect to start shipping after we get back from Germany. We were forced to go back to the drawing board, when we came to realize a few seemingly minor changes between the production and preproduction cameras would have a major impact in the geometry of the product. We're talking to the camera and powered from the camera, so no cables are required. After seeing the announcements for the new Canon and Red cameras on 3 November, I am convinced that the winning camera for those wanting to shoot Canon lenses at this price point, is going to be the PMW-F3 with a Birger adapter. Neither of the other manufacturers talk about supporting real-time servo follow-focus - like we have supported on the Red-one for many years now.

The cost reduced broadcast products, for the Panasonic AF-100 and the Sony FS-100, are still in a bit of a holding pattern. We're going to burn off the initial demand for the F3 before putting these into production. With the holidays coming up, and the family time I and my employees do not plan to give up this year, January is the new target for volume shipping. We'll have first articles out to Sony and Panasonic, and our dealers before the end of the year. We are not supporting any further demos for broadcast until we get to first articles.

The great news is on the manufacturing and distribution front. These past few months, as we have brought our new manufacturing capabilities online, we have taken a few week detour to apply these processes to all of our existing products. We have been able to realize enough of a cost savings, and reduction in field failures to the point that we are able to apply our new, distribution friendly pricing model, to all of our existing products. When we return from Germany we will re-engage with those that have expressed interest in reselling our products.

Regards,
Erik.

Erik Widding
President
Birger Engineering, Inc.


Naturally his take on the C300-Scarlet-F3 competition is to go with the camera he's already made an adapter for. But he has a point - if you have Canon glass, this and the current $800 rebate from Sony make the F3 more attractive than ever. Anyone know if the F3 Birger mount will support IS on the lenses?
 
I'm glad I got my money back along time ago and gave up on this. January for the AF now? that's a full YEAR behind the original promised date. And it's obvious they are putting off the AF and FS markets to go after F3.

Disappointed and feel bad for folks that put trust in this. As everyone keeps saying, make the most of the gear you have right in front of you.
 
I literally canceled my AF100 adapter pre-order yesterday. I'm fine with that because I might move up to an F3 if the IS lens function will work there. This email sounds a bit optimistic, saying they won't start production on AF100/FS100 adapters until after F3 adapter interest "burns off," yet they target January for volume shipping?
 
I literally canceled my AF100 adapter pre-order yesterday. I'm fine with that because I might move up to an F3 if the IS lens function will work there. This email sounds a bit optimistic, saying they won't start production on AF100/FS100 adapters until after F3 adapter interest "burns off," yet they target January for volume shipping?

Do you have any interest in going to Red's new offering?
 
Am I wrong in thinking that the really cool aspect of the Birger is the servo remote follow focus, and not so much the communication with the camera body. Without getting into would have, could have, should have scenarios, I think a lot of people would have bought the product long ago if all the functionality was in the remote, with dumb back ends to the camera. The main bit would be universal and would just have to machine different mount flanges and put it out.

Later if they want to develop the control protocols to deal with the different mounts, so be it.

If canon has left off electronic follow focus for the c300, I think they are really missing the mark. There was some mention of iPad, iPhone control, so maybe it is in there, just not auto is the traditional sense.
 
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