F3: Cabrio 19-90 with microforce on the f3?

MPB

MPB

Well-known member
shooting a commercial with a slow pull that will vary in speed slightly to time with actor's read and blocking.

is there anything i should know about this set up? can i power the servo by way of a d-tap? does the microforce then pull power from the servo?
 
I've been able to power my Cabrio through the F3's mount by setting the camera to Type-C lens interface. Having a P-Tap cable as a backup is always useful though, if you don't have a chance to prep the camera with lens before the shoot. I don't have any info on whether the Cabrio's grip will offer a power source for the Microforce motor, but I'd just presume to rely with P-tap for that.
 
ah, ok. i didn't realize the lens could pull power from the f3. and i also didn't realize the microforce could take power directly from a battery.

i guess i could call Abel here shortly and see what they have to say.
 
Preston has a couple different cables to power a microforce from various connectors. Fuji also has a cable if needed to power the Cabrio as well so there are a few options out there to make it work.
 
I've powered the Cabrio through the mount on F55's.

When I was using my F3 the Cabrio was new to the market and the ability to power through the mount was not enabled yet so I used a Preston via D-Tap which worked just fine for us.

For a smooth controlled zoom I would defer to the Preston, I think I'd have a better feel for it than the on-board servo.
 
Are you trying to use the Microforce controller to control the zoom motor that is in the Cabrio's handgrip, or are you using a separate Preston/Heden motor?

I was told by the rental house dudes at my camera prep this week that the Microforce will not interface with the Cabrio handgrip motors, but I don't trust those guys (I've proven them wrong many times) and I'd love to hear from those with first hand experience.
 
I wouldn't trust the rental guys, either. According to Fuji the zoom connection port is the same as what's on their broadcast lenses and their existing zoom controllers(and third party controllers) will work.

If I had a Cabrio, I could use my Microforce with it, without requiring anything else, because according to Fuji, the cable I have for my ENG lenses will work with the Cabrio grip/drive unit. So, just make sure you have a cable for Microforce-to-Fuji lenses and you should be good to go.
 
If that's the case then my ACs are going to be ordering a new cable tomorrow morning. Anybody got a part number for a Cabrio handgrip to Microforce cable?
 
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did the shoot today. i went to do the check-out at the rental house myself, didn't have a real AC. of course, the camera has to be set to "C" in the Lens IF menu setting, and then the lens has to calibrate (hold "return" and "record" buttons while powering up). i discovered i had been given the wrong microforce cable, which led to the discovery that i had been given the wrong microforce. they got a Digital 2 for me, with the proper cable and i was in bid'nes.

sort of. when set up on set, i found that the zoom stuttered on anything less than a speed of 5, and would stutter at that setting if i didn't keep full pressure on the knob. additionally, i started each shot at full zoom and as i got to around 60mm or so the zoom speed ramped up quickly. but any attempt to modulate resulted in stutter. i wanted to try to set up an programmed zoom with a "soft stop" but didn't have a manual, nor the time to figure it out then and there.

it was as if the voltage threshold somewhere in the chain was marginal or insufficient. kind of disappointing.
 
For my shoots we just removed the handgrip and treated it as a "dumb" zoom.
Then we had full control of ramping, dampening, etc.
 
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