Cinevate's Multi-Format B4 relay!

Dennis Wood

Dennis Wood

DVXuser Sponsor
Finally, something to show you :-) Rather than try to explain a ton in repeated posts...we shot a video! For those of you who will invariably comment on the rig's size, we held up the "stock" fujinon lens a few minutes in so you could compare. The only question you might have right now is will it work with Brand X adapter? The answer is about 95% likely a yes, assuming you're using our flip module. The relay lens uses several types of low dispersion glass, exotic coatings and yes, has 100% internal focusing, zooming, and back focus operations. This means it does not breath physically an iota, regardless of whether you're in SLR (or Vistavision) mode or cine mode. The video should answer any questions and explains also illustrates the nearly 50% loss of FOV that happens with any other relay system when using SLR or Vistavision format lenses.

This optic is a ground-up design that uses the very latest in design, glass and coatings. It's MTF profile compares very nicely with even our Zeiss primes.

If you're a Brevis REV2, MP.1 or MP.2 user, and you're using our flip module already, then nothing is required other than the B4 relay lens. If you're using our Proteus rails, good news there too. All you'd likely need (if you don't have them already) is our 60cm rods and "shorty" links kit as the system was designed with the relay and ENG cameras in mind. What we really like with this rig is that when used with our Proteus grips, the rig is nearly perfectly balanced when used in shoulder mode..and the viewfinder is in eyeball range too.

We're pretty sure no one will complain with regard to the price which is still pegged at $2500 to $2700 US :-)


The streaming and iPod friendly video streams are here:

 
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Really cool. I noticed in another thread you mentioned some type of compatibility to 1/3" cameras with bayonet mounts in the future, is that correct?
 
Yes, this product is the base for all physical ports to the 1/3" and 1/2" removeable lens family. Because the B4 mount has the longest flange/focal distance, the 1/3 and 1/2" chip cameras will just need a simple mount adapter :-)
 
To answer your question vaguely, faster than the stock fuji lens at a usable aperture which was our design goal. It will vary slightly depending on which mode you're using. Rather than design an f1.4 lens that would just have to be stopped to f4 anyway, we focussed on edge to edge sharpness exceeding a native 1920x1080 2/3" chip at about twice typical efficency (f2). Once the lens is in full production, the full MTF profile and spec will be available. We've got some more platform testing to do, and a whole series of production units to do that with. If the HPX500 was the only 2/3" camera out there, this process would be pretty simple.
 
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I tried viewing the iPod version on my Touch and, although there was sound, the picture is just black, FYI
 
Thanks Phil, Wayne. Steve, I just checked that clip again on my iPhone 3G and it did play ok...although it doesn't automatically stream, you have to click play. Just curious if any of our iPod friendly clips here work for you? We just recently starting mirroring all of our video streams to iPod specs right after I picked up the phone and realized all of our content was useless on them. I think the kids call this "Web 2.0" :-)
 
All of your other iPod-friendly videos work, just not the B4 one. As mentioned, I can hear sound but there is no picture
 
Thanks Steve. I'll re-encode it on another workstation and upload. I guess we'll need to pick up the touch variant for our own testing...

Cheers,
Dennis.
 
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We're completely fired up here after tests on the B4 relay we're bringing to NAB.

1. It's nearly an inch shorter than the one in our intro video.
2. It's as close to optical perfection as we've seen from any camera ever tested here. Edge to edge sharpness is virtually perfect and chromatic aberration properties are simply awesome. It's safe to say that the HPX500 owners out there are going to be thrilled.
3. To give a rough idea on light efficiency on the HPX500 consider this. Our office is lit by overhead full spectrum flourescent bulbs...nothing too bright. Inside, we're running the relay from between f4 and f5.6 to get correct exposure with CF1Le installed. It's pretty incredible. Using it outside, we're using ND3 on the HPX500 along with f4 on the relay.
4. The multi-format zoom is working exactly as planned meaning that if you're using a full format SLR, PL lens or otherwise, you've got full field of view...and the option of choosing your frame size if you're using dedicated cinema glass by zooming in and resetting back-focus. This takes about 5 seconds.

The HPX500 will be sporting two new products that we're expecting will create some serious buzz in the industry.

See you at NAB
icon_smile.gif

Dennis.
 
Sounds great Dennis,

A lot of long hours and hard work finally bear fruit.

I've got 2 questions:

As usual I want to know, how does the relay look on a chart when it's wide open?

Also do you know if it works with any other adapters?

Unfortunately I can't get to NAB this year so I'll miss this years hug, but from a distance a big congrats.

(Of course if you need someone to test, Jeff Regan (Dino here) and I are about to run some tests on the Letus relay - hint hint.)

Lenny Levy
 
Lenny, I will miss the hug this year :-) In contrast to last year, we're in our own 20x20" foot space with no less than 7 new products to play with. It's been an incredible amount of work just getting to NAB this year starting with custom desiging and building our own space, then packing it all up in a cargo van which was driven 40 hrs by two of our team. The entire project was done in under 4 weeks which included shooting/editing and printing our very first little catalog. "Protohype" aside (I may have invented a new word there), all I can say is that I'm simply thrilled with what I've seen so far from the relay. The version we have at NAB is nearly an inch shorter than the one we used in our intro clip. It's virtually perfect edge to edge, incredibly clean, and is making us look at the HPX500 in an entirely new light. I will post up a comprehensive chart series once NAB is all done with. What I can tell you is that the edge to edge and chromatic aberation properties are visually and obviously better than any camera we've ever tested here. This makes sense though as we have complete control (vs none) over how the image from our relay gets to the imaging block of the camera. Light efficiency is almost a problem as ND3 on the camera and f8 on the relay is required outdoors.

We have not tested (nor to this date have I ever even laid hands on) any other adapter system. That said, I can't see any reason why it wouldn't work very well with any adapter provided that it uses a large prism based flip (as our MP.2 does) and that correct distances were maintained between our relay optics and the focussing plane of the adapter. Becasue Cinevate's B4 relay zooms between cine/SLR formats, and has a wide back-focus adjustment range, this distance in other systems would not be that critical (assuming you didn't get it right), but you wouldn't get the full cine to SLR range of framing while maintaing correct focus. One thing that we've been very strict with is maintaining XYZ orientation of our imaging elements..knowing that folks would potentially be using the adapter on native 1920x1080 2/3" chip cameras. If our relay is used with a system that does not maintain these tight tolerances...all bets are off.
 
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Dennis ,
It would be nice to see some tests and charts with a "real" B4 HD camera as well as the HPX500. The 500 is great for what it is, but even the EX-1 has considerably more resolution.

Have a great time .

Lenny
 
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