Dumb question about fe and red 18-85 lens

Mwjace

Mwjace

Active member
So I have a dumb question I should have found out earlier. I just got a Red 18-85 Bt Lens, I picked it up and man I didn't realize how heavy this piece of glass was going to be, kinda suprised me. Now i'm a little nervous mounting it to my F3. Will the PL mount on the F3 be robust enough to hold this lenses weight? Or do I need some sort of Support attached to the rods I have, Ala what we used to do when using 35mm adaptors on our ex3

Thanks
 
FYI Red is redesigning their 17 to 50, getting rid of the large front diameter for a smaller one. You can send your old one in to get rehoused for 250 dollars.
 
Optitek has a great support for the 18-85. You could also check out the various Zacuto offerings. That lens weighs 10 pounds and is almost a foot long. You want it well supported, maybe even on a studio rail system as opposed to lw rails.
 
The lens barrel will not clear LW bridge. You need studio 15 or 19mm setup for it..
Definitely needs proper support- your lens and camera mount are jeopardized otherwise.....
 
optitek said:
The lens barrel will not clear LW bridge. You need studio 15 or 19mm setup for it..
Definitely needs proper support- your lens and camera mount are jeopardized otherwise.....
Click to expand...

I was telling some folks on another board that the 18-85 wouldn't work with LW15, but then somebody did it anyway and it seems to be clear and working. How well, I do not know. He cobbled together something. His follow focus even works, he really lucked out.

I love all the re-inventing of the wheel going on with the F3! :-)
 
He probably used an adjustable height base plate and raised the camera. Yes the LW bridge will clear this way and you can use FF but a swing away matte box won't work any more.
That's my guess BTW so take it at the face value...
 
Berkey System has an elegant and decently priced lens mount piece. You will need a cradle piece which Zacuto and other places selll unless there is a 1/4" 20 hole to screw into the lens.

You will probably find some people will be recommending you use studio spaced 19mm rods with that 18-85 RED lens but I have heard of people managing just fine with 15mm rods.

EDIT:

I see Nate almost did!
 
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The lens barrel will most certainly NOT clear LW rods at STANDARD height. If you have base plate that allows to raise the camera in relation to the rods to obtain more clearance it may work. Due diligence is the buyer's responsibility with these things- as always.... BTW there is no 1/4-20 hole in the lens barrel...
 
nateweaver said:
I was telling some folks on another board that the 18-85 wouldn't work with LW15, but then somebody did it anyway and it seems to be clear and working. How well, I do not know. He cobbled together something. His follow focus even works, he really lucked out.

I love all the re-inventing of the wheel going on with the F3! :-)
Click to expand...

Well yea it "worked" but he lifted the camera up too high. He wount be able to use stndard acesories cause of the non stnadrd height. Like a Preston, or Arri FF, etc...

bite the bullet, get a 19mm setup. Whats better? cheaping out and potentially breaking your gear, and not being compatible with industry standard stuff, or spending a few extra bucks....
 
Yes, you MUST have support for that big glass.
Zacuto makes a Z-something or other, that I use to lower the front rails a bit lower and then you have options for support from Zacuto/RedRock, etc.

If you use something to adapt it to studio space (doesn't have to be 19mm) you'll have more robust support options ranging from Arri to Optitek to Element Technica.
Mixing worlds can be a bit challenging but there are some really great options.

I can post some pix if needed.
 
So until i get all my ducks in a row and figure out what excatly I need, and want. Heres what I have cobbeled together in the meantime. The f3 is on the Red Rock Micro Base plate (Low rise) I have switched out the carbon fiber rods it came with, with 24" Steel rods. I then took my older Letus 35mm adaptor system (we used with our old EX3), grabed the Lens Support Bracket that has a large cradle and attach that to the end of my steel rods. The Red Lens fits perfectly on to the bracket. I have all the room I need for my Follow Focus and if I chose I could still at a matte box. The whole rig even balances perfectly on my Viten Tripod head without having to add any counter wieght to the back of the F3.


I do want to get a better Lens support as the letus one isn't ideal since it was made to be used with a 1/4 screw attaching to the lens and right now the red lens is just resting on the backet without anyting securing it down.


Thanks for the Suggestions and advice. I will look into Studio 19mm rods systems and also other lens supports.
 
I have mine on the 15mm LW and it works ok, but as soon as I get some cash I'll buy an Arri 15mm studio to add to the LW. I need the LW for the O'Box and KiPro Mini.

IMG_7220.jpg
 
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