Nov 1 Update from Birger

G

groveChuck

U-matic Member
I called them today, spoke briefly with Eric. He doesn't want to get too specific in case things change, but here is what they (and we) are looking at for their Canon EF and EF-S to m4/3 adapter:

Dates:
Late November announcement- prices and release date.
Late December- probable release date

Prices:
A model for RC follow focus- "under $1500"
Basic model (using iris control on camera) "well under $1000, probably in the $700 range. But not in the sub-$500 range some were asking."

Auto Focus:
They're working on it, but "don't expect continuous auto-focus"

Quantity:
They will have "100s of units available" at release, and will produce "100s per week."
There's no lead time and would be a 2-4 week wait "at worst."

They are not taking deposits.
On their site http://www.birger.com/ you can sign up for newsletter updates, on the right side under Mailing Lists.

They're trying to anticipate the numbers, expecting them to be higher than for the RED adapter.

That's about it for now, but it looks like the Birger release date may (nearly) sync with the camera release.

Eric, thanks for your time.
 
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Panasonic may very well have another company working on the Nikon version. Birger was the obvious choice for the Canon version. I don't have many Nikon lenses but my guess is that there will be a Nikon solution available around the same time as well.
 
If it's an EF adapter, EF-S lenses should work perfectly well. AFAIK they both use the same mount mechanics and electronics, the only difference being that the EF-S lenses are designed to cover only the APS-C sized frame of the 7D and 60D, while the EF lenses are designed to cover the full-frame of the 5DII, etc.

So I would think that EF-S lenses would work fine on the Birger mount.
 
Good to know. With the rear element being closer to the sensor, I wasn't sure. Thanks for the correction, Stephen.
 
I am pretty darn sure that the EF-S lenses will work with this. Those are the ones that make the most sense; none of them have iris rings, and they're less expensive because they don't have to cover "full frame", so they'd seem more appropriate for a cine-sized sensor in the first place...
 
Quick question.

So will the Birger mount give power for the Image Stabilization on the Canon lenses that have IS? My 100L Macro IS is itching to get off of my 7D. The IS on that lens is amazing and it would be a dream to use on the AF100!

Thanks!
 
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Stephen Mick said:
If it's an EF adapter, EF-S lenses should work perfectly well. AFAIK they both use the same mount mechanics and electronics, the only difference being that the EF-S lenses are designed to cover only the APS-C sized frame of the 7D and 60D, while the EF lenses are designed to cover the full-frame of the 5DII, etc.

So I would think that EF-S lenses would work fine on the Birger mount.
Click to expand...

Not the way Canon designed the mounts - compatibility only runs one way. EF Lenses can mount on EF and EF-S cameras/mounts. However, EF-S lenses can only mount on EF-S mounts and cannot be mounted to EF cameras/mounts.
 
Actually, you are wrong.

EF-S lenses WILL fit on EF cameras (at least my Tokina 11-16 and 12-24 mount on my 5DII). The problem is sensor coverage and vignetting. Again, because the EF-S lenses are designed to only cover APS-C sensors, the projected image from the lens shows heavy vignetting. But the lens itself mounts perfectly fine. So, if the AF-100 sensor is smaller (which it is) than the APS-C sensor, the EF-S lenses should cover it perfectly with the Birger mount.
 
impressive creations said:
Quick question.

So will the Birger mount give power for the Image Stabilization on the Canon lenses that have IS? My 100L Macro IS is itching to get off of my 7D. The IS on that lens is amazing and it would be a dream to use on the AF100!

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Good question, and one I forgot to ask. I'm hazy from two 5am shoots yesterday and the day before... sorry.
Should've asked- I'll be using L glass too.
 
awelgraven said:
Yeah, I've mounted a EF-S lens or two on my 5D. Vignette's, but it mounts fine.
Click to expand...

awelgraven -- thanks for the clarification. I've only owned xxD series cameras and 7D. I have the 10-20mm EF-S lens that would be great to use.

BTW, I contacted redrockmicro about their mount:

http://store.redrockmicro.com/Catalog/Lens-Mounts-for-M2-Encore/LiveLens-active-lens-mount-for-Canon-EF-lenses

I was told they have no plans to make one for the AF100 and only created it for their M2 Encore. Perhaps if enough people ask...
 
EF-S lenses should work fine. I had the first Redone birger mount and there was no problem with EF-S. The mount is designed to take both and it even has the white EF-S alignment dot as well as the red EF dot. The thing to remember is that Canon lenses are 44mm flange focal distance (i.e. distance to the sensor) where Micro Fourthirds is 20mm so you have a lot of room to work with.

IS should also work fine, it did on the R1 mount.

Although software interpretation between 4/3 and EF is obviously not a trivial task Birger has been doing EF for a long, long time and even before the GH1 and such 4/3 was on their road map for use on industrial cameras.

All of the issues with the R1 product launch were related to the mechanics (and to some extent the remote controller). If you recall, the original R1s had a "normal" PL mount that used shims for adjusting, however there was quite a bit of variation on sensor/face distance and after the first 50 or 100 were shipped RED decided to make an adjustable PL. Birger could have stuck with the original design but decided to go to an adjustable as well. The Red change wasn't all that complicated because it was just mechanical, but birger had to deal with two circuit boards inside as well. The end result is quite ingenious and well made but it took a bit longer than anticipated.

The AF100 should be much easier because the manufacturing precision and QC of the flange focal distance on these cameras is generally extremely precise.
 
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