Lee Kazista

Preston actually has USB driver firmware on their site. Download that, it has just about every Mac set up and Driver in there. On occasion, we need to either reboot the Mac or plug and unplug the cable a few times to get it to recognize. It is worth it to me, as NO ONE ELSE IN THIS INDUSTRY supports MAC. I am just so relieved to not need to own a PC just for upgrades. Lee

When choosing channels on the Preston, you should consider the odd and even channels to be their own 'sets'. So if you are using two systems on set you would want one system to be on an ODD number and the other on an Even number. Spacing the channels is still a good idea, but in theory you would be better off with channels 1 and 2 as opposed to 1 and 3 or 2 and 4. We have also found that 10 systems is the maximum that you can really have in any given area before you will start to see some issues across them all. Granted you will not come across this very often, but you may. Hope that makes sense. Lee Monster Remotes

http://www.fdtimes.com/2012/08/01/follow-focus-olympics/

http://www.fdtimes.com/2012/08/01/follow-focus-olympics/

All- Just a quick invite for everyone to come on out to Monster Remotes on Saturday August 11, 2012 for our first Remote Focus Symposium. Currently we have several vendors lined up to attend and give demonstrations. They include; Preston Cinema, C Motion, Varizoom, Bartech, Arriflex and Easy Focus. If you are interested, please RSVP to info(at)monster-remotes.com We will reply back to your email with time of the even on the 11th. Admission is free of course. It will be our facility in NJ; Monster Remotes 1474 Ridgeway Street Union NJ 07083

We heard from Arriflex that they will also be taking part in the Symposium as well. They will be showcasing their newest Wireless Follow Focus.

All- Just a quick invite for everyone to come on out to Monster Remotes on Saturday August 11, 2012 for our first Remote Focus Symposium. Currently we have several vendors lined up to attend and give demonstrations. They include; Preston Cinema, C Motion, Varizoom, Bartech and Easy Focus. If you are interested, please RSVP to info(at)monster-remotes.com We will reply back to your email with time of the even on the 11th. Admission is free of course. It will be our facility in NJ; Monster Remotes 1474 Ridgeway Street Union NJ 07083

Hey all- I bought a Focus / Iris controller for someone who has since decided that they do not want it. It is part #4024-G4, so it has a G4 board installed in it. It will come with 2 batteries and a charger. Preston's Price is $4120, but I will sell this one for 3850 if anyone is interested. Let me know. The unit is brand new, and has only been used in the shop to confirm that it is functioning properly. Best, Lee Kazista lee (at) monster-remotes (dot) com

Selling a Preston HU2 with the microwave top. Hand unit # 2496 Transceiver # 49591 2 batteries and a charger Asking $5,500 or best offer. By comparison a brand new Hand Unit 3 from Preston is $7,415 (more than a 25% savings.) let me know if you need photos or whatever. Lee

Iain, IN my experience the answer is no. The best range would come from a HU2 to a MDR2. Next best would be HU3 to MDR2. If you are talking strictly of signal strength from the F/I hand unit to a MDR2 versus a single channel MDR, then yes the range would be quite similar. Lee

Curious what lenses people have had any issues with when it comes to mapping the focus on a HU3. We learned today that the Arriflex Master Zoom is not a linear lens, and as such it can not be mapped properly. I know that there are other lens out there that have this same issue. I would love to put together a list of lenses to include with our kits showing what will present problems to try and save the AC's some hours of troubleshooting trying to figure out what is wrong when indeed everything is actually OK. BTW - the way to check and see if the lens is linear or not, is when you calibrate you will be asked to hit INF and 5 marks throughout the barrel. If those 6 marks are spot on, but everything between them is off, then the lens must not be linear. Best, Lee www.monster-remotes.com

Ben, My name is Lee Kazista. I have a complete Master Series set up for sale. It was owned by a good friend, Andy Casey, who was killed in a motorcycle accident a couple of years ago. The entire sled was rewired by Tiffen last year when Garrett ask ed them to help us make it as good as possible for sale. All proceeds of the sale go to Andy's three orphaned children (his wife was also killed in the accident). We are based in the NYC area. Please let me know if you have any questions or if you would like to see any photos. We have cycled the batteries every 3 months to help keep the cells up and running. Best, Lee

Has anyone else encountered issues with their non G4 systems working on the same stages as other units that are broadcasting G4? Generally speaking with had very little issue with the radios here in the East. BUT - now that G4's are showing up here, they seem to be wrecking everything else. Every job that calls to complain about loosing connection or issues, or any type of complaint in regards to the FIZ happens to have another show shooting next door with a G4 system. Once our show changes locations or the other show moves off the stage, all is well with the world again. Anyone else seeing this? Lee Monster Remotes

This was also my understanding from the booth. Lee

I asked if the setup could be dual channel and if he intended to have the ability to ride both the iris and focus at the same time, and he said that the iris unit will work like the other iDevice sliders, in that the screen will display a slider control to adjust the iris while the wheel controls the focus during operating mode. He was not able to show me said slider, but that's what he told me I had a lengthy discussion with those guys. First off they are unsure of what frequency range they will even occupy. They are guessing 2.4, but have zero FFC clearance on anything yet. As for the iPhone interface, it is only that, an interface. The radio function of the unit remains within the unit, the iPhone will be an interface that is hardwired into the unit. The unit will do all of the 'talking' to the MDR. Multiple channels will mean multiple MDR's. Their 'best guess' at pricing was $500 for the microtape (cinetape), $1000 for a hardwired controller, and $3500-$5000 for a complete single channel set up with one of their analog motors. The system will only be compatible with Analog motors, nothing digital. They said that the price will depend more on demand than anything else. Lee

Can we do an online poll of who has what and when people plan on switching if at all? Lee "a guy with almost 40 non G4 devices" Kazista

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9M3sSsmH4w Here is a YouTube video of the iPhone Iris working.

We have a demo unit here at Monster Remotes. It works really well. You can "crack it open a line" if needed, you can also use it for zooms. The coolest feature is setting limits. You simply drag your fingers apart to limit the range until you only see the range that you want to use on screen, or expand the range by squeezing your fingers together. In portrait mode you get your choice of what camera to control and when in landscape you get 3 cameras at a time. We have used motors by Preston and Scorpio with it. It should work with anything digital. The MDR is quite small, smaller than the battery charger that Preston uses for the HU3. It does drive by wifi, if the DP were to use his iPhone, then he would want to go into airplane mode and only re-enable the wifi. What we are doing is sending it out with an iPod touch. The App is not currently available to the masses, so no worries about anyone giving 'their opinion' about the stop. Anyway, if anyone in the NY area wants to play, just give a call. Lee Kazista www.monster-remotes.com 646-330-5133 shop

Looking for a best offer.

Price is now $3,000

Hey all- So I am looking sell a complete Telex 700 intercom system. The sale will include; BTR 700 Base station TR 700 Belt packs x 4 Single Muff -boom headsets x 5 AC cable Paid around $7000 for the set-up, they are well used, but in very good working order. I am looking for a quick sale so I think half price would be good. Asking $3500 for the set up. Thanks for looking! Lee lee@kazista.com

Hey everyone, I am looking for a used Preston V+F Microforce. Anyone looking to upgrade to a Digital? Thanks! Lee lee@kazista.com

Hello All- I am selling off a Hot Gears complete system. It is a complete system including both Arriflex and Panavision motors. I also have the 'low mode cage', custom brackets, counterweights, and custom cases. Every piece of this kit has been through Salamati for inspection and tune up in the past 6 months. All of the motors, the controller, and the motion controller box have all been serviced. Pictures are available upon request. $19,000 Lee Kazista 646-330-5133

Hey all, anyone have a used Pro monitor arm laying around? I am interested in getting one. Thanks, Lee lee@monster-remotes.com