Noise management

[Blair Phillips]

I just got a the Bartech BDR with an M-One Digital motor. I love how quick the auto calibrate is on a stills camera lens I am trying it on, but it seems to be noisier than I remember an M-One being. I have never set up a bartech system before though so I am wondering if there are any considerations I should take into account that might make it quieter.

 

Any thoughts?

[William Demeritt]

I just got a the Bartech BDR with an M-One Digital motor. I love how quick the auto calibrate is on a stills camera lens I am trying it on, but it seems to be noisier than I remember an M-One being. I have never set up a bartech system before though so I am wondering if there are any considerations I should take into account that might make it quieter.

 

Any thoughts?

 

What sort of noise is it you're trying to manage? Is the motor itself "purring" too loudly when you rack focus? Is the motor gear clicking or dragging across the lens gears?

[James Davis]

if its purring its probably clamped too tightly against the lens gear making the motor work harder than necessary, if its clicking its slipping.

One thing you will also find with SLR's is with the basic mounting solutions as opposed to using a full cage/L shaped bracket/something more substantial etc is that the camera has a real tendency to twist under the force of a high torque focus motor seeing as it only has one effective tie down/bracing point compared to a normal HD/film camera which will sit across a dovetail with two tie down points usually.

Best way to counter this is to grab one of these better brackets if possible, I assume you are using a 5D mark 2?

 

Look up Really Right Stuff brackets, or the viewfactor cage is the one to go for if you have the cash/inclination to do so, although there are other ways of doing it, these two are two of the most widely used, in a pinch in the past my AC has used looped tape underneath between the camera and baseplate which lasts for a couple of hours before it needs renewing, not perfect.....but it works for a while lol.

 

My Two pence.

[Blair Phillips]

if its purring its probably clamped too tightly against the lens gear making the motor work harder than necessary, if its clicking its slipping.

One thing you will also find with SLR's is with the basic mounting solutions as opposed to using a full cage/L shaped bracket/something more substantial etc is that the camera has a real tendency to twist under the force of a high torque focus motor seeing as it only has one effective tie down/bracing point compared to a normal HD/film camera which will sit across a dovetail with two tie down points usually.

Best way to counter this is to grab one of these better brackets if possible, I assume you are using a 5D mark 2?

 

Look up Really Right Stuff brackets, or the viewfactor cage is the one to go for if you have the cash/inclination to do so, although there are other ways of doing it, these two are two of the most widely used, in a pinch in the past my AC has used looped tape underneath between the camera and baseplate which lasts for a couple of hours before it needs renewing, not perfect.....but it works for a while lol.

 

My Two pence.

 

Definitely "purring", but it seems to do it even if the motor is spinning freely without contact. Without context though it is hard to tell if I am making a big deal out of nothing. Do these motors ever need lubricant?

[RonBaldwin]

I do not own an M1 motor but have been around them a bit over the years (my assistant owns a BFD/M1 combo). I am betting this is normal -- while being an incredibly strong and well made motor, it also happens to be a noisy one. I don't think there is anything that can be done about it. It's a trade off -- I know the heden's are nearly silent but nowhere near as strong (or fast?) as the M1.

[James Davis]

if its purring its probably clamped too tightly against the lens gear making the motor work harder than necessary, if its clicking its slipping.

One thing you will also find with SLR's is with the basic mounting solutions as opposed to using a full cage/L shaped bracket/something more substantial etc is that the camera has a real tendency to twist under the force of a high torque focus motor seeing as it only has one effective tie down/bracing point compared to a normal HD/film camera which will sit across a dovetail with two tie down points usually.

Best way to counter this is to grab one of these better brackets if possible, I assume you are using a 5D mark 2?

 

Look up Really Right Stuff brackets, or the viewfactor cage is the one to go for if you have the cash/inclination to do so, although there are other ways of doing it, these two are two of the most widely used, in a pinch in the past my AC has used looped tape underneath between the camera and baseplate which lasts for a couple of hours before it needs renewing, not perfect.....but it works for a while lol.

 

My Two pence.

 

Definitely "purring", but it seems to do it even if the motor is spinning freely without contact. Without context though it is hard to tell if I am making a big deal out of nothing. Do these motors ever need lubricant?

 

Are you one hundred percent sure its coming from the motor, and you're not getting vibration from a loose rod or bracket?

Have you tried turning down the torque to the lowest possible setting that retains the speed you need with whichever lens you are using?

Alternatively maybe you are just making a big deal out of nothing :P