Premium Members Mikko Wilson Posted September 14, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted September 14, 2006 I'm looking for a reasonably priced gimble mount focus controller to use on my Archer. Needs to work with at least Canon TV lenses, preferably Fujinon too. A Zoom & Focus combination wouldn't hurt either. All offers and suggestions are very much appreciated. - Mikko Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Jason Torbitt Posted September 15, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 For focus, options would be - Stanton (zoom & focus), Vocas (zoom & focus or iris) or J7 (you can get hold of these used for focus only). Obviously the usual thing applies - try to get remote focus and focus puller, but great to have in the kit box for those tricky moments or one man band corporate work. I get by with using a Zoe for all zoom, Canon & Fujinon, and for focus either Fox or Genio, and I have a Canon J7 for focus too. You need lenses with inbuilt or external focus servo, Canon = 6 pin, Fujinon = 8 pin, same style as zoom (I think). Best solution maybe for you would be to get the BFD and buy the gimbal mount potentiometer - no need for a focus servo, and its the best of both worlds... buy one of the FM6-6's from MK-V and the job's done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Eric Fletcher S.O.C. Posted September 15, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 buy one of the FM6-6's from MK-V and the job's done. Or don't if you live in the states. THe FMG-6 can only be sold and serviced by 16x9 in hollywood due to their EXCLUSIVE marketing agreement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Graham Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 MK-V Hire in the UK also has a few J7 zoom and focus units left for the canon lens. They are a lot more compact on the gimble handle than the Stanton or Vocas. Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Howard J Smith Posted September 15, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 Hi Guys Re ? ?Or don't if you live in the states. The FMG-6 can only be sold and serviced by 16x9 in hollywood due to their EXCLUSIVE marketing agreement? Just to set the record straight ? yet again Band Pro were the agents for the original FMG motors, but this ended about 5 years ago. These NEW motors are made 100% for MK-V and MK-V are the world distributor/agents for them. The NEW motors have new improved gearboxes and motors, which produce almost 50% more power to the original FMG motors, but still keep the motor whisper quiet. We have just under 100 motors kits ready to ship. If anyone would like to try these New motors, Please contact MK-V info@mk-v.com All the best Howard J Smith MK-V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Mikko Wilson Posted September 15, 2006 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 Anyone have an idea where I might find a Stanton controller - Google turned up nothing. Or a J7. (Other than MK-V) ... Ideally I'm looking for someone who has a used one kicking about they'd be interested in selling. - Mikko Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Kris Torch Wilson Posted September 15, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 [Here you go Mikko http://www.jimmyjib.com/zoomfocus.html Kris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Alec Jarnagin SOC Posted September 16, 2006 Moderators Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 " Best solution maybe for you would be to get the BFD and buy the gimbal mount potentiometer - no need for a focus servo, and its the best of both worlds... buy one of the FM6-6's from MK-V and the job's done." Or buy an M-1 from Polomar Engineering, hands down the best analog motor I've ever seen and designed from the ground up to work with the Bartech. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Lawrence Karman Posted September 16, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 " Best solution maybe for you would be to get the BFD and buy the gimbal mount potentiometer - no need for a focus servo, and its the best of both worlds... buy one of the FM6-6's from MK-V and the job's done." Or buy an M-1 from Polomar Engineering, hands down the best analog motor I've ever seen and designed from the ground up to work with the Bartech. Whilst the M1 is a fine motor I'm sure it would not work with the BUZ zoom control made by Bartech. The gimbal mount focus control he makes will not work well for zoom. Too choppy. The J-7 is great if all you require is zoom. Never tried the Zoe but I think it would work fine. If focus and zoom on a Canon or Fujinon is something you need to do yourself then the Stanton control is my strong recomendation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Graham Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 Hi Just to point out that the J7 is available with a dial on the bottom to control focus on lenses with it available (most modern broadcast lenses with focus servos built in). Or lenses that have an add on focus servo available for studio use. Alec may I also ask how does your M-One performs sound wise (I presume you own one). The ones I tried (3 different ones) were fast and powerful however they were amazingly noisy. So much so we couldn't use them for sound work in any way. Does anybody else have thoughts on the noise produced by motors. Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Alec Jarnagin SOC Posted September 16, 2006 Moderators Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 I think I misread the question. If you are using a BUZ zoom control, it is better to use a zoom motor instead of a focus motor. Does MK-V also sell the zoom motor version of the FM-G 6? If so, then yes this motor (or a Heden zoom motor) would be the way to go. My point about the M-1 was that it was designed for the Bartech and well done at that. I've never been very impressed with the FMG-6, but as has been pointed out, MK-V has changed it. As for noise with the M-1? I have shot countless sync sound scenes with them and NEVER had a sound person say something. Many of these scenes were in tight New York locations too. Sure, it is loud if you whip it from near to infinity at full speed inside a closet, but now that is something we just don't do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Graham Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 I think we have gone off track from the original question anyway! The question was for a focus option for fujinon/canon lenses. Zoom control being a luxury! As mentioned the options are at the moment:- For zoom and focus (wired) Stanton zoom focus unit at $1785 The J7 zoom focus combo (discontinued but may be available from a few suppliers) at about £550 (used maybe less) The Vocas zoom focus not sure of price. For zoom (wired) J7 zoom only Varizoom Bebob Bartech Buz For wireless focus Bartech MK-V Scorpio Chrosziel Preston Plus probably loads more I can't think of at the moment! For wired focus Apart from the J7 I can't think of anything That said the J7 focus really needs the J7 zoom to attach to the gimble correctly But for a cheap and chearful wired focus zoom combo that is designed for the job the J7 takes some beating, it's small and light compared to the competition. It's a shame they are discontinued! Regards the FMG/MK-V motors, no they aren't tacho motors so yes they will be great for focus systems but not the best solution for zooming on broadcast lenses. Why waste a perfectly good zoom motor that comes with all broadcast lenses anyway. Just use a zoom demand like the J7 etc. Ant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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