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The new BDR


Louis Puli SOC

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Hi everyone

I would like to tell you all about my experiences with the new Bartech BDR receiver on set.

I received 2 BDR's from Jim Bartells a few weeks ago but didn't have a chance to use them until last week on set .

The first thing that struck me was who small the receiver was (,about 1/3 of the size and weight of the standard BFD receiver).

Secondly who all of the switches Channels select ,Mode ,Calibration ,Direction,Status,Security are recessed so there is no chance of bumping and changing them perfect.

 

Channel select works the same as the previous receiver 0-8 (there is also A-F which is not used )

Direction :Is the same as what is on the BFD handset switch the direction of the motor .

The assistant now has 2 choices to make switch direction on the handset or the Receiver

Security: stops the motor by 3% for lens going past Inf. or minimum range of the lens .

 

Mode: Is where you can change the torque setting to the motor.

Very simple to set up if needed from 0% to 100%.

Status light: Indicate green power on data being received

Cal Button :Lens Recalibrate button function.

simply press and the motor resets the ends .

 

At the other end of the receiver you have all of the plugs .In their great wisdom after listening to everyones feedback Marc and Jim changed the single power on/off connector(Hirose plug) to all Lemo the same as the standard BFD receiver. Thank-you gentlemen you have saved me and every one else $1000's in cables . I now am able to use all of my standard BFD cables with this receiver .

 

Camera On/off :

Power 10v-30v :Great

Antenna :Standard

Digital Motor: 7 pin Lemo Same as the Preston .

 

When you plug in the Receiver in my case it was on a F35 their was no problem but you must be aware the system could draw 3 amps so check that what ever you plug it into will give you the power.

As soon as I connected the power and motor cable the motor started to set it ends and the assistant started marking up .Unlike the Preston the motor didn't move fast to it's mark when you first set it which was great.

 

Performance of the system FAST ,Simple to set up and it just works . My assistant loved it say no more.

Thanks Marc(PLC) and Jim (Mr BFD) thats another thing I don't have worry about .

Well done

 

Louis Puli.

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Any tricks for getting the focus strips to line up each time?

 

Michael Tien

 

Hi Michael

My assistant places a mark on the handset and a mark on the focus strips then when the 2 marks line up all the marks will match .

 

You could have a look at my focus disc's if you have not seen them before.

http://web.me.com/louispuli/BFD_Australia/Focus_Discs.html

All the best

Louis Puli

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Just received my own BDR, looking forward to receiving my Heden motor so I can put the set to work.

It really is impressive how small the BDR is, very nicely done.

Ha Daniel

How are you finding the new Heden Motor What lens have you been pushing around ?

Please let me know as I to am looking at them as well .

Thanks

Louis Puli

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Hey Louis,

 

Sorry it took me a while to respond...

I wanna preface this with saying that my past Heden motors have been the horizontal kind, so if the features I described bellow are shared by any other of the analog Hedens, I apologize in advance.

Magnus overnighted me an M26VE motor that got here yesterday, so I haven't been able to test it out yet with cameras, but I did a side by side comparison with the M1 I have. I know the M1 is analog and the Heden is digital, but I believe the M1 digital is not physically different at all from it's analog brother.

Size wise there is quite a difference! The Heden is quite a bit more compact, both in height as in width. The gear is a lot smaller on the heden, and I have a feeling this is going to make it a lot easier to mount it on cramped spaces.

The Heden is lighter as well, but the biggest difference is the noise level. You can barely hear the Heden turning around and it's quite a bit startling to hear the M1 in comparison.

The M26VE is beautifully made, very nice in all details, the rod clamp is solid and it fits 15mm and 19mm rods, by removing the inner sleeve.

One fantastic solution is the snap on gears. Unlike the M1, the Heden gears can be mounted on either side of the motor.

I was a big fan of the M1, but this one have changed my mind!

The BDR is also excellent. Together, the Heden and the BDR are a tight, very small but super efficient package.

A moment after you attach the motor to the BDR it starts auto calibrating. It works virtually just as a Preston. Once it's done, the motor turns just as fast as the M1, has a ton of torque and it's super silent.

I'm super happy with this set up.

Check out the noise levels:

M One x Heden M26VE sound

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<<How are you finding the new Heden Motor What lens have you been pushing around ?

Please let me know as I to am looking at them as well .>>

 

 

I have had the Heden motors for over a year and think it is a great option (using with HU2 and HU3 Preston systems). Big plus is that it is compact, quiet, quick to rig or change with the integrated bracket, the step-down collets (to 15mm or 5/8th) are captive and don't fall out.

 

I have used it with;

 

Supers, Standards, Ultras, Cooke S4s, PV Primos, (Primes & Zooms), Optimo Zoom, HR Zoom - No problem driving any of them.

 

My other motors are DM2s and the only time I have preferred to use these is rigging as a focus motor on a PFIZ bracket (panavision) for handheld, because where the cable ends up with the Heden is a bit susceptible to damage - for other rigs such as steadicam this wouldn't be a problem.

 

Also I feel that the integrated bracket doesn't have quite enough throw to reach up to the lens gears when rigging off (bottom) base plate rods - still works but a little stretched. I think a dog-bone bracket would be worth having especially for smaller diameter lenses. For the Red system from the top rods they work really well.

 

I have heard that they have also done a smaller version of the motor, but it is not on the website (hasn't been updated in ages). Would be good if they also made a faster competitor to the DM1X. Heden is a significant price saving on Preston.

 

Regards,

 

Ben R

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Anybody get their new Digital M-One motor?

I haven't been able to use my new BFD which I bought & received 3 months ago? The same time I purchased the new Digital M-One motor but have yet to receive. Info is low. I just keep getting the "coming next week" line.....

Dave

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Anybody get their new Digital M-One motor?

I haven't been able to use my new BFD which I bought & received 3 months ago? The same time I purchased the new Digital M-One motor but have yet to receive. Info is low. I just keep getting the "coming next week" line.....

Dave

Hi Dave

If there is a rental house near by or an other operator with a preston DM1-DM2 I would be asking them to hire etc until my motor arrives but 3 months is a little long .

Good luck with it

Louis

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