Hocus Focus Professional update.

[Adam Brown]

There is also a manual calibration mode for infinite rotation lenses, or if you want to use our system on something other than a lens (model mover, or slider or whatever). To do this, you press a button on the receiver unit, which disables the auto cal and it sets the range of the motor to a set number of turns. You can then go up to your stops on the lens and set the limits using the limit buttons on the transmitter unit.

 

Very much so. Thanks a lot!

[Alfeo Dixon SOC]

There is also a manual calibration mode for infinite rotation lenses, or if you want to use our system on something other than a lens (model mover, or slider or whatever). To do this, you press a button on the receiver unit, which disables the auto cal and it sets the range of the motor to a set number of turns. You can then go up to your stops on the lens and set the limits using the limit buttons on the transmitter unit.

Peter, glad to here your product is moving along, I remember the first time you hit NAB with the Hocus Focus. About the manual calibration, once you set your stops, will the unit zip the motors back to center? Reason being, most of those lenses are servo based and will "slip" if the focus knob is turned too fast, thus your calibration will then be off. I found this to be frustrating for the focus puller on long and fast racks also... nothing you can do about that other than tell the adults "You can't have that rack because someone went cheap ass on the package!"

 

It would be great if you implemented a DSLR Lens mode that would not do so, currently ALL motor drivers on the market zip to center after calibrating... kinda of like showing off how fast I can moooooove baby!!!

 

Just a thought

 

-Alfeo

 

 

[Peter Hoare]

There is also a manual calibration mode for infinite rotation lenses, or if you want to use our system on something other than a lens (model mover, or slider or whatever). To do this, you press a button on the receiver unit, which disables the auto cal and it sets the range of the motor to a set number of turns. You can then go up to your stops on the lens and set the limits using the limit buttons on the transmitter unit.

Peter, glad to here your product is moving along, I remember the first time you hit NAB with the Hocus Focus. About the manual calibration, once you set your stops, will the unit zip the motors back to center? Reason being, most of those lenses are servo based and will "slip" if the focus knob is turned too fast, thus your calibration will then be off. I found this to be frustrating for the focus puller on long and fast racks also... nothing you can do about that other than tell the adults "You can't have that rack because someone went cheap ass on the package!"

 

It would be great if you implemented a DSLR Lens mode that would not do so, currently ALL motor drivers on the market zip to center after calibrating... kinda of like showing off how fast I can moooooove baby!!!

 

Just a thought

 

-Alfeo

 

Hi Alfeo,

 

We did find this the other day whilst testing the DSLR mode, and anyone that has seen our system first hand will tell you how fast it is. We are thinking at the moment about how we are going to run the sequence, the process you mentioned in your DM is a good idea, turn the lens to one end, engage the motor, then move away and set one limit at the other end. Our sliding mount means that if the teeth dont line up, you can slide it up or down until they mesh.

 

I have had a similar discussion with Geoff the electronics engineer about how this mode is going to work, and its likely we will add a large amount of damping and reduce the speed the motor runs in whilst its in DSLR mode.

 

 

On another note, here is a quick dirty phone video of the unit on a Cooke S5i, showing mark repetition, and our very fast auto cal routine.

 

 

Pete.