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Eyepiece Tap


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I am looking into Eyepiece taps, where do you normaly get them and do you purchase the Tap and the CCD camera seperately or together?

 

Can you just purchase a tap and make your own?

 

Anyone have any idea for cheap taps, I can't believe how expensive they are.

 

Tom

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They are expensive, and I really dont use mine all that often...

If you weant to make one you start with a 24 mm C mount lens for a 35mm camera. Then yoou have a n extender made for the C mount to move the flange focal depth back to give you a macro effect on the tap camera.... the focus point for a eyepiece tap is inches from the form element, actully about 1 " so the only way to achieve that is to move the ccd array away from the lens. Then you have to have a gear machined to interface the thread of the eyepiece hook up on old arris it is a double helix, on the new arris it is a triple helix.. I have seen it done where guys just attach a couple of strips of aluminum toi the front of the lens like bunny ears and use a hose pipe clamp to secure the whole arrangement to the eyepiece assembly, this is with the eyecup optics removed...

then you have to align it...

look for a JAR tap optic, and try to modify that, they were built for 2/3 " cameras so you need ooptical adape5ter for 1/2 or 1/3" ccds.....

hope this helps...

I have a JAR tap you can look at if you are ever in Toronto, I have the PCI tap as well and its much better, but I seldom use either...

Brad.

<_<

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You can buy via a rental house the stainless steel flange that normally sits on the eyepiece from a 2c or sr2, arri 3, bl 1,2,3,4. In the service manual you will find the part-number.

But it is expensive too!

 

I bought a few about 15 years ago, when I decided to make an universal video assist. It worked at the end, but not after spending a lot of money on tools, optics, metal, electronics, lath, etc. It was fun, didn´t make any money with it but I learned a lot about optics and metalworks and that it is not easy to make a good or even acceptable picture!

 

At the end I had a rotateble, universal eyepiece, similar as the original Arri eyepiece ( the big one from the BL3 and the Arri3) but with a beamsplitter inside and a camera next to it.

So no need to use in-camera beamsplitters and when you don´t need video you use the original eyepiece and have all the light to your eye.

 

Sadly, it was surpassed at the same time by clever designs inside the camera, less fragile and better quality.

 

Oh well, it was a good lesson for me. :unsure:

Good luck if you decide to make one yourself!

 

Rob van Gelder, Bangkok, Thailand

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I bought that exact set up in '95 and the PCI relay optics part was about $2,500.00 and the XC-75 sony tap was $800. So with one hour to go on e-bay it's going for $909. Not a bad deal at all if you plan to use it alot. Certainly if you are in the market for one, that is the set up to use. Way better than the klunky tap set ups of that era.

 

Really great on a fixed video door on the pre-BL's. The PCI part is great. Works for both 16mm & 35mm by shifting the optics easily, and then focusing the optics via a separate ring. I then use the tap seperately with a 1/2" lens screwed on it, for my practice set up. Power and video nicely through the one 4 pin Hirose on the J-box.

 

I love having it as a back up when they spring an old Pan-Arri III on you.

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Hi Tom,

I have a Precision Camera Arri eyepeice tap. It fits all the older arris. Couldn't let it go at 900 though. Someone just got a good deal.

Mine comes with a Pulnix B/W split (pal) and cables for Pro.

AU $2000.00

Take care and hope you find one

Macca

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Ray if you look through a scientiific catalogue like Edmund, you might find a lens you can drop on top of the the 1/3" chip that will make the russel tap think its a 1/2 inch big.

I'm not hte expert but this was the scheme I used when 2/3 inch cameras went out of vogue. I've since gone to a 2/3 " camera and 1/2inch optics on the PCI tap and it covers the super 35 this way....well as good as a BL will cover super 35 in the eyepiece anyway which is something to be desired. B)

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Guest SteveFracol

Tom-

 

You might want to call Jim at Visual Products. VP sells a lot of used film gear. They are based in Wellington, OH. PH# 440-647-4999. I am sure he will have a tap at a reasonable price with an XC999 or a B&W camera. They are good guys and they will take care of you. Might not be as cheap as building your own but much easier. It might be worth a call.

 

Here is the web add. www.visualproducts.com

 

Good Luck!

 

Steve

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