World's First Multiformat B4 Relay.

[Dennis Wood]

Ok, so now you'll know why we're a bit excited about the Scarlet 2/3" brain :-) For nearly 2 years now we've been working on our customer's desire for a no-compromise optical relay that would allow our adapter system to mate directly (minus the stock lens) to a 2/3" camera body. Knowing that many have invested in SLR glass, like our excellent Zeiss line-up, we also wanted to make sure our customers could use any lens out front without losing any field of view, and with zero crop factor. To achieve this we needed to push the envelope and design a relay that could do both...fully relay the image from a cine lens, and be adjustable in a second to fully relay an SLR (Vistavision) type frame. The optic is a ground-up design and has been designed with the latest available technology in both glass, coatings and internal design.

For those of you who will invariably comment on the rig's size, we held up the "stock" fujinon lens a few minutes in so you could compare. The only question you might have right now is will it work with Brand X adapter? The answer is about 95% likely a yes, assuming you're using our flip module. The relay lens uses several types of low dispersion glass, exotic coatings and yes, has 100% internal focusing, zooming, and back focus operations. This means it does not breath physically an iota, regardless of whether you're in SLR (or Vistavision) mode or cine mode. The video should answer any questions and explains also illustrates the nearly 50% loss of FOV that happens with any other relay system when using SLR or Vistavision format lenses.

If you're a Brevis REV2, MP.1 or MP.2 user, and you're using our flip module already, then nothing is required other than the B4 relay lens. If you're using our Proteus rails, good news there too. All you'd likely need (if you don't have them already) is our 60cm rods and "shorty" links kit as the system was designed with the relay and ENG cameras in mind. What we really like with this rig is that when used with our Proteus grips, the rig is nearly perfectly balanced when used in shoulder mode..and the viewfinder is in eyeball range too. Now picture a 2/3" brain back there....and rest assured we'll have a physical port, regardless of the 2/3" Scarlet mount type.

We're pretty sure no one will complain with regard to the price which is still pegged at $2500 to $2700 US :-) This is the only multi-format relay in the world, at any price.

Click the pic for the flash or iPod video stream:

[Peter Majtan]

This sure looks amazing Dennis. Great engineering indeed - good on you guys!

Peter

[Dennis Wood]

Thanks Peter. This project is the longest running, most expensive project we've ever done...but it has opened up a whole area for future development :-)

[Peter Majtan]

This could effectively turn some high-quality primes into (limited) "zooms"... There is nothing more painful then realizing Your framing is a little "off" on Your prime after You have just spent 1 hr of setting up Your dolly tracks...

Peter

[axiomission]

I have a question, what exactly is a relay lens and what is its purpose? Sorry if this is a redundant question.

[Dennis Wood]

ENG cameras (shoulder mount, 2/3" chip) typically use removeable lenses which is great, but they don't work well with 35mm adapters. The standard bayonet mount for 2/3" lens is referred to as the B4 mount. The end result (using a typical B4 mount lens) is very long, and the image suffers often from soft edges and chromatic aberration. Cameras like the HPX500 (2/3", ENG format) are relatively cheap and they output very clean video with at least a stop more sensitivity than cams like the Sony EX1, XH-A1 etc. Coupled with a 35mm adapter, you end up with film DOF and a clean, natural image.

So with our relay, you remove your ($8000 is about the cheapest you'll find one new) ENG lens and affix our $2500 relay. The Brevis 35mm lens adapter then attaches to that, as you see in our video. The end result is far superior in terrms of image quality, while reducing overall length and weight of the rig. Addtionally you can now effectively use just about any lens in existence, SLR (five differnet mounts) format, PL cinema lenses, or even OCT19 cinema lenses.

For Scarlet users, the option will exist to purchase a 2/3" "brain" which is much smaller and much higher resolution than any ENG camera in existence. Our system will attach to that brain meaning 3Kish resolution and film DOF on a 2/3" chip. For far less than a single B4 lens (about $4000) you'll be able to attach our complete rig and open up a world of lens choices. Given that our adapter is already microprocessor managed, and offers interchangeable imaging elements, and lens mounts, the options are nearly endless. The fact that our relay is multi-format means that regardless of what size of film your lens collection was designed for, we can support it with exactly the same field of view that lens was designed for. For independent film makers without a ton of cash, this is huge.

Hope that all makes sense.

Cheers,
Dennis.

[Ameer Azari]

The Scarlet 2/3" costs $2,500 and your relay system costs $2,500, factor in the other required accessories, surely it would be better to invest in a S35 Scarlet for $7,000. Although, the frame rate options aren't as good...

[Peter Majtan]

Originally Posted by Ameer Ally

The Scarlet 2/3" costs $2,500 and your relay system costs $2,500, factor in the other required accessories, surely it would be better to invest in a S35 Scarlet for $7,000. Although, the frame rate options aren't as good...

On the S35 Scarlet You will have to purchase all the different lens mounts and depending on the type of lens used - You will inevitably end up with crop-factor on Your FOV. For example any SLR lenses will have app. 1.6x crop-factor, rendering a 100mm lens into 160mm one... Not so with this relay. The only downside I can see is the combined light loss between the relay and the DOF adapter - any words on this Dennis?

[Granty]

Originally Posted by Peter Majtan

On the S35 Scarlet You will have to purchase all the different lens mounts and depending on the type of lens used - You will inevitably end up with crop-factor on Your FOV. For example any SLR lenses will have app. 1.6x crop-factor, rendering a 100mm lens into 160mm one... Not so with this relay. The only downside I can see is the combined light loss between the relay and the DOF adapter - any words on this Dennis?

What Ameer is saying is, get the S35 with a Nikon mount and a bunch of DX lens as a better budget solution, than getting a 2/3" for $2500 and relay tube for $2700 plus lens.

Yet while a range DoF is a powerful tool, that super shallow DoF is becoming tastless kitsch from overuse.

I feel a 2/3" sensor gives a perfect range for the Indie filmmaker for 95%+ of shooting, other that specialised work (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly), and the other small percent of times that a ultra shallow DoF is needed I'd sooner hirer FF for a day than use a half measure. How cheap will it be in a year to rent a FF35 for a day? £150, if that once the market is fully loaded!

All the same that relay is a nice bit of kit, good work, but it would be cheaper at half the price

[axiomission]

Originally Posted by Dennis Wood

ENG cameras (shoulder mount, 2/3" chip) typically use removeable lenses which is great, but they don't work well with 35mm adapters. The standard bayonet mount for 2/3" lens is referred to as the B4 mount. The end result (using a typical B4 mount lens) is very long, and the image suffers often from soft edges and chromatic aberration. Cameras like the HPX500 (2/3", ENG format) are relatively cheap and they output very clean video with at least a stop more sensitivity than cams like the Sony EX1, XH-A1 etc. Coupled with a 35mm adapter, you end up with film DOF and a clean, natural image.

So with our relay, you remove your ($8000 is about the cheapest you'll find one new) ENG lens and affix our $2500 relay. The Brevis 35mm lens adapter then attaches to that, as you see in our video. The end result is far superior in terrms of image quality, while reducing overall length and weight of the rig. Addtionally you can now effectively use just about any lens in existence, SLR (five differnet mounts) format, PL cinema lenses, or even OCT19 cinema lenses.

For Scarlet users, the option will exist to purchase a 2/3" "brain" which is much smaller and much higher resolution than any ENG camera in existence. Our system will attach to that brain meaning 3Kish resolution and film DOF on a 2/3" chip. For far less than a single B4 lens (about $4000) you'll be able to attach our complete rig and open up a world of lens choices. Given that our adapter is already microprocessor managed, and offers interchangeable imaging elements, and lens mounts, the options are nearly endless. The fact that our relay is multi-format means that regardless of what size of film your lens collection was designed for, we can support it with exactly the same field of view that lens was designed for. For independent film makers without a ton of cash, this is huge.

Hope that all makes sense.

Cheers,
Dennis.

Ahh, I see much clearer now.

Thanks!