Wooden Camera were showing their Zip focus, Push Button Arri Rosette and C200 PL Mount at NAB 2018.
Zip Focus
The Zip Focus, a single sided follow focus that attaches directly to a 15mm lightweight rod and has a gear ratio of 1:1. The Zip Focus retails for $499 USD and looks to be a good entry level follow focus for smaller, compact cameras.
The Zip Focus securely locks into position on 15mm lightweight rod and will not slip. Wooden Camera say that the Zip Focus is the perfect companion for compact and handheld camera setups. The Zip Focus has a unibody design, and a lot of thought has gone into making sure that it occupies minimal space and can be easily and quickly adjusted to accommodate any lens and camera configuration. The follow focus features a unique pivoting bracket that ensures the hand wheel is always in the upright position. The Zip Focus is interchangeable between a 15mm lightweight and 15mm Studio/ 19mm rod clamp.
We had a play with the Zip Focus on the Wooden Camera stand and found it to be very smooth and easy to use.
Push Button Arri Rosette
Every now and then a product comes a long where you say, “Why didn’t someone make this before“. The Push Button Arri Rosette is a simplistic concept that just works. Wooden Camera has announced a Push Button ARRI Rosette that turns any ARRI Rosette handgrip into a push button device. This is a quick and easy solution for making changes to your handgrips. As it features an ARRI rosette it is universally compatible with a large number of hand grips and other accessories.
The Push Button ARRI Rosette (Single, Right Side) mounts between your existing Rosette Handle and ARRI M6 rosette attachment point and allows for quick handle position adjustments with the push of a button. Twenty positions are available using the push button and fine tune adjustment is still available via the rosette. This is a great idea and allows you to make adjustments to your hand grips on the fly without needing to take your hands off the grips or put the camera down.
I only need a few minutes of playing with the Push Button Arri Rosette to be sold on the idea. As they say, sometimes the simple things are often the best.
Canon C200 PL Mount
Wooden Camera were inendated with requests for a Canon C200 PL mount conversion after shooters saw the Panasonic EVA1 version. The PL Mount modification kit for the C200/C200B allows users to convert their camera to PL Mount, and then change it back to EF if need be. Previously, owners would have to choose to buy the C200 in either EF or PL mount and could send in their camera to Canon for a mount swap at the cost of $1,500 USD. Wooden Camera’s costs $499 USD.
Adding a PL mount certainly increases the cameras appeal to a wider audience and allows it to take a much wider selection of cinema lenses.
The PL Mount is made of aircraft grade aluminium and includes the PL port cap. Shims are provided with the kit for adjusting back focus and the appropriate shims are installed prior to shipping. Further adjustment should not be needed but can be checked using a wide angle lens and a focus chart.
As far as your factory warranty is concerned, Ryan told me that the conversion is non destructive and can be changed back to the EF mount and no one would be the wiser. In more interesting news, Ryan also said that they are working on a C300 Mark II PL conversion kit.
