Digital FX Design | Production | Post

Operating a facility 1500 miles from either Los Angeles or New York can present challenges. After all, we can’t just run down the road and collimate our lenses or check the back focus on our Red One cameras. We have learned to adapt, and in the process built our own rental facility to supply our own needs for top quality equipment and services. But until recently we were still forced to send our cameras and lenses out to check for proper flange focal depth or back focus issues and lens collimation. Fortunately, some new affordable products have become available that allow us to handle this locally. These optical collimation devices allow us to set the PL mount of a digital cinema camera relative to the sensor. Several months ago Abel CineTech released the IB/E Null Lens for the RED One camera. At the time, the Null was the only option shipping – until now. Optitek has released the Optimator. Optitek claims this new tool improves and expands on the Null concept with greater ease of use and makes all tests “laboratory condition” compliant regardless of location. Accuracy really isn’t an issue here, since both devices are accurate to within 5 microns which is literally splitting hairs.

We just got our hands on the Optimator and our tests have proven very promising.

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Until very recently, 3D was considered little more than a novelty. Most of our experiences with blue and red paper glasses left us dizzy and in need of Aspirin. But Avatar, along with recent announcements of 3D TV channels from Discovery and ESPN, are changing that perception. Now it seems everyone is jumping on the bandwagon.

At my company, we’re gearing up for 3D as well. But as excited as I usually am about new technologies, I’m skeptical about 3D…

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