I was focusing Source 4's today

[gafftapegreenia]

And like a brilliant flash, a realization came to me, why has no one ever made an Ellipsoidal with some sort of screw-feed focus mechanism? Why must every ERS use a hand-tightened knob? I know the S4 Zoom uses a single knob, but why are ERS's still using a hand knob, when even the best Fresnel's use a screw feed? Just my random musings.

 

[Sean]

And like a brilliant flash, a realization came to me, why has no one ever made an Ellipsoidal with some sort of screw-feed focus mechanism? Why must every ERS use a hand-tightened knob? I know the S4 Zoom uses a single knob, but why are ERS's still using a hand knob, when even the best Fresnel's use a screw feed? Just my random musings.

If you're talking about the lens train, I'd speculate that it would make it more expensive, AND make it harder to swap tubes.

--Sean

 

[gafftapegreenia]

Yea, that's what I thought too, but hey, this is Controlbooth, so I felt safe posting my random thoughts.

 

[Grog12]

I have a strong dislike of screw feed fresnels.....and I can see how that would be amplified with an ERS

 

[soundlight]

I'd be fine with a house full of Warp Zooms. Now that's a nice fixture. As close to "screw focus" as you're gonna get.

 

[Footer]

I'd be fine with a house full of Warp Zooms. Now that's a nice fixture. As close to "screw focus" as you're gonna get.

Ya... don't get me started on those... Interesting idea but it takes to long to get a focus laid in for one unit, plus you never really know where everything is. Basically, they made a mechanism for a mover to interact with and then went "I wonder if anyone will buy this without the yoke".

 

[soundlight]

I definitely see how that would be the case. But the mover version does look like quite a spiffy unit.

 

[DarSax]

Hey...anyone want to explain what a screw-feed mechanism is for me? D:

 

[Footer]

One more thing on the screw thing.... because it worked soooo well on the 8" fres.... the number of hours that I have spent fixing those...

 

[gafftapegreenia]

I'd still take a screw-fed over that slider thing on the Altman die-cast Fresnels.

 

[Logos]

Hey...anyone want to explain what a screw-feed mechanism is for me? D:

As set up on the old Strand lights.

There is a long worm screw fitted along one side of the body internally. The lamp housing is fitted to this worm screw in such a way that it will move forwards or backwards as the external screw knob is rotated. It was given to jamming in earlier models and needed a certain amount of care and attention even in more recent versions. Use graphite or heat proof silicon lubricant to keep operating smoothly.