By Dan Chung
Chinese company Cinematics, who we recently featured on this blog as part of our coverage of the BIRTV show in Beijing, have launched an upgraded version of their USB focus controller for Canon DSLRs such as the 5DmkII. Hopefully it will work with the upcoming EOS-1D X too if Canon keep the same USB protocols.
Similar to their version previously it controls allows you to manually focus an autofocus Canon EF lens by using the lenses own built in focus motor. To do this it communicates with the camera using Canon’s own USB protocols which are normally used when the camera is communicating with Canon’s EOS Utility software on a computer.
The upgrade from their previous model is largely cosmetic but they seem to have done a good job of making the unit look like a more professional tool. The large focus knob now has three grips added and there is an improved thread on the back for mounting the controller onto rigs. Not only can it focus the lens but around the focus knob are nine buttons that can control other camera settings. You can start and stop recording, magnify the image to check focus (only prior to recording), switch live view on and off and adjust various other camera parameters.
The unit weighs in at 155g and is available now. For more details head over to here.
