Gregg MacPherson

Hey Steven, what are the prices like for a vest? Cheers, Gregg.

@ Tyler Fukada....It was my job to try to keep that updated. I ran out of time and enthusiasm. my goal was to have an updated list that I could keep editing, so that we did not have a mangled mess of new info and opinions confused with the actual updated list. The difficult part is gathering the factual information, so if anyone has any facts, I can update the list of techs. So if anyone has info, drop a post here. I feel that there will be several techs in France that can service ACLs, and they are not connected with the forum, and those that know about them are not sharing the information. In the UK it needs to be clarified just what work that Les" son is doing....Also there is at least one tech who used to service ACLs somewhere in the UK, that I can't find the name and contact. Someone new though, DANIÍl NEVSKIJ, who sounds like a very talented camera engineer, who has done some work with ACLs. I think he is only contactable by instagram... https://www.instagram.com/kamera_doctor/?hl=en In LA, Tyler Purcell has officially added ACLs to his service list. I had bad arguments about ACLs with Tyler years ago when he was really disliking them, but I think he has come to like them, and has pivoted to becoming a service tech. So you could explore this option. I think there are many well qualified camera techs who don't normally work on ACL, but would do so with a little persuading. I think you have to approach people in an efficient way, without wasting too much time. Also, one needs a realistic appreciation of what servicing should cost. It's actually in the same order as owning a nice older car, and the same need for servicing and continuity of service is there, So, anyone, send update info, and I will find time to tidy up a list.

I saw some some bulk load stills film on Ali Express...LUCKY Black & White Negative SHD50 SHD100 30.5 Meters... High Resolution...USD41 incl shipping. Can this be run in an Eyemo or an Arri 2...? Hopefully the Chinese can manufacture cine film at high enough quality. And it could be really cheap, a great thing for artists and art film makers.

Good project Pav. The ACL bodys are compact and light. Interesting custom magazine ideas could transform the camera. I always fantasized about making a composite 400' magazine, which could be very light and also improve the ergonomics on the shoulder. Also, to lower the weight, the ACL II could have a redesigned lower base or have much of the mass machined out inside. Gregg.

A technician, even without being familiar with the adapter, will immediately see how it is supposed to work, and whether the tabs are functioning properly. I did open one of these adapters some years ago, but didn't remove the springs, and can't remember their shape. Firstly, lets assume that all the old grease is removed and parts cleaned with solvent. With the lock ring in the release position, or fully removed, the springs should pull the tabs away from the lens axis, away from the lens mount. So the tabs should not be protruding into the lens port at all. If they are then the spring function is not correct. So are the springs correctly mounted? Have they been bent? Where are you located? You may be surprised at how friendly, curious and helpful the technicians can be.

Is the grease really old? Does the lock ring for the tabs have full range of movement on the threads? Are the little springs correctly assembled? Are you near any film camera or lens techs? They may spot the problem easily. If you have to do it yourself you can check the things above. Clean off all the grease and observe the movement on the threads, and the movement of the tabs, especially in the extreme open (tabs retracted) position.

Roy, If one conforms to standards for the position of the rods relative to the lens axis then it gets easier downstream. Arri and O'Connor should have diagrams available. See some photographs of properly configured 15 and 19mm rod systems with bridge plates that are supporting lenses. The 19mm rod system will support the lens, anamorphic adapter, a heavy matte box, a follow focus...The bridge plate will slide the assembly to a balanced position on the dovetail plate Do you know the height of the lens axis above the camera base? Also, the longitudinal position, meaning the fore/aft position, of the 3/8" tie down on the base, relative to the lens mount flange or the film plane? And the sideways offset of the 3/8" tie down from the lens axis? If one know these things one can make a start seeing what existing parts or systems may be used or adapted. The measurements can be done adequately with a flat surface, a set square, steel rule and vernier. If you can't figure it out I can give some ideas. One thing to bear in mind. 15mm light weight rod systems are not generally built with enough stiffness to be very effective supporting heavy lenses. The 19mm system can do that much better. Gregg.

Roy, Maybe this would help. A sturdy but very cheap bridge plate with dovetail...comes with 15mm and19mm rod clamps ...I have one, its very good for the price... https://www.proaim.com/products/proaim-19-15mm-camera-base-plate-with-dovetail-tripod-plate-arri-standard From memory, the 15mm rod axis is 14mm above the top of the bridge plate, and the optical axis is centred with the 3/8" tie down. Just to be clear, the system is design so heavy lenses can be supported with the 19mm rod system, and the bridge plate with dovetail can give ballance. EDIT: I see in a photo above that the 3/8" tie down in the camera is offset from the lens axis. There may be enough room on the bridge plate to simply add a hole for that. If you tell me the offset I can check, or can send a drawing. Gregg.

I'm looking for the LTR 7 parts drawings and lists. Hopefully in English. Thanks in advance for any help. Regards, Gregg.

I gave you a thank you trophy, but I should have thanked you more personally. Gregg.

The Lemo connectors arrived from China. To see the AliExpress page google "FFA ERA 00S 0S 1S 2S 3S connector 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 10 12-pin round push-pull FFA half-moon plug connector antenna RF cable" Its a 2 pin OS...see my previous notes on the oddities of the listing nomenclature.... Anyway, I don't have any alligator clips to try testing them while subject to some movement, vibration etc, but I can say that in look, fit, finish, function they seem identical to the old lemos that came with the camera. If I find otherwise when I get my alligator clips I will advise.

They were both by Paul at VP. The is the spare camera body I had. It went to Ryan Buyssens in the US.

Steven, Your TS flange has slotted holes for the screws. Heikki's one does not. I don't think the two S16 ACL IIs I have had here (by Paul, VP) had slotted TS flanges either. So are they making a new TS flange for the S16...? Or doing something else? I think John knows. I didn't realize the double screws in the TS flange were standard. Early ACLs may have had single screws.

Steven, Can you post a pic of that. It sounds unusual, or am I misunderstanding you. Are you calling the TS flange the "adapter mounting plate". To me, it looks like the TS flange and body casting get new screw locations, So you see extra screws on the flange. I assumed the old screws were shortened, then glued in to plug the hole.

I've made , guessing 50 or more buys from AliXpress over the last year or two. Tooling for the machine shop at home, bicycle parts, camera accessory parts. A couple of items were underperformers, waste of money but cheap. One was a no show..a bike truing stand that arrived, transformed into a small washer in a plastic bag. Another, a bottle of silicone fluid with completely inaccurate cSt spec. Both quickly refunded, though the silicone fluid, the vendor made me send him a video proving it. Hilarious! Of course I did send one, which he disputed, but the refund of $3 was immediate. The vendors can occasionally be stroppy, but AliExpress keeps them in line I think. Refund process seems robust. The feedback system is flawed. I tried giving bad feedback once and the system would not let me. Every time I tried their system was down or under maintenance. Change to better feedback and the system was back on. My turn to be grossly off topic. Thank you Mark.