cmotion Cinefade VariND System Now Purchase Ready

NewsLenses

by Tim FokMay 30^th, 2019

The cmotion Cinefade VariND system is now available for purchase, a previous hire-only package that utilizes revolutionary technology to wirelessly control neutral density.

It was two years ago at CineGear 2017 where we interviewed founder Oliver Janesch Christiansen on the original cmotion Cinefade VariND system.

This year they have announced a purchase-friendly package, no longer requiring a specialist technician to operate.

The technology is revolutionary – it is one of the few systems to offer mechanical changing neutral density.

It does so through two circular polarizing filters – a motorized polarizer and a static polarizer. When worked in conjunction they offer a variable neutral density filter.

The system is built around the cmotion focus ecosystem. When paired with cmotion motors and controller you can wirelessly control the level of neutral density.

What’s smart about the system is it can slave to your iris motor, making exposure changes seamless.

This is a unique effect in itself – being able to control depth of field independently from exposure; blur the background more or less without changing the exposure.

The motorized variable ND alone is great for saving time with filter changes or when filter changes are very tricky due to hard-to-reach camera body (steadicam, techocrane etc.).

A handy bi-product of the system is a motorized polarizer (just using the single filter).

The full-filter system is designed to work with 2-stages on a 4X5 compatible mattebox.

The LBUS cable peripherals work with ARRI and cmotion systems. In more compact solutions, it can just require power via LBUS, and you can control ND levels on the motorized polarizer filter itself.

The level of neutral density starts at 1.5 stops (approx. ND.4) and can provide up to 8 stops ND, with an optical safe range (reduced color shift) of 5 stops. See below handy graph.

CineGear will once again be a platform for checking out the Cinefade system, now in purchase form. Pricing as follows:

cmotion Cinefade VariND (motorized and static polarizer with case) €7980/$8885 +tax.

cmotion cPRO Motor Kit (cPRO hand unit, cPRO motor & accessories) €7280/$8100+tax

cmotion cPRO Camin Kit (cPRO hand unit, cPRO camin & accessories) €5980/$6655+tax

What do you think, will this catch on? Can you see yourself using variable ND filters for your productions on a regular basis, when shooting on high-end cinema cameras?