Simply Autofocus Any Lens. | PDMOVIE Live Air 3 Smart

[@alzibaba]

Thanks for the review. I've had mine since October and like it a lot for the situations it works well in. I've also learned more about how to get the most from it in the types of shoots I do. For me the biggest challenge is that it 'sees' to around 3-4m, depending on lighting conditions, then if nothing enters closer in the frame, it jumps to 5m and after a pause then to infinity. This is too jerky if using a slightly shallow depth of field. Combined with that, if you take manual control and stay at minimum focus for (I can't recall exactly how long) around 10 seconds, it jumps back to autofocus, just when you don't want it to. The solution is to leave one profile unmapped, and use that for all longer manual focus shots to avoid the LiDAR suddenly taking over. I love that it has its own batteries (which last well, even in the cold), there are no cables, and that I can mount it easily on my rigs. I do prefer the old, larger diameter controller from the LiveAir 2, which is (at least for me) smoother, lighter action and more precise due to its larger diameter. But the new tiny one is easier to rig. I've found the PDMovie is more precise with complex textures like thin tree branches than the DJI LiDAR, but the DJI is much better at progressing from infinity to close focus with a moving subject. For talking head stuff though the PDMovie is excellent.

[@MortyFilms]

Thanks for taking the time to add this feedback! Very valuable information ✌🏼

[@madedigital]

i got one but mow the dji is fire

[@MortyFilms]

@@madedigital true, but it’s also a totally different price category

[@alzibaba]

@@madedigital yeah, I just ordered the focus pro, looks near perfect. And stores 15 lens profiles 😊

[@WasabiNoise]

This is a great review. Just the fact that you recorded 90% of the video with it. Like most reviews talk about a product or a lenses and they barely show it in use. I think this is overkill for me but I found it very interesting and I love your style :)

[@MortyFilms]

Thanks for the feedback, really appreciate it 🙏🏼

[@C3Colour]

Have had mine since December. Attaching the controller to the follow focus wheel is a pain when using for small crew, but overall the autofocus has been a game changer !

[@MortyFilms]

I get it, It’s a bit awkward haha. But happy to hear you’re finding good use in the autofocus feature ✌🏼

[@Alec15]

Can there still be a matte box on the lens or will the lidar be blocked?

[@MortyFilms]

No, unfortunately any matte box will block the LiDAR, you’ll have to go with screw on filters

[@Alec15]

@@MortyFilms now I can not impress my clients anymore😅

[@MortyFilms]

@@Alec15 Hahaha, yeah that’s a real problem, mate

[@DreamingCloudFilms]

​@Alec15 definitely a deal breaker lol

[@StarskiYall]

I’ve been using mine for like a month on my vintage Helios 44-2 and my anamorphics. Works great on the gimbal and even handheld and is so much less fiddly than dealing with all the wires or even my nucleus nano or the DJI rs2 ssystem. Having it all built into the unit with no wires is great. The batteries are a little sticky pushing into the slot tho

[@MortyFilms]

Thanks for your feedback! You’re right, this is very useful for gimbal work. I do have the same ‘issue’ with the batteries, but I feel like as long as you put it in the right angle (where the arrow is pointing) I think it’s fine.

[@MediaDivision]

There it is…. Nice work Morty, hopefully “Someone” will improve on this solution 😅

[@MortyFilms]

Hahaha, let’s see 🫢👀

[@MediaDivision]

We almost launched at the same time@@MortyFilms

[@MortyFilms]

@@MediaDivision Yes, what a coincidence 🤣

[@gregorypassard153]

@@MortyFilms that makes sense now...

[@MortyFilms]

Hahaha, congrats for finding this easter egg 👏🏼

[@nathanlopes1327]

Awesome as always! Trying to get one shipped to Brazil

[@MortyFilms]

Thank you, what’s the delivery times to Brazil for this?

[@nathanlopes1327]

@@MortyFilms If bought from China it takes around 5 to 6 weeks, but from the US it can take longer actually.

[@MortyFilms]

What? That’s so weird 😅

[@nathanlopes1327]

Customs stuff, it really sucks

[@MortyFilms]

Dang, sounds annoying, hope you get it soon 🤞🏼

[@genesisfilms_at]

Is there a workaround for the tilta mirage? Vnd is quite important 😂

[@MortyFilms]

Yeah it is… you’ll have to use the ND without a mattebox… or build some sort of mirror contraption I guess 😂

[@chilloflamingo1395]

Much love my bro

[@MortyFilms]

Thanks Brutha 🫶🏼

[@joshsmith3219]

Im pretty sure this does not use AI, and just maps distange to the rotation of the motor. Btw love your videos your color grade is awsome :D

[@MortyFilms]

Thank you! Well, I was just taking the information I got from their website, but maybe it’s all just marketing 😂

[@Madtography]

The biggest downside for me with the PDMovie products is, find a fitting spot to mount them on my rig.. their designs of the motors and controlers (excl. the leaking nifty thumb wheel) makes them almost impossible to mount and the battery slot is usually blocked by sth (and tricky to pull out), the charger is.. well cheap, and so on.. I like their approach with Lidar very much, as its generally an about time step in the right direction, but they mostly struggle from missing final thoughs to make the almost perfect product ;)

[@MortyFilms]

I do agree that there are quite some ways to improve this little thing, but it is pretty promising not only for what else will come from PDMOVIE but also what competing brands will come up with

[@alzibaba]

The batteries take some getting used to for sure, but if you push them against the spring-loaded ball bearing inside the casing before pulling out, they usually come out quite easily. Yes the charger is cheap, I'm on my second after a pin broke, but that's 2 years' use on my old one. You have to be careful taking the double batteries out of the charger too, they can detach from one another. I've never had any leakage from the thumbwheel though, maybe a production issue. For me the biggest improvement would come in the Lidar working more like DJI's, without having a 3-4m limit - here's hoping that'll come.

[@iamkubrick]

Mines screwed. It won’t remember the calibrations.

[@MortyFilms]

Im sorry to hear that, that sucks. Did you try contacting PDmovie about it?

[@iamkubrick]

@@MortyFilms yeah… three times. Just been ignored. Bought it with PayPal so they might have better luck getting a response. Pretty common with Chinese companies like this though.

[@MortyFilms]

man, that sucks, I hope it works out with PayPal 🤞🏼

[@moritzhermann597]

🔥🔥🔥

[@MortyFilms]

🔥

[@jackderose6575]

Where do I start? What a nightmare of a god awful product. If you want to flush about $300 down the toilet, do that instead of buying this piece of trash. Think about it. If you flush the money down the toilet, you can film it with your phone (which will actually focus) and you'll have that video for life. If you spend the money on this garbage, you'll have a paper weight with some decent packaging. I followed these steps in the video with my device and everything was fine except upon completion, it doesn't work. The video says to recalibrate it again if there is an issue. So I did, following the steps exactly as listed in this video. Nothing. When I can get something in focus, the motor does make a feeble attempt to keep it in focus I guess, but it fails pathetically. It doesn't matter if I move fast or slow, or if the subject moves fast or slow. It can't keep the focus assist card in focus which is stationary, taped on the wall, even if I step back at a snails pace. I mean what's the point? Just a useless piece of equipment. If you're looking to spend almost $300 to get pissed off and smash your head into a wall, consider this. Pay me $150 and I'll come smash your head into a wall for you and you can save about $150. Long story short is you get what you pay for. In this case, I paid $300 for a trash product. Don't make the same mistake as me.

[@MortyFilms]

Well, I can see why you’re frustrated and I don’t say this product is perfect at all. It definitely has its flaws and only some very niche use cases, it definitely isn’t for everyone. But as I say in the video, if you see it as a nice and compact wireless follow focus system with the additional features being to be able to be one of the first to play around with this technology and see it’s strengths and weaknesses, I think the price is justified. This is obviously not comparable to the new DJI system, but there’s also quite a jump in price… and there isn’t really any alternatives to this right now, so I’d say you get what you pay for.

[@joaquinperalba1624]

The system works well, but some lenses have non-consistent focus throw and the system cannot manage that. I replaced my lenses and problem solved.

[@PDMOVIE]

🔥🔥🔥