Tilta Nucleus-M hands-on review

Newsshooter review of the Tilta Nucleus-M wireless follow focus. Check out the full review with even more details here www.newsshooter.com/2018/08/3...

[@RLinares22]

The focus direction swap function is super clutch. Have worked with people who've used Nikon lenses forever vs Canon and the reverse in the focus ring can be a thing for them... this lets the operator decide how he's comfortable pulling focus regardless of lens systems. Very cool.

[@cmonberg]

I walked into Tilta Burbank CA and the staff couldn't have been nicer... Juan know this unit well and hooked up my rig with the nucleus M and I was blown away at how well it worked with my sigma 18-35mm still lens ..... very smooth and accurate... don't know about the issues people are talking about here..... but will do a little more research before buying.... as an independent filmmaker i don't see how you can go wrong at this price point..... I buy lotts of gear in this price range because thats what i can afford.... I figure out the quirks and work arounds and make it work...... if you have the $35000. to buy preston....go for it.... If money were no issue..... sure id have the best of everything....

[@nelsonclub7722]

I remember when Tilta 1st began with a barely functioning website filled mostly with CAD diagrams - now look at 'em

[@Dauntlessfilms]

Excellent review, thank you Sir!

[@andinbriwel1092]

“Nuculus M...” 😂 Sorry, I just keep hearing the Homer Simpson clip now 🤣

[@baldwinvp]

This was so helpful. Thank you!

[@cweeks5211]

Fantastic video!

[@CineGraphStudios]

I just purchased this and I'm pretty disappointed that they don't include batteries. You spend $1200+ and they can't include $9 a piece batteries?!

[@labdiestro]

Muy Muy completo, gracias por compartir, compraré uno!

[@bluestilling101]

excellent tutorial.

[@guidogiotta]

Thanks for the review! I also own a Nucleus M System and I'm using it without any issues. There are some quirks, but Tilta is constantly trying to improve their products (.eg. with firmware updates) and for the money there's nothing out there that comes even close to this. If you want perfection get a similar System from Arri for ten times the price ;) Greetings

[@wildwedding]

Is that Norm MacDonald reviewing this?

[@jaegermah]

Adam Grumbo just about to type the same thing

[@HYTTFilms]

same lol wtf

[@pd3778]

@@HYTTFilms I thought it was Donald Sutherland

[@KozKreoleKwenKomedi]

can the handle be program to control only focus on two different camera independently.

[@nirmalparui9631]

Will this work with cp2 lens with black magic 6k...Can I use nucleus M??

[@EnricoGerominProd]

As always, well done mr. Naso! You think might be possible to do a zoom keeping focus without a parafocal lens? Like with a 70-200 f2.8 for example. Thanks for your work.

[@Newsshooter]

The lens needs to be parfocal

[@andinbriwel1092]

You would need to rehearse it and ride the focus as you move the zoom. Its not impossible, but both rings need to move together. You can nail it with practice.

[@Goonch92]

Will this be compatible with the new DJI RS2?

[@schmittsfn]

Does the motor have noticeable noise?

[@ShoshannaWithers]

Hi! i am trying to find that Panasonic GH series power wire and I cannot find it ANYWHERE. I checked Adorama and B&H here in NY and they only have the wire for the Wooden handles and they say specifically that it will NOT work with the nucleus M. Any advice? i googled it and found nothing :(

[@Newsshooter]

Go to Tilta's website. tilta.com/shop/nucleus-m-run-stop-cables/

[@thecaptainontour7704]

How do you guys reduce the vertical axis movement of the camera and lens when the motor is moving the lens? On my setup it is only noticeable at the end stops but is minor along the focus range. Was thinking of looking for a rod mount lens clamp to secure the lens. Thoughts?

[@andinbriwel1092]

You got it exactly. Use a lens support that clamps to the rods and holds the lens. I use the shape lens support with a 1/4-20 screw thread going into the lens’s support tab. For Lenses that don’t have support tabs I use a smallrig 15mm lens support and a strip of 2-sided Velcro that wraps all the way around the lens body.

[@NebulousFilms]

Does this work if I only have one of the handgrips and just one motor?

[@andinbriwel1092]

Yes

[@charlescowper]

Does this kit include different pitch cogs? 0.5 and 0.6 would be great for broadcast tv lenses.

[@DasWildeReiskorn]

those are extra

[@jasonepperson5068]

Where did you order these batteries? I'm looking around on amazon and don't see the exact model you have.

[@kd3623]

Same question here

[@kd3623]

It actually recommends a different one on tilta’s site

[@onitvideoproductioncharles9102]

Is it possible to use the grip and 1 motor on a steady cam while using the Fiz and 2nd motor on a different rig? Effectively having 2 separate units.

[@aroundlsu]

The FIZ must be in slave mode to use the handgrips. You could use two handgrips at the same time on two different rigs.

[@andinbriwel1092]

Yes. You can set the fiz and one motor up on one channel, then set up the handgrip control and the other motor on another channel and use them as 2 separate systems. This would be the same as if two operators had their own partial systems running in the same room. Both motors can be run as motor number 1 as long as they and their respective controllers are on different channels.

[@Shayler78]

Will this work with Sigma 18-35 F1.8 lens and GH5 camera? Apparently the Nano version does not. So does the M version?

[@glennparker8247]

The nano will if you power it from d-tap.

[@driven_films]

What do you mean other 18650 batteries don't work? Can you be specific please?

[@Newsshooter]

tried other brands and they didnt work. Best to use the Tilta recommended brand.

[@rachelbestcine1794]

www.aliexpress.com/item/33022369689.html

[@svjatoslavskabarin1173]

10:10 Instructions unclear, Nucleus M destroyed, fist bleeding

[@Whaever_1981]

Thx for the informative video :D I have one question. Say I have a Cine lens with a 360 focus throw and I want to use it for more run & gun situations where a shorter focus throw is often preferred. Is it possible to program the nucleus M to have a 150 degree focus throw from close focus to infinity on a 360 focus throw cine lens?

[@aroundlsu]

The handgrips have short medium and long focus throws. So yes, if you use the handgrips you can do this.

[@Whaever_1981]

@@aroundlsu Thx! Excellent to know that. I've never used handgrips, just follow focus. How's the feel of the focus precision using these handgrips? Manually focussing a lens by hand or via follow focus feels (and looks) very intuitive and natural. How do these handgrips compare? I'm afraid they might have somewhat of a digital, robotic reel. I hope top try them out soon but if you could give a brief reply that would be awesome :D

[@aroundlsu]

@@Whaever_1981 The handgrips compare pretty well! It's certainly a lot better than trying to pull focus off the barrel or off a follow wheel of a true cinema lens. I'm using it on a fully kitted out Red camera with Zeiss CP.2 lenses so trying to manual focus that off the barrel of the lens is next to impossible.

[@Whaever_1981]

@@aroundlsu Excellent! Thanks so much for this very handy info!!! :D Best wishes!

[@rachelbestcine1794]

www.aliexpress.com/item/33022369689.html

[@rhodoliteproductions8344]

Yo why the hell don’t they come with batteries 🤣🤣

[@TheTechnoPilot]

I would have like to have seen you guys actually dive into and try to validate many issues people are having with connectivity, on the whole next level to what you demonstrated in close proximity. At very least you could have mentioned the issue.

[@Newsshooter]

Please read the full review here. Thanks, www.newsshooter.com/?www.newsshooter.com/2018/08/31/tilta-nucleus-m-wireless-follow-focus-loaded-kit-competitive-price-2/

[@Sushi_Overdose]

Could you be more specific about these issues ? I couldn't find anything about it.

[@TheTechnoPilot]

@@Newsshooter it's still listed as a draft that I don't have access too.

[@TheTechnoPilot]

@@Sushi_Overdose check out the Tilta Nucleus group on Facebook and you will see all of these issues discussed at length.

[@Flipside3D]

I feel you bro, I expected a better review from here

[@sburgos9621]

Does this work with the Blackmagic pocket cinema 4k?

[@bumkiss]

No offense, but that is one of the dumbest questions I've ever heard.

[@sburgos9621]

​@@bumkiss The Crane 2 follow focus did not work with the BMPC4K so it's a pretty reasonable question. Keep projecting though.

[@bumkiss]

@@sburgos9621 It's a follow focus system, it's not for the camera, it's for the lenses. Bmpcc4k is a camera, not a lens. I also decided to look up what you were talking about and videos seemed to show that the system worked fine. I imagine it's something on your end.

[@sburgos9621]

​@@bumkiss Thanks for explaining the obvious. First you are wrong about the crane 2 as I own one and not all functions work with the BMP4K. Second, In your rush to judge you forgot about the start stop recording capabilities of the Nucleus, which don't work with all camera systems. It even says so on their website. It seems your KZbin handle is quite apt.

[@rasamasala]

Chips Dubbo You sir, are really toxic. Rather than contributing to a constructive environment, you felt the need to rag on this guy's legit question. S Burgos came here with a question because he's interested in buying a product and wants to be clear it will work for his workflow. Calling his question dumb is rude and inconsiderate. If you don't have anything valuable to add, don't bother commenting. Or atleast if you're joining a conversation, don't start by belittling someone who is trying to learn something. Makes you look like an asshole.

[@bh9262]

I have no clue what this device is used for... 😳

[@SergiMedina]

Wow, the handles working with (non-rechargeable?) batteries and ONLY with those is a real annoyance... Good think it's only the handles, but still... And what about interferences? The 2.4 GHz system is just scary. It really likes interference, which makes the system unusable (as happens with DJI Focus).

[@christophhelms4666]

they are rechargeable

[@andinbriwel1092]

The handles use 18650 rechargeable batteries, or can be powered through the lemo.

[@Flipside3D]

I agree with TechnoPilot's comment below. I read the full review also but you make it sound like the firmware updates fixed all its problems. Maybe your unit didn't show any signs of these or you didn't test it in a real shooting environment but there still are heaps of problems with this unit that will shy me away from purchasing a set. I will stick to paying for overpriced rental units until they get their shiz together and come up with a better version. I have been a fan of your channel for a long time, please don't put out reviews that omit or sugarcoat certain information which makes us question your credibility

[@Newsshooter]

No product is perfect and I (Erik) did my best to test it and come to my own conclusions. I don't sugar coat and to be honest it's insulting to question my integrity because I did not experience an issue you may have had. When I did I reported it. If you feel strongly about this I suggest you do your own review and document your results.

[@Flipside3D]

You feel insulted because I pointed out issues that many users have documented and reported online already. Like TechnoPilot says, go check out any FB group about Nucleus M if you give a damn, people are resorting to using aluminum foil on their hand unit because the signal wouldn't work with teradeks. It's been an ongoing issue for I don't know... ever since it came out and never fully resolved and you're telling me you feel insulted? "Tilta seems to have ironed out all the problems and is continuously updating the firmware" This statement makes me think you did not do any research on the unit before writing your review. You also wouldn't know why some people like us would object to that statement. I am pointing out you could be misleading your viewers into thinking the unit will work without hiccups on set. It's a real life problem when your 1st AC brings his handunit on set and has to figure out why it won't work on the day. It's already very well documented and doesn't need another amateur review, I just wish you guys were above keeping good relationships with companies.

[@Newsshooter]

You are entitled to your opinion. " please don't put out reviews that omit or sugarcoat certain information which makes us question your credibility " That was not cool. I can't just take every negative or positive thing people say and add it to a review if I didn't experience it myself. Why is that so hard to understand bro. Every location is going to give different results with wireless devices. Sorry, you feel so strongly against me and the review. You clearly don't know me so making personal attacks on my integrity isn't cool.

[@Flipside3D]

I don't have anything against you. I don't even know you. If you feel that I am attacking you personally you are mistaken. I'm pointing out you are misleading your readers in your review. The fact remains that your statement says Nucleus-M's flaws are ironed out when they are not. What I'm really against, is making definitive statements like that without doing any background research, when even common consumers can tell you multiple issues that you don't mention in your review. Why is that so hard to understand? I'm expressing frustration over a product that hasn't quite delivered what it promised. And to answer your comment about every unit has flaws and wireless devices not working the same, they SHOULD work when next to wireless video signal transmitters. It shouldn't even be an issue in the first place. That's what the product was intended for. It's a CRUCIAL flaw that it is not stable when next to other wireless signal transmitter/receiver units. Or do you focus pull without a monitor?

[@luisadrianlara5561]

I’ve owned a nucleus m for over 4.5 years. I’ve never updated the firmware and have never experienced issues using it alongside ANY wireless video systems including Vaxis, Teradek, Hollyland or even the Z Cam evf. The only issues I’ve had have been with tilta’s run/stop cables.

[@africanhistory]

One word Dual Pixel auto focus (opps that is three words). Unless you are a pro

[@Spartyo]

No, hahahahahahahahahahaha.

[@glennparker8247]

Manual focus is infinitely better.