Lens Control System

ARRI WCU-4 and Hi-5

How to connect Moon

Once everything is set up correctly you will get the distance readout into your hand unit, both in numerical values and as an arrow on the distance scale. If you then activate Focus Tracking on your hand unit via a programmable user button (set to Focus Tracking) you will get autofocus.

With the WCU-4 having the user button pressed will make the focus motor follow the measured value. As soon as you let go of the button the motor is controlled by the knob again.

With the Hi-5 you can choose if you want the system to go out of Focus tracking mode when you release the button or if you want to be able to toggle Focus tracking on and off.

01. With camera bodies having a LBUS-connector

Popular ARRI cameras such as the ALEXA Mini, ALEXA Mini LF and ALEXA 35 all have a LBUS connector. To connect the Moon Smart Focus system you need a LCUBE to convert the serial protocol to LBUS protocol (except for with the ALEXA 35).

You connect the LCUBE into the LBUS chain and then you connect the Moon Brain to the LCUBE with a custom serial cable (MSF.C40.01 CUBE-1 SERIAL). With the ALEXA 35 you do not need a LCUBE, instead you connect the Brain straight into the LBUS chain with a different custom serial cable (MSF.C40.03 A35/RIA SERIAL).

We recommend that you go from the LBUS connector on your camera straight to a motor, and then anywhere later in the chain loop in the Moon/LCUBE. If the Brain is the first thing in the chain it can on rare occasions cause the lens control system to think it has been connected to a new motor even though it has not. Then you have to click yes to connect to the ”new” motor, and also calibrate it. Fairly quickly done, but can be annoying if it happens just before a take! So to minimize the risk of this happening go straight to a motor from the camera.

Now go into Settings in the Moon app. Under SERIAL PROTOCOL (you can either just scroll down to get there, or use the SERIAL quick link in the top row) set CONTROLLER to CINETAPE. CONTROLLER INTERFACE should be MOON SERIAL CONNECTOR. With the latest Moon software update you do not need to save, parameters are saved as soon as you change them. With previous software updates, do not forget to press SAVE or SAVE & MAIN just below the Serial Protocol section!

02. With a Cforce mini RF motor

If your camera do not have a LBUS connector (maybe it is not even an ARRI camera) the easiest option is often to use a Cforce mini RF motor. The motor works as a motor driver as well as a transceiver to your hand unit and you do not need to mount any additional boxes on your camera.

With the Cforce mini RF motor you need a LCUBE. Connect the LCUBE to the motor (or into the LBUS chain anywhere later if you are using multiple motors) and then connect the Brain to the LCUBE with a custom serial cable (MSF.C40.01 CUBE-1 SERIAL).

03. With an AMC-1 or UMC-4

Other options for when your camera do not have a LBUS connector is to use an AMC-1 or an UMC-4. These are both additional boxes you will have to mount to your camera.

The AMC-1 will give you a LBUS connector. You need a LCUBE to convert from serial protocol to LBUS protocol. Connect a motor to the LBUS connector on the AMC-1. Connect the LCUBE to the motor (or into the LBUS chain anywhere later if you are using multiple motors) and then you connect the Brain to the LCUBE with a custom serial cable (MSF.C40.01 CUBE-1 SERIAL).

With the UMC-4 you do not need a LCUBE. Connect the Brain to one of the serial connectors on the UMC-4 with a custom serial cable (MSF.C40.01 CUBE-1 SERIAL). Note that with the UMC-4 you will have to use CLM motors.