QUICK LAUNCH

Moon Brain

Mount the Brain on your camera, preferably not too close to a videotransmitter.
Connect the Eyes to the Brain with a custom USB-A to USB-C Eyes cable.
Power the brain from a RS-connector if your camera has one.

The Brain is the heart of the Moon Smart Focus system. It’s a powerhouse processor making our AI magic possible, as well as a wifi hotspot for communication with your Moon Controller (iPhone).

Powering the Brain

How much power the Brain uses depends on what mode it operates in. Calculating the distance to multiple persons means a lot more computing than figuring out the distance to a nearest point, for instance. Peak power usage is 35 W (20-25 W on average in Person mode). The Brain accepts 10-30 W and draws 1-3 A.

Because of this we recommend to power the Brain from a 24 V RS connector. Many cameras limit the current to 2 A on 12 V connectors, which can mean problems for the Brain. This also lets you take advantage of the ”Set fan to quiet when camera runs” function if supported by your camera. If the camera you are using does not have a RS connector a good option is often to power the Brain straight from the camera battery.
A tip regarding D-tap: It is often a good practice to plug in the D-tap connector first to avoid power spikes and possible damage to internal circuits. Likewise when unplugging, disconnect the D-tap connector last.
The Moon Smart Focus system behaving strange (or shutting down automatically) can be a sign of it not getting sufficient power. Before this happens the LED by the power connector will turn red and you will also get a power warning in the app.
Good to know: Some older Tilta camera cages with power distribution will not deliver sufficient current for the Brain. A solution can be to power straight from the camera battery (if you don’t have the option to switch to another cage).

Updating the Brain

Updating the Brain will normally take around 30 minutes.

Connect the brain to an ethernet network with internet. You find the ethernet connector under a lid that is held in place by a magnet just above the connectors on the side of the Brain.
Go into Settings in the app. Then go to SYSTEM and choose S/W UPDATE.

The Moon app will automatically check if there is a newer software version available when you go into S/W UPDATE. If so you will be giving the choice to update, if not it will tell you that your system is up to date. To update choose PERFORM UPDATE and then START UPDATE.

It may take the app some time to recognize and establish an internet connection. If it says it does not have a connection and you know it’s connected to the internet, be patient: Go back to Options, wait a minute or two and then go into software update again. You might need to repeat this one or two times.
When you choose START UPDATE two progress bars will appear, one showing the progress of downloading and the other installing the new software. The update process consists of two steps. Step one takes approximately 15-20 minutes (exact timing depends on how much is new in the new version compared to the last time you updated, as well as the speed of your internet connection of course). Let the process continue even if both bars get full, the app will automatically start step two as soon as step one is fully downloaded and installed. Step two generally takes less time to finish (normally 5-10 minutes).
After step two the Brain will automatically restart. This can take a couple of minutes, when the Brain is up again you are good to go! If the Brain does not seem to start, your controller iPhone may have jumped onto a different wifi network. Go inte settings on the iPhone, then wifi and choose the Brain’s wifi.

Updating using another iPhone for internet connection

Check that the iPhone you want to use is set to ”Allow Others to Join” under Personal Hotspot in the iPhone settings.
Connect that iPhone to the Brain using a Lighting to USB-A cable. You find two USB-A connectors under the lid that is held in place by a magnet just above the connectors on the side of the Brain, you can use either one.

The iPhone you use for internet connection needs to have a working SIM card in it, however you can log onto a wifi network with internet connection and it will then download the update over wifi.

If you do not do this and choose to download over your mobile data network we recommend having an unlimited mobile data plan with your service provider. The update is normally several gigabytes big and can easily use up all your mobile data and/or cost you a lot of money.
When you connect the iPhone to the Brain you will be asked if you ”Trust This Computer?”. Click ”Trust” and then you probably will have to enter your PIN code.
Now you can start the Moon App on this phone (or go to moonsmartfocus.local in a browser on the phone). Then proceed with the update process just as you would using an ethernet connection (described above). You start by going into Settings in the app. Then go to SYSTEM and choose S/W UPDATE.

Power cables in the case:

1x 40cm/15.7 inches D-tap to 3-Pin Fischer
1x 40cm/15.7 inches 3-pin Fischer to 3-Pin Fischer

Moon Eyes

Mount the Eyes parallel to your camera’s focal plane.
Connect them to the brain with a custom USB-A to USB-C Eyes cable.

The Eyes are the sensor of the Moon Smart Focus system. They use a stereoscopic camera together with an IR projector (used in low light situations) to create the depth map that is used for distance measuring. They are typically mounted on the camera above the lens.

There is a 1/4” female threaded hole with a 3/8” adapter screwed into it on the backside for mounting.

To avoid parallax issues (making measurements less accurate) it is important that the Eyes are mounted parallel to your camera’s focal plane. They should not tilt up or down (or pan to the left or right) in relation to the focal plane, as this will affect the depth map the stereoscopic camera creates. The Eyes tilting and panning together with the focal plane, as it inevitable will when the camera moves, is of course totally fine.

Orientation of the Eyes on the horizontal axis does not affect measurements, but might affect the detection of persons in PERSON and NEAREST PERSON modes. We recommend keeping it level.

For instructions on setting the offset of the Eyes to you camera’s focal plane, see the section on offset below!

More about mounting the Eyes

An easy way to ensure that the Eyes are parallell to the focal plane is to mount them straight onto the front part of the top handle of your camera using a mini quick release plate (as from Kondor Blue, Lenz Cameratools, 16x9, etc.).

If you are on a longer lens and want the Eyes closer to the matte box, maybe use a top handle extension? However keep in mind, the systems minimum focus distance is 35 cm/13.78 inches so you might be better off mounting them not too much to the front.
Another option is to use a rangefinder mount on 15 mm rods, or you can of course also use a Noga arm - though then you need to take more care with the orientation of the Eyes so that they are parallel to your camera's focal plane.

Eyes cables in the case:

1x 50 cm/19.7 inches USB-C to USB-A Eyes cable
1x 1 m/39.4 inches USB-C to USB-A Eyes cable

Connecting to Moon Wifi

When powering up the Brain it will create a wifi network with the name Moon-XYZ, where XYZ is the name of the Brain, also written on its back. By the way, all our Brains are named after different moons, planets or stars around space. There you go, a fun fact!

When you turn on the iPhone that comes with the system as your Moon Controller it should automatically connect to this network. If for some reason it does not, go into the iPhone settings and choose it. The password is moonsmartfocus, in all lowercase letters.

Now start the Moon App.

Setting the Offset

For Moon Smart Focus to give correct distances you have to tell the system how far from your camera’s focal plane the Eyes are mounted.

Go into Settings in the app. Right at the top, under Depth Camera you find Offset. Here you enter your offset value. The value should be positive if the Eyes are mounted in front of the focal plane and negative it they are mounted behind the focal plane. 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 section where you entered the offset value!

Connecting to a Lens Control System

Generally this is what you need to do:

Connect the Brain to your LCS with a custom serial cable.
Choose the correct serial protocol in settings in the Moon app.

Moon Smart Focus currently works with these lens control systems:

Arri WCU-4 & Hi-5

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!

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).
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!

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.
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!

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.

Preston

Connect the Brain to your MDR’s serial connector with a custom serial cable (MSF.C40.02).

Choose the Preston protocol for Lens Control System in the Moon app.

Moon integration works with all newer Preston systems, as well as older ones with the G+ upgrade. To choose the Preston protocol 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 Preston. 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!

You will now get the Moon readout in the display on your hand unit. It will say “Cinetape” in the display which might be confusing, but no reason to be confused. Just take it as a sign that everything is working!

In the Moon app you will now have an AUTO button. Click on it to toggle autofocus on or off. On the distance scale in the app the small green arrow pointing left represents the knob position, it well turn yellow when you toggle autofocus on (as it then no longer represents the motor position). The bigger green arrow pointing right is what Moon is measuring and the smaller white arrow just opposite it pointing left is the distance Moon is sending to your Preston system.

Cmotion cPRO

To connect the Moon Smart Focus system as a rangefinder you need a LCUBE to convert the serial protocol to LBUS protocol. With either the cPRO CAMIN or a cPRO motor you connect the LCUBE into the LBUS chain. You then connect the Moon Brain to the LCUBE with a custom serial cable (MSF.C40.01 CUBE-1 SERIAL).

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!

In the display on your cPRO hand unit you will now see the Moon readout as an arrow on the distance scale in the MAIN and FIZ views (as long as you have a lens file loaded in the cPRO). You will also have a RANGE view just after the FIZ view where you see the readout in numbers. Distance values turning green indicates that the lens are set to the same value as the readout, or within the depth of field.

Long pressing the middle button just below the hand unit’s display is a shortcut to go inte the Rangefinder menu (when in the RANGE view). Here you can do things like enter an offset, set limits and adjust the sensitivity. All these things can also be set in the Moon app, which might be faster when you are setup working with your Moon iPhone controller.

You can also turn autofocus on and off in the Rangefinder meny, though the fastest way to do this is probably to have that function assigned to one of the user buttons. This is done in the BUTTONS menu in the hand unit. AF Press will activate autofocus for as long as you press the user button and AF Toggle will toggle autofocus on or off.

Teradek RT

Connect the Brain to the MDR.X IN-1 connector with a custom serial cable (MSF.C40.08).

Set the Teradek Range Module to OFF in the MDR.X menu.
Set the IN-1 mode to CINETAPE.

To get the readout from the Moon Smart Focus system in the hand unit (and connected SmallHD monitor) you first have to set the Teradek Range Module to off. This can only be done in the MDR.X menu. Go into the menu on the MDR.X, step down to RX CONFIG, then choose RANGE FNDR and set it to OFF.

The next step is to set the IN-1 mode to CINETAPE. This is done under RX CONFIG as well, it is the next menu choice just below RANGE FNDR. To spare you from possible confusion and troubleshooting, please note that If you were to set RANGE FNDR to MID MOTOR the IN-1 mode would revert back to OFF and you would need to set it back to CINETAPE again (after setting RANGE FNDR back to OFF).

On the Moon side, you need to set the lens control system protocol to Cinetape. To do this 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!

Now press the display button on the CTRL.3 hand until you get to the display view with focus distance and rangefinder distance, which now will be the readout coming from your Moon Smart Focus system! The display button on the CTRL.3 is one of the programable user buttons just below the small display. If you do not see a display button you can set one of the buttons to do that by going into the menu on the hand unit and step down to BUTTONS.

You can also set one of the user buttons to CINE and that button will then toggle autofocus on and off.

If you have the hand unit connected to a SmallHD monitor you will get the readout in the monitor as well, in numbers and as an arrow on the focus scale in the monitor. To activate this after connecting the 5-pin Teradek serial cable between the CTRL.3 and a compatible SmallHD monitor, chose ADD NEW TOOL then ADDONS, Teradek RT and ADD TO THIS PAGE in the monitor’s PageOS operating system.

Hedén Ymer

When connecting to Hedén Ymer, Serial Protocol should be set to Cinetape in the Moon app. Further instructions for Hedén Ymer will come soon.

Tilta Nucleus-M & Nano

When connecting to Tilta Nucleus-M & Nano, Serial Protocol should be set to Tilta in the Moon app. Further instructions for Tilta Nucleus-M & Nano will come soon.

It is actually possible to connect to any lens control system which accepts serial input from range finders/distance measuring systems. Our aim is to support all systems on the market. Tests and development are ongoing! We are also constantly working on deeper integration with many of the most popular lens control systems.

You specify the serial cables you want when you buy the system (or rent it from your rental house).

Moon App

The Moon App has four modes for different shooting situations. Feel free to play around with the different modes and settings to familiarize yourself with the system. It’s the best way to learn!

SPOT Click on a spot in the Moon View and instantly get the distance to that spot. The system will also track the pixels you clicked on if they, or the camera move. This might be useful for keeping the focus on a product, or any other object.

NEAREST POINT In Nearest Point mode you get the distance to the nearest point inside a defined area. You can resize this area and move it around as you like. You can also add multiple areas for multiple distances simultaneously.

PERSON The system will find every person it sees, give the distance to that person’s eyes and track them. To send the distance of a person to your lens control system, click on that person’s label. It will then become green and the system will track the person you selected.

NEAREST PERSON This mode works similar to Person mode, only the system automatically selects the nearest person it finds. You can change this to the second nearest person, third nearest person, etc. by clicking the arrows to the far right.

The main view, your own Moon control center, also gives you quick access to a couple of other convenient functions.

FAN Click to set the Brain fan to Quiet mode and click again to go back to normal. This is also done automatically when your camera goes into record if the Brain is powered from a RS-connector on the camera. No need to worry yourself about the degrees, the Brain will turn itself off if gets too hot. Temperature control is fully automatic, though good to know probably that if the Brain gets hotter than 90 degrees Celsius / 194 degrees Fahrenheit performance will start to be affected, frame rate will go down etc.

POTATO MODE Going into Potato mode will cut the resolution of the video being streamed by approximately 75 percent, some would say making it look like it was shoot with a potato :) However this does not affect the depth map and measurements will be as accurate as before. A life saver if you start to experience wifi interference just before a take! Cutting resolution this much will usually solve lagging wifi.

AUTO This button is only visible when you have the Moon Smart Focus system connected to a Preston or Tilta lens control system. You then toggle autofocus on and off by clicking it.

CONTROLS Here you can turn on and off tools like a distance scale, a slider for quickly defining tracking depth, an interface for changing the exposure and a tracking region area for quickly excluding parts of the scene.

SETTINGS The button in the lower right corner takes you into Settings.

READOUT The green distance in the upper right corner is the distance being sent to your lens control system. If you click on it the app will display that distance in full screen. Click again to go back. To change between metric and imperial values go to Settings, then UI and change under Measurement system.