Cinefade VariND compatibility with ARRI Hi-5 lens control system

The Cinefade VariND and upgraded Cinefade Vari360 are now fully compatible with the ARRI Hi-5 lens control system via the Hi-5 Cinefade license key.

The Hi-5 Cinefade license is available from the ARRI Shop for €350. Once the license is installed on your Hi-5 hand unit, you can use all Cinefade features — the variable depth-of-field effect, VariND mode, and RotaPola mode — just as you would with a cmotion cPro lens control system.

To set up, connect a RIA-1 receiver fitted with an EMIP radio module to a cforce motor and the Cinefade VariND via LBUS.

 
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Full Integration with ARRI Hi-5

Thanks to the Hi-5 Cinefade license key, Hi-5 users can now control all Cinefade functions — Cinefade variable depth-of-field, VariND, and RotaPola modes — directly from the Hi-5 hand unit, using the same intuitive interface familiar to focus pullers and DPs.

In ARRI’s Tech Talk video, the setup is demonstrated step-by-step, showing how straightforward it is to get everything up and running.


Setup Guide

Once the license is installed, Cinefade becomes a native part of the ARRI control network — not an afterthought or workaround. The Hi-5 communicates directly with the Cinefade VariND over LBUS, just like any other ARRI accessory.


  1. Attach a RIA-1 receiver with an EMIP radio module to your camera rig.

  2. Connect the RIA-1 to a cforce motor and the Cinefade VariND (or Vari360) via LBUS.

  3. Power up the system — the Hi-5 will automatically detect the Cinefade device in the LBUS chain.

  4. Select the Cinefade device page on your Hi-5 and choose your preferred operating mode: Cinefade, VariND, or RotaPola.


You can also use a ZMU-4 to control the Cinefade — a great option for setups where the DP has a dedicated control unit for iris and filter adjustments, separate from the Hi-5 focus control used by the 1st AC.

Note: The Hi-5 hand unit is required to use Cinefade mode (variable depth-of-field effect). However, you can control VariND and RotaPola modes using only the ZMU-4, even without a Cinefade license.


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(This post was written with the help of AI)