Proaim ff+rail system for EX1&3

[chrisccw]

Has anybody actually used the inexpensive follow focus and rail system from Proaim for their EX's? I can't find a single review. Offered for $418 complete on Ebay. Others cost thousands. Any users out there with hands on experience with Proaim gear? Good or bad, need to know.

[cheezweezl]

looks like cheap crap but you never know.....

they obviously ripped the design from redrock. i would be very surprised if that follow focus was anywhere close to that quality. probably tons of play in it. but hey, if anybody has anything good to say, say it. i'm all about saving cash!!!

[Andrew C]

I would also like to know if anyone has any experience with their follow focus?

[DEPTH OF PHIL]

I bought one way back last year when i was strapped for cash after buying a whole EX1 package from Abel Cine. The thing is it works, it might not be the super sleek one we all want, but if you are pulling focus on the large gear rings such as Redrock uses , not the Zacuto small thin strips that you wrap around, It works very well. Oh the gear rings are also included.

It does not drift or backlash as long as you set it up correctly and keep it snug. I bought it for 199.99, I use it on my EX1 and on my EX3 I use the Red Rock, this way it's fast to jump between cameras. The build quality is average, but i like it better than the indie focus. Do not buy the carbon rails from them, ask them for the solid steel they are nice, the carbon ones crack and splinter. Speed Crank is great, the Whip is okay! The measurements of the 15mm rods are slightly smaller so you have add extra torque when attaching other manufacturer's add ons like Cinevate, Cavision, Zacuto. I have had a smorgasboard of camera parts. BTW Cavision has some good add ons as well.

Cine City (India) has Great customer service and fast delivery. Their quick releases are fine as well, their baseplates are junk. Hope that helps!

[chrisccw]

I appreciate your input and thoroughly enjoyed your reel. Well done!

[DEPTH OF PHIL]

I appreciate your input and thoroughly enjoyed your reel. Well done!

Thanks for the kind words Chris, i notice they now have a REDROCK imitation shoulder pad & handle mount. Isn't there any kind of patent in effect, oh well let's hope the economy gets better so we indies can afford to buy American made as well as British crafted products.
(Had to say that i'm British, lol) Cheers

[vinnyminton]

I bought one way back last year when i was strapped for cash after buying a whole EX1 package from Abel Cine. The thing is it works, it might not be the super sleek one we all want, but if you are pulling focus on the large gear rings such as Redrock uses , not the Zacuto small thin strips that you wrap around, It works very well. Oh the gear rings are also included.

It does not drift or backlash as long as you set it up correctly and keep it snug. I bought it for 199.99, I use it on my EX1 and on my EX3 I use the Red Rock, this way it's fast to jump between cameras. The build quality is average, but i like it better than the indie focus. Do not buy the carbon rails from them, ask them for the solid steel they are nice, the carbon ones crack and splinter. Speed Crank is great, the Whip is okay! The measurements of the 15mm rods are slightly smaller so you have add extra torque when attaching other manufacturer's add ons like Cinevate, Cavision, Zacuto. I have had a smorgasboard of camera parts. BTW Cavision has some good add ons as well.

Cine City (India) has Great customer service and fast delivery. Their quick releases are fine as well, their baseplates are junk. Hope that helps!

Just curious, how long did it take for you to receive your package. I just ordered the whole dslr rig from them. Its been almost 1 week, not long for coming from India. but if you can let me know that'd be great.

[aideM]

I bought the mattebox from them and my FF from indifocus..... the mattebox took about 10 days to arrive from the paypal transaction date.

It gets shipped to an address in NYC, then from NYC to your address.

I had a bunch of gear stolen... light kit, FF, and mattebox, and am replaceing it with insurance $$, I am going to go with their mattebox/FF combo... they told me I could substitute the rails for the whip and extra gears... I already have rails from Letus....

[nantnee]

Does this work well with 35mm lenses?

[chairman21]

Hi, I bought from The Cinecity
http://cinecity.trustpass.alibaba.com/
the MB-1000 model matte box (with rails) for very wide lenses.
On the invoice it has part no. SKU350 - Proaim MB-1000 Wide Angle Mattebox with Mini Rail System For DV / HDV / Broadcast/16mm for $590.00

Now seems to be renamed as the MB-900
http://cinecity.trustpass.alibaba.com/product/119504173-101815921/PROAIM_MB_900_A_Swing_Away_Mattebox_with_filters_h olders_for_canon5D_7D_red_arri_panasonic_35mm_cine matic_cameras.html
included were the PROAIM™ (RS-1) Rail system:
http://cinecity.trustpass.alibaba.com/product/112047576-101815921/PROAIM_RS_1_Rail_system_fr_Follow_Focus_Mattebox_D of_35mm.html?tracelog=ggsotherproduct1

I also got
SKU91 - PROAIM SPEED CRANK FOR FOLLOW FOCUS UNIT - $29.00
SKU88 - PROAIM 15 " Whip / Flexible Shaft for Follow Focus - $35.00

Shipping cost $94 (total ripoff, they avoid telling you this until you've placed the order)

Total $748 (about £450)

It came packaged in cheap thin cardboard that had burst open in one corner. Putting my finger in the hole I could feel the large french flag that goes on the top of the matte box (no packaging around it) and in turn it was resting against the side of the cardboard. Not surprisingly when I opened the package just about every knob and flag was bent. They forgot to include the donuts and gave me a double portion of the plastic adaptors that go between rubber ring on matte box and lens. The packaging consisted of putting everything in plastic bags with a sprinkling of left-over chips of foam. Not surprisingly every part that could be bent, was bent. It took about two hours work to straighten it all out.

The knobs for the rails didn't work until I spent a lot of time tightening and untightening, the two knobs for tightening the 15mm rails onto the bottom plate were both bent so difficult to use until I straightened them out with a good deal of force. The knobs themselves consist of an allen headed screw which starts to separate from the knob itself when you tighten it.

The matte box has play when it's in the final position. Easily fixable with small amount of rubber between the stop plate.

All the above was easily fixable for me as an engineer. What's clear is that they employ a menagerie of monkeys to assemble the relatively well made parts, a bunch of baboons to package it and a bull in a china shop to deliver it to my door.

The price is so good, that I just can't bring myself to complain, let alone send it back. Best if you buy this stuff in the UK for the same price I ended up buying it from India.

Still, very happy with it. They put 'tripod parts' on the outside of the box and I didn't have to pay any customs.

AVOID BUYING FROM THE CINE CITY in India.

[Gregg MacPherson]

Hi, I bought from The Cinecity .......
the MB-1000 model matte box (with rails) for very wide lenses.
......Now seems to be renamed as the MB-900
...when I opened the package just about every knob and flag was bent. They forgot to include the donuts and gave me a double portion of the plastic adaptors that go between rubber ring on matte box and lens. The packaging consisted of putting everything in plastic bags with a sprinkling of left-over chips of foam. Not surprisingly every part that could be bent, was bent. It took about two hours work to straighten it all out.

The knobs for the rails didn't work until I spent a lot of time tightening and untightening, the two knobs for tightening the 15mm rails onto the bottom plate were both bent so difficult to use until I straightened them out with a good deal of force. The knobs themselves consist of an allen headed screw which starts to separate from the knob itself when you tighten it.

The matte box has play when it's in the final position. Easily fixable with small amount of rubber between the stop plate......


I've been thinking about this matte box, but there are a couple of issues that I don't know about yet. Maybe you can help.

- If we look at a plane surface defined by the rear of the 80mm donut ("conversion ring"). With the swing away arm in the most forward position, is it in front of this plane? Roughly what clearnce is there to that plane?

- With 15mm rails at 60mm centres and a swing away arm, does the system feel a bit unstiff? Is it relying on lens contact with the "conversion ring" to stop it wobbling?

- Are you using 4x5.65 filters or is there a nice way to sit a 4x4 in those trays? Do you need to mask off the sides?

- Are all the knobs plastic? Are any of them aluminum? Are you going to manufacture your own?


Thanks for any ideas.
Cheers
Gregg

[tonymagyk]

Just had to join the site to say thanks for the FF recommendation. On a budget it works. I know others warn against on this site but this thread suggested different. I got it within 4 days and I placed the order on a Saturday evening arrived at my doorstep in the UK on Wednesday morning. Regarding the Mattebox have a look at the True Lens Kestrel. True Lens actually make the boxes for some of the "brand" names. There own range which is more or less the same is considerably better value for money (as opposed to cheaper :happy:).

[tonymagyk]

their