follow focus with M2

[mk23]

Hi,


I am a total n00b to all the 35mm stuff, and I was wondering do I really need a follow focus to go with an M2 adapter ?

I don't even know exactly what a follow focus does, I imagine it makes the focus more accessible or easier, but will I really have a hard time without one ? , I'm sure it would depend on how im shooting and all, but on average ? ,

thanks, I really appreciate any info on this topic

[LighthouseMedia]

hi there,
It all depends if you plan on doing straight shots with little or more movement then you might be okay. If however you are doing more complex moves with multiple focus points then a follow focus would be invaluable. Basically on a camera like the HVX there are no stopped position for Macro and Infinity, the lens just keeps turning. So it can be kind of difficult to walk through a scene and know where your focus points are going to be when you actually shoot, shooting with a 35mm adapter and a shallow DOF makes this only more difficult. A follow focus not only give you definite start and stop range to work from but most of them also give you a ring to mark your focus points so when you shoot you just dial in those points to hit your focus at each point.

[mk23]

wow, thanks a lot, this is all really great to know,

ok, cuz i always wondered about all this, and why the heck a crew member was needed just to pull focus, I guess it comes down to the complexity of the camera movement and the racking.

yeah, I'm planning to experement with all types of shots so probably I would need one. the Redrockmocro one is more than what I have to spend, so I guess I'll look around for a while, I heard the Indifocus one is good and not too expensive but I havent looked at it or anything.

[Ryan Patrick O'Hara]

The redrock followfocus is one of the cheapest I am afraid. Look around but remember lower price may equal some sacrifice in performance.
-"A slow race car is a usless race car"

- EDIT: I see where this thread went.... I hope my post wasnt misinterperted. In the previous post he said redrock was above what he wanted to pay. I simply meant that redrock's price was one of the least expensive, and finding cheaper brands would prob sacrifice performance.

[LighthouseMedia]

In my opinion Redrock is by far the best value for the money. You may find cheaper but I doubt you'll find better for cheaper.

[mk23]

Thanks for the posts guys, I guess I need to save up some more.

[Focus This!]

You can go with the indiFOCUSgear for $389. Has three lens gears and also the standard friction wheel for times when you aren't using the adaptor.
Check this site for recommendations from satisfied customers.

[bvalente]

The redrock followfocus is one of the cheapest I am afraid. Look around but remember lower price may equal some sacrifice in performance.
-"A slow race car is a usless race car"


That's easy - just ask anyone who's using the microFollowFocus. It's a professionally manufactured, high quality unit. The lens gears are exceptional and have a great patented design that allows for flexibility and security when fitting 35mm lenses of virtually any size. We also have gearing for your video lenses, since most of our customers view geared ff as the only reliable way to achieve repeatable focus.

Thanks

Brian

[Focus This!]

indiFOCUS users, many with professional, aired credits, also like the gearless nature of our unit. It allows them the flexibility to move to multiple cameras without the need for expensive, time consuming add-on gears.

[bvalente]

There ya go - that's why there's chocolate and vanilla in the world. $50 and 10 seconds hardly qualifies for "expensive and time consuming" for repeatable and accurate focusing, which is really what ff units are all about.

[bilgami]

How important is the ff if I already have the century optics focus ring. how much more precision does the ff offer than the focus ring by itself? is the focus ring a downscaled ff?

[Focus This!]

More like Haagen-Daz and Blue Bunny brands of ice cream.
Follow focus' are also about getting them when you need them. The nature of the Indie world, unfortunately with financing, is that sometimes the financing comes on Tuesday and production starts on Friday.
And sometimes the differences are more like $300 and six weeks...

[Focus This!]

How important is the ff if I already have the century optics focus ring. how much more precision does the ff offer than the focus ring by itself? is the focus ring a downscaled ff?

Bilgami,
Your Centuary Optics ring is standard cine-pitch geared. I can ship the standard indiFOCUS with an additional geared module--cinepitch of course--that will mesh with the focus ring giving you geared performance. It also has the friction wheel for using with ungeared dv cameras. You can use the Century geared ring's hard stops also. Cost is $299 plus shipping.

[LighthouseMedia]

Wow this is getting personal...I personally don't like to see companies taking pot shots at each other to gain business, thats not necessary and it looks
un-professional. Brian was originally simply responding to a post specifically regarding his product, he neither put your company or anyone else down. I have respect for both companies but i don't think a public forum is the place to trash talk someone else's lead time and product cost.

"And sometimes the differences are more like $300 and six weeks..."

How about we all play nice and work together to better this industry.

[bvalente]

Thanks Kendal - I was trying to figure out how bring this to a close, and I think you found the words

[Focus This!]

Sounds good...working to better the community of film making. One follow focus, set of rails, one accessory on time.