my attempt to build a Follow Focus

C

CLD

Well-known member
Ok DIY'rs, I figured that I want to start to build my own DIY Follow Focus for the 35mm camera. Yes, I can just buy one, but If I can create one, why not? But I would need some help from anyone out there who experienced this..

I actually found a gear box, (it's not easy finding a gearbox in US thats fairly inexpensive) I actually found a Tee gearbox, which is 3 way, not 2, which I hope gives me the possibility to build knobs on both sides.

Question is, where do I find big knobs and the right gears? And what is the best way to attach them to the gearbox? I saw some gears on Radio shack for trucks and etc.

I'm looking to create my own gear rings, but what is the right size gear i need to use? I plan to make it universal so I will add hex screws to it. I probably need a fairly large gear.

Isn't different lenses mean different focal ring sizes? I'm guessing the FF is not static, but adjustable to the lens right?

Anyone know?
 
gears and stuff

gears and stuff

CLD said:
Ok DIY'rs, I figured that I want to start to build my own DIY Follow Focus for the 35mm camera. Yes, I can just buy one, but If I can create one, why not? But I would need some help from anyone out there who experienced this..

I actually found a gear box, (it's not easy finding a gearbox in US thats fairly inexpensive) I actually found a Tee gearbox, which is 3 way, not 2, which I hope gives me the possibility to build knobs on both sides.

Question is, where do I find big knobs and the right gears? And what is the best way to attach them to the gearbox? I saw some gears on Radio shack for trucks and etc.

I'm looking to create my own gear rings, but what is the right size gear i need to use? I plan to make it universal so I will add hex screws to it. I probably need a fairly large gear.

Isn't different lenses mean different focal ring sizes? I'm guessing the FF is not static, but adjustable to the lens right?

Anyone know?
Click to expand...

Here's a couple of sites for gears etc.

http://www.sdp-si.com/D790/D790cat.htm

http://www.qtcgears.com/Q410/Q410Cat.htm

Also check out Berg I don't have their address handy.

Chuck
 
omg those gears are SOOOO expensive! What's the point??

Any other sites for gears?

Anything from the rc car or hobby sites?

what does the 32 pitch 14 1/2 degree mean? What exactly do I look for?
 
Dude I just built a follow focus with a $5 fishing reel from Walmart and gears from an Epson printer. I used the Gear Belt from the Epson around my lens. I've also been looking at the Aquatica Zoom Gear to replace that.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...s&Q=&sku=105145&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

twocik had reccommended a helicopter gear from a model store, but the biggest challenge there would be coring out the center in a perfect circle, directly in the center... so I haven't tried THAT yet.

Knobs... I'm still working on that one.

The biggest challge so far has been positioning the FF so that there is not shift at all going from tripod to hand-held. Good luck...
 
Gear specs.

Gear specs.

CLD said:
omg those gears are SOOOO expensive! What's the point??

Any other sites for gears?

Anything from the rc car or hobby sites?

what does the 32 pitch 14 1/2 degree mean? What exactly do I look for?
Click to expand...

Hi CLD,

I kinda used shorthand on the above. More properaly I should have said 32 diametral pitch or teeth per inch. By 141/2 degree I should have said 141/2 degree pressure angle. Anyhow here is a site with that describes gear specs. better than I do. Once again I'm going by memory on those specs. for cine lenses and video could be something else altogeather. So best to check to be sure.

http://www.sdp-si.com/D190/HTML/D190T25.htm

Chuck
 
wow chuck.. that link is very complicated.

so I did some research, I might go for a 70 teeth, 32 pitch gear in those hobby stores and hopefully it is big enough. I read a bit more and they sell hole saws for drills, so then I can just make a perfect circle out of it. Im planning on drilling mini holes, and screwing mini screws in to fasten to the lens.

as for knobs, I did some more research and it's called fluted knobs. I found this:

http://www.fairradio.com/catalog.php?mode=viewitem&item=763

ah looks like a winner, a knob with a pointer? I want to find something wider, like in the 3 inch range, but oh well. I plan to purchase a plastic whiteboard and round cut it as well.

puck, those aquatic gears are a bit pricey no? I know other sites sell them cheaper, like the indifocus gear rings. For the Gear and Pinion, does the gears slip off as you make the focus? I was wondering if you place washers on both ends on the pinion side, that would help stay on right, or is it wide enough not to worry?

I realized that I might need to find a way to adjust the FF unit left to right for different sized lenses. Is that true? How did you work with it?

And what type of shafts and nut/bolts did you use to connect all of them. I probably need 3 shafts, 2 short, one long. Where do I find a shaft around that thick and a stub that connects them?
 
I'm glad to see that the fishing reel worked out for you, yea I felt a little silly putting it up at first, but hey it works right?


"had reccommended a helicopter gear from a model store,"


You can use a Helicopter or a RC race car gear. The helicopter gear is easier to hollow out, but the RC race car gear is going to take a little time. Before I bought my mill, I used a drill and a hole saw, worked great. I then used a file to shave the rest smooth.

Good luck.
 
I decided to mod mine out first ad get it working before posting pic of it... felt less silly when I could announce success :-D

I really wanna try the helicopter gear, but no tools to hollow it out yet, so taking my time with that one.. some things require care and that focus gear is definitely a biggie
 
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I never even saw that one.
24492.jpg


It's gotta be sturdy AND it's cheap enough that you wont have to shoot yourself if it turns out to be the wrong size or anything. Think I might try this one out before the helicopter gear... the heli gear is always a backup option is it doesnt work out anyway
 
Then there's this one for the Canon lenses....

24496.jpg

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...496&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
kelite Aperture Gear for 2.5" Nikon AI, Konica Hexanon, Pentax, Canon FD, Yashica, Minolta MD, Fuji & Mamiya Lenses (Replacement)
Price: $ 5.95

PLUS all the guess work is now taken out of finding the correct sized gears..

24466.jpg
Only $4.95

That's it, I'm convinvced now: I'm buying them.. time to build MK 2 of my follow focus.... the biggest challengs so faris finding the right sized gear box. At least the fishing reel came ready mounted, so there was no guess work involved there....
 
yea it looks good as well.. let me know how that goes.. I'm waiting for my gearbox that's going to be HUGE. I hope its workable..
 
if all else fails, you can't beat the $4.95 fishing reel at Wally-world... just gotta cut and chisel some bits away, but it works..
 
man i hope it doesnt fail, I spent almost 100 on it.. booo... well it did come with 3 of them on ebay.. trial and error..

stupid to buy things @ 4am in the morning.. you wont look at it through..
 
i've been banned from even THIINKING about buying anything online at 4:00AM. My fiance has now convinced me to check the local little camera shop for parts first and that has saved my bacon on a number of occasions... time for another visit I guess...
 
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