my attempt to build a Follow Focus

Puck, what are you using as a 35mm adapter and what is the camera you are using? The film looked very nice.
 
i took a good look at the whiteboard at walmart and stuff.. its flimsy as well..
cds are flimsy as well.. if you want, theres magnetic whiteboards, and cut circles.. but thats a hassle.. do what I did.. buy plexiglass, home depot.. $2.33, cut and spray paint one side, then tape it up to avoid scratching, and the other side is whiteboard usable.

They do sell white plexiglass dry wall friendly on ebay. more costly, but if you don't want to spray paint.. there is your choice..

cant wait for my lugs.. cant wait for my lugs!
 
my adapter is a combination of Edwierdo's adapter and Twocik's adapter.

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I'm using the cheap Asian macros right now until i can afford the Centry Optics Achromat.

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My focus screen is the Nikon D. The Beattie is definitely gonna be my upgrade, but right now i'm working out all of the kinks on the cheap stuff.


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I'm also using the 2" Asian spacer tubes so that everything is modular and can be screwed together for cleaning, etc. ( i needed a LOT of cleaning this last shoot)

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that's my rig, always in development
 
I think you could probably just stick a little cellphone vibrator motor on the GG holder and you would be in the pink.
 
i have the parts for it, but I wanted to try Daniel's leaf spring holder. I really wanted to have a very good static lens first, something that I would always have as a backup and that i could also work out any design flaws on.

I'm bidding on a Beattie screen right now for my upgrade, and then my current screen can be scavenged towards the vibrating model.

All of thi current build really was to get first the static screen working, and secondly, the fisherman follow focus unit. the support bars and everything else just came with the territory.

I LOVE the DIY section here. everyone fracking ROCKS!
 
>I think you could probably just stick a little cellphone vibrator motor on the GG holder and you would be in the pink.

I've been there. A cell phone vibrator works well, but is too loud. It's great for MOS stuff, but on narrrative stuff, everyone litterally looks around to yell at the person whose pager is going off on the set.

As for Daniel's design, it definately looks like the way to go.
 
Daniel has got a great little design there, especially for a vibrating screen and it's cheap enough for us DIYers. some things we should definitely build ourselves, but sometimes we should know our limits and just "assemble" ourselves. I've found it to be a tremendous learning tool and I've personally learned a lot more about cinematography just from building my own adapter and researching the differences and mostly the WHY.

I haven't bought it yet but I can't wait to get my hands on it... now to get some more jobs in....
 
Agreed. Daniel's stuff is pretty darn great - inexpensive and you know it works which is half the battle. I like his pancake motor that he is releasing, just more expensive then his other stuff.
 
dayam.. i got the brevis.. should've made my own huh?

the a-hole lied about the lugs being here today im sooooo MAD!

oh well.. time to wait yet another day on the lugs.. to complete my project..

does anyone have any "play" on the FF?
 
mine is a little loose, but i know its there, so i get set to position BEFORE i have tofocus, so it's ot such a major issue...
 
i started from the gorund up with my adapter sodont kick yourself too much. i spent about 6 months just researching it and getting the guts to make the commitment, so buildign you rown is definitely not for everyone. As it is I still have to make upgrades toa better focusing screen for less grain and a much much better achromat so there is no chromatic abberation or vignetting.

and becasue i did the research i actually know about the problems with chromatic abberation and vignetting. :D ifeel so smart..
 
Yea Puck, I did the same. I don't feel smarter, but I do feel that I understand the concepts a little more, even though it doesn't make my adapter work any better... :(
 
so you guys just inspired me to buy plans to build a stabilizer.. I mean i got the glidecam, I just need the arm and vest. fun fun!

waiting impatiently for my lugs.. argh!
 
I bought Cody's Stabilizer plans from hbs a long time ago. Built most of it, now just need springs that work.
 
can't you use those big door springs they sell in home depot or lowes?

where did you buy everything else? Is it hard to find the parts?
 
arent we kind of hijacking the thread? maybe we should start a new one about stabilizers guys...

I gotta take some new pics of how I built my follow focus to help any other DIYers who've wondered about it. For those others who decide that its way too much trouble, there are some good ones out there. Twocik is pretty close to gettign his ready for market and from what I know of his concepts and work, it should be pretty damn good.
 
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