my attempt to build a Follow Focus

this is one of the final pictures of the FF in action on the set of "Call Waiting".




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Previous rig (before i replaced the white wheel)
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I'm borrowing my friend's digicam tomorrow and maybe then I can post some better and more comprehensive pics of the construction.

If that doesn't work i'll just stake stills with my DVX.. hmm now there's a thought...
 
thanks. id also added a shoulder pad and a front handle under the mattebox so could focus while doing hand-held and that worked out well. gotta post pics of THAT one too.. but the single handle was essential since i was the one doing the focusing. if i had a focus puller then I'd go for 2 handles, but when you're doing it yourself without any motorized remote (wired OR wireless) you need as much stability as possible.
 
alright everyone, here is my prototype version of the build..


my follow focus build:
im planning on making the two rails slide, and make the space between them smaller..
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now my support rail build, inspired by J

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rod2.JPG





I didnt cut my bottom plate yet, I think I need a much thicker plate because it seems to bend a lot..
 
NOW THE WHOLE THING TOGETHER..

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I PLAN TO CUT THE FOLLOW FOCUS BARS THERE, AND MAKE IT LOWER, SEEMS A BITTLE HIGH.. PLUS I NEED SOME KIND OF ADAPTER SUPPORT, BUT NOW THERE IS NO ROOM.. WHAT TO DO...
 
I like how you used the quick-release plate as the top part of the rails, that's clever. Should make for quicker set-up and break-down times. I might upgrade mine like that.
 
nice innovation with the plate. way to go. I dont think those copper rods are goign to work so well for you though. Do you have an Ikea in your area? If you do,take a trip and look in the Kitchen section.. you'll be pleasantly surprised at the rods you find there.. nice anodized aluminum rods, $7.99 each and just about the right size... i found mine in the AS-IS section for $0.30 per rod, so you might want to take a look there.

How is your support working out? You should probably place another one somewhere along the length of your adapter and you'll be fine... just need more parts now.
 
Everything I've seen in Ikea is 16mm.

I work across the street from an Ikea, and am going there for lunch, so if you know the item name or number, I can bring my support rods and check it out.

-j
 
i dont have a clue about the item name, sinc ei wrote it down and promptly lost it as I usually do. Should hav ehad m girlfriend make a note of it, but I had to be stubborn. Anyway, i found it in the kitchen section, the aluminum rods that are used to make up one of the shelves in the kitchen section. sorry,thats the best i can do until my next trip downtown../.
 
I had also suggested this to Puck - try to find old printers that are the same- they have stainless steel rods in them.
 
the printer rods are quite nice too if you can find the right size. in any case,nice strong support for the follow focus
 
maybe i picked up the 16mm tube then, cuz mine has no split. it has closed ends with a place for a screw to fit, but definitely not that one. time to post pics....
 
hmm... went to ikea today.. I think I saw 16mm's as well.. eh wat the heck.. 75 cents.. bought it..

fits well and looks good so far on my rig... so what it's not 15mm not like im going to buy anything anyway.. MUAHAHHA!! I MAKE IT ALL!
 
You can't beat $0.75. Sorry about my faulty measurement on the rods. I feel like an idiot now, but if you're DIYing most of your on rod gear then maybe it will work...

I'm hitting all of the stores today. It's "build day" so I'll be making a few upgrades to my rig and taking pictures (with a good digicam this time that I can control the damn focus; i hate autofocus with a passion).

I'll actually photdocument the steps I take to build my new follow-focus with the micro fishing reel. If I can't find it at Walmart, there's always the sporting good stores here, but I'm not coming back without it.

My focus gear arrived as well. I gotta find a wider gear for the FF so that there is more surface area to grip... just me being paranoid I guess, but I have seen a couple of wider 32 pitch gears at the hobby store....

Will update with prices and pics in a few hours.
 
Puck, are you talking about the gear that goes on the SLR lens or the one that attaches to the FF?
 
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