Incredible Follow Focus Review

Yeah, we talked about it some weeks ago.
But it lacks a new IndifocusPro FF review.
I hope Matthew can include it soon.
Regards
 
Here's my two cents on my new Red Rock FF. It's good. Not great. 1-1.5mm of play is acceptable in most situations. But when you're on a long lens and dealing with a short DOF on a closeup, that much play can be the difference between a smooth change in focus direction or something that draws attention to itself.

Next big check it'll be in the marketplace to fund a Chroziel. Look out for it in a month's time. I'll knock off at least a hundred.

It's still the best bang for the buck.

Tim Naylor - DP
www.timnaylor.com
 
Yeah a re-review of the new indiFOCUSpro would be great as well as to see how the SGPro lines up. Wayne have you a unit you can send to the DV Fresh guys?

My upgraded indiFOCUSpro works like a dream. There's virtually no backlash whatsoever. If it had a rating it would be less than 0.5 of a mm. I don't think its even that.

I'm going to shoot a video to show how much it moves or rather how much it doesn't move.

Richard
 
Had the Chrosziel FF. And now I am using the R.R. The Chrosziel is of a different class. I wish I had the money to keep it. But well the R.R is good enough for me at the momet .
 
I'm waiting for Cinevate FF and indifocuspro review. RR is my third option.
I'll start shooting some samples with the hv20+extreme next week and see if I can wait a couple of months or will need it much sooner...
 
If Jason from Cavision is watching, perhaps submit the new Cavision Follow Focus to FreshDV for review, in due course?

I was about to order the Redrock FF, then I had a chance to test my friends Redrock FF. I was satisfied with the backlash issue, as discussed here and in the FreshDV review. What I did notice was some flex transferring through the FF unit to the lens, unless I was ultra careful with handling the FF wheel. This concerns me for locked off shots and the use of longer lenses, where the issue becomes more pronounced, if my handling is not subtle. The use of a whip did not seem to help, unless I was extra careful with handling. Granted, I use cine glass and the focus ring/gears movement is quite firm on my lenses, perhaps more than most SLR lenses. The Redrock FF is exceptionally good value.

After looking at the images of the FF units in the FreshDV review and photos of these various FF units on the manufacturer's/resellers website, it appears that the Petroff has one of the most solid looking FF blocks, connecting from the rails block, through to the FF wheel. It would appear that, the more solid this metal block and column, the less chance of flex transferring from handling the FF wheel, through to the lens during operation. This comment is made based on eyeballing a photo of the Petroff unit, not actual use.

Perhaps Matt and/or Kendal can comment on my observations, and consider this factor in any future reviews of the various FF units? The search continues...
 
SG FF is great in theory if you can wait. Next batch is when? Though if it's anything like his adaptor, it should be worth the wait. Unfortunately, I needed a FF asap. RR had mine sent within a week. Regarding flex, the Chroziel is just so damn solid.
 
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Christopher Barry said:
If Jason from Cavision is watching, perhaps submit the new Cavision Follow Focus to FreshDV for review, in due course?
Click to expand...
We are gearing up for another review blitz in the near future, so if you have specific product suggestions (like the Cavision), feel free to PM me here or drop us a line at FreshDV with your input. I would be open to taking a look at the Cavision if they can provide us a unit.

Christopher Barry said:
... it appears that the Petroff has one of the most solid looking FF blocks, connecting from the rails block, through to the FF wheel. It would appear that, the more solid this metal block and column, the less chance of flex transferring from handling the FF wheel, through to the lens during operation. This comment is made based on eyeballing a photo of the Petroff unit, not actual use.

Perhaps Matt and/or Kendal can comment on my observations, and consider this factor in any future reviews of the various FF units? The search continues...
Click to expand...
In practice I agree, the Petroff is one of the more solid block designs with very little flex. I would say that it and the Chrosziel are about equally matched in "no-flex" design. Good observation...
 
Christopher - I've noticed if the microFollowFocus was not tightened down completely you could experience some flex. Otherwise everyone I've talked reports it being rock solid, so you may want to double-check that.

Brian
 
Great review. Bought the new Red Rock revision. Owned it for a month and sold it. Here's my review from the field:

Great build. Very solid. Play is minimal, just like the review said - 1.5mm. I thought I could live with this, but I found it's too much for the long lens work I do, especially with direction changes/short DOF situations. Sometimes the shift / play is noticeable. Other times, it nullifies your marks. Before I bought this I rented the Chroz. DV FF. It spoiled me. For 650 the RR is still a great deal. In fact its play is less than the uber expensive Arri units you find at rental houses. But because of the narrow markings on still lenses, this play becomes more critical with your Nikon/Canons.

So I found a deal on a used Chroz from B Wolf. Snatched it up. The first thing about the Chroz is it's simplicity. Lighter and Smaller but far more precise. The play is really about .5mm. I know of no other FF that has such little play. Not even Willi Tech's, Arri's or Chroz top of the line cine FF's. Truly amazing but also a dream with my 85mm and 135mm. When I have about an inch or two of DOF and have sudden direction change or critical mark 1.5mm and .5mm is the difference between being able to use your marks or not.

Which brings me to another item not mentioned in the Big Review. RR's gears can't be reversed. So mounting it on the right side is a pain in the .... There was no good way to do it. The Chroz allows you to just snap the gear off and put it on the other side, making side switches real easy. My last gripe about RR is the marking needle. It's easily bent out whack. To bend it back you have to take off the gear box. Done this about three times. Not fun. It can't be repositioned either.

Unfortunately, if I didn't find a Chroz almost half of list price, I'd still be renting it or holding on to my RR. It's one those you get what you pay for situations.

Overall, for me, the RR worked just fine in about 90 percent or more of the situations I shoot in. You may not be able to find a better bang for the buck. It's only when the tolerance for the marks were ultra critical that 1.5mm was too much. I also forgot to mention that the RR whip is first class. Kept it as well as their gears. The gears look ugly as hell but they've got to be the easiest ones out there too mount and adjust. And they just plain work. The wide diameter really helps to make up for the tight still lens markings. No six annoying little pins to adjust. Easy on, easy off. No tools. I've Zacuto gears for one of my wider barrel lenses (Nikon 135, 2.0) and they're great too. But for my smaller barrel lenses they don't increase the dia like the RR do.

Love to hear a review from the new SG owners. Does the precision compare?
 
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Flex

Flex

bvalente said:
Christopher - I've noticed if the microFollowFocus was not tightened down completely you could experience some flex. Otherwise everyone I've talked reports it being rock solid, so you may want to double-check that.

Brian
Click to expand...

I got no disceranable flex on my RR. My gear came loose and gave several mm of play. Found the problem, tightened it and all was fine.
 
I'm interested to know, the 1.5mm of play, is that immediately noticeable when you pull focus? By this I mean can you feel the play?

I ask as I have an upgraded indiFOCUS. The old one you really felt the play in the box. There seems to be no play in the new box. It drives perfectly. I will check with measurements, markers on the ring against focus distances on the lens. But at the moment, I feel I am experiencing close to zero play.

I am curious.

thanks
Richard
 
Just hold the focus ring / lens in place. Turn the wheel one way and then the next. The distance from one direction to the next before your gears butt up and can't move is the distance of play. The RR's 1.5mm is quite good. Don't know of any FF system that has zero play. For me, 1.5mm is too much for reasons above. For some folks it's just fine.
 
Video reviews updated

Video reviews updated

Marc F said:
i was researching which to buy, and a google search took me to this page. Exactly what i was looking for.. incredible. it's like someone was reading my thoughts. great review. nice clarity of functions and capabilities across many different models.

http://www.freshdv.com/2007/10/freshdv-reviews-five-follow-focus-systems.html
Click to expand...

FYI FreshDV has updated our follow focus review series lately, first with the SGPro SGFollow Focus unit, and today with two units from ARRI; the good-ole ARRI FF4 and the brand-spankin' new ARRI MFF-1 HD camera lightweight follow focus. You can watch both in the video playlist here: http://tinyurl.com/ffreviews

We'll have the Zacuto flippable Z-Focus review added early next week.
 
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