Follow focus for LEX

Adam J McKay

Adam J McKay

Veteran
I am looking at picking up a LEX as well as a follow focus setup for the DVX.
Whats a good follow focus system compatible with lex and the DVX

Any suggestions?

thanks
 
Depending on your price range there are a lot of options. However, my first recommendation is Redrock's Follow Focus.

Hyper-solid, great design, no play. Redrock also has a Speedcrank for their unit now which is pretty rockin'.

I use the RR Follow Focus with my Extreme and will be keepin' it for quite some time.

Zacuto also has one coming out for a surprisingly low price (considering Zacuto charges 50.00 just to look at the website) but performance ratio to Redrock's FF is unknown. RR is here now, I would definitely go with RR.
 
"considering Zacuto charges 50.00 just to look at the website"

LOL - Apparently they charge you $10.00 just for mentioning the name Zacuto now ;)

I second the RR FF. Tried and tested and very positive feedback all around. The Zacuto FF was on the Letus Ultimate rig at NAB and it was very nice as well. About $300 more than RR though when it's released, but very smooth and in picking up the single unit from their display area and trying to force some play in it, there was none. RR will have some competition shortly with this one.

Own the RR myself and am not looking to change it out anytime soon.

cheno
 
does anyone know how good the SG's follow focus is?
how much play does it have? how solid is the unit? any feedback to it?
or is it worth spending the extra $250 for the RR ?
I'm thinking of going with the RR or SG but still not sure yet....

edit: also can it hold speedcranks and whips?(univeral slot?)
 
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I've been really pleased with the new indie focus. I bought one last year and it moved around too much and I couldn't get it to work very well.

But this year I gave them another try and it was money well spent. Good for the price.
 
If I were in the market for a FF I'd get the Zacuto untested sight unseen that's how much I respect their gear. Cheaper than my Chrosziel, I wouldn't be surprised if it outperforms it too. I liked the RR but had issues with the marker always bending and the non-reversible gear. 1100 for a FF from Zacuto was cheaper than I was expecting. Their quality is unequalled. You get what you pay for.
 
$645 RedRock includes 3 gear rings as a package deal.

$1100 is the cost of zacuto's FF without any gear ring. You can order 3x RedRock gear rings at $ 150 + shipping. So your total is 1250.00

so, the Zacuto FF is twice as expensive as the RedRock FF.

Dont forget since you are Zacuto-ing, you can go to the bank and mortgage your house and get Zacuto's 4 gear ring set for only $ 455.00

SO if you think Zacuto is going to let you go easy on their FF ....... think again.
 
LOL Dx. I didn't realize that the Zacuto is double the price minus gears for SLR lenses. Although I will reserve judgement until I put my hands on it, I am totally satisfied with the Redrock Follow Focus but would love to compare just for the sake of.
 
Dxmetal said:
$645 RedRock includes 3 gear rings as a package deal.

$1100 is the cost of zacuto's FF without any gear ring. You can order 3x RedRock gear rings at $ 150 + shipping. So your total is 1250.00

so, the Zacuto FF is twice as expensive as the RedRock FF.

Dont forget since you are Zacuto-ing, you can go to the bank and mortgage your house and get Zacuto's 4 gear ring set for only $ 455.00

SO if you think Zacuto is going to let you go easy on their FF ....... think again.
Click to expand...

Good point about the gears. I use RR's gears.
 
I am confident that the Zacuto FF is going to be better than the Redrock, FOR SURE. Just like everything else, you have to pay dearly to get the last drop of quality.

Zacuto stuff are nice but its just not economical for the many of us here. Some roll with a mercedes and some are just as happy with their toyota avalons.

p/s: I roll with a ford tempo.

Kholi said:
LOL Dx. I didn't realize that the Zacuto is double the price minus gears for SLR lenses. Although I will reserve judgement until I put my hands on it, I am totally satisfied with the Redrock Follow Focus but would love to compare just for the sake of.
Click to expand...
 
Is it going to be 600.00 better is the question. Just like the Ultimate is definitely going to be better than anything out there (I have reasons why I say this), but, is it thousands better? That's up to the consumer to decide.

Then again, I'm not all that worried about the Follow Focus strictly because any time it's being used it's generally being used by me. It's probably a bigger deal if you're hiring an AC. To a degree, once you get beyond play and gear fluidity/accuracy the rest is just extra. Once more, that's just me though!
 
RedRock FF with HVX and LEX

RedRock FF with HVX and LEX

I heard before that the Redrock FF is very solid - but I could never find a rail system that would work with the LEX.
And I can't afford the Zacuto.
It wouldn't work with the Letus rails, would it?
 
berlinfool said:
I heard before that the Redrock FF is very solid - but I could never find a rail system that would work with the LEX.
And I can't afford the Zacuto.
It wouldn't work with the Letus rails, would it?
Click to expand...

Yes the RR FF would work with the Letus rails and should work with all rails systems. I have mine on a raised set of rails (off of the RR rails) as my Letus is mounted snorkel up. In the snorkel down setups, the FF's mount as normal to the rails but instead the camera is raised.

The only issue maybe varying rail diameters which in some cases seem to be +/- 15mm and in the case of being a bit too large not work with some matteboxes and follow focuses - I think though that much of this has been resolved by the rail manufacturers.

cheno
 
Heres how I rate my FF units from best to worst:

Arri FF5
Cavision FF15D
Chrosziel DV
Redrock
SGPro
Indifocus

SG and Redrock are relatively close. Price advantage goes to SG which can also adjust its own backlash. SG has better pointer too which bends on the Redrock. RR is dampened though. The adapter for accessories is not out yet for SG either. Chrosziel is pretty identical to Zacuto, just slightly more expensive.

If you have no money, get the indifocus. If you have close to $600 to spend go for the Redrock. If you want some bells and have around $900 to spend, enjoy the cavision. Its the best I've seen in the $1k mark. The zacuto and chrosziel are pointless IMO due to the cavision's features at a cheaper price. I will be selling mine soon. Already sold my indifocus in a hurry. I wouldn't even look at anything less than SG or RR if I was in the market.
 
Avenger007 said:
Heres how I rate my FF units from best to worst:

Arri FF5
Cavision FF15D
Chrosziel DV
Redrock
SGPro
Indifocus

SG and Redrock are relatively close. Price advantage goes to SG which can also adjust its own backlash. SG has better pointer too which bends on the Redrock. RR is dampened though. The adapter for accessories is not out yet for SG either. Chrosziel is pretty identical to Zacuto, just slightly more expensive.

If you have no money, get the indifocus. If you have close to $600 to spend go for the Redrock. If you want some bells and have around $900 to spend, enjoy the cavision. Its the best I've seen in the $1k mark. The zacuto and chrosziel are pointless IMO due to the cavision's features at a cheaper price. I will be selling mine soon. Already sold my indifocus in a hurry. I wouldn't even look at anything less than SG or RR if I was in the market.
Click to expand...

So I take it you've used the Cavision quite a bit. From your experience with it what areas does it excel over the Chrosziel. I take it you had a chance to use the Zacuto. Aside from looking like a Chrosziel how are they similar in performance? And give me the details on your experience with the SG compared to the Red rock. Few people on this board have actually used / reviewed an SG FF.

Of the FF's you rank, I've only used three (the Arri, Chrosz and the RR). Brand new, I'd say the Crosz has the tightest tolerances and would rate it higher than the Arri or RR for play. The arri however has the dual sided advantages. The RR I found had tight tolerances but a adjusting to the gears of the lens a bit messy. When you tighten it the distance changes - annoying. When you get it right it's a performer. The arri by far has the most rugged build but because of it's outrageous tag there's not much to say.

Again the most intriguing is the SG since its price point is quite amazing. What is the machining like and how much play does it have. Based on your 1st hand experience how does the action feel?
 
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