Wired Remote Follow Focus... anyone interested?

P

PeterC

Member
I've been working on a remote follow focus and wanted to see if it was conceptually feasible before I proceeded.

As I don't have a rail support system, I didn't have a way to mount it to the camera properly but you can see that it works quite well.

I put together a video of the prototype remote follow focus in action.

Anyways, I just wanted to get an idea of how much interest there is in developing this project.
 
How much are you thinking about pricewise, and can you mount it on a Fuji lens? I want control I can use on my tripod's pan bar.
 
I am thinking somewhere between $250-$350 to keep costs low and make improvements along the way... if there is enough interest in the first place.

The gears are standard 32 pitch, or 0.8 mod, gears. This is pretty universal among other follow focus systems, unless I am mistaken.
 
nice, a servo a servo tester, you need to add in aa servo extender, to allow a full 360 rotation, servo city sells them alonf with everything else in your set up pretty cheap, for attaching it to rodes look up ta-250s wire runners. they work well.

Jason
 
Hi Jason,

The stops in the gears have been removed but it's the feedback pot that can't rotate past 200 degrees or so. If you give it a signal beyond it, the gears strip off (and that's no fun).
 
Jason,

2 different points I'd like to shed some light on:

First, the servo stretcher that you mentioned only lets you take a servo that only moves 90 degrees and stretches the signal so that it can move to its capable 180 degrees. If you can already move the servo 180 degrees, it will not stretch it to 360 degrees. They even state it in their product description:
Note: This product is not to be used with servos that offer more than 90° rotation from the factory or any brand of digital servos. Digital servo can be programmed electronically for 180° rotation. If used with a servo already modified for 180°, you will not get 360° rotation.
Click to expand...

Secondly, if you modify it and remove the feedback pot, you lose positional ability. Removing the pot will essentially convert it into a continuously rotating motor. You will not be able to make focus marks and have repeatable focus. Also, if you do this modification, you have a much higher chance that you will damage your SLR lens by trying to turn the lens' focus ring further than is physically possible. Where this modification would work is when you have an electronically controlled focus ring, like on the HV20, that you need to turn forever to rack focus. But my main application for this follow focus is for my 35mm adapter.

I appreciate your suggestions.
 
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Photos of Remote Follow Focus Mounted!

Photos of Remote Follow Focus Mounted!

I finally got myself some proper rails to mount my remote follow focus on.

Here are some photos:

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The project has been at a stand still as I didn't get as much of a response for it as I anticipated. I will probably use it only for my own personal use unless demand changes. It currently works but it is not in a "saleable" condition, if you know what I mean ;)
 
do u know if there's a packaged remote with a lever/know that can just be hooked up to a motor to rotate, like u r doing on the video...

trying to do a small dyi.
 
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