Remote follow focus for £150/$300
- Thread starter hoarp001
- Start date
Charles Lowthian
Well-known member
So ahm, yeah, I'll take a beta unit.
Best to get an Australian perspective, climate and all.
Very advisable. Crucial infact.
Sweet :beer:
hoarp001
Veteran
Mmm maybe... im keeping a unit back for repetative testing here. I got an old washing machine and im going to rig it so the drum turns slowly and im going to put the hofo inside and let it roll for a week and check it still works at the end.
Im also going to freeze one for abit and check that dosnt kill it.
Also im going to bury one in sand for abit and check none gets inside etc.
All the components (buttons, knobs etc) are all rated to 1 million cycles too. As I said to syncman, im confident its up to the job, and im not going to sell it until I know thats true.
Im also going to freeze one for abit and check that dosnt kill it.
Also im going to bury one in sand for abit and check none gets inside etc.
All the components (buttons, knobs etc) are all rated to 1 million cycles too. As I said to syncman, im confident its up to the job, and im not going to sell it until I know thats true.
yzmotoxer807
Well-known member
Haha! You're the first one to get that since he has been my avatar.
Rodney V. Smith
DVXFest Promo Guru
oy! I'm totally open for Beta Testing :grin: Where do I sign up?
Postmaster
Dark Side of the Camera
I´m ready to beta test. Would be a great help for my Twilight Fest entry,
since I have all sorts of crane and steadycam shots.
Frank
since I have all sorts of crane and steadycam shots.
Frank
Rodney V. Smith
DVXFest Promo Guru
Maybe he's using a Glidecam or Steadicam variant? I know I always hesitate to use the word "Steadicam" when referring to my Glidecam setup...
Do I get points for spelling it correctly? :grin:
Do I get points for spelling it correctly? :grin:
hoarp001
Veteran
Quick update:
Just spent close to an hour on the phone to the new coder, quite a lot has happened. He has risen some very good points regarding various bits and bobs, and the HoFo will be even better than before.
I can now draw up a more accurate list of features, but it may change a little bit in time.
Transmitter:
433-434mhz for most of the world, 900mhz for America.
Range, about 250m (820 feet) in a fairly open area, about 50m (160ft) in a very built up area, and about 500m (1640ft) in a very open area (the desert)
10 frequency/bands to choose from. Up to 10 Hocus Focus units can be used in close proximity with no interference. Frequency selection is quick, colour coded and requires no tools, or reading the manual.
Upper/Lower limits, set on transmitter to prevent moving past the lenses mechanical limits. Multicolour LEDs incidate limit status.
Direction switch to change motor direction
Low battery indicator (Freq indicator lamp flashes slowly when battery is low)
Runs on standard 9v battery, approx 8 hours constant use on one battery.
Glow in the dark dry wipe marking ring.
It even has a belt clip on the back.
Receiver:
Very robust aluminium case - you can drive over it (infact, I have driven over it)
Can accept 4pin XLR power input (12v)
Signal strenght LED indicator. Green for good signal, orange for unreliable signal, red for out of range or transmitter turned off.
Also accepts four AA batteries as a backup or alternative power source
shares same freq select as transmitter - 10 freq/band
Has 1/4-20 thread for noga arm, rod mount or shoe mount.
Plugs into motor via a 4pin miniDIN socket (compatable with Svideo extension leads)
Low battery indicator
Motor:
Motor mount machined out of solid aluminium, anodized black
Has lift off clamping lever (so you can orientate the handle round to get it into a convenient location.
Very strong motor mount - in fact the whole rig can be hung off the motor mount (see photo higher up in thread)
Motor available with 0.8mod (cine pitch) or broadcast pitch (0.6, 0.5mod) Gears are interchangeable - you do not need another motor for each pitch.
Motor is fast and quiet.
Thats the full spec list for the Hocus Focus as of today. We may add or change features, but this is the core list.
Also as of about 20 mins ago, I can confirm there WILL be iris and zoom versions for cine and broadcast lenses.
Thanks.
Just spent close to an hour on the phone to the new coder, quite a lot has happened. He has risen some very good points regarding various bits and bobs, and the HoFo will be even better than before.
I can now draw up a more accurate list of features, but it may change a little bit in time.
Transmitter:
433-434mhz for most of the world, 900mhz for America.
Range, about 250m (820 feet) in a fairly open area, about 50m (160ft) in a very built up area, and about 500m (1640ft) in a very open area (the desert)
10 frequency/bands to choose from. Up to 10 Hocus Focus units can be used in close proximity with no interference. Frequency selection is quick, colour coded and requires no tools, or reading the manual.
Upper/Lower limits, set on transmitter to prevent moving past the lenses mechanical limits. Multicolour LEDs incidate limit status.
Direction switch to change motor direction
Low battery indicator (Freq indicator lamp flashes slowly when battery is low)
Runs on standard 9v battery, approx 8 hours constant use on one battery.
Glow in the dark dry wipe marking ring.
It even has a belt clip on the back.
Receiver:
Very robust aluminium case - you can drive over it (infact, I have driven over it)
Can accept 4pin XLR power input (12v)
Signal strenght LED indicator. Green for good signal, orange for unreliable signal, red for out of range or transmitter turned off.
Also accepts four AA batteries as a backup or alternative power source
shares same freq select as transmitter - 10 freq/band
Has 1/4-20 thread for noga arm, rod mount or shoe mount.
Plugs into motor via a 4pin miniDIN socket (compatable with Svideo extension leads)
Low battery indicator
Motor:
Motor mount machined out of solid aluminium, anodized black
Has lift off clamping lever (so you can orientate the handle round to get it into a convenient location.
Very strong motor mount - in fact the whole rig can be hung off the motor mount (see photo higher up in thread)
Motor available with 0.8mod (cine pitch) or broadcast pitch (0.6, 0.5mod) Gears are interchangeable - you do not need another motor for each pitch.
Motor is fast and quiet.
Thats the full spec list for the Hocus Focus as of today. We may add or change features, but this is the core list.
Also as of about 20 mins ago, I can confirm there WILL be iris and zoom versions for cine and broadcast lenses.
Thanks.
Last edited:
Rodney V. Smith
DVXFest Promo Guru
Now that effing rocks. Continue to rock on dude.
doncamillo
Active member
Nice first specs list Peter.
One small thing that popped into my head: is there something to attach the remote to a neckstrap or something like that?
Cheers
fixitinpost
Well-known member
Definitely on the bottom. Easier to use, and don't have to worry about the lanyard interfering with the antenna.
Love the addition of the belt clip. This will be super useful for me.
It's amazing to see how this device has developed over the last few months. More than worth the wait. Can't wait to receive mine! *also volunteers to beta test*
What are the dimensions of the transmitter and receiver?
Love the addition of the belt clip. This will be super useful for me.
It's amazing to see how this device has developed over the last few months. More than worth the wait. Can't wait to receive mine! *also volunteers to beta test*
What are the dimensions of the transmitter and receiver?
hoarp001
Veteran
TX body is 43mm deep, 78mm wide and 160mm long. The antenna and fittings add to this, but thats the basic body size. Its a little large, but unfortunately I cant make it any smaller, and it fits nicely in the hand.
The current receiver is a very nice size, and im doing all I can to keep it that size, but we have had to change the backup battery from 9v to 4aa's which takes up more space. Im trying my hardest to keep it in the same case, but if I cant, it will be slightly bigger. Current case size is:
39mm deep, 6mm wide and 121mm long. Again, the antenna and fittings add abit to this.
Have a look at this photo for a good idea of RX/TX size comparisons....
The current receiver is a very nice size, and im doing all I can to keep it that size, but we have had to change the backup battery from 9v to 4aa's which takes up more space. Im trying my hardest to keep it in the same case, but if I cant, it will be slightly bigger. Current case size is:
39mm deep, 6mm wide and 121mm long. Again, the antenna and fittings add abit to this.
Have a look at this photo for a good idea of RX/TX size comparisons....
fixitinpost
Well-known member
Not bad at all! Those dimensions should fit my hand better than the Preston does, I think.
Leo Versola
Well-known member
OMFG!!! Peter, beautiful work... If the HF works as good as it looks, which I'm sure it will, you have created a masterpiece! Can't wait to try it out.
//Leo
//Leo