Follow Focus: Chrosziel vs Redrock

R

ryvac

Veteran
I just had the chance to get hold of a Chrosziel Follow Focus and a Redrock Follow Focus, so I thought I’d just do a review on it here.
So here I have a Chrosziel FF & Redrock FF. they are both reviewed as one of the best FF at FreshDV. (Go here if you haven’t seen it, it’s a great video review http://www.freshdv.com/2007/10/freshdv-reviews-five-follow-focus-systems.html)

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First is the Chrosziel FF (206-01S) priced at around $1500. And it is very expensive. The great thing about this FF is that it’s well build and it’s very light weight. The FF has no play (maybe 1mm) and it has a really nice finish touch on the rubber grips.(the best) The indicator moves and locks down at any position too. This FF is just perfect and there is really nothing I dislike. Well I guess after pricing this for $1500, this should all be expected.

Next is the Redrock FF priced at around $650 (w/ gears) The great thing about this FF is that it’s build like a tank. I really like the build quality on it and I know why everyone has the Redrock FF now. It’s priced very well and it’s build so solid.
However, there are a few minor things I dislike. For example the weight is one. It’s build rock solid so it’s kind of heavy. It’s not as heavy as it become a problem but let me just say this FF is a LITTLE big and a LITTLE heavy. (see picture of how big it is compared to the Chrosziel)
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Especially the hand wheel is the heaviest part. so all the weight is on the handle which make it feel even heavier when it’s on the rods.

Also I would like to see a more solid piece of indicator on This FF. Because this indicator is just a piece of metal that looks like it can chip and break easily, (plus the indicator doesn’t move in any direction)
The Redrock FF has about 1mm of play but I would say the gearbox has no play at all. The 1mm of play actually comes from the gear that is attached to the FF. the pitch gear is attached to the FF with a single connecting screw and no matter how tight I tighten the screw the gear is 1mm loose.
One thing I found funny about the Redrock FF is that it works great with whips. For some reason when you turn the Redrock FF with the whips it’s much smoother and easier to make a full turn. I have no idea why this happens but I think it is because the whips have a smaller hand grip so it’s easier to make a full turn and it becomes smoother somehow???
One more thing I should mention about the Redrock FF is that it has a big gap between the gears and gearbox/handle.
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It isn’t really a problem if your using it with your 35mm adapter because you will have a lot of space to work with but if want to use it on your camera, you might want to rethink about it. Because the Redrock FF can not change there gear position.
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(Chrosziel FF can change the position without any problem)

So if you want to use it on your camera you will have to reverse the FF to the other side so it will reach the lens. (but who really uses a FF for their camera?)

I would say the Chrosziel and Redrock FF are both great FF.
The Redrock is heavy and big but I would get the Redrock if I had $1500 to spend. I just think the Chrosziel is just too expensive so I would be happy to keep the extra $800 in my pocket.
 
ryvac said:
However, there are a few minor things I dislike. For example the weight is one. It’s build rock solid so it’s kind of heavy. It’s not as heavy as it become a problem but let me just say this FF is a LITTLE big and a LITTLE heavy.
Especially the hand wheel is the heaviest part. so all the weight is on the handle which make it feel even heavier when it’s on the rods.
Click to expand...

It's heavy for a reason :)

ryvac said:
One thing I found funny about the Redrock FF is that it works great with whips. For some reason when you turn the Redrock FF with the whips it’s much smoother and easier to make a full turn. I have no idea why this happens but I think it is because the whips have a smaller hand grip so it’s easier to make a full turn and it becomes smoother somehow???
Click to expand...

You answered your own question, but didn't realise. The extra mass makes it smoother because it's harder to move initially.
 
devnull said:
It's heavy for a reason :)
Click to expand...

yeah it's heavy and rock solid, it will probably last forever. but if weight is a factor Cinavate is making a FF right now & it's looking like it's light weight and sturdy!! that might be a good option too!!
 
Yea, I've used both and at twice the price the Chroziel doesn't really offer twice the performance. I really prefer the way that it mounts to the rod though. There's only a single knob that you tighten and loosen. The Redrock is annoying in that the sliding arm doesn't always lay flat on the groove, sometimes pushing it back and forth can cause it to slide upward even when the bottom screw is tightened, costing you more time to adjust.
 
I know a guy that is actually selling that same FF, but at $1,150.00 bucks right now. All in excellent condition. I was really really wanting to buy this setup, but can't at the moment. :( He's also selling his two matte boxes

Chrosziel 440-01 small matte box, filter holder/1 flag - N/A

Chrosziel 411-53 large matte box on rails, filter holder/3 flags - $900.00

Chrosziel geared follow focus control 206-01-s - $1,150.00



Thought I'd share and let some other lucky guy get it... If interested PM me?
 
The Zacuto Z-Focus is a very nice follow focus and worthy of a look as well. Price is $1110.00 USD. I've used it for over four months now and am very happy with it. Like all Zacuto products,
it is built very well.
 
I own the Redrock ff and have used the Chrosziel as well. If I have the option to use the Chrosziel, I will use it over the redrock. I like the way it feels compared to the redrock. Other than that, I would still buy the redrock ff over the Chrosziel if I were choosing between the two. The price for the Chrosziel isn't worth it in my opinion.
 
I've owned them both. I sold the RR after I bent (and bent back) the marker several times. But the departure point was its design is only best suited for the left side. It has no gear flip. This is a big deal for me as I don't always like my AC in my personal space but there are many moments where there just isn't room for both of us on the left (cars, closets, bathrooms, etc). The other item which maybe minor to some is that when you tighten the RR to the rods, the tension increases on the gears often making it stiffer than anticipated. So it takes a little trial and error.

Chrosziel, Zacuto and Petroff all have the gear flip and for FF's that aren't dual sided, this is indispensable. When you put the RR on the right side, the distance between the gear and the other end of the box is so great (look at the pics and compare) that the gear box ends up bumping into your mattebox. So now you end up having to slide the MB out and ghetto rig black wrap or duvatyne and deal with vignetting issues.

The last aspect not mentioned here is the dampening of the Chrosziel. Even if the two have the same play, dampening makes a big difference in overall smoothness of the pull. The Chrosziel in this regard kills it. When your on a long lens and have a delicate pull this really helps.

Is the Chrosziel worth the money? For consistent use, I'd say yes. All those minor issues add up in terms of time and frustration. For the occasional to moderate user, I'd say the RR is fine. The best thing about the RR is the whip. I kept that. beautifully made and virtually no twist. Like it better than anyone elses.

Now whoever wants to one up the competition, make the rod attachment an open clamp like the Z Riser. Surprised Zacuto didn't do this but then again their FF looks like it came from the Petroff factory line. An open clamp allows for a much easier attachment and removal. Just loosen and lift - no more having to remove the MB and slide it off to the ends or loosen the rods because it got stuck. Old Arri FF's use an open clamp instead of holes and AC's make special request for this over their latest models that don't have it. With no dual sided feature, the open clamp closes the convenience gap considerably.

Adaptors, primes, FF's and MB's are such crazy collection of items that must all be aligned and properly fitted. What often sways people away from adaptor use is the inconvenience of all these parts not gelling together like one. The Chrosziel immediately adapts to this landscape as where the RR can often be the other way around. I hate being that guy who must tinker with his gear while people wait. I like to buy gear like hiring a good AC - your presence should be minimal and performance maximum. I once had to subrent someone's adaptor system when mine was out and after looking at the Hyson, RRedrock, Improvised "Z Riser" and less than monitor mount, despite having a LEX, HVX, LH 80 and Zacuto Rods, I just saw a trail of tears in the making and decided against it. It was just three items I felt weren't ready for prime time and together compound their problems.

The way I see Follow Focus's is different than a camera or an adaptor for that matter. You'll have it for a lot longer. It's like a tripod or grad filters. They'll be around long after your camera is dated. So spending 1500 isn't a complete shock for something that controls something so critical to your look as focus cues. Also, I believe Chrosziel's build on anything they make is only second to Arri. If you hunt around or troll the marketplace, deals pop up. I got mine for 900.00 on marketplace virtually brand new. Even if I didn't get such a deal, I probably would've buckled as the frustrations with the RR accumulated.

My nickels worth,

Tim Naylor
DP
www.timnaylor.com
 
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what about SGPRO or INDIFOCUS?

what about SGPRO or INDIFOCUS?

I,m thinking on buying a FF. I have a non flipped SGpro R3 and a Chrosziel Matte box system.

Is the SGpro FF or Indifocus an option? Really i want a solution for the future. I don,t want to pay more fore nothing, but I dont want to buy two, either...

It,s PETROFF and Chrosziel in the same line?

Thanks
 
Tim Naylor said:
Surprised Zacuto didn't do this but then again their FF looks like it came from the Petroff factory line. An open clamp allows for a much easier attachment and removal.
Click to expand...

Tim,
Zacuto's new Z-focus FFs allow you to easily switch which side the gear is on. Check out this video here. You don't have to remove it from the rails at all to flip sides! You can also add a second follow focus mechanism easily just by sliding it on the same way. Of course this would be for your more professional cinema lenses.

So why would you need to remove the follow focus off of the rails at all unless you use your lenses without a follow focus.

The clamping mechanism from the Z-Riser just be an added cost for me. But that's just my opinion.
 
That's an amazing feature. I thought the way to redesign would be to have an open ended clamp. But this one ups it. Very cool. Hope the machining is on par with the design.
 
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