I can't wait to hear more about the durus. Thanks.
An important accessory: the Follow Focus - Lets start a database of information.
- Thread starter TimurCivan
- Start date
I can't wait to hear more about the durus. Thanks.
take2visualmedia
Well-known member
Can anyone address the usability of FF with the Lumix 14-140? I read on another thread that FF's don't work well with that lens?
mjmcneese
Veteran
I've rented the Durus on a few occasions. The beauty of it is simplicity. It's small, so it works well on small cameras and DSLRs with MBs. It only takes up on side of the rail. Has an easy-to-get-tight thumbscrew to clamp it down into position, and it's very simple to loosen and swing away.
I couldn't detect any play whatsoever on the Durus...again, it's a rental. The construction is all-aluminum frame.
I've only used it on cinema lenses, so I can't speak to how well the lens gears work with the Durus. But, being a swing-away design, it makes it VERY simple to get the alignment dead-on. No screwing around with stuffing foam under the lens gear to get it to work.
The only drawback is that it's pricey - almost ridiculous that a piece of gear this simple costs so much. But, it works, and it works well.
I couldn't detect any play whatsoever on the Durus...again, it's a rental. The construction is all-aluminum frame.
I've only used it on cinema lenses, so I can't speak to how well the lens gears work with the Durus. But, being a swing-away design, it makes it VERY simple to get the alignment dead-on. No screwing around with stuffing foam under the lens gear to get it to work.
The only drawback is that it's pricey - almost ridiculous that a piece of gear this simple costs so much. But, it works, and it works well.
...guess I goofed in posting? Anyway, this link is to my Durus review with oodles of photos. Didn't think it would be an issue, but sorry I can't include it in here as well.
Postmaster
Dark Side of the Camera
I wonder why most FF don´t have hard stops.
They are really useful when you don´t have an focus puller.
Frank
They are really useful when you don´t have an focus puller.
Frank
Its a great feature to have.... it would only work on some lenses though. the ones with small lens barrels. when you get on a big Cooke/Angenieux/Arri Zoom you make more than full rotation of the follow focus for some pulls. I pulled on an Angeniuex Optimo 24-290 and the shot called for a long focus rackfrom infinity to close to min focus. i must haveturned the followfocus 4 times to get from one mark to the other... imagine setting marks on that kindof shot.....
MAD respect to Union AC's....
sorry timur i missed your post. i have since received the follow focus, very fast service/shipping, though i am in the same province as cinevate. though klon's review is pretty detailed, ill just describe what i like about it.
first i have not yet put it on the af100, still waiting for mine. but i rigged up my dslr to see how the lenses feel and how it works. i love the big gear, both the unit gear and lens gears. im using nikon ais primes and they have some travel, enough travel to make many FF units unusable for me. i can even us the unit on the 105 micro, and it travels a good half inch. second, the unit is so well made and constructed. i like that everything, including the internal gears, are machined aluminum by cinevate themselves, it feels solid and i like that in my gear. the wheel is much bigger than other units on the market and it has a great feel covering my whole palm. i also was skeptical about the single clamp design, but when i put it on it was my redrock baseplate clamp that was slipping, not the unit; it is very strong. all in all, it was more pricy than i wanted to spend, when all said and done for gears (but they add in 3 gears, all sizes of spokes and a nice bag thats not mentioned, so you make up most of the extra price there), but its such a strong unit and it feels super smooth with minimal to no lash. i am glad i went for it. a follow focus has one job, and if it works theres no reason to get another one ever. this will be working for years to come. my school is renting out some cine primes, not sure which ones yet, but ill see how it performs with those next week. anyone looking for a follow focus id give this a look, for what is offered in the around 1000 mark, i think it is a great unit.
first i have not yet put it on the af100, still waiting for mine. but i rigged up my dslr to see how the lenses feel and how it works. i love the big gear, both the unit gear and lens gears. im using nikon ais primes and they have some travel, enough travel to make many FF units unusable for me. i can even us the unit on the 105 micro, and it travels a good half inch. second, the unit is so well made and constructed. i like that everything, including the internal gears, are machined aluminum by cinevate themselves, it feels solid and i like that in my gear. the wheel is much bigger than other units on the market and it has a great feel covering my whole palm. i also was skeptical about the single clamp design, but when i put it on it was my redrock baseplate clamp that was slipping, not the unit; it is very strong. all in all, it was more pricy than i wanted to spend, when all said and done for gears (but they add in 3 gears, all sizes of spokes and a nice bag thats not mentioned, so you make up most of the extra price there), but its such a strong unit and it feels super smooth with minimal to no lash. i am glad i went for it. a follow focus has one job, and if it works theres no reason to get another one ever. this will be working for years to come. my school is renting out some cine primes, not sure which ones yet, but ill see how it performs with those next week. anyone looking for a follow focus id give this a look, for what is offered in the around 1000 mark, i think it is a great unit.
Robert Sharpe
Active member
Such as what Jon? I was looking at the indifocuspro to use with nikkon lenses.
Postmaster
Dark Side of the Camera
Agreed, so we need a FF with a gear box. Let´s say 3 gears and - while at it - a reverse. Would a model RC car gearbox work?
Frank
Robert Sharpe
Active member
So would the rr v2 not be good for Nikon primes? I'm not sure what you mean be reversing the gears for use with still lenses. And in your opinion should I just wiat for the V3?
The reverse gear for the v2 puts a gear on top of the main gear and it becomes the gear that interfaces with the lens, so that with certain still lenses like Nikon mount lenses when you turn the follow focus wheel it turns in the same direction as it would for cinema lenses without the reversing gear. That's the only reason you'd need a reverse gear. Some people care, some people don't. Anyone that works primarily with cinema lenses would probably care more than anyone else.
This video - http://www.freshdv.com/2010/04/freshdv-nab-2010-redrock-micro.html - shows the new V3 FF. It's narrower, has hard stops, and you can get it in studio style with wheels on both (smart and dumb) sides. They also say the gear box can be flipped, which you can't do with V2. Part of the reason I sent my V2 back was because my Voigtlander 25mm f/0.95 lens has the focus ring pretty close to the lens mount and I can't get any follow focus gear to reach the focus ring on the lens without flipping the gear box over. The gear boxes are all hitting the camera (and covering the WB button) before the gear reaches the focus ring on that lens. I'm hoping the V3 will work without having to flip the gear box over.
Right now I'm sticking with my Cinevate Durus because you can flip it over, even though the wheel is too darn big. I pretty much have to leave the speed crank on because the follow focus wheel runs into the vertical post on my Titan matte box, which I've fortunately resolved a little bit with the Genus Nuns Knicker. I want to keep the Titan since it's the most stable swing-away matte box I've seen whereas the rest tend to move slightly when you move the camera.
I'm trying to find an add-on follow focus wheel that will attach to the accessory port. Basically like a speed crank, but an actual wheel. That would solve my problem with the wheel.
I think it's important for camera manufacturers to remember to give us some space around the lens mount for getting the follow focus in there. *hint hint Panasonic for the AF200*
As far as what you should do, I'm not sure what to recommend. I'm trying to get gigs with my camera, so I'm holding on to my Durus. Otherwise I'd buy another D|Focus (you can flip the gear box over) to use for the next couple months until the V3 comes out. Problem is the D|Focus, although works really well, looks cheap and I think it's important to make a good impression with my gear being that the industry is so huge here. So you should evaluate your needs and choose accordingly. You can always buy the V2 now and sell it when/if you get the V3. The V3 will be more expensive than the V2 anyway, so you probably won't lose too much value on the V2. I already had a Durus so that's also partly why I didn't keep the V2 until the V3 comes out.
This video - http://www.freshdv.com/2010/04/freshdv-nab-2010-redrock-micro.html - shows the new V3 FF. It's narrower, has hard stops, and you can get it in studio style with wheels on both (smart and dumb) sides. They also say the gear box can be flipped, which you can't do with V2. Part of the reason I sent my V2 back was because my Voigtlander 25mm f/0.95 lens has the focus ring pretty close to the lens mount and I can't get any follow focus gear to reach the focus ring on the lens without flipping the gear box over. The gear boxes are all hitting the camera (and covering the WB button) before the gear reaches the focus ring on that lens. I'm hoping the V3 will work without having to flip the gear box over.
Right now I'm sticking with my Cinevate Durus because you can flip it over, even though the wheel is too darn big. I pretty much have to leave the speed crank on because the follow focus wheel runs into the vertical post on my Titan matte box, which I've fortunately resolved a little bit with the Genus Nuns Knicker. I want to keep the Titan since it's the most stable swing-away matte box I've seen whereas the rest tend to move slightly when you move the camera.
I'm trying to find an add-on follow focus wheel that will attach to the accessory port. Basically like a speed crank, but an actual wheel. That would solve my problem with the wheel.
I think it's important for camera manufacturers to remember to give us some space around the lens mount for getting the follow focus in there. *hint hint Panasonic for the AF200*
As far as what you should do, I'm not sure what to recommend. I'm trying to get gigs with my camera, so I'm holding on to my Durus. Otherwise I'd buy another D|Focus (you can flip the gear box over) to use for the next couple months until the V3 comes out. Problem is the D|Focus, although works really well, looks cheap and I think it's important to make a good impression with my gear being that the industry is so huge here. So you should evaluate your needs and choose accordingly. You can always buy the V2 now and sell it when/if you get the V3. The V3 will be more expensive than the V2 anyway, so you probably won't lose too much value on the V2. I already had a Durus so that's also partly why I didn't keep the V2 until the V3 comes out.
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Robert Sharpe
Active member
Thanks for the explanation and info Mike 
Although I like that Cinevate is in Canada, I'm using loan money for my camera so I'll go for the cheaper RR or shoot35. You don't happen to know if the shoot35 FF has a good reversal gear do you?
Although I like that Cinevate is in Canada, I'm using loan money for my camera so I'll go for the cheaper RR or shoot35. You don't happen to know if the shoot35 FF has a good reversal gear do you?Loren Simons
DVXuser Sponsor
The V2's gearbox actually can be reversed (i.e. have the gear drive closer to the camera than the gear box) . The only thing you have to buy is the reversing indicator arm since you end up switching the 3D marking disk and the gear.
I've done this to about four of our Redrock microFollowFocuses in the rental department so that they could work with some of the stranger lenses our clients may use. I've also done it for many of our customers too. I find that very few people know this (and the fact that the tension of the unit is adjustable too), and Redrock should make these more known functions!
What I'm referring to is detaching the gear box from the 15mm mount and flipping it upside down and then re-attaching it so the gear is on the opposite side of the gear box. You can't do that because the bottom of the gear box isn't the same as the top. With what I'm talking about you wouldn't need the reversing gear, which is a terrible design in my opinion. When I tried it, both gears were touching the lens and there was no way to get the reverse gear closer to center of lens than the main gear.
Loren Simons
DVXuser Sponsor
Sorry about the confusion Mike, but what I thought you wanted to do was get the drive gear closer to the camera body to work with lenses that have their focus ring much closer to the body, which can be done and you don't have to turn the gearbox upside-down either. What you end up doing is pulling the gear box off the clamp, and than you pull off the 3D Marking disk as well as the Drive Gear, which have their own allen screws. You rotate, not turn upside-down, the gear box (which now just has to stubs sticking out of it) so that one of them is closer to the camera body, and one is outward for the marking disk. You attach the new indicator under the gear box, and than re-attach the marking disk and gear drive in the appropriate position.
I just goofied my followfocus really quick as an example to clear things up (I don't have the reversed indicator arm as none of my lenses call for a swapped setup like this):
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Ahh, I see. Thanks for doing that real quick. I didn't realize you could just turn it 90 degrees and swap the wheel and gear like that. To me, that's much better than the reverse gear option they sell separately. Could you do me a favor and tell me what these measurements are:
1. The width of the gear box (parallel to the rods).
2. The width of the gear and the gear box.
3. Outer diameter of the wheel
If it fits I might have to get the V2 again (until the V3 comes out) and sell my Durus if I can make it work. Then I can finally get my hand around the focus wheel since it's smaller than the Durus. I assume you have them in stock.
1. The width of the gear box (parallel to the rods).
2. The width of the gear and the gear box.
3. Outer diameter of the wheel
If it fits I might have to get the V2 again (until the V3 comes out) and sell my Durus if I can make it work. Then I can finally get my hand around the focus wheel since it's smaller than the Durus. I assume you have them in stock.