Anyone using a Follow Focus setup with OM system lenses?

S

swyzlstyx

Well-known member
I don't use manual lenses for paying gigs, just for fun, so I was hoping to find a cheap way to use a follow focus setup with my GH1+Olympus/Zuiko OM system lenses without employing too much redneck ingenuity. Just a very basic and simple setup.

The OM lenses are very compact, there doesn't seem to be many affordable options out there that I can find. I've found some that might work at B&H, but they are pretty expensive. A Zacuto zip gear might also work, but I don't think I can swallow paying $75 for a plastic zip tie just to videotape my cats.

I wish I could use something like the IndiSystems snap gears, so that I could swap them easily!

A quick check with the rulers shows the focus ring on my 50mm lens to be about 60mm in diameter.

Any suggestions? Thanks!
 
Oooh...looks like these might be a good place to start experimenting:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?215291-shoot35-Ltd-FLEXIgear-Lens-Gears-Now-Available!

http://www.shoot35.com/downloads/pdf/FLEXIgear Instruction Flyer.pdf


DSC_3981_small.jpg
 
Lucas Adamson said:
All out of stock. He's not taking pre-orders either!
Click to expand...


Ah, that's too bad!

It looks like the Jag35 DFocus has a system that might work. http://jag35.com/new/products/dfocus/
They've got cheap tie-rap style gears: http://jag35.com/new/products/zip-gear/
...and a universal fit D-Gear that should mate with the DFocus, although I'd be concerned about how solid that gear would be with such long shims in it on a 60mm diameter lens. http://jag35.com/new/products/dgear/

All their stuff is also priced more realistically for an amateur film-maker/cat video producer.

I'll come up with something I guess. It's only rent money, anyways. :D
 
I would be surprised if it did more than is plainly obvious. It offers no method by which to mark a and b points for a focus pull. I don't see how it really improves upon using nothing at all...
 
Lucas,

Basically it gets your fingers off the lens and since it is made out of silicone it provides a nice, smooth easing in and out. Many people have tried it and found it quite superior to using "nothing at all"...

Not everyone has the budget to get high end gear, so every once in a while it's nice to find something, that although is not perfect, still enhances the user experience.

Sorry if you feel this is beneath you... Obviously, most people don't. I agree, it lacks the ability to mark A and B points, but I can guarantee that it makes manual focusing a helluva lot easier. Don't believe me? Fork out the big bucks ($2.99) and find out.... Geez.....

Tony
 
tcarretti said:
I agree, it lacks the ability to mark A and B points...
Click to expand...

You could overcome that to some degree by applying tape markers on the lens body and focus ring - in relative, not absolute, positions.

A splendid idea, Tony. That rubberised lever will offer a big advantage over stills style lens fumbling. It'll be my luck that no such gadget will exist in UK shops.
 
aljudy said:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...s...well-focus-assist-really...but-only-2.50-!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Thanks! Yeah, I came across that thread a while back. Great use of a multi-tasking tool! :D Like one guy in that thread mentioned, I also thought about using some heavy duty tie-wraps in the same fashion.

I was kind of wanting a regular FF for a couple of reasons. One, for like Lucas mentions, so that I can mark the knob with the focus points. Although, I'm sure I could do it with some Post-It Notes stuck to the lens barrel as well.

But I also wanted a FF that I could attach a "whip" focus remote to, to minimize camera shake. I shoot all tripod stuff, and the slightest bump on the footage means I delete it on the spot. (Although, that silicon jar opener should minimize shake as well!)
 
tcarretti said:
Lucas,

Basically it gets your fingers off the lens and since it is made out of silicone it provides a nice, smooth easing in and out. Many people have tried it and found it quite superior to using "nothing at all"...

Not everyone has the budget to get high end gear, so every once in a while it's nice to find something, that although is not perfect, still enhances the user experience.

Sorry if you feel this is beneath you... Obviously, most people don't. I agree, it lacks the ability to mark A and B points, but I can guarantee that it makes manual focusing a helluva lot easier. Don't believe me? Fork out the big bucks ($2.99) and find out.... Geez.....

Tony
Click to expand...

Hi Tony,

I'm not saying it's beneath me. It's just that I have a follow focus, and use it sometimes, but mostly I just focus by hand, and I don't have any issue with it.

I think if you want to go cheap for a focusing aid, you can't get much cheaper and more useful than a roll of 10mm, low-tack masking tape, which can be applied in strips to the lens barrel to mark a and b stops. It's been known as the poor-man's follow focus for years. I still don't really get the silicone thing - sorry!

Lucas
 
Lucas,

I realize you don't get the silicone thing... because you haven't tried it.... and since you have a follow focus, you really don't need to.

Soooooooooo....... moot point......

Anyway.... have a great day......

Out....
Lucas Adamson said:
Hi Tony,

I'm not saying it's beneath me. It's just that I have a follow focus, and use it sometimes, but mostly I just focus by hand, and I don't have any issue with it.

I think if you want to go cheap for a focusing aid, you can't get much cheaper and more useful than a roll of 10mm, low-tack masking tape, which can be applied in strips to the lens barrel to mark a and b stops. It's been known as the poor-man's follow focus for years. I still don't really get the silicone thing - sorry!

Lucas
Click to expand...
 
Lucas Adamson said:
I still don't really get the silicone thing - sorry!
Click to expand...

It's a focus lever, used to enable fine control with smooth starts and stops, plus some decoupling from the camera. Such levers are not uncommon on (perhaps older?) professional movie film cameras (or, indeed, still cameras). Zooms will also often be seen with a lever providing the same benefits.

Compare Tony's adaptation with this example:
http://vimeo.com/9297496

.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top