focus pull or varizoom controller?

Cephalectomy

Cephalectomy

Active member
Ok, i know this has been discussed but i still couldn't find a concrete answer on exactly how the zoom controller works. What I need is something that will allow me to do exact focusing from while moving on a dolly, etc. What I want to know is will a focus controller like varizooms allow me to get correct focusing with ease, is there anyway to mark where the stops are, i believe they got for like 200-300 bucks, where as if I get a focus pull system, i'm gonna pay 300 for the indie focus plus another 200 for the rods. Could someone please help this newbie out for a definite answer? I'm wanting to do a short film this summer but realized how hard it is to move with the camera and manually focus at the same time, partly due to the fact that the focus rings has no beginning or stop point. Or if someone else any other suggestions that'd be great too. I thought maybe an adapter for over the ring that would give it a start and stop point and allow you to mark focus but I was kinda confused on that. Sorry for being a dummy, thanks for the help!!! :nads:
 
Yes the VariZoom has repeatable focus on its wheel, but the wheel is pretty small so it's not the easiest thing to do. Make sure you're monitoring on a monitor that has video OSD displayed so you can see the MF00-MF99 scale and make sure you're hitting your marks precisely.
 
sorry to be a pain, but how exactly does the repeatable focus work? i intend to buy a small tv as a monitoring unit, so that won't be a problem.
 
Well, whatever position you put the wheel in will directly correlate to a position in the lens. So if you move the wheel 2/3 of the way through its movement, your lens focus position will be at MF67 (or whatever; that's just an example). If you then move it all the way, it'll go to MF99. Move it back to 2/3, and the lens will go back to MF67.

I don't know if it's absolutely 100% perfectly repeatable, but it seems pretty good. So use it in conjunction with a video monitor that shows you your on-screen displays, so you can verify your MF distance, and you should be in good shape.
 
ok great! thanks a lot Barry, appriciate the help!

One last question, is there a significant different with having a pull focus, i assume it's more accurate? and gives room for marking, correct? on 15mm/60mm rods, if i went the more expensive route, would that setup hold for a 35mm adapter? I'm not interested in that at the moment as I have too much to learn before I start taking on such tasks, but i'm wondering would i maybe be better to save the money and take that route, kinda futureproof myself? :) Thanks again!

Also Barry, great book, very helpful! :D
 
I find the focus ring on the HVX much easier to fine-tune for precise focus than the remote controllers. Some people have expressed concern because you have to turn the HVX focus ring so very far, but on the other hand it means it's very easy to dial in precise and subtle changes. I can't get that same degree of precision as easily with the remote controllers. They do work, and they are repeatable, but I prefer the HVX ring if I'm aiming for precision.

A follow focus would work with the HVX's ring and would give you that same level of precision.
 
DOH! Okay, but similar observations apply, although the DVX100B focus ring doesn't need as much travel as the HVX ring does...
 
ok great :) i think for the sake of accuracy i'll go with a follow focus setup instead of the controller :) i'll start savin' my pennies! hehe :) Thanks a lot for the help Barry! :D
 
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