GH3 Follow focus advice - single rod and the simplis system

P

peripatew

Well-known member
Greetings. I'm hunting around for a follow focus that will work well for my setup. Right now I'm using a Simplis Dual w/ Honu Cage. I'm working through a few different creative options for mounting a single rod without adding much bulk so that I can use a follow focus.

My main goals are simplicity and small size. This is one if the last prices of kit I'm putting together for some international traveling documentary work. So being able to be quick and portable are very important to me.

I'm using a mix of Canon glass and Pany lenses, though most just the 25mm/1.4, no pancakes.

So what are my options? I like the look of the iDC follow focus, but I'm not sure without having once to know if the baseplate will work into the mix with the Simplis. I could ditch the Simplis baseplate and attach everything to the cage, but I'm leaning towards modifying my Honu cage to mimic a Wooden Camera cage, meaning that I wouldn't have the right side of the cage.

I'm in love with the look of the Edelkrone follow focus, but haven't seen one or heard much comparison to others. I know the Kamerar and the Cinevate follow focuses are single rods, but the Durus is out if reach.

If I could avoid lens gears, then awesome, not know that might not happen.

Open to all thoughts and advice. I've tried some "cheater" follow focusing, like the $50 follow focus, but didn't like the concept. Would prefer a regular stationary wheel to turn.
 
If you are looking for single rail FF I recommend the Kamerar FF-3:

http://www.photographyandcinema.com...-follow-focus-w-15mm-quick-release-rods-clamp

Is attaches to a single rail and can be reconfigured to fit a variety of lens. Also when using lenses with an electronic focus ring (with no hard focus stops) you can convert it to be a friction follow focus. Just place a small and wide rubber band or silicone bracelet around the gear and press the gear against the lens' focus ring and lock it in place. Another option is to use a vacuum cleaner belt to loop around the lenses focus ring (works great with the tiny primes and a matte box as shown here):

IMG_2307.jpg

On how to mount rails to the Simplis or Honu Cage; I ended up getting the Barley Baseplate to mount my rails:

http://www.hondogarage.com/index.php/product/landing/the-barely-rail

At $45 it is not bad and is super compact. I just ordered some 8 inch 15mm rods from amazon for cheap. The only issue is you can't attach just one rail due to the design (it will bend the other side, trust me). But you could use a very short rail on one side to get the same effect. The question is does the Simplis have threaded mounting points on the under side to mount to? While you could try and mount it between the Simplis and Huno not sure that would work too well given its small size. Here is the underside of my rig where you can see the Barley Baseplate attached to a Arca Swiss clamp (attached to the CarrySpeed VF-4 baseplate):

all.jpg

Another option might be to ditch the Honu and get a GB-2 Gearbox cage with rails:

http://www.photographyandcinema.com...-gb-2-video-accessory-cage-w-15mm-rod-adapter

Hope this helps.
 
Thanks for the reply. I'm really hoping to avoid anything bigger than the Honu, especially as I plan on reducing it by 20-40%. I like that rod mount from Hondo, but also don't want to add more under the rig. I could actually do away with the Simplis baseplate, attaching everything just to the Honu. But I like being able to drop the simplis rig from the cage quickly.

I'm wondering if I can make a single rod clamp work with the cage itself. Something like these perhaps:

970231.jpg
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...le_rails_to.html?node14711revisions143901view

3561.jpg
http://woodencamera.com/Replacement-Parts/15mm-Tube-Clamp.html

AAA4132B_6068cb31-45a2-4a9d-a5a8-039aa726482d_large.jpg
http://www.photographyandcinema.com/collections/camera-accessories/products/micro-chip

I also have one of the cheap Polaroid rigs that I can harvest parts from. I may try to drill a hole in one of the rod clamps to test this out. Downside is not having a follow focus to use yet.

I've been looking at the Kamerar, perhaps I'll just need to order one to test it out. What other single rod mount options are there besides the Edelkrone?
 
peripatew said:
Thanks for the reply. I'm really hoping to avoid anything bigger than the Honu, especially as I plan on reducing it by 20-40%. I like that rod mount from Hondo, but also don't want to add more under the rig. I could actually do away with the Simplis baseplate, attaching everything just to the Honu. But I like being able to drop the simplis rig from the cage quickly.

I'm wondering if I can make a single rod clamp work with the cage itself. Something like these perhaps:

View attachment 78905
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._r ails_to.html?node14711revisions143901view

View attachment 78906
http://woodencamera.com/Replacement-Parts/15mm-Tube-Clamp.html

View attachment 78907
http://www.photographyandcinema.com/collections/camera-accessories/products/micro-chip

I also have one of the cheap Polaroid rigs that I can harvest parts from. I may try to drill a hole in one of the rod clamps to test this out. Downside is not having a follow focus to use yet.

I've been looking at the Kamerar, perhaps I'll just need to order one to test it out. What other single rod mount options are there besides the Edelkrone?
Click to expand...

Those look like they might work depending on the mounting holes in your cage. One thing to note is that the Barley Baseplate is Arca Swiss compatible so you can use it was a quick release plate.

What are you mounting on the cage?

Note that you can remove the risers on the GB-2 for shorter cameras but it is larger then the one you have.

 
The Gearbox rig looks nice, but doesn't seem flexible enough as I need to quickly switch between video and photography. That's one of the reasons for modding the Honu cage, as there isn't comfortable access to the grip. I LOVE the Wooden Camera cage, but just can't spend that much. So far, I'm loving the Honu mod, stills allows for plenty of mounting options, AND it fits in my bag without disassembling anything after releasing the Simplis rig. This picture shows the GH3 in the Gearbox rig, and is just too large for my needs:

Screen Shot 2013-11-20 at 10.31.53 AM.jpg

Things to mount at different times: DP4 w/ EVF (though usually without the EVF), 160 LED light, VMP w/ H1 or H4n.

Definitely not trying to be a pain here, but I'm really limited by what gear I can take and use. I have one bag to fit everything, and have to be able to adjust quickly.
 
Ok I see, you want to be able to pop the Honu Cage (and GH3) off the rig while the rails/FF stay on the rig?

You might consider simply attaching this Arca Swiss plate to the Honu:

http://www.amazon.com/Desmond-DABP-...d=1384972891&sr=8-9&keywords=arca+swiss+plate

81P-POuhOZL._SL1500_.jpg

Then this Acra Swiss Clamp to the Barley Baseplate with 15mm rods:

http://www.amazon.com/Desmond-DAC-0...=1384972891&sr=8-10&keywords=arca+swiss+plate

71tg4NURLBL._SL1500_.jpg

So the bottom of the Barely Rig attaches to the Simplis Plate and screws into the Barley Baseplate which in turn attaches to the Arca Swiss clamp and the Arca Swiss plate attaches to the Honu Cage. In this way you can pop the Cage off with only the tiny plate still attached while the rails/FF/rig all stay together. OR you can pop the cage + rails/FF off the rig with the Simplis quick plate.

That is pretty much what I am doing with my rig above but the Arca Swiss plate I am using is built into the CarrySpeed VF-4 Loupe.

The down side is that this adds height and weight when full rigged.

Your not being a pain, requirements are requirements :) I love tinkering with rig bits ...
 
Hey awesome tip on using a small belt with the Kamerar follow focus. I never thought of that and could really help. Not to mention I'm not a huge fan of the adjustable rings that come with the follow focus to attach to the lens. They extra length always seems to get in the way with the small m4/3 lenses. Plus it can be a pain to always swap between lenses. I am going to try this out tonight. Thanks again for the tip.

Grisnjam said:
If you are looking for single rail FF I recommend the Kamerar FF-3:

http://www.photographyandcinema.com...-follow-focus-w-15mm-quick-release-rods-clamp

Is attaches to a single rail and can be reconfigured to fit a variety of lens. Also when using lenses with an electronic focus ring (with no hard focus stops) you can convert it to be a friction follow focus. Just place a small and wide rubber band or silicone bracelet around the gear and press the gear against the lens' focus ring and lock it in place. Another option is to use a vacuum cleaner belt to loop around the lenses focus ring (works great with the tiny primes and a matte box as shown here):

View attachment 78900

On how to mount rails to the Simplis or Honu Cage; I ended up getting the Barley Baseplate to mount my rails:

http://www.hondogarage.com/index.php/product/landing/the-barely-rail

At $45 it is not bad and is super compact. I just ordered some 8 inch 15mm rods from amazon for cheap. The only issue is you can't attach just one rail due to the design (it will bend the other side, trust me). But you could use a very short rail on one side to get the same effect. The question is does the Simplis have threaded mounting points on the under side to mount to? While you could try and mount it between the Simplis and Huno not sure that would work too well given its small size. Here is the underside of my rig where you can see the Barley Baseplate attached to a Arca Swiss clamp (attached to the CarrySpeed VF-4 baseplate):

View attachment 78902

Another option might be to ditch the Honu and get a GB-2 Gearbox cage with rails:

http://www.photographyandcinema.com...-gb-2-video-accessory-cage-w-15mm-rod-adapter

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
 
Thomas Smet said:
Hey awesome tip on using a small belt with the Kamerar follow focus. I never thought of that and could really help. Not to mention I'm not a huge fan of the adjustable rings that come with the follow focus to attach to the lens. They extra length always seems to get in the way with the small m4/3 lenses. Plus it can be a pain to always swap between lenses. I am going to try this out tonight. Thanks again for the tip.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Here is a shot of the other way I use it as a friction FF. And for the OP it shows the Barley Baseplate attached to a clamp ...

photo.jpg
 
Hi, i know this is not single rod or gearless but I just thought i would post my current rig, ive only had the GH3 and rig for 2 or so weeks, the rail system and follow focus is the Fotga DP500II with A/B hard stops, of course these fly by wire panasonic lenses are no good for hard stops but i bought the 14-140mm vario lens with the GH3..dunno if i will ever use it :embarasse I much preffer Manual focus as im guessing most videographers do..
I use the old Canon FD lenses, i have a 50mm 1.4 a 28mm 2.8 and a 100-300mm canon zoom.
I added a Manfrotto 557 plate to the fotga for quick camera release, so that was another £50, the manfrotto 502 video head came with a QR plate wich is attached to the the fotga base plate for tripod mounting or slider etc.

the fotga rig was £180 in total on ebay, so wont break the bank, and aside from the crank handle being a poor fit, the rig works well
P1050889.jpgP1050893.jpgP1050887.jpg
Simon sphynx like it too :)
 
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