Follow Focus Help

fabulousfilm

fabulousfilm

Member
Hi! Have the new letus rod system with the LEX. Do you have a suggestion on what follow focus i should get? IndiFocus or Redrock?
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Pesie said:
Redrock, it's not as cheap as the Indifocus, but you want a smooth and solid solution. I also had to decide like you, and am glad I went for the Redrockmicro Follow Focus. Checkout the test on video at http://www.freshdv.com/2007/10/freshdv-reviews-five-follow-focus-systems.html
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That test is no longer valid for the Indifocus, by pretty much everyone's account the new Indifocus pro is just as good as the RR or other options in it's price range. I personally and an Original Indifocus with the new gearbox and it's great. I'm sure the red rock is also great, I wish they would review the updated indifocus model because this issue comes up a lot and a lot of people refer to those videos.
 
Agreed.
I ordered an IndiFocus for myself just last week. Maybe I'll send it over to Matt at FreshDV so they can get that review updated ;)
 
I bought a used Chrosziel from this site for 900. A real steal. Sold my RRock in two seconds. Worth every penny. In retrospect, I'd pay list for its precision and convenience. Its build, machining and weight are a work of art. Best of all since the gear can be attached to the other side, it can be flipped to the otherside of your rods (a problem with the RRock). Focusing from the right side with the RR is pain because it doesn't allow the mattebox to be fitted properly.
 
I second RAM S.O.S on that review, it doesn't do the new indifocus any real justice. Its every bit as reliable as the Redrock and its cheaper.

In the end if it comes down to budget savings, go Indifocus. If its total performance you want then listen to Tim Naylor cos the dude knows what he's talking about.

Richard
 
Had the same question...guess the indi focus would be the way to go since I can't afford myself a chroziel...has anyone tested the indifocus slider system...seem like a good piece of gear wondering how well does it work in real life...how smooth is the move...seting up how fast and...if anyone has had any experience with it please report...
 
I just purchased a IndiFocus Pro. The problem I have is with lens that has a focus ring that sort of moves up and down the lens barrel a bit. How do I use the follow focus for this kind of lens? Are there any other tricks to make use of the follow focus on these lens?
 
If you have time, look in the equipment for sale ads. Sometimes a gem pops up. Saw an Arri Lightweight for 850 a month ago. It's about a 2000 dollar FF. Went fast. The SG FF is worth looking into as one reviewer here said its play was something like .3mm or something like that (on par with Chroziel at 1/3 the price).

None of the low cost guys seem to think pulling focus on both sides of the camera is that important. Flipping the gear to the otherside should be mandatory if you want get your mattebox flush to the lens. If it were possible with the RR, I might have kept it. Ask Timur how many times he had to pull focus for me on the right side of the camera and then the left and then the right......

The other issue I had with the RR is the marker always gets bent out of place. To bend it back, you have to disassemble the gear box from the unit and then bend it back. Pain in the ass. This oversight should be addressed ASAP.

Other FF worth looking into is the Petroff. Less than a Chrosz but built at the same level. Haven't messed with the Indy yet. Looks like a bargain.

The thing you have to remember with still lenses, is because of the tighter focus markings, your FF actually has to be more precise than use with cine lenses. Which is why I can tolerate greater play with PL mount lenses where it would be unacceptable with my Nikons. To address this, Chrosz allows changing gears which I sometimes do if I have a real small but critical pull.

I don't suggest blowing a fortune on anything. But certain things you'll have longer than your camera and are worth getting another paper route for. A follow focus is one of them. A tri pod is another. Add lenses to that. If you buy new you'll go broke fast. Scour the classified, there's gold to be found.
 
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Thanks Tim for the info.

What other dual mountable Follow Focus are in the higher quality class (above the SG, RR, Indi etc) without going too high?
 
The two reviews I want to see are the Indie and the SG. Both are reasonably priced. I heard good things about both but have yet to see a good objective review. Things I want to know: Free play/backlash, damping, side switchable, ease of set up and build.

Who's got the goods?
 
myCharlie said:
I just purchased a IndiFocus Pro. The problem I have is with lens that has a focus ring that sort of moves up and down the lens barrel a bit. How do I use the follow focus for this kind of lens? Are there any other tricks to make use of the follow focus on these lens?
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I asked the same question a while back. I was told that it should be okay, that the lens gears should still catch. I haven't ordered my indifocus yet (damn tuition), but I hope they are right!
 
I do have the IndiFocus Pro and it's not catching it. I'm having so much problem with my Nikon 55mm macro lens of the focus ring moves quite a bit. The focus ring moves about an inch. So it's not catching it.
 
myCharlie said:
I do have the IndiFocus Pro and it's not catching it. I'm having so much problem with my Nikon 55mm macro lens of the focus ring moves quite a bit. The focus ring moves about an inch. So it's not catching it.
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Makes sense. The focus ring on all macros travels FOREVER. Standard lenses shouldn't have that problem.

I was up at school playing with our SI camera today. We have some custom modded Nikon primes - most of them are AIS so there is no barrel travel. However I noticed the 85mm f/2 is an AI and has the barrel travel. I assume this isn't an issue since we went to the trouble of having the lens modded for cinema use.
 
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