Follow Focus - need (ring? hoop?) for lenses

PegLeg Media

PegLeg Media

Well-known member
i recently bought this follow focus:
http://www.amazon.com/Triline-Follo...364479914&sr=8-12&keywords=follow+focus++ring

It works okay but sometimes it slips on the plastic (hoop/ring) that goes around the lens... Sorry im not sure what the term is.

I have seen some lens sets that each lens has a nice tight ring around the focus part of the lens that works with the follow focus and I am looking to purchase some of these for my lenses. The one my FF came with doesn't stay tight, it skips some and is a pain to get tight on the lens. I also want multiple ones for each of my lenses to save times. So what are some options to better (rings/hoops) for a lens?
 
You're looking for a lens gear. I'm not as much a fan of the zip-tie style, and prefer something a little more robust. Redrock Micro gears are nice, and are decently affordable. They do come in different sizes, though, so be sure to size your lens(es) properly before you buy.

The slipping, though, could be due to the follow focus not being aligned close enough to the lens gear, or to improper pitch matching between the drive gear and the lens gear. The FF you linked is the cheap Chinese version that's sold under a few different brands... not the most robust.
 
Actually, the slipping i'm sure has to do with the flexible lens gear included in that kit. I've used them before and the material can slip and bend easily, making it a pain to use.

I usually get my lens gears from ebay, search aroudn and you'll find many options. I get the ones that look identical to the RedRock ones but a a lower price and they work great.
 
Search for "Focus lens gear" in ebay's photo department. There's an asian seller with rings very similar to RedRock's - for about $15 a ring. I have several and they get here (Texas, USA) in a week or so. I think that company in Brooklyn that sells a lot of import photo stuff on eBay may stock 'em in the US now, too. Those zip rings just seem kinda silly, get a ring for each lens you use often.
 
thanks for the help, i see a lot of images of peoples lenses for sale where the lens gear looks more like a rubber band around the lens, is this a different kind of lens gear i could search for?

how do you size your lens? do you just measure around the focus ring or is it going to work depending on your lens size (same as your lens cap)?

thanks for the help and ps, i really like your website and reviews YardBlessPro!
 
All of my gears are hard plastic that standoff from the lens a bit - they come in ranges, like 70-75mm. You measure the diameter of your lens (circumference / pi) and get the closest fit. They slip on and tighten closed.

I don't know why you're having trouble - a search a minute ago for 'focus gear' turned up a bunch, like these for under ten bucks.
 
PegLeg Media said:
thanks for the help, i see a lot of images of peoples lenses for sale where the lens gear looks more like a rubber band around the lens, is this a different kind of lens gear i could search for?!
Click to expand...

Lens gears come really in two flavours-

'Far from the lens' like redrock - these give a little more leverage as the effective diameter of the lens is increased, they can also be of equal diameter across lenses making lens swaps a little quicker

the downside is that they take more room in the bag/case if left on the lens and are in some cases costly

http://store.redrockmicro.com/Catalog/lensgears

The second type are 'close to the lens' - easy to pack away, left on the lens, non intrusive if doing stills and often 'better value'..

http://wideopencamera.com/cheap-lens-gears/
 
morgan_moore said:
Lens gears come really in two flavours-

'Far from the lens' like redrock - these give a little more leverage as the effective diameter of the lens is increased, they can also be of equal diameter across lenses making lens swaps a little quicker

the downside is that they take more room in the bag/case if left on the lens and are in some cases costly

http://store.redrockmicro.com/Catalog/lensgears

The second type are 'close to the lens' - easy to pack away, left on the lens, non intrusive if doing stills and often 'better value'..

http://wideopencamera.com/cheap-lens-gears/
Click to expand...


I really love the look of those 2nd ones! For using Canon FD 28mm and 50mm lenses, do you know if the small or medium sizes would work?
 
You can cut a piece of paper or string to wrap around the lens barrel and measure it. On many lenses the filter diameter will be about the same as the ring you need, too.
 
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