Follow Focus Questions For Hvx200

thefilmaddict

thefilmaddict

Veteran
I've heard a lot about matte boxes, but is there a follow focus attachment available for the HVX200? How much does it cost and where do I order one?

Way back in film school, I used follow focus on a 35mm film camera and it worked great. When I've had someone change the focus on a video camera zoom lens (an assistant), it sometimes adds a bump to the footage. When I operate the camera and pull focus myself, it can be hit or miss (it's easy to miss your focus mark while doing a pan or tilt).

Perhaps the 35mm works so well because it's on the side of the camera and because a 35mm camera is heavy and sits on some very sturdy sticks. Is there anyway to improve focus pulling/following on a camera as small as the HVX200?

Perhaps there is a follow focus that I can afford. If not, does anyone use the old camera tape on the lens method? Any tricks to pulling this off? Do you use an assistant or pull the focus yourself (while operating the camera)?

THANKS!!!
 
A while back, I remeber watching a canon demo where you could set a start focus point and an end focus point, then press a button and the camera does the follow/pull focus for you. Does this work? Does the HVX200 have this option? It sounded like a neat idea.
 
thefilmaddict said:
A while back, I remeber watching a canon demo where you could set a start focus point and an end focus point, then press a button and the camera does the follow/pull focus for you. Does this work? Does the HVX200 have this option? It sounded like a neat idea.
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I had an FX1 and it does have a really cool feature called "shot tranition."

You could program focus, zoom iris, even white balance and more, for two shots into the start and end buttons then with a touch of a button, transtion between the two.

Having the HVX, the shot transition is the only thing I miss about the FX1. It was great to be able to repeat a shot exactly over and over. Very handy for less skilled as well as skilled shooters.

Unless I missed something, the HVX does not have this feature.
 
The indi focus that is advertised here looks to be the most reasonble in price. I think it's like 300 bucks. I've read though that it doesn't work so well for some applications and I guess it's tension mounted or something. I'm sure a search for that would reveal a lot of good info.. and when ya find it share it back with others. I'm thinking of getting the most cost-effective Rod, follow focus and 2 or 3 filter holding Matte box I can get. I'm hoping to be able to pull it off for 1500-2K. I'd start with the Rod support, follow focus and I think that's attainable for maybe 800.. then I'd get the Matte box later as I can afford it.
 
Hmmm. They seem like a great company and competive price wise. A full package from them might be a convenient solution
 
You can do the tape-on-the-lens trick and it will work; the HVX lens is repeatable for focus marks.

There are follow focus devices that can work. However, as an alternate idea, look at the VariZoom remote focus/zoom/iris controller; they claim that you can get exactly repeatable focus moves with it and because it's a cabled remote it means you don't have to touch the camera or the lens. It's a different way to do the job, but maybe it would work for you, and the ability to have it remotely control focus opens up new options (such as jib moves, etc).
 
Barry,
I looked at the VZ-PFI. It looks like the zoom control is very good (speed and pressure control), but I don't see how you could mark start and stop (repeatable) focus positions using that little round control knob. I also don't see how you could control the speed of the focus pull very easily. Has anyone used this product? Can you accomplish follow focus with it easily?
I wish there was a product where you could input 2 focus positons, then using a pressure controlled rocker, go from one position to the other.
Thanks!
 
Hi addict, I think for $329 that is a bit much to ask :) However, the VZ is very repeatable, with practice. It is very sensitive, and a very small move is required to make it happen. So your accurate index finger and thumb muscles really get the hang of it, since the wrist isn't involved.

Also, I hear Tom is working on a focus wheel for assist. That may be what eveyrone needs too. :thumbup:
 
Rush,
With the VZ how do you mark your start and end focus point? If you just do it by eye, won't you be likely to go too far or not far enough? If it is just a slight turn, won't doing various speeds of racking or following be hard to accomplish? Maybe I am just not understanding how to physically use the VZ.

I've used studio focus controls and you just turn them until you hit the desired focus. It's kind of hit and miss (I'm sure a seasoned studio camera operator can follow focus by using this type of control, but I do not have that ability). There's no way to mark predetermined points with these types of controls, right?

When I used the follow focus system on a 35mm film camera, it's a big wheel that you can mark. Since the wheel is big, you can easily control the speed from one marked position to the next. Since you can use a grease pencil to mark start and stop points, it's easy to use in a situation where actors hit predetermined marks (that's the type of controlled shooting situation I will be in).

I guess I'm looking for an inexspensive focus control that can be easily adjusted at various speeds and offer some visual start and stop points. Will the VZ do that? If not, what other focus controls are available?

THANKS!
 
thefilmaddict said:
With the VZ how do you mark your start and end focus point?
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I don't have my VZ yet (hint, hint, Rush!) but presumably you'd use the distance markings in the viewfinder. It gives you readouts down to basically the inch (in terms of such as 3.6 ft) or the decimeter or the MF00-MF99 scale, so just memorize your start and end points and use the markings on the viewfinder to track where you are in the move.

I guess I'm looking for an inexspensive focus control that can be easily adjusted at various speeds and offer some visual start and stop points. Will the VZ do that? If not, what other focus controls are available?
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Sounds like you'd be more of a candidate for a traditional follow focus rather than something like the VZ. I just brought it up in case it'd work for you. Chrosziel's follow focus system is like $1500, and the VZ is under $300, so for some it may prove to be enough. Maybe not for what you want though.
 
The Chrosziel sounds like it's a bit steep in price. I may have to make do with the VZ. That's interesting that you adjust the focus control using the focus numbers in the viewfinder. That's an interesting method. perhaps I could master that? Let me know if the VZ is easy to control and accurate to start and stop after you get it.

Also, can these numbers be seen on the LCD screen? Can these numbers be seen on a HD monitor (meaning: does the HVX200 have a component HD out with the super option (so viewfinder info can be displayed on a much bigger external HD screen)?

On most of my video shoots (in the past), I cut scenes up into shots that have a single set focus point (doing close up and medium framing for static shots and wide framing for moving shots). With focus being so critical in HD and me wanting to do more complex moves where the subject(s) move in the frame, I'm thinking that I will need some type of follow focus device, right?

Thanks guys!
 
thefilmaddict said:
Let me know if the VZ is easy to control and accurate to start and stop after you get it.
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As soon as it arrives I'll give a mini-report.

Also, can these numbers be seen on the LCD screen?
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Yes.
Can these numbers be seen on a HD monitor (meaning: does the HVX200 have a component HD out with the super option (so viewfinder info can be displayed on a much bigger external HD screen)?
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Yes.

With focus being so critical in HD and me wanting to do more complex moves where the subject(s) move in the frame, I'm thinking that I will need some type of follow focus device, right?
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Well, maybe, yes, but you really need someone else to run it. If you're the operator it's not all that easy to use a FF while you're operating. You pretty much need a 1st assistant cameraperson to pull focus for you with a follow focus.

And yes, there are other options, there's Redrock's, there's CAVision's, there's Tim Ovel's IndiFocus... all sorts of different products at various price points.
 
Barry_Green said:
As soon as it arrives I'll give a mini-report.


Yes.

Yes.


Well, maybe, yes, but you really need someone else to run it. If you're the operator it's not all that easy to use a FF while you're operating. You pretty much need a 1st assistant cameraperson to pull focus for you with a follow focus.

And yes, there are other options, there's Redrock's, there's CAVision's, there's Tim Ovel's IndiFocus... all sorts of different products at various price points.
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I am in the opposit position. I have the VZ, but no camera to put it on.
Got it from B&H, they have it in stock.
 
Cool follow focus for the M2!

As far as follow focuses go, the only ones I know of are from Vocas, Chrosziel, and the indiFocus. P+S has one too if I'm not mistaken, but that's included with the Mini35 or is an accessory add-on or something.
 
Barry,

The more I look at the Varizoom, the more I ponder the idea of modifying it to make it serve my purpose. All of the follow focus add ons (by other companies) are not cheap and they are not exactly custom fit (you have to use rods and it works by basically pressing up against the focus ring). They also look like they add weight to the camera and increase setup time.

The Varizoom could be a better solution and a more accurate focus tool if:

You could make the focus control bigger (perhaps the size of a wheel that you could grip with your hand) -- allowing the operator to turn it at a controlled speed

and

add a white ring beyond the focus wheel that you could draw start and stop marks on

I think they would sell a ton more of these if they would just make them more like that (not that they don't sell enough already and sure don't need me to advise them). The cool thing is that your assistant doesn't have to touch the camera and risk bumping the shot using the modified Varizoom.

Are there any crafty people out there who could modify the Varizoom to act more like a normal follow focus control? Would it work or am I just crazy? I'd pay a little more for the modification.
 
I'd say contact VariZoom and ask them those very questions. They seem to be a pretty responsive company, maybe they'll consider making a version that meets what you're asking for?
 
Honestly at the current state of follow focus plunders the best option seems to be the old fashion way....

Hire an AC with the Varizoom and sit him in front of a nice hd lcd or production monitor with the HVX's display functions outpot to an hd lcd or broadcast monitor and let the AC do digital marks using the numbered focal markings.
 
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