Follow Focus systems

  • Thread starter Thread starter SeanEmer
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SeanEmer

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I've got an editing job coming up, and if all goes well I'll be able to invest most of my pay into buying a follow focus system for my HVX/LEX rig. I've been looking around for a couple days now, and I haven't found a definitive source of the pros and cons of the various follow focus systems out there on the market. Right now I'm pretty interested in the IndiFocus system, but I don't know enough of the technical jargon to be fully satisfied.

on the IndiFocus webpage, there's four different FF packages to choose from. Can anyone clarify the specific differences between...

Base package: The indiFOCUSpro gives you a full featured follow focus with hard stops and the universal friction wheel for use without the need to have your camera's lens geared.

Geared: Based on the indiFOCUSpro this package includes three lens gears, lens gear driver, and an additional gear in Cine pitch [0.8].

Geared Deluxe: Based on the indiFOCUSpro this package includes three lens gears, lens gear driver, an additional gear in Cine pitch [0.8] a 12” whip and speed crank

Geared Ultimate: Based on the indiFOCUSpro this package includes three lens gears, three sized lens gear drivers and three Cinepitch 0.8 gear sizes, a 12” whip, speed crank and light up handle.

What does it mean to have your camera's lens geared? what is a 'Cine pitch [0.8]'? A lens gear driver? Sized lens gear drivers? I know my camera and my lenses, but this stuff is new to me. Any clarification would be great!
 
1.) The friction wheel is for use with your HVX or small format cam only. It uses a large rigid foam like wheel to apply pressure to the cameras focus ring.

2.) Geared - This system is the same as the base package , but you get a lens gear driver and 3 lens gears. This is what you would need for your LEX. The lens gears get attached to your 35mm lenses and the gear driver interfaces with the gears on your 35mm lenses. The three gears are for different lenses. If you have more than three 35mm lenses that you use with the LEX you will need to purchase an additional ring for each lens.

3.) The other options are just extras, whip for remote extension, speed crank for, well...speed changes...and the lighted focus knob for hitting marked pulls on low lit sets.

Minimum investment for you and the LEX would be the Geared...

Don't mean to insult any intelligence, but you did not mention rails...you will need them for your FF.
 
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I already have a rod system from Chroiszel that I modified to fit the Letus. I just need to pick up a couple extensions and I'll be fine on that note, but thanks for the concern.

And an even bigger thank you for the explanations! That helped a lot. I had seen the lens gears in pictures before, but never put two and two together, heh. I'll be going over the systems a bit more consicely now that I better understand how they work.

Do you know what Cine Pitch 0.8 refers to? I have my thoughts, but I want to know for sure.
 
Cine Pitch 0.8 I'm assuming is the gear, the finer the gear the finer control over the focus.

The whip is more than just an extension it is to help isolate the 1st AC from the camera as to not induce shake or movement while pulling focus.

The speed crank is usuall for very fast and long duration focus pulls.

You should also check out redrock, they will be releasing a wireless focus puller soon for around 500.00 I believe.
 
thanks for the info! I'll definitely check out Redrock and any other system I can find, since I won't be buying for at least another month.
 
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