FS7: follow focus unit for 28-135 lens

R

ryaninoz

Well-known member
I'm looking at getting a Lanparte follow focus unit and wondering how well follow focus units work with the fs7 kit lens considering its focus ring doesnt have proper teeth for the cog to grip onto. Has anyone had experience using a ff unit with this lens ? or with the Lanparte system ? I'm guessing the lens will need a gear ring?
 
In my fully-blow-up configuration (where my FS7 is on the rail system etc.) - I did try using my old Redrock microFollowFocus v.1.0, both with and without additional gear ring. It's certainly possible (with the latter not giving you the full peace of mind it will not slip) - but one point is imprtant: the somewhat "loose" connection of the FF with the lens ring w/o additional gear ring - while suffering from the abovementioned disadvantage - offers an important advantage instead: it will never cause your flimsy E-mount to flex under the considerable forces and torques a more tight FF/lens integration can create. I remember a post by someone who even noticed his picture going out of focus due to the flexing of his FS7's E-mount when using an FF with the kit lens... So this is something to consider when building such a configuration,

Piotr
 
I bought the Lanparte FF-02 follow focus with hard stops. I've used it with the kit lens but didn't use the strap-on gear. It worked good enough with just the geared wheeled pressed into the lens focus ring. I wasn't too happy with this FF though. The adjustable hard stops are no good. There's an o-ring that sits in a groove and interferes with the adjustment mechanism. Also, this model is supposed to be reversible, but mine won't do that. It appears the threads weren't cut right, so I can't attach the gear to the opposite side. The strap-on lens gears are not great also. I've used them on some of my Canon lenses and while making an adjustment to reposition the clamping part so it is clear of the gear wheel, the clamp came apart and I had to fiddle around trying to get it back together when I should have been shooting. I don't think I just got a bad unit, so consider yourself forewarned. Can't offer any advice on another make/model as this is the only one I have tried. One thing I can say is the Lamparte had minimal backlash and I liked how it attached to the rods. I chose it based largely on some reviews on YouTube. What a farce.

Mark
 
I had the older version and bought a new version and then won the new version in a shoot35 competition and got refunded but it has been flawless.

I've tried pretty much all of the FFs in the low to mid range and I'd say until you hit Arri FF4 or O Connor or (possibly) the new Bright Tangerine one, it can't be beat. Better than Tilta/Movcam/Lanparte/Arri MFF1

My single issue if when I have put it on a 15mm - 19mm rod adapter for bigger cameras I felt there was a bit of play in their adapter, but that's it.
 
Another vote for the shoot 35 FF - well designed , zero play. great hard stop system, easily reversed, and their adjustable gears work very well also. A tremendous bargain.
 
Briefly tried Shoot35's CINEfocus on Sony's 28-135mm but the drive gear was too wide for the lens' focus gear. Also the pitch of the lens' teeth is not cine standard (0.8), & may not comply to any standard. Shoot35 could likely customize a drive gear to fit, but the lens' focus ring is made of a somewhat soft rubber which is not ideal.

Imagined someone would come out with a better follow focus gear for the 28-135mm but so far haven't found one.
 
Thanks for the responses I'll take on board the comment re the lanparte ff I think I watched the same YouTube reviews which
I think are really just marketing in disguise. I like the ab focus system but I've been caught buying cheap gear that looks good but fails before. I'll check out the shoot35 system.
 
Don't want to sound like a shill for shoot 35, but I've been dealing with Wayne Kinney for years ever since he got in the business making the "SG35" which was the best of the lost cost 35mm adapters. Wayne is simply a good designer who stands by his stuff and its usually good. In this case he hit a home run IMHO. I used to have an Arri MFF1 and Wayne's FF left it in the dust for 1/3 the price. A lot of people on these pages have said the same thing that Ben and I do here.

Last year I complained about one aspect of the design and he wrote back telling me he had already fixed that and he brought mine up to the new spec at no cost.

Lenny Levy
 
I use Fotga DP500 Mk2. 0 play, 0 issues. Very smooth and even has some basic dampen adjustment. Optional hard stops. Very easy to take off and put on. Has 3 different gears that you can mount to your preference. Works flawlessly with the stock rubber ring - I see absolutely no reasons to use an external gear with it - the setup is smooth, solid, and very reliable - never an issue.
 
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