Follow Focus with crank

V

Victor Nhat Nguyen

Well-known member
I'm in search of a follow focus that let me be able to crank it and allow me to switch lenses quickly and efficiently because I may use it for wedding
 
Most follow focus units can take an optional crank handle. Most have a standard sized square hole to receive it. As for changing lenses quickly and efficiently, that depends on your lenses. If they all have their focus rings in the same place and have the same form factor then it will be quick and easy to change lenses. That said it depends what you mean by quick. It takes less time to adjust my FF than it does to swap the lens over, maybe 30 seconds at the most at a relaxed pace. If every lens has a gear on it that is. If I have to swap the gear from lens to lens add 1-2 minutes.
 
The Cinevate Durus follow focus attaches to only one rail, and thus is easily and quickly moved in and out of position. A tad expensive, though.... better hope it's a good year for weddings.
 
search for "RJ follow focus" on ebay. cheap price, not as solid as consequence with a little more play but does the job. you can get one with 2 hard stops for under $200 (that's the one I got) but that won't be of much benefit to you, it's more handy when you're able to plan your moves. The one without the hard stops is cheaper. they've redesigned the split pin interface that the gear locks into so it isn't as prone to going loose with some use as the older design (that could be fixed with a paper shim). I haven't used mine a great deal but have found it to be up to the task. the little bit of play in the movement isn't too difficult to work around and at the price you aren't going to get better.

alternatively you could look for a non geared handle that clamps to the lens, less sophisticated but may be better suited to your needs. many use a jar opener or oil filter wrench, some designs of which are essentially the same thing for less an a tenth the price. there's a thread somewhere in the DIY section about these, with links to the commercial solutions they wanted to duplicate. have a look in there first.
 
The reason I want a follow focus is that I can be able to continuously crank. I use all manual focus lenses so the focus throw is long. However, because it is long, when I try to focus I always need to stop because my hand can only turn so much.
 
I suggest you get a better brand of follow focus, and just get that link i gave you for the crank only.

I heard trustmt is a good value, personally I have a genus bravo. Most have a standard slot for the crank.
 
I got a D|Focus (Jag35) when I first started messing with DSLRs - never have bothered to upgrade it. Really works quite well.

The thing about changing lenses with an FF - you need to buy a gear ring for every lens. Some lenses won't let you really tighten the ring though, they'll start to stiffen up. Some AF lenses have very narrow focus rings, too. Both of these issues can mean the rings aren't super tight, and after a long day of shooting and swapping they're prone to popping off. If you have rails and a matte box, it can get more involved, especially if your lenses are big. If you're using lens adapters (say, Nikon glass to Canon), you need one of those on every lens as well. And you need (in this case) a bunch of Canon rear caps, in addition to your Nikon caps (so you can cap the lenses with the adapters on). And a way to store your lenses with the rings on (like blocks of foam with a cylindrical hole in them, so the ring rests on top of the foam) - lenses with rings can't just sit in your bag, generally - the rings will pop off at some point.

All of that said, I still manage it pretty quickly. A big old manual 2.8 zoom can be a wrestling match though. My biggest problem? Remembering which way to twist the damn things... shot Nikon for too many years.

There was a Hong Kong vendor on eBay selling rings for like $15 including shipping for a while - they were basically RedRock style rings, which I like.

Below is an idea of storage with focus rings installed. Generally before a shoot, I'll try to set up a table with an 18-35; a 35-70; a 100mm 2.8 (because it's got mojo like mad); and a 28mm 2.8, which I consider my "normal" APS lens, all with rings, adapters and rear caps. I usually have a 50mm, an 85 1.8, and an 80-200 2.8 with me but don't usually keep those prepped. I don't do weddings/events, so the table of lenses may be a little harder to pull off for some.

DSC_0004.jpg
 
I know how you feel regarding nikon lenses. Anyway, My biggest problem is storing the lenses with lens gear on because I use a backpack. Isn't there a much sturdier lens gear? or should I get them to be cinevize by Duclos?
 
Victor Nhat Nguyen said:
I know how you feel regarding nikon lenses. Anyway, My biggest problem is storing the lenses with lens gear on because I use a backpack. Isn't there a much sturdier lens gear? or should I get them to be cinevize by Duclos?
Click to expand...

It's really not about sturdiness - I don't have a single lens - old manual or newer AF - that doesn't choke up when you really tighten the gears. They do stay put fairly well on lenses with a really fat focus ring. Getting them cinevated has sounded good to me, but my lenses that really need it I use for stills too often.

If I were using a backpack, I might look into getting some really wide lens bags and putting foam in 'em.
 
Victor Nhat Nguyen said:
I know how you feel regarding nikon lenses. Anyway, My biggest problem is storing the lenses with lens gear on because I use a backpack. Isn't there a much sturdier lens gear? or should I get them to be cinevize by Duclos?
Click to expand...

I use zip gears and they are snug tightly around the lens compared to those with screws. Theyre cheaper. Look at these.http://jag35.com/ziptiegear.html

I also can place the lenses in a backpack
 
Remember when those zip gears were like sixty bucks??

Some of my lenses really benefit from a wide ring though, gets the FF out from under everything. I might try one of those sometime though.

On the subject of follow focus - here's an awesome and cheap focus stop. Really easy to clip in on each side of your pull. Works like a charm. Don't leave home without a few. (and they're great for attaching gels to barndoors).

clip.jpg
 
Michael Carter said:
Remember when those zip gears were like sixty bucks??

Some of my lenses really benefit from a wide ring though, gets the FF out from under everything. I might try one of those sometime though.

On the subject of follow focus - here's an awesome and cheap focus stop. Really easy to clip in on each side of your pull. Works like a charm. Don't leave home without a few. (and they're great for attaching gels to barndoors).

View attachment 61103
Click to expand...

Haha! Michael I actually used those!
 
Michael,

Where did you get that bag from? Is there a model to that type of bag?
Michael Carter said:
I got a D|Focus (Jag35) when I first started messing with DSLRs - never have bothered to upgrade it. Really works quite well.

The thing about changing lenses with an FF - you need to buy a gear ring for every lens. Some lenses won't let you really tighten the ring though, they'll start to stiffen up. Some AF lenses have very narrow focus rings, too. Both of these issues can mean the rings aren't super tight, and after a long day of shooting and swapping they're prone to popping off. If you have rails and a matte box, it can get more involved, especially if your lenses are big. If you're using lens adapters (say, Nikon glass to Canon), you need one of those on every lens as well. And you need (in this case) a bunch of Canon rear caps, in addition to your Nikon caps (so you can cap the lenses with the adapters on). And a way to store your lenses with the rings on (like blocks of foam with a cylindrical hole in them, so the ring rests on top of the foam) - lenses with rings can't just sit in your bag, generally - the rings will pop off at some point.

All of that said, I still manage it pretty quickly. A big old manual 2.8 zoom can be a wrestling match though. My biggest problem? Remembering which way to twist the damn things... shot Nikon for too many years.

There was a Hong Kong vendor on eBay selling rings for like $15 including shipping for a while - they were basically RedRock style rings, which I like.

Below is an idea of storage with focus rings installed. Generally before a shoot, I'll try to set up a table with an 18-35; a 35-70; a 100mm 2.8 (because it's got mojo like mad); and a 28mm 2.8, which I consider my "normal" APS lens, all with rings, adapters and rear caps. I usually have a 50mm, an 85 1.8, and an 80-200 2.8 with me but don't usually keep those prepped. I don't do weddings/events, so the table of lenses may be a little harder to pull off for some.

View attachment 61005
Click to expand...
 
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