Follow-Focus

8

85mk7

Active member
Hiya outa there..

i used the search but did not found exactly what i was searching for...

i'm going to buy a HMC151 in the next days/weeks.

I'm interested in using a follow-focus on the HMC151 with rails. Most of the stuff is really expensive but some is priced "okay".... So i found information about the IndiFocus for example which seems to be interesting but i'm not sure if its working with the HMC and what parts i need...

Maybe some of you do know other follow-focus systems with rails for a budget that work on the HMC151? ;)

And.. is it true that you can set "start and endpoints" to the focus while using a follow-focus? Cause the HMC got Servo-Focus... so i am curious.
 
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85mk7 said:
Hiya outa there..

i used the search but did not found exactly what i was searching for...

i'm going to buy a HMC151 in the next days/weeks.

I'm interested in using a follow-focus on the HMC151 with rails. Most of the stuff is really expensive but some is priced "okay".... So i found information about the IndiFocus for example which seems to be interesting but i'm not sure if its working with the HMC and what parts i need...

Maybe some of you do know other follow-focus systems with rails for a budget that work on the HMC151? ;)

And.. is it true that you can set "start and endpoints" to the focus while using a follow-focus? Cause the HMC got Servo-Focus... so i am curious.
Click to expand...

I have a RedRock Micro FF on my HMC 150.
I had to do some modification to get it to work the way I like it.
I use paper clips on the white disc to get to my Start & End points.
They act as a brake. Works pretty good.
Here is the problem I encountered: You will have a hard time getting a focus-ring on that lens, since the rubber ring on the lensbarrel is not straight, like lets say on a Nikon lens. It is wider at the front and slopes back a bit, making it hard to attach a focusring to it, even if you have an adjustable one.
My RedRock rings did not work very well. Maybe the new Cinevate Rings would work. Check those out.
Anyway, here is how I solved this problem.
I went to a RC Race car store and got some RC Car tires. Slipped a tire over the FF gear wheel and now I had rubber to rubber contact and it worked well.
However, when performing a quick rack focus, the tire would deform a bit and I did not like that much. It worked though.
Next, I went to WalMart and got a childrens bicyle inner tube. Took some siccors and cut the inner tube into small rubber bands about1/2 inch wide.
Slipped those over the gear and build them up till I had a good solid grip on the lens ring. Works like a charm. Looks good too.

Hope this helps.

GH
 
@GH

Could you post some pics of your setup, please? :)
SOunds interesting with the RC car tires...

I expected the focus-ring on the hmc to be a problem because of its "not-flat" design you speak about.

But being honest - I guess the redrock FF + rails is kinda way too expensive for my budget.. cause i have to calculate shipping costs, duty&taxes on top... sadly:)
 
I have this for my 150:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/531214-REG/Manfrotto_521PFI.html

With this its super easy- you can set focus for your in and out points electronically. 1st, focus to your foreground object (say=MF30) set your IN dial, then focus to your background object (say=MF60), and then set your OUT dial. Then turn the knob as fast or as slow as you want, it will focus between the two and will never go past those values. Perfect rack focus each time. No need for stops, because no matter how much your turn the knob it will not move past those MF numbers. You don't need rails to mount it, you can grip it to the handle of the 150 or to your tripod handle. It also will control your cam's iris!

It took a little practice, but was worth it. Weighs almost nothing, and cheaper than even the Indian FF and rails. I paid $350 for mine, it's even come down in price. For a DLSR cam- a FF makes sense, but not for the 150 and its funky focus ring. It's a no-brainer IMO. Below is a review from a DVXuser.

http://www.dvxuser.com/articles/article.php/14
 
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hi edweirdo...

this item seems to be an interesting alternative to a real FF... really interesting.

i also found something that is kinda similar to this... the "bebob foxi"

The downside... both aer only usable on panasonic camcorder with these connections so if i upgrade to another camera i have to buy panasonic again ;) or buy a new system.

anyhow.. i will think about one of these systems... the review sounds good.. but i'm a little confused about the focal range... it seems like it its not possible to drive through the whole focus range from fully wide(macro) to infinity? or did i missunderstood something?
 
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