GH1 and Follow Focus Setup

NorBro

NorBro

Major Contributor
Hi,

I'm sorry I've been posting so much, but I really love this forum. And my posts have been leading to discussions, so at least they may be helping others learn or at least help answer similar questions I had/have.

This next one deals with a nice setup for the GH1.

I've searched out there for good follow focus systems and rail setups for the GH1, but I haven't found a solid answer.

Two main concerns come into mind:

(1) I've heard the stock lens doesn't work too well with these focus systems as the gears slip off, and what not. I tried the hose clamp with cabinet knob trick that editman shares on his website, but I just can't get it to work smoothly. It gives a "rough drag" type movement.

This is probably the best for anyone interested in an affordable FF system, but the maker said it does not work well with stock lens of GH1:

http://www.dfocussystem.com/

(2) I'd like to put a matte box at the end of my cam, but I can't imagine how it would work if you'd have to change the zoom. Does anyone know of any good setups/rails that can work with this? Does a MB interfere with a FaderND?

Any recommendations/thoughts about a good setup? Any other cool tools for some moviemaking?

Thanks!!
 
if your'e going to use a follow focus and matte box don't use the kit lens. a fader nd would still work but it'd be a hassle to adjust it with a matte box at the end. i'd say either the india stuff from ebay or indie focus gear.
 
If you mean product names for the Indian stuff, there are several eBay vendors that appear to be one company. I think one is called DV23 or something like that. I'm pretty sure all or most are The Cine City which can be found here:

http://www.thecinecity.com/tcc/home.php

I bought a shoulder mount from them a couple years ago that Philip Bloom raved about and then later walked back all that praise. It's a so-so shoulder mount, but they did ship it quickly and it was cheap. I've heard mixed things about some of their other products.
 
Hey, thanks...yea I've been checking out cinecity...

I was just more interested in what other gear people use/have...
 
NorBro said:
Hi,


This next one deals with a nice setup for the GH1.

I've searched out there for good follow focus systems and rail setups for the GH1, but I haven't found a solid answer.

Two main concerns come into mind:

(1) I've heard the stock lens doesn't work too well with these focus systems as the gears slip off, and what not. I tried the hose clamp with cabinet knob trick that editman shares on his website, but I just can't get it to work smoothly. It gives a "rough drag" type movement.
Click to expand...


The IndiFocus20 from Indisystems works perfectly with the GH1, especially with the new SNAP! Gears. No problem getting good grip, etc. on the 14-140 kit lens.

P1000684a-vi.jpg


The problem lies with the fly-by-wire focusing system of all the Panasonic lenses... it just feels so... imprecise... compared with almost any other normal lens from any other manufacturer. I use Tamron, Sigma and Minolta lenses on my GH1 and the focusing on these lenses with the follow focus feels very smooth and precise.

It's just so-so on the kit 14-140 because of the fly-by-wire method Panasonic has implemented.

From Wikipedia:

"To make matters worse, most autofocus lenses with a focus ring (such as those on most consumer and prosumer camcorders) are not "true" manual focus lenses, meaning that turning the ring does not directly adjust the elements inside the lens but rather actuates the electronics inside the camera which predict how the focus should go depending on how fast or far the ring was turned. These lenses make precise and repeatable focus pulls difficult, and use of a follow focus impractical. They are sometimes called "servo" focus lenses or "focus by wire" cameras."

Hope this helps.
 
Last edited:
I do believe they are available now. For a review, see

http://www.componentgeek.com/archives/814

The gears are apparently for sale, according to the guy who did the review. It's just that the IndiSystems web site apparently hasn't been updated yet.

I certainly didn't order the gears (although I did pay to get extra gears) so I believe Tim threw them in as a way to make amends for messing up the shipping on my initial order. Whatever the case, he's got a strong customer in me, and I'll be looking to buy more gear from him before I go looking at other companies :)
 
chinkster said:
The IndiFocus20 from Indisystems works perfectly with the GH1, especially with the new SNAP! Gears. No problem getting good grip, etc. on the 14-140 kit lens.

P1000684a-vi.jpg


The problem lies with the fly-by-wire focusing system of all the Panasonic lenses... it just feels so... imprecise... compared with almost any other normal lens from any other manufacturer. I use Tamron, Sigma and Minolta lenses on my GH1 and the focusing on these lenses with the follow focus feels very smooth and precise.

It's just so-so on the kit 14-140 because of the fly-by-wire method Panasonic has implemented.

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

i wanna get this exact setup, but is that the 12 inch or 18 inch rails? i'm going to use the stock lens sometimes so I need some room to play with zoom on the rails. I'm gonna put a mb on it also
 
It's the 18" IndiRailsPro DSLR version, not the normal IndiRailsPro.

I'm also getting the exact same setup as you are, including the mattebox from cinecity, and I'll be all set up. Which mattebox are you ordering? There are several on the site.

This is my rig with the JuicedLink:

P1000698-vi.jpg


Just waiting for the mattebox now...
 
chinkster said:
It's the 18" IndiRailsPro DSLR version, not the normal IndiRailsPro.

I'm also getting the exact same setup as you are, including the mattebox from cinecity, and I'll be all set up. Which mattebox are you ordering? There are several on the site.

This is my rig with the JuicedLink:

P1000698-vi.jpg


Just waiting for the mattebox now...
Click to expand...

How is the follow focus working for you with the panasonic lenses since they're electronic?
 
What's the point of using a follow focus on a lens that a) has a largest aperture of f4, b) has a servo manual focusing method, c) has a good video constant auto-focus?????

It's just impractical and pointless. I've had a follow focus for years, and have done quite a bit of pulling. To actually do a focus pull on a shoot requires a serious degree of precision, and usually a short depth of field to accentuate the effect. This lens is not the way to go unless you want to make the rig look more pro, which I guess it does. A follow focus is great, however for a mechanical manual focus lens, but not necessary for most shooting.

A poor man's follow focus often works as well for occasional use too - it's a thin strip of masking tape stuck on the lens barrel, on which stop marks can be daubed. Accurate, fast, easy and free!
 
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