Ikan F3 Follow Focus with 20mm f1.7 pancake

J

JerryB

Well-known member
I just put up a video review (done with one hand) of the Gh1 with the 20mm f1.7 Friction Follow Focus.

I was apprehensive about purchasing a friction follow focus but trusted Ikan products and they have a 15 day return policy. I specifically went with this follow focus because I find that I always wind up throwing on the pancake as my "go to" lens (especially in low light) and this FF is able to toggle so that it can get in close to camera where the 20mm focus ring is. It is definitely a little pricey (little cheaper at B and H) but very well built and worth it if you find that you use the pancake a lot or own G series and lighter focus ring lenses. It also worked well with some of my FD lenses.

Lemme know if you have any questions or thoughts.

Check out the video review here http://www.offthebend.com/
 
Nice job on the review. Question: when you start using it with the Canon FD50/1.8, there appears to be a tiny divot missing from the surface of the follow focus where it contacts the lens. Did this happen during operation or did it come that way? I didn't see the divot in the shots with the pancake.
 
There is a slight divot on the wheel (seemingly where the rubber was formed from). I noticed this but upon using it with my lenses I realized it has no affect on the friction.
 
Yea... nice job... I'm looking for something like this... do you reckon it would handle the weight of the Tokina 11-17mm...

Cheers
 
nice, I really like this idea as my main workflow is ultra simplicity.. not having geared lenses will definitely make life a lil simpler.. One question, can you use a focus whip with it?
 
I am not certain about the Tokina 11-17mm but I am going to have to think that yes it will work well with the F3. It is a newer lens and should have a relatively light and smooth focus ring. My FD lenses are heavier, old and kinda stiff and the F3 worked pretty well with all of them. I had some issues with a much older and heavier breach lock Canon FD 28mm f2.8. Although, I was using my cheap Matthews M25 tripod, I believe if the camera was attached to a sturdier head, than the F3 will work even better.

I don't have a lot of personal experience using a focus whip but I believe you can us it. Given that it's a friction follow focus, the pull is a little harder so not certain. I would give Ikan a ring if your thinking about getting it.
 
Thanks... I emailed them about cost for postage to Oz... hope to hear from them... cheers
 
I really like the simplicity and price of the Ikan F3, but i think it needs a white round board for mark the focus distance, and the hole to put a Whip, my guess!!
 
I believe it has a hole for a whip (not certain if it will work, might want to contact Ikan), but I agree not the best for precision marking when pulling focus, but there are work arounds.
 
Martin Oller said:
199 usd for that?! lol... 30min in your garage bro...
Click to expand...

That could be said of most hdslr gear that people purchase. I agree it is a little pricey and if someone is crafty enough to build it themselves then they are more than welcome to take the 30 minutes and build it. Please post images here if someone does. My biggest plus was the ability to be used with 20mm pancake.

For everyone else (who has the money to spend) it is a pretty simple, sturdy and functional alternative to a more cumbersome gear laden follow focus system.
 
I am confused...without a marking disk what the hell is the point? A follow focus is typically used for getting proper focus after making marks on the ground. I was thinking of ordering this thing because I am getting fed up with trying to find lens gears that will fit on my tiny lenses (I have an Olympus Pen F lens that has a 45mm wide focus ring! For comparison the 20mm pancake has a 62mm wide focus ring!) How well does the friction work on old manual focus lenses with metal rings that are smooth but require lots of force...I mean, I love the focus ring on my PEN F lens but it's seriously heavy (part of why I like it.)
 
If I didn't have a follow focus, I'd consider this. I find pulling focus using a FF much easier than pulling from the barrel, even when not setting focus points. Think of it ergonomically - in a run n gun situation (with a rig), it'd be easier to use a FF to pull focus than from the lens itself...at least for me.

Kegan
 
Hunter007 said:
If I didn't have a follow focus, I'd consider this. I find pulling focus using a FF much easier than pulling from the barrel, even when not setting focus points. Think of it ergonomically - in a run n gun situation (with a rig), it'd be easier to use a FF to pull focus than from the lens itself...at least for me.

Kegan
Click to expand...

Yeah but for $199 I'd expect it to at least perform the basic function for which a follow-focus is designed. Generally being easier to pull focus is a side-effect, not a design imperative. A follow focus is meant to promote consistent accuracy.
 
Well my only concern is the is the lack of a mark disk, but the price i think is not too bad, what other option exist in this range of price?
 
For a friction follow focus the Ikan F3 does it's job well. I just shot a small video piece for a local newspaper with the F3 attached to my shoulder rig using mostly the 14-140 and it was a definite asset. Also, using the F3 with the really light focus rings such as the stock 14-140 gives it a little more tension creating a somewhat heavier pull (which I also like).

I am not sure how well it will work on a heavy PEN F lens. I am able to use this with "most" of my FD primes which are relatively heavy but not "really heavy". I have no experience with those specific lenses, so I do not know if the pull is heavier or the same as the FDs. If anyone is really interested I would get it from B and H for $189 because they have a better return policy than Ikan (I believe they have a restocking fee).

I don't think this FF is for everyone and all lenses. In the future when I purchase heavier larger lenses (have my eye on a Canon FD 24mm & 85mm L series) then I will probably get a more conventional FF with gears. For 75% of my lense right now and probably for a little while, this works great. Considering I use the 20mm and 14-140 still quite a bit for video-journalism, it will come in handy hopefully even after I acquire those heavier lenses.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top