Make your focus pulling easier for less than $1

K

keeganuhl

Member
Pulling focus off the lens barrel?

This is a neat little solution to that awkward position the 1st AC always finds his hand and arm in when trying to read marks off the barrel and pull focus. To move the focus ring requires two points of contact from your hand. This puts you in a strange position all the time.

2 zip ties
1 broccoli rubber band

You can make marks right on the zip ties with either grease pencils or dry erase (they both come off easily), and with two zip ties the AC can "operate" from either side of the camera with ease. I havent tried this yet in the field, as I just invented it 20 minutes ago, but it seems pretty cool so far for those of us without money for rails and FF.

I'm gonna give it a try while shooting the next episode of www.guessagain.net on Wednesday.

Enjoy!
Keegan
www.mkeeganuhl.com
 

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The zip tie system works well, used it with teh 5D this summer. The problem is that the plastic that zip ties are made from is often quite flexible, so the tab that you're grabbing with your hand moves a little before the lens barrel starts to turn.

A steel hose clamp works even better. (Borrowing from the Cinema5D thread) :

file.php
 
I crushed my Nikkor 50 1.2 with steel hose clip - BEWARE you can damage the focus barrel ! !

You can make a more rigid 'bar' by attaching the bar at a tangent to the lens and using two attachements

S
 
you guys are brave... I dont think I would have the guts to put a steel hose clamp around the few lenses I own...
 
If you're just looking to put focus markers down without using a full on follow focus unit, you can always just put a light colored gaffers tape or artist's tape around the focus ring and another strip around the actual barrel. Neither kind of tape leave residues if you take it off within.... A WEEK of putting them on.
 
Another cheap focus puller

Another cheap focus puller

Here's another very inexpensive focus puller made of plastic tubing with a nut inside the tube and a screw through the tube into the nut. Less than a buck and doesn't do any harm to the lens. It can be quickly removed when necessary. Works great for me. It took all of five minutes to make. It could be refined to look better but it does the job.
 

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waieez said:
Editman, What is that?
Click to expand...

It's a hose clamp and a cabinet knob. It feels great to hold when pulling focus.
I payed $2 for the clamp and $3 for the knob. I will build another one so I don't have to swap during shooting.

You really don't need to tighten it much. The rubber on the barrel makes it stick. So no worries about breaking the lens.
 
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