Mid-Price Range Follow Focus units

Terry_Lasater

Terry_Lasater

All about the Caption
Sure, I'd love to own an Arri, Chrosziel, O'Conner, or Zacuto FF but they are out of my budget.

Of the mid-price FFs, RedRock Micro, Shoot35, and Cinevate which do you have experience with and what do you believe to be the strengths and weaknesses of each as compared to the others.

Perhaps, I am overlooking other FFs that might fall into the mid-price range. If so, please remind/enlighten me.

Thanks!
 
Thanks for the input, fellas.

What is it, specifically, you like or don't like about the FF you use/own?

Those that like both Shoot35 and Redrock... what discernment can be made between them; one is red, the other blue?...
 
Don't forget the Cavision. I have the one that allows you to adjust the wheel arm position and it's great for the money @ $450
 
I currently have a Cinevate Durus and a Redrock microFollowFocus v2 and am still deciding which one I'm going to keep (either keeping the Redrock and selling the Durus or returning the Redrock). As far as mechanics of the two, the Durus is better. It's a nice large wheel, super smooth, no play, large wide gear. It's very, very well-built and I can understand the cost compared to the Redrock. The Durus can also be flipped to reverse the gear and you can adjust the angle of the wheel.

The Redrock is good, but the wheel is some kind of hard plastic and I prefer the thickness of the Cinevate Durus gear. Also the reversing gear is a very poor design and almost useless and makes noise and I was very disappointed by that part of it (might send that piece back if I keep the Redrock). It's fairly light-weight and has minimal to no play. The one thing I like better about the Redrock is that it's quickly detachable from the rods without removing the matte box or anything else on the rods. With the Cinevate Durus, it slides on and off one rod, so you'd have to remove anything in front of it first to flip it around to the other side. This is the one reason why I'm considering sticking with the Redrock. I don't want to be slowed down by dismantling the rig to flip the follow focus to the other side.

I thought about the Shoot35, but with the currency exchange and shipping it would have been a lot more than the Redrock, and if I ever had issues with it I'd have to ship it back to the UK. With Redrock, they are in the US and have dealers in the US so getting support would be much easier.
 
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I guess I have a mid price ff in the Cinevate Durus.

Ive had it since it was released. Here's why I recommend it.

AF100 like DSLRs uses still lenses where the focus throw is reversed. The cinevate gearbox can be flipped so you pull focus like a traditional cinema lens. This also brings the gear closer to the camera.

You can buy the 15mm rod version and then get the 19mm clamp so your set for either.

Didnt have lash when I bought it. And now two years later - still no lash.

Cons: Its a little largish, so can make using a mattebox troublesome with short lenses without some workaround.
 
heavyG said:
Ask and you shall receive!
Cinema 5d posted this review of a bunch of FF units today: http://www.cinema5d.com/news/
Click to expand...

Thanks for that link! Kinda funny that I've spent several days trying to get more info on FF units and the day I start this thread that video is posted. That said, I was a little disappointed in their effort. They had manufacturers send in several FF units for the sake of that video but didn't show any of them in motion and the comments were less than you'd read in an overview on an item on B&H's website. Just sayin'... it could've been much more helpful and insightful than it was.

Based mostly on what I've read and price point, I'm leaning towards the Shoot35.
 
Mike@AF said:
I currently have a Cinevate Durus and a Redrock microFollowFocus v2 and am still deciding which one I'm going to keep (either keeping the Redrock and selling the Durus or returning the Redrock). As far as mechanics of the two, the Durus is better. It's a nice large wheel, super smooth, no play, large wide gear. It's very, very well-built and I can understand the cost compared to the Redrock. The Durus can also be flipped to reverse the gear and you can adjust the angle of the wheel.

The Redrock is good, but the wheel is some kind of hard plastic and I prefer the thickness of the Cinevate Durus gear. Also the reversing gear is a very poor design and almost useless and makes noise and I was very disappointed by that part of it (might send that piece back if I keep the Redrock). It's fairly light-weight and has minimal to no play. The one thing I like better about the Redrock is that it's quickly detachable from the rods without removing the matte box or anything else on the rods. With the Cinevate Durus, it slides on and off one rod, so you'd have to remove anything in front of it first to flip it around to the other side. This is the one reason why I'm considering sticking with the Redrock. I don't want to be slowed down by dismantling the rig to flip the follow focus to the other side.

I thought about the Shoot35, but with the currency exchange and shipping it would have been a lot more than the Redrock, and if I ever had issues with it I'd have to ship it back to the UK. With Redrock, they are in the US and have dealers in the US so getting support would be much easier.
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing your insight and experience, Mike.

Noel Evans said:
I guess I have a mid price ff in the Cinevate Durus.

Ive had it since it was released. Here's why I recommend it.

AF100 like DSLRs uses still lenses where the focus throw is reversed. The cinevate gearbox can be flipped so you pull focus like a traditional cinema lens. This also brings the gear closer to the camera.

You can buy the 15mm rod version and then get the 19mm clamp so your set for either.

Didnt have lash when I bought it. And now two years later - still no lash.

Cons: Its a little largish, so can make using a mattebox troublesome with short lenses without some workaround.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Noel!
 
Genus_problem.jpg Genus has a couple things to work out. The Genus pitch gear (GLG-PG05) has cut outs on both sides and the follow focus (GLG-BFOC) has cut outs on one side.
 
I find cinema5d reviews really sloppy and quite insulting sometimes. If a manufacturer takes the time to send their gear for a review, the least they can do is take the time to learn and use it properly. I really don't know why they give Dennis at cinevate a hard time everytime they review something. I would take the advise from the guys at freshdv anytime.
 
Agreed. I don't take any of the Cinema5d reviews seriously. I was seriously pissed off when they did the rig reviews and slammed it so bad and I don't even own any Cinevate stuff yet.


bgundu said:
I find cinema5d reviews really sloppy and quite insulting sometimes. If a manufacturer takes the time to send their gear for a review, the least they can do is take the time to learn and use it properly. I really don't know why they give Dennis at cinevate a hard time everytime they review something. I would take the advise from the guys at freshdv anytime.
Click to expand...
 
Terry_Lasater said:
What is it, specifically, you like or don't like about the FF you use/own?
.
Click to expand...

I can tell ya what I want from a FF.

1. Big tapered marking disc
2. Big knob
3. adjustable hard stops
4. swappable gear - front/back

So in my book the shoot35 is my best bet for the buck (Cheap shipping, no custos/tax) - if you are in the US you may look at other options.

Frank
 
bgundu said:
I find cinema5d reviews really sloppy and quite insulting sometimes. If a manufacturer takes the time to send their gear for a review, the least they can do is take the time to learn and use it properly. I really don't know why they give Dennis at cinevate a hard time everytime they review something. I would take the advise from the guys at freshdv anytime.
Click to expand...

+1. I found their DSLR rig reviews lacking and their terms offensive to manufacturers.

I own the Redrock V2. I like its ability to clamp on top of the rods.

I used the Shoot35 on "A Verse Before Dying" and it was quite nice. When I first pulled it out of the case, the focus knob was loose and eventually fell off of the gearbox stem. Whoops. I took off the marking disk, tightened the allen screw and never had another problem. Lovely follow focus for the price. If I didn't already own the RR v2, I would certainly consider it, even though it doesn't clamp on the rods like the RR.
 
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