minimalistic Follow focus rig advice please

Lucas 7D

Lucas 7D

Active member
I want to have a simple follow focus rig + view finder with my 7D. I was looking at jag35.com and noticed a small rail system for their follow focus. I also noticed the D mount. Do you guys think i can shoot stable video by putting the view finder against my head with one hand on 7D body and the other on follow focus or do i really need this thing resting on my shoulder. I'm trying to keep this rig small. I saw a cheap cowboy studios shoulder rig for $36 on amazon. Should I bother getting it and mounting the 7d with follow focus and view finder on it?

thanks
 
with a 35mm or wider, handheld can work, depending on your skills; anything longer than that and the footage won't be any good (unless you're looking for the Bourne shaky-cam look)

plus: I have both the D mount and the cowboy shoulder rig

the D mount works, but it's not perfect; for example, the tripod screw is moved further to the back; plus, I use a battery grip, and that means I have to take the Dmount out each time I want access to the batteries; big pain; I eded up putting the D mount away and going DIY: much cheaper, and without those issues (it has other issues, but they don't bother me so much; YMMV)

the cowboy shoulder rig is awesome... for the price; flimsy, and not as trustworthy as you'd like, but gets the work done; again, I love mine, but only after some DIY: I got rid of the horizontal offset pieces (they seem to be the ones that break most easily), and replaced them by wooden bits and macro rails, added a handle and some additional mounting screws (you'll see the Dmount being recycled there), and done
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?240341-**Show-Us-How-You-Use-Your-CowboyStudio-Shoulder-Rig**
 
Last edited:
You'll definitely need a shouldermount if you want anything resembling stable footage. You'd essentially be shooting one-handed if you have your other hand on the follow-focus whip, so you'll definitely want some other support.

I don't think a follow focus is anywhere near essential. In fact, without a dedicated focus puller and a proper support rig it will often be more of a hinderance.
 
deltoidjohn said:
You'll definitely need a shouldermount if you want anything resembling stable footage. You'd essentially be shooting one-handed if you have your other hand on the follow-focus whip, so you'll definitely want some other support.

I don't think a follow focus is anywhere near essential. In fact, without a dedicated focus puller and a proper support rig it will often be more of a hinderance.
Click to expand...


But if I plan on running and gunning, dont I need to pull quick focus especially if i want to shoot at 2.8? I never used a follow focus but focusing on the fly by twisting the ring always produced somewhat sloppy results for me. not sure if a follow focus would change things for me but it seems like everyone is getting one.
 
Have you thought about small rigs that have a butt stock against your chest? Great for running and gunning, and stable w/ your eye in the viewfinder, right hand on the handle and left hand on the FF.

http://jag35.com/index.php/newsrunner.html - The News Runner from Jag35

As for follow focus', they're not much difference except twisting the lens at a different angle. Sometimes it's easier for the brain to change focus towards you and away with a FF, rather than clockwise and counter on a lens. I would definitely try them out at a camera shop if you can before putting money into it. To me the rig is more important. The eyepiece might be just as important as the rig, if not second.
 
I'm a one man band too, and I've found the FF to be not as useful as I expected

it helps, but not nearly as much as it would with a full crew

for run-and-gun, what it adds for me is that I can always find the focus wheel by touch, easily, irregardless of which lens I'm using (before that, as each lens has a different shape, I hit the iris ring or zoom ring much too often, and was much slower at pulling focus)
 
follow focus is last on my last on my list. I'm sick of dslr footage from people that look like...well dsrl footage. Meaning the shakes and wobbles. To me a shoulder rig is important...a proper one. And proper means counter balancing so the footage is smooth and your not stressing yourself after 10 minutes of shooting. I have a CPMfilmtools rig and love it. I'm very used to pulling focus from the lens...i've never had anything different. A mattabox and follow focus are luxuries for me..and last on my list and may be more of a hindrance to me anyway. I do agree with a focus puller a FF and whip is essential. I agree that if its possible for you to try out the FF before you buy then do that. Or ensure whichever one you get has a good return policy just incase you have no use for it.

example of footage from using my CPMfilmtools rig with my Zfinder. (sometimes i use a monitor with similar results) this vid is all handheld shooting at f2.8 or f4

http://vimeo.com/20314915
 
Last edited:
Follow focus' are not really designed for running and gunning - they are designed to be part of a rig which has several people operating it (DOP, Assistant Cameraman, focus puller, etc) on set. Operating a follow focus is essentially a job all in itself.

Some single shooters find them advantageous but as others have said, unless you have a focus puller they're not as useful as you think. My advice would be to practice a more with your lenses so you become more familiar with the amount of focus throw, drag, and focusing direction of each particular lens.
 
Also make sure you buy good adapters for your lenses (if using one). I had a kawa adapter that sucked! the whole image would shift when i focused so i got a fotodiox one and that worked out well.
 
wow thanks guys. I guess I wont be throwing down cash for a FF. Do you guys think I should just get a Cowboystudios Shoulder support + a 2.8 Viewfinder off ebay + a quick release mount and run & gun with that or actually buy a rig such as the Jag35 Fieldrunner?
 
hmm....well i have no experience with either but the dudes here say the cowboy studies rig is good for what it is and the price. Personally i have a CPMfilmtools rig and love it. :) very customizable...great customer service. Limted lifetime warrenty so basically if anything goes wrong they send out a replacement part almost instantly (that has been my personal experience) and theya re site sponsers to boot so you get a 10% discount. I pay for a good rig but i def dont mind the support i get from them.
 
Lucas 7D said:
I want to have a simple follow focus rig + view finder with my 7D. I was looking at jag35.com and noticed a small rail system for their follow focus. I also noticed the D mount. Do you guys think i can shoot stable video by putting the view finder against my head with one hand on 7D body and the other on follow focus or do i really need this thing resting on my shoulder. I'm trying to keep this rig small. I saw a cheap cowboy studios shoulder rig for $36 on amazon. Should I bother getting it and mounting the 7d with follow focus and view finder on it?

thanks
Click to expand...

Lucas check out the IKEA diy thread I posted... it's easily made, and the specs for rod size and placement makes it possible to attach standard accessories to it. I think I spent around 60 dollars making it, and this is with adjustable padded shoulder support.
 
hey lucas i tend to disagree with what everyone here is saying. however, they have made alot more videos than i have at this stage.

I have the D/Focus v3 FF and find it essential. i use it with my shoulder rig, tripod and monopod. I also use it on my glidetrack occasionally. For $160 i don't think you can beat the D/focus. i find it helps me steady my shoulder rig more as well. works great with my sigma 50mm and canon 100mm macro. does take a bit of practice getting used to pulling the wheel towards you to focus further away and vice versa.

but all in all i love it
 
Lucas 7D said:
wow thanks guys. I guess I wont be throwing down cash for a FF. Do you guys think I should just get a Cowboystudios Shoulder support + a 2.8 Viewfinder off ebay + a quick release mount and run & gun with that or actually buy a rig such as the Jag35 Fieldrunner?
Click to expand...

JAG35 is among the best HDSLR values out there. I've been migrating to a Zacuto centric rig but still use some JAG35 parts in it and won't part with the rest.
 
i ordered the jin financial FF on ebay last night for about $150. well see how that turns out, it looks really good but still havent read a review.
 
I just can never get around to throwing cash down on a follow focus. Every time I think about it I end up spending on something more useful. Then again I do a ton of run and gun too.
 
for me the thing that most keeps me from bagging my FF is the added weight/annoyance of my rod baseplate. i've yet to find one that suites my needs to be able to have it permanently attached
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top