New- really different - $60 DSLR follow focus

Great idea. Seems like it'd be nice for run and gun type shoots, and even a nice addition to someone with a "real" FF. So simple, can't believe it hasn't been thought of before
 
Long before DSLR video, I've wondered for so long why some simple set of physical stops wasn't on the market. this looks good.
 
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Wow, I am actually impressed to the point I will probably order one. Mainly, for the simplicity of it. There have been times on set that getting out my follow focus and using it for a tricky shot was just more work than I wanted to do given the schedule, most of those times, I'd just do it by hand with moderate success, but we all know how short of a throw SLR focus rings are. With this, I could nail it without question (so long as the talent hits their marks) :)
 
Heh, yeah, I just saw that part. I was thinking it was going to be like $30 which would be more reasonable. I am all for supporting businesses, but not at that price. I can just build one for that. Heck, I can use a CNC machine online and design on that just uses a rubber band to tension the system and it will still be cheaper, and that's just making ONE! :)
 
There is a guy who made one like this on youtube a year or so ago (it used some kind of jar opener as the handle with a paper clip as the point, and then a thick rubber band as the marking disc (I think you just used a marker for that). This seems to be an evolution of that design methinks.

If you buy it let us know how it works out.
 
Panasonic makes a similar "Zoom Lever" for the Lumix lenses. It's $30, and doesn't have the focus stops, but I'm sure you could figure out how to do that.

Red Rock has a similar product as well for $35, but again you would have to figure out how to do the hard focus stops.
 
DSLR Follow Focus

DSLR Follow Focus

Full disclosure, I developed and craft the DSLR Follow Focus so my views will reflect that bias.

There is quite a bit more than $0.60 in the materials and there is a lot of labor that goes into every kit that I put together. This product is not mass produced in China and thus the price reflects this.

It is a great tool for people looking to achieve follow and rack focusing with their HDSLR camera and it has been quite well received in the industry. I was looking for a under $100 professional solution that I would not be embarrassed to pull out when doing client work. One did not exist, so I created it.

More information about the DSLR Follow Focus can be found on the website: http://www.dslrsolutions.net

I will try to follow this thread in case there additional questions, but the website does cover nearly every detail.

Regards,
Aric Spence
DSLR Solutions
A division of Spence Design
 
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SDesign said:
There is quite a bit more than $0.60 in the materials and there is a lot of labor that goes into every kit that I put together. This product is not mass produced in China and thus the price reflects this.
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Right on - that's why I said I'd pay $25 for it. Heck, PM a coupon code and I'll buy it for $30 right now.

John
 
SDesign said:
It is a great tool for people looking to achieve follow and rack focusing with their HDSLR camera and it has been quite well received in the industry. I was looking for a under $100 professional solution that I would not be embarrassed to pull out when doing client work.
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This is a super good point. I might actually purchase this cause it looks nice and will fit in the budget without issue. Thanks!
 
Remember that it's not just the cost of making each piece but the research and development (don't laugh- sure it's not a FS100 but it would have taken time and effort to think through and develop). Think about what you pay for things like cables or memory sticks that are mass produced in factories by the tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands- how much would their materials cost. If this was made in China I would understand $25. I'm not saying it is or isn't overpriced. But I think harassing a guy who has put the time and effort into creating a simple cheap FF solution is a bit nasty. Save your outrage for big companies that use slave labour like conditions in China to make massive profits.
 
I feel like we should come up with a new name for this style of follow focus. I grow tired of hearing about a cool cheap follow focus, only to find a big handle on a lens.
 
Searcher said:
Remember that it's not just the cost of making each piece but the research and development (don't laugh- sure it's not a FS100 but it would have taken time and effort to think through and develop). Think about what you pay for things like cables or memory sticks that are mass produced in factories by the tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands- how much would their materials cost. If this was made in China I would understand $25. I'm not saying it is or isn't overpriced. But I think harassing a guy who has put the time and effort into creating a simple cheap FF solution is a bit nasty. Save your outrage for big companies that use slave labour like conditions in China to make massive profits.
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I don't see anyone harassing the manufacturer, people are free to judge what they deem appropriate for purchasing something and offer that as opinion especially in threads like this. It may very well cost them a lot more to make it, but for me, the value add doesn't justify the cost. Especially if I have a bunch of lenses with different sizes, then I'd need more than one size, and that adds up. I think it's neat, but I've certainly seen other designs that aren't the same but similar before. Granted, there will always be people who just take the materials into consideration, and you are right, that is NOT the whole story.

Maybe the manufacturer should offer JUST the lens arm, as I know I'd just loose the other pieces on a shoot.
 
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