Redrock Micro vs Indisystems - Advice...

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dtzfilms

Well-known member
I have a shoot next week so I'm in somewhat pressed for time.
Goal: A shoulder and tripod ready Follow focus system that won't break the bank.

I did some more window-shopping folks and I'm near to pulling the trigger on this http://www.indisystem.com/indirailspro-xvsm/ at $269
couple this with a redrockmicro followfocus complete package at $803 and I think that should cover me at $1072! The only problem I see is
not having the offset of the redrock micro shoulder mount that'll allow me to use the onboard LCD or EVF. What do you guys think?
I might even pop on a matte box later on.
 
Indisystems isn't bad. I have their rails. They are pretty inexpensive but they have taken a while to ship to me in the past. I'm not a fan of the redrock follow focus. I think it's overpriced for the amount of backlash you get. I actually like the trusmt follow focus for under 400. It's virtually has zero backlash and has hard stops. Look them up on eBay. Hope this helps.
 
Backlash is the amount of slop in between the gearbox and the gear. So when you go and turn the follow focus the gear doesn't engage the lens immediately.
 
I like the lifetime warranty of the Redrock micro but how is the build of the trusmt follow focus?
Will it take repeated abuse?
 
Nothing on any camera gear takes abuse ....and especially ... "repeated abuse".

That said...you get what you pay for.
 
I thInk it's pretty rugged. I don't think the redrock is worth double. I've had 2 colleagues sell off their redrock v2's for the trusmt after testing mine. Fwiw.
 
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I've used the redrock micro follow focus v2 on a shoot once and was very impressed. No backlash at all. That was my virgin experience with a follow focus. This is why I'm leaning towards it, plus the lifetime warranty.
I like the $369 price of the trusmt but after working with another FF with horrendous backlash, I'd like to see and touch the trusmt before pulling the trigger. Otherwise, the redrock is the last follow focus I'll ever buy.
 
811productions said:
I thInk it's pretty rugged. I don't think the redrock is worth double. I've had 2 colleagues sell off their redrock v2's for the trusmt after testing mine. Fwiw.
Click to expand...
that good? wow I was thinking of the blue. but now you've got me thinking. Is it possible they got it for the hardstops?
 
The Blue is definitely leaps above our V.2 follow focus. As you mentioned all of our stuff has lifetime warranties, but with the microFollowFocus Blue, you have the ability to adjust for backlash yourself, meaning you can chance the distance between the two internal gears, promising an always-solid follow focus. I've torqued a lot of different glass with the microFollowFocus blue, CP. 2's, the new Canon Cine-Primes (24mm), Zeiss Super Speeds, and a lot of the Red Lenses. The Blue has held up great.

That being said, I still have a V.2 which works great to this very day.

DTZ, if you have any question, feel free to email me at lsimons@redrockmicro.com and I'd be happy to give you some further examples. In my opinion, if you are pulling your own focus, invest in the microFollowFocus Blue alone as opposed to the complete V2 bundle. You can always get those pieces after the Blue pays for itself.

dtzfilms said:
Oooh, trusmt is made in China~!
Click to expand...

We're all designed, machined, and shipped out of Texas incase you didn't know :happy:
 
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I by no means was trying to put a company down at all, I hope no one got that impression. I simply was looking at my own experiences with the v2. I have not used the blue yet, but it looks pretty awesome. I was simply giving a suggestion based on the original posters budget concerns. I've owned both the redrock v2 and the trusmt. For the difference in price I was impressed by the trusmt. Maybe I had a bad copy of the v2 because there was a decent amount of backlash in mine. I own and love other red rock products and I am anxiously awaiting the micro EVF. That being said, if you have the ability try and test the gear before you buy and if you aren't able to test, like me many times because I live in WI, do as much research and read as many reviews as possible. This is just one...
 
dtzfilms said:
I like the lifetime warranty of the Redrock micro but how is the build of the trusmt follow focus?
Will it take repeated abuse?
Click to expand...

i have version 4 of the trusmt follow focus and it has ZERO backlash , quick release clamps, and HARD stops!
 
I own the IndiRails XVsm that you are looking at. Actually, I've had it for more than four years...bought the rig when the HVX came out. I have not had much experience with other rigs.

The XVsm is highly adjustable...most adjustments are easily made with the turn of a knob. Baseplate/riser height and handle angles are the only adjustments that require an allen key. My AF100 lives on the baseplate/riser and rails. Then the handle assembly and should pad slide on in a matter of seconds.

As with any should rig, you should try to keep as much weight centered over your shoulder as possible. And you will most likely need some sort of modular EVF.

I know the Cinevate Durus FF is probably out of your price range, but it is by far the best FF that I've used. Super simple, very adjustable in every way, and a very robust piece of equipment.
 
I have the Areeba Indi Systems shoulder rig. I also have their follow focus. On the version of the Areeba that I have, the piece that latches to the tripod is very weak and wobbled a lot. Upon checking their website, it seems that they have upgraded that piece and it seems like it would get rid of the wobble issue that I was having. Besides that, I felt like the camera was very far in front of me and it was very front heavy as a result. Also, it was a pain to hold the camera very stable while also using the follow focus. It might improve with a larger counter-weight on the back of the shoulder pad, but for now, it's not what I consider to be an adequate shoulder rig for the AF-100.

The Indi Systems FF is decent. It's pretty basic and I think it uses the Huco gear box. They have some cool FF gears for your lenses but they only work on lenses with a thicker barrel, most likely the Canons, but since I don't own Canon glass, I can't confirm or deny that they work with it. They definitely don't work with the Nikon and Minolta glass that I have. Also, it doesn't fit the Panny 14-140 lens.

I think a rig more like monkeyking's or dhart1949 or olof, especially with his new wood grip, would be a better solution. Those rigs can be seen in this thread: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?243190-Post-Pictures-of-your-AF100-Rig
 
Baddgsx said:
i have version 4 of the trusmt follow focus and it has ZERO backlash , quick release clamps, and HARD stops!
Click to expand...
How much is the version 4? Did you order it on ebay? How long did it take? What Matte box do people recommend? I need something under $400 for my mattebox, metal is
plastic is metal. The off-set capability of the Redrock mSM makes it ideal for using the onboard LCD/EVF. No budget for these.
 
I have had indisystem stuff (rails and micro-focus), all good stuff. Well made and the prices aren't bad, it's the after purchase support I don't like. Maybe its better now, but the owner (Tim I think) would never respond to my emails. And they were about me wanting to buy more items/parts. Weird.
 
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