Remote follow focus for £150/$300

hoarp001 said:
Happy to do something, but how should I do it?
Click to expand...

One way would be to rent another follow focus and record the sound side by side. I say this only as I just bought some servos to control my slider and I was rather shocked by how loud they where. With the Viewfactor resuming shipping shortly, I am nervous that i am buying the wrong thing. Not to imply that there is anything wrong with the Hocus, but as there are very few reviews available it his hard to know what one is buying, especially with the no refund policy.

Another suggestion would be to make a small video showing how well the unit functions, repeatedly hitting marks, slow and fast pulls, the calibration process...

I think with the now higher than expected price tag offering something like this would reassure potential costumers...

On a side note i read on some forum that you where thinking about making pro version of the motor that could drive cinema lenses, any news? Would this be an upgrade to the original design or would that mean one would have to buy the whole body part of the motor again?
 
Just so everyone is aware, The HoFo is almost ready to ship, lead time is one week. All components are in, we are just assembling now. Contact me for a DVXuser exclusive deal.


We do have plans for a HoFoPro, and the motor will be totaly re made. We are working on this now. The hope is that the user can either use the new motor with their old reciever, or can send the rx back for an internal hardware upgrade so the system can be used with the new motor. Either way, it wont be a totally new system for those with the current hofo.


Pete.
 
Still 2000 us$.
I am testing a standard follow Focus unit with a cheap 3 channel RC helicopter tranmitter and servo.
It works, but it needs adjustment and the right servo. In this way it must be possible to stay under a 1000$. Time will tell.
 
Kenny G:

I don't think you realize the time and effort a project like this demands.

Pete:

On the other hand I too beleive that the final price in order to start selling in big numbers is beetween 1000-1300 $ = 700-900 euros = 620-800 pounds. Obviously your cost does not allow you to do that. But this is the reality of the matter obviously not only for me and Kenny G. The interest has fallen dramatically and its only because of the price. I repeat I fully understand why it is high (for our wallets), but then again that's why no one from Arri or Cooke is bothering spending time among us on this forums, they know we are not there target market. You have to read again the title of this thread and ask your self: If the title was remote follow focus for 1450 pounds/2330 $ will this thread reach 115 pages ?

best
Andreas
 
well , Spektrum is selling a new remote control (the DX3E) , as low as 100$, including TX,RX.
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product...ase&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Product-Feeds
you can add a 360deg turn servo , heavy duty , for 20$
http://www.acroname.com/robotics/parts/R298-1T-SERVO.html

Then you need to build nice casing for everything, but you can keep the cost very low with plastic, machined aluminium is great and looks good but expensive.

add a bunch of plastic or metal gear, and you got the follow focus for less than 300$.
Sure it will require some skill, will look probably ugly, but hey, YOU have done it !

for 50$ more you can replace the pot in the servo with a digital encoder that allows to get position of the servo at any time. This will require a small processor to be added (another 100$) and some simple programming, but then you can get as much position in memory you want.
 
nosys70 said:
well , Spektrum is selling a new remote control (the DX3E) , as low as 100$, including TX,RX.
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product...ase&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Product-Feeds
you can add a 360deg turn servo , heavy duty , for 20$
http://www.acroname.com/robotics/parts/R298-1T-SERVO.html

Then you need to build nice casing for everything, but you can keep the cost very low with plastic, machined aluminium is great and looks good but expensive.

add a bunch of plastic or metal gear, and you got the follow focus for less than 300$.
Sure it will require some skill, will look probably ugly, but hey, YOU have done it !
Click to expand...

I think you need a little more research before you make yourself look awfully foolish.
 
I think he was being tongue and cheek. (hopefully)

But I'm working on a remote FF as well here is what the controller will look like:

(I will build the motor from recycled newspapers and elk fur.)

It will be available for $300 as the market demands.
 

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Andreas said:
Kenny G:

I don't think you realize the time and effort a project like this demands.

Pete:

On the other hand I too beleive that the final price in order to start selling in big numbers is beetween 1000-1300 $ = 700-900 euros = 620-800 pounds. Obviously your cost does not allow you to do that. But this is the reality of the matter obviously not only for me and Kenny G. The interest has fallen dramatically and its only because of the price. I repeat I fully understand why it is high (for our wallets), but then again that's why no one from Arri or Cooke is bothering spending time among us on this forums, they know we are not there target market. You have to read again the title of this thread and ask your self: If the title was remote follow focus for 1450 pounds/2330 $ will this thread reach 115 pages ?

best
Andreas
Click to expand...

I think that the market is rapidly changing, magic lantern already has working firmware soon to be released that works with the viewfactor remote controller 900$. Once this hits the market (january according to VF) than the pressure is really gonna be on.
 
well, it seems the HoFo is nothing else than a regular servo recased into a nice machined aluminium block. So i don't see why another servo would be less considered just because it makes a full turn instead the usuall 180 degree.
For the remote control, you can find very cheap ones for 30$ on 27Mhz, but 2.4 ghz are considered as top of the remote control technology. And i doubt that HoFo has developped its own TX, RX technology, they are probably using RF modules like you can find on ebay for 50$.(and here price does not reflect quality, it is just cheap technology today as are lcd screens for example)
So what else stay for added value ? Some gear ? nice casing and a few programming ?
If a RC car with 2 or 3 servos would cost $3000, well you could say the HoFo at $2000 is nice .
unfortunately lots of stuff are remotely controlled and some of them cost under 100$.
So you inevitably will have to compare with, and the main question will be: what the hell is in this stuff
that makes it so expensive ?

As said by some other guys, if we go into professional level, this stuff is too cheap and miss a lot of feature (position reading, stronger servo, silent motor, LCD screen , remote video) if you compare with the big guys (arri and co).
and if we stay in the mini35/indy mind it is too expensive and still too limited, especially if you think about this huge market of video capable DSLR. The guy that goes for a 2000$ DSLR will be probably reluctant to spend the same amount of money just for an accessory. And if you spent $30.000 for a RED, you will probably look for a better system whatever the price is.
I hope you will sell a lot , but there is nothing worse than having a product stuck between two range of potential customer.
 
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nosys70 said:
well, it seems the HoFo is nothing else than a regular servo recased into a nice machined aluminium block. So i don't see why another servo would be less considered just because it makes a full turn instead the usuall 180 degree.
For the remote control, you can find very cheap ones for 30$ on 27Mhz, but 2.4 ghz are considered as top of the remote control technology. And i doubt that HoFo has developped its own TX, RX technology, they are probably using RF modules like you can find on ebay for 50$.(and here price does not reflect quality, it is just cheap technology today as are lcd screens for example)
So what else stay for added value ? Some gear ? nice casing and a few programming ?
If a RC car with 2 or 3 servos would cost $3000, well you could say the HoFo at $2000 is nice .
unfortunately lots of stuff are remotely controlled and some of them cost under 100$.
So you inevitably will have to compare with, and the main question will be: what the hell is in this stuff
that makes it so expensive ?
Click to expand...


Go ahead and build it if it's so simple. I for one would LOVE to see the unit, ugly or otherwise. Especially if it WORKS.

So please, build it and let us know how easy it WAS. Not how easy it SHOULD be.
 
yep, it is done already (not me) , remember ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ImlfgySmIg
look at the comment at the bottom of page
"Hi, glad you like it. this is the first prototype for a new type of remote follow focus which will retail for about £150. It will be well made in an extruded aluminum case, will take 4xAA batteries and it will have a circular marking disk, similar to a standard follow focus. The marking disk will have an LED iluminator. This price includes the motor, which will be quieter than this. It will, however be wired, I cant make a wireless one for 150 quid. Interested"

And yes, you are not alone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snNjoWWyags&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSlcbi0GnVw&feature=related



but since, the project has grown up

and i never said the HoFo is not a great stuff.
I just say if you build a car and price it the same as the others cars, you are just another player in the market. So people won't rush on you just because you are the new one.
The first thing they will do is to compare to see where you are better or cheaper.
Look at the RED, they build a Ferrari and priced it like a volkswagen, and it worked.
They even sell the 300 first cameras totally unfinished and barely usable.
Same with mini35, when the only one available (P+S) was over 10.000, others started around 500$ and the
most expensive one today (Letus) is about 1500.
Remote follow-focus is not a car, you are in a niche market. If you want every DSLR owner think he needs one, you have either to develop a HUGE marketing thing, or price the stuff in a way that it is
a no brain decision.
under 100 i would not purchase it because it is probably crap.
under 150 i would purchase even if i do not need it, just because it's "cool"
under 600 , i would purchase because it is cheap.
under 1200 i would start to find solid reason to buy it.
over 1500, i would start to ask if a really need it.
over 2000, i would start to convince me that autofocus is a great stuff or buy another one that is more expensive but has a big name stamped on it.

put your own number above....


Make it reviewed by Adam WILT, Engadget, TomsHardware, DSLRuser, DIGITALslrphoto, repaire.net...
The first thing i would do now, it to send one FOR FREE to Philip BLOOM.
and the second one, is to make frequency compatible with US market...
and the third is to allow the first 10 buyers to have a 300 rebate, with a big counter on the
purchase form.
and the fourth thing would be to offer a "lite" model , wired, around 400 Pounds.
and when the 50th items is sold, you discontinue this model, and offer a PRO model, a little bit
better and a little bit more expensive, keeping the Lite model.
Remember, it is not the quality or the features of the device you sell that makes the difference.
It is the price and all the lies you tell to the buyers.
 
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I do think the above poster is trying to help. He is not claiming that the project is easy, but merely suggesting some strategies that Pete can take into consideration and better market his product. I for one did come to this thread based on reading the price tag and now have lost interest due to the current price.

I'm not saying it's TOO high and quite frankly, I really have no need for it with the way I shoot...its just time to consider other marketing avenues as well that I am sure Pete is exploring.

Best of luck to you and congratulations on sticking to your guns and getting your product finished!

Kegan
 
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