Trusmt Follow focus - Thumbs up or down? Owners weigh in, please!

Post a picture, if you can. I'd like to the see the postion you lock yours in to give you no slippage. I've played around with mine quite a bit and found that if I set up the locking arm nigh horizontal, I don't get as much slippage because it's down as low as it'll go, negating gravity or hand weight pulling on it. However, if I try and lock it horizontally, or obliquely, it eventually works loose to a shot-ruining slip. So I'm guessing the locking washers would be the best bet if I encounter the need. As for these products costing so much, I agree, fleece the dreamers. I don't care where a product is made. I'm all about the price to quality ratio, and this product is IMHO 9:7 while Redrock is a 5:9. If that weakness is fixed, wow, it'll be an incredible, incredible product that I'd wholeheartedly recommend. Right now, I'd only recommend with a caveat. If I was rolling in money, I'd opt for Redrock right now. If that locking arm flaw were fixed, I'd opt for this product even if I was loaded. It's the only weakness, but it's crucial, otherwise it's built like a tank. As for mark-ups, according to acquaintances of mine, you can buy $4 Nikes in EPZs all over the Orient. So I'm sure the same applies to these basic products. (EPZ= Export Processing Zones)
 
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FWIW. You will get a better performance from a FF when used in conjunction with proper lens mounted gear rings ( eg Duclos cine mod)

The large RR type focus rings are designed to fit different lenses but there is no way they optimally can create an exact circumference on all lenses. ie they are slightly compressed/ distorted and maybe even slightly eliptical. This makes contact between the gears less than perfect resulting in varying pressures and slippage. They definitely are not super precision cut gears. They are only injection moulded plastic!

This is where the $$$$ factor comes in and maybe you are starting to get the experience you did not want (Post #1).
You get what you pay for no matter which way you try to spin it ...but in the end...it just depends on what you will put up with as well.

As for these products costing so much, I agree, fleece the dreamers.
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If the equipment meets your needs and purposes...you are golden.

BTW - non of us have un limited $$$ and I have made many equipment purchases that I have either regretted or simply changed for something better as things changed.
 
Very good point about the gears Shooter. The other day, a AC was operating my camera and said that my RedRock Blue follow focus was nicer than he had experienced before. The smoothness was due to the Duclos gears on the lenses. He had only used the clamp on variety before.
 
Shooter said:
FWIW. You will get a better performance from a FF when used in conjunction with proper lens mounted gear rings ( eg Duclos cine mod)

The large RR type focus rings are designed to fit different lenses but there is no way they optimally can create an exact circumference on all lenses. ie they are slightly compressed/ distorted and maybe even slightly eliptical. This makes contact between the gears less than perfect resulting in varying pressures and slippage. They definitely are not super precision cut gears. They are only injection moulded plastic!

This is where the $$$$ factor comes in and maybe you are starting to get the experience you did not want (Post #1).
You get what you pay for no matter which way you try to spin it ...but in the end...it just depends on what you will put up with as well.



If the equipment meets your needs and purposes...you are golden.

BTW - non of us have un limited $$$ and I have made many equipment purchases that I have either regretted or simply changed for something better as things changed.
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Very well put. Even the redrock which was my initial choice has these injection molded plastic gears, don't they? So I guess all the good stuff is out of my range for now. Or maybe
the gears make all the difference? If so, how much are these" Duclo" gears? And yes it meets my needs for now. I'll google Duclos...
 
Baddgsx said:
i have the trusmt v4 and it will probably be my last follow focus, period!
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The product is built like a tank, but I'm wondering how are you coping with the arm slipping? Are you using lock washers as well?
I have two shoots coming up, none of them my own, but I've played around with this for days and decided the best way to mount the FF was
to keep the arm horizontal, flat as it'll go so there's no way for it to go except up toward the gears. I've found that works quite well, without washers.
What's your solution?
 
From this thread I'm finding it inconclusive as to whether the trusmt ff is a good product. I'm currently looking to invest in a ff, and am thinking redrock micro blue is the way to go. However, I am not really finding many resounding endorsements in this category. Is there one mid-priced ff that is simply superior to the others in the way there is with many other camera components and accessories?
 
Orlando, you're in Los Angeles. I'm here for now. Do you want to come and check out my follow focus? I used it yesterday on a SciFi shoot and it performed well. I find it does its job. There was slippage once when another operator tried to mount it when we changed lens, but I've gotten to know how to mount it for minimum backlash or slippage. It takes getting used to. I say test it out and then go to get your hands on a blue and test that out and make your decision then. I can honestly say, I'm dirty broke right now and this follow focus will suffice for now. After a few jobs, I'll upgrade if I'm not happy, but for now I'm good. The hard stops were not bad at all. I'll post a few files when I get round to it.
 
I was leaning towards the purchase of a Trusmt FF when this column started. As the column grew to the 4th page I had decided to purchase the NF2 model. It was shipped on Tuesday and I received it today, Friday. No instructions were included but a bag of extra parts, I haven't a clue what to do with, accompanied the unit.

After an hour of screwing around with it on my rail system I mounted a gear ring to my Nikkor 17-35 F/2.8 and shot about 45 minutes of test footage.

I love it. It's well made, smooth with no slippage of the lever arm, absolutely no backlash either. It will be interesting to see if this loosen up over time but so far, at least, it seems to be every bit as well made as my Zacuto gear. The gear rings aren't much but they will soon be replaced with Duclos modifications to my variable primes (thanks Shooter).

BTW: @$330 delivered with no duty . . . "priceless"
 
photo.jpg

this is what I used to make the lever stick a little better..

hope this helps some ppl out there
 
I received my NF4 a few weeks ago and it has no issues and works very well with the supplied gears. No slippage so far.
 
I just received a Chinese ff from coollcd.com, I debated between it, the TrusMT, and RedRock Blue, and I could not be happier with my purchase. It's cheaper than the trusmt, but has all of the features. Absolutely no play whatsoever (unlike any other sub$500 ff I have used), quick release/lens adjustments are rock solid, and ever so simple. It is also ready to go out of the box, just pop it on some rails. I highly highly recommend Wide Open Cinema's adjustable zip tie gears, a huge step up from unsightly sized gears such as redrock, cheap enough to put and leave on every lens you own, and the performance with the ff is very close to Duclos modded lenses I have worked with.

The Wei Fung cheaper tripods are s**t. Pardon my language. Worst money ever spent, but for $100 I had something to securely set an HPX on until I could afford a nicer solution that would last for years. The head didn't even pan technically, just rotated on its bowl adapter resulting in the jerkiest action I have ever experienced. Avoid like the plague unless you just need something stationary to get you through a shoot and another paycheck, the legs are decent though.
 
DCTBradJohnson said:
The Wei Fung cheaper tripods are s**t. Pardon my language. Worst money ever spent, but for $100 I had something to securely set an HPX on until I could afford a nicer solution that would last for years. The head didn't even pan technically, just rotated on its bowl adapter resulting in the jerkiest action I have ever experienced. Avoid like the plague unless you just need something stationary to get you through a shoot and another paycheck, the legs are decent though.
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I'm only curious because about 20 years ago I was shooting in Wei Feng which is a city in Shandong province China, back when it was totally Mao-suits and bicycles. Its a little ironic because I'm pretty certain that when I was there with my 16mm gear I could not have found a MP tripod/head in any condition anywhere in the city of what I believe was 2 or 3 million souls. They seem to be making a full range of legs and heads, its probably only a matter of time before they have a competitive product.
 
Erik Naso said:
I received my NF4 a few weeks ago and it has no issues and works very well with the supplied gears. No slippage so far.
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Tonight I was putting my gear together for a shoot tomorrow and the NF4 is grinding.
After using a few times I noticed it is really stiff and now I think it’s seizing up. I emailed Trusmt to see what they will do about this. I know I was taking a chance but less than 30 days of light use?

Another bit of concern for me with the NF4 is the rail mount. I had to add a piece of gaffer tape to make it a tight fit on the rails other wise I get wobble.

It has a nice solid feel to it but I’m not sure now if I can trust it. Hopefully Its a bad copy and they will make good. keep you all posted.

If you use larger cine lenses this isn’t a good fit. Its to short.
 
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TrusMT sent a new gearbox and this one is smooth. I also got a NF1 rail mount. Much better than the articulating NF4. I couldn’t get the NF4 to stagy in place even when modified with washers and the like. Cranked the lock down and still slipped away from the lens. The NF1 just slides in and away from the lens and works perfect. For now pretty happy with the follow focus.
 
Erik Naso said:
TrusMT sent a new gearbox and this one is smooth. I also got a NF1 rail mount. Much better than the articulating NF4. I couldn’t get the NF4 to stagy in place even when modified with washers and the like. Cranked the lock down and still slipped away from the lens. The NF1 just slides in and away from the lens and works perfect. For now pretty happy with the follow focus.
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NF1? I don't see that on their website. Did you have to pay for the replacement? Link me, please. I'd rather have one that slides in and away horizontally only as well. Also what email address did you contact them with? The ebay one returns with an error message.
 
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Erik Naso said:
Go to Ebay and search TrusMT NF1. I was one this morning.
I didnt pay for the replacement since the gearbox was defective. I did payed for the shipping of the 15mm rail bracket.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRUSMT-DSLR...ltDomain_0&hash=item4162368040#ht_3706wt_1188

I contacted them through Ebay with no issues.

The rail mount is very basic but works with no issues just not as refined as the articulating arm, but that version didn't work for me.
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I see, so they shipped you the entire NF1 unit or just a rail mount? I'm confused here. Rail mount? Isn't the NF4 one unit?
Aren't they all, one unit?
I'm having issues with the arm not staying up. The articulating arm only works for me if I lie it flat.
So I'm guessing you shipped the NF4 back?
 
dtzfilms said:
I see, so they shipped you the entire NF1 unit or just a rail mount? I'm confused here. Rail mount? Isn't the NF4 one unit?
Aren't they all, one unit?
I'm having issues with the arm not staying up. The articulating arm only works for me if I lie it flat.
So I'm guessing you shipped the NF4 back?
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The rail mount is a seperate unit that screws into the main gearbox. I didnt send anything back. That would cost way to much.
 
Anyone using a follow focus whip on your TrusMT? I need one and want to make sure I get one that fits. Any suggestions?
 
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