WOW, Good Cheap Follow Focus

thekreative

thekreative

Veteran
OK I know people keep looking for one, and I just sold my Zacuto to move up to a better, but I couldn't resist this one to try out for $98. It looked like a Tilta knockoff but its from a store that sell Tilta so I thought.... what are the chances its just un-badged? Got it today and dam if its not almost the same. It must be made at the same place without the name screened. The only difference is the bolt that adjusts it in and out to the ring..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DSLR-15mm-R...627?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f298d38d3


For $98 its hard to beat........
 
Interesting. How's the backlash? That's the biggest killer for inexpensive follow focus units.
 
Alex H. said:
Interesting. How's the backlash? That's the biggest killer for inexpensive follow focus units.
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There is always a little backlash on cheap FF, even my Zacuto, but this has a tensioner (same as the tilt) that takes it away. Then I'll repack the grease and that always fixes it.
Grease is the one thing that all gearboxes need and most people forget to keep it tight. It pressurizes the gear housing and takes away any slack.
 
I've had the follow focus for a week and its the best I've used under a grand. Much better than the Zacuto and Redrock that I owned . I've checked out the Tilta at a local shop and this is just an un-badged version. Pretty crazy for $98.
So long as its smooth, tight and not fall apart its all I need.
 
olindacat said:
I bet if you posted a how-to on repacking grease you'd get rich ;-)
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Every FF is different but you do it the same. Open the gearbox fill it with mechanical grease ( mines red ) till its overflowing. Screw it back together so the excess is pushed out. Clean it up really well.

Done.
 
thekreative said:
Every FF is different but you do it the same. Open the gearbox fill it with mechanical grease ( mines red ) till its overflowing. Screw it back together so the excess is pushed out. Clean it up really well.

Done.
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Great price. Can post some photos or videos of the unit you got?
 
I bought one just to test it. I'll post a review after it arrives, which according to the USPS, might be tomorrow. That would be 8 business days from China to the west coast.
 
Awesome Paul. Look forward to hearing about it. I have a Gini Rig iFocus that has virtually ZERO backlash, but it's just too big. I'm hoping this one performs as well.

LL
 
It would be interesting to hear from some who has used both the tilta one and this one to see if they are the same unit just unbadged. That would be interesting if it was
 
That's what I'm hoping haha. I have a friend with a Tilta. When he comes into town I'll see if we can do a side by side (if I buy one).
 
I sure hope it is. I just bought one. Should be here in about 10 days. I have nothing to compare it to, it will be my first one. It appears to be all metal construction and a dead ringer for the Tilta from the pictures. Picked up a Century ring gear on Ebay for 20 bucks for my DVX100. So if it works out I'll have a quality FF complete for less than 145.00. Sounds to good to be true. Keep us posted.
Bill Wojo
 
Nice find - just ordered one as well. For how often I use my follow focus, I might as well cross-grade to a cheaper version and sell off my current Lanparte model for some extra cash. Only concern I have is whether or not there is a way to completely disengage the hard stops? Perhaps just taking out the thumbscrews on the rings.
 
Nate Haustein said:
Nice find - just ordered one as well. For how often I use my follow focus, I might as well cross-grade to a cheaper version and sell off my current Lanparte model for some extra cash. Only concern I have is whether or not there is a way to completely disengage the hard stops? Perhaps just taking out the thumbscrews on the rings.
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If it's like the Tilta, yes, you can disengage the hard stops
 
Nate Haustein said:
Nice find - just ordered one as well. For how often I use my follow focus, I might as well cross-grade to a cheaper version and sell off my current Lanparte model for some extra cash. Only concern I have is whether or not there is a way to completely disengage the hard stops? Perhaps just taking out the thumbscrews on the rings.
Click to expand...

Yes, you can dis-engage the hard stops by removing the thumbscrews. My unit has arrived. I'll post more soon.
 
I was looking for a follow focus and I found this post. Waiting for your reviews. It looks good.
 
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