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Best Lightweight Follow Focus

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Medavoym

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Hi!

For my upcoming EPIC camera, I am planning on switching altogether from the 15mm Studio System (15mm rods 100mm apart) to the Lightweight System (15mm rods 60mm apart). I think I would be crazy not to take advantage of the size of the Epic - I want to build my camera as small as possible.

For this reason, I want to buy a Lightweight Follow Focus to best complement the EPIC.
BUT - I don't want to compromise on the quality and feel of the package. From the start, I am excluding all the "cheap/budget-minded" follow focuses out there. After some preliminary research, the only four FFs that are worth (in my opinion) taking in to consideration are:


- Arri Lightweight Follow Focus LFF-1 (http://www.arri.de/camera/professio...low_focus/lightweight_follow_focus_lff_1.html)

- Arri Mini Follow Focus MFF-1 (http://www.arri.com/camera/professional_camera_accessories/follow_focus/mini_follow_focus_mff_1.html)

- Chrosziel DV Follow Focus (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...AC_206_50S_AC_206_50S_VariLock_DV_Follow.html)

- Petroff Mini Follow Focus (http://www.visualproducts.com/storeProductDetail02.asp?productID=1374&Cat=3&Cat2=36)


The first one (Arri LFF-1) is insanely expensive at $4,000+. The last three make most sense.
Has anyone used any of those FFs and can advise on them?

I would like to buy one that is professional, durable, won't get funny looks on the set and can be rented out as a fully professional option with the rest of the package.
Any leads will be much appreciated. Thanks!

Mike
 
Nothing beats a FF-4....really!

The big diference with the LFF-1 compared to the others is very low backlash and play, and most importantly a real swing arm.
The others are pretty limited because the lens gear is fixed onto the gearbox, which will limit you in many setups. Buy as you say, the lff-1 extremely expensive. Last I checked the 4000 will only buy you the gearbox.....
 
You could get a studio chrosziel studio follow focus and only put on on knob. It's LW 15mm and fairly lightweight with only one knob on it. I think used they run around $2k on ebay and are worth every penny.
 
The best is one that's not released yet -- the OConnor MiniFF -- though I did play with a prototype at NAB. It feels as solid as the CFF-1, but smaller and modular. Also, it has the advantage of working well with still lenses (a special gear designed for longer focus rotation). It was supposed to be out now, not sure what the delay is, but perhaps Mitch or Eric can chime in with an update :)
 
Another vote for the Chroziel studio single sided follow focus. It is a precision piece of gear and feels nicer in my view to the Arri FF4 - that is a BIG follow focus. You can buy the studio follow focus either as a "video" or "cine". The former is geared for shorter throw lenses and works very well with still lenses like Nikon.
 
Johnny Friday said:
anthony, do you have a link someplace on web to the 9connor mini FF?
Click to expand...

I was just looking the other day Johnny and couldn't find a real link -- though there was this video from last year on the cinema5D site:

http://www.cinema5d.com/news/?p=4844

I would PM Mitch or Eric Johnson about it, they can give you more info and a timeline. In some cases they might even be letting some pros
demo prototype units, so check with them about that as well. But I really loved how I could combine parts and build it exactly how I wanted
and even though much smaller/lighter than the CFF1, it felt similarly solid.

Disclaimer: I have absolutely no affiliation with Abel, OConnor or any of the Vitech brands :)
 
Just an additional note that might be helpful. I tried the Chrosziel DV follow focus. It is excellent and I was going to get it until I tried the studio version. No comparison.
 
Hmmm ...

Well, if you are on a budget, I'd suggest closely evaluating the Cinevate Durus follow focus. Its about $1000 and built like a tank. I've used two, on 19mm and 15mm set ups. Just wonderful bits of machine work.

As far as rentals go ... I wouldn't really expect to rent any of these much.

If you want to rent your follow focus, then just don't buy ANY of these units unless you see yourself renting to very small budget productions - the kind that are not likely to rent an Epic in the first place.

If rental is important then step up to the units in the $3000+ price range.

If you are not willing to spend that kind of cash, then just buy whatever you like to use.

I rent my Cinevate to small productions all the time, but that sort of production isn't spending more than $15-25/ day on a FF system, and frankly they don't care what they get so long as they can find a 1AC willing to use it. (And they'll happily replace the 1AC if their gear preferences get "too rich") Even at the low price of $1000, you can expect to require 100 days rental to breakeven. Getting to 100 days will involve a lot of 3 day weeks and 1 day weekends, so expect breakeven after several years of hard use.

The Arri FF4 and FF5 units, which are pretty much the standard in cinema rentals.

Seriously, I know a lot of productions will simply pass on your entire rental package completely just because you don't have a "serious" follow focus, and by serious they only mean the Arri FF4 or FF5. Its stupid, and it happens. If you want or expect to deal with those sorts of folks, then you simply have to buy top notch everything, rods to mount plates and well everything. They'll probably want a O'Con 2575 head too, despite Epic being so light and small. You should also have a pile of options, like a O'Con 1030 head and all the rod mount options etc etc.

They are expensive to deal with, but I think they are often the only clients that pay enough to make it worthwhile.

Some folks will take your Epic if the price is right and your FF is not part of the deal. Some more open minded folks will consider other top notch FF units.

I like the Chorsziel ... the 204 and 203. I'd also get the second handwheel.

I expect the O'Connor CFF-1 will gain a reputation at least as good as the Chrosziel, though I read that some union 1AC's think it will take longer to set up, which ends up costing time on set.
 
definetely Arri LFF-1, but it is also the most expensive.

I have one and I love it. It is really light weight. In fact, it is tiny. Very versatile, you can swap it around, reverse, mount at an angle, etc... It will adapt to more lenses than any other follow focus due to small size and various clever adjuctments. You get what you pay for.
 
The new O-Focus mini followfocus should be available before the end of the summer. OConnor got some huge demand for some other products so the factory had to devote resources to them instead of the new follow focus, but it is coming soon. Trust me that they want it out there as much as you do!
 
Hi Lee. I felt exactly the same way so I rented each on in turn and found out that there was indeed a difference. The Chrosziel studio series was the best of the lot.
 
Also you could look into Letus. I bought one so when it comes in, I can give a report.
 
I'll throw my vote out for cine tech. Very modular, can be super light no marking disck for hand held, or fully built up for studio. 15mm LW,15mm studio, 19mm. I love mine. I also have an arri ff2 for studio work, but this is what I use on rigs smaller than a big efing zoom.

http://www.cinetechonline.com/FF02.html

Nick
 
Mitch Gross said:
The new O-Focus mini followfocus should be available before the end of the summer. OConnor got some huge demand for some other products so the factory had to devote resources to them instead of the new follow focus, but it is coming soon. Trust me that they want it out there as much as you do!
Click to expand...

Thanks for chiming in here, Mitch. Appreciate the info and hopefully you guys will post an update when it's ready :)
 
Hi!

I am also quite interested in the O'Connor Mini Follow Focus.
Price and availability?

Thanks!
 
We will know more when we get closer to release.
 
No one is going to believe that they are a serious contender in this category, but Redrock did a total redesign on their lightweight FF, and it is rock-solid and inexpensive - I played with it at NAB. I think it is in release now, not sure. But it was a total do-over from their original, which had a lot of play and felt chintzy. The new one's great. Has the feel of a much more expensive unit at a redrock price.

http://store.redrockmicro.com/Catalog/microFollowFocusBlue/blueishere
 
Meryem Ersoz said:
No one is going to believe that they are a serious contender in this category, but Redrock did a total redesign on their lightweight FF, and it is rock-solid and inexpensive - I played with it at NAB. I think it is in release now, not sure. But it was a total do-over from their original, which had a lot of play and felt chintzy. The new one's great. Has the feel of a much more expensive unit at a redrock price.

http://store.redrockmicro.com/Catalog/microFollowFocusBlue/blueishere
Click to expand...

lifetime warranty..wonder how that plays out..might encourage people to give it a chance.

from RedRock webpage:
Made in America, lifetime warranty means durability and confidence
Click to expand...
 
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