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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Red wireless follow focus?

Shawn Nelson

Shawn Nelson

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So I find myself wanting to get a longer jib and a steadicam rig (or Actioncam) but I know I first need to get a wireless follow focus. I also find myself lacking the $$ needed for a $10,000+ system.

I recall a long time ago, CVB teased us with a render of a controller, with promise that Red itself was developing a focus motor.

So what ever happened to these parts? Were prices or deliver dates ever announced?
 
In the Red store they have a link for a motor, I would assume that this could be used for either focus or zoom. The Bartech controller doesn't cost $10k but is supposed to be a lot of bang for the buck. You could also use a wired focus system which is much less than a wireless system. The Heden wired focus system used to be really popular with steadicam guys as a back up to their wireless .
 
Oh wow, you're right, I never noticed that before. $1250! I guess you'd only need the sender/received pair from CVB/Red to have a system then.

Curt! How much for your wireless setup sans motor?
 
its coming.. and its bad ass.
 
Damn it! I'm about to head to bed and I see Jarred's posted a reply (sweet!), but no, he's teasing me! Lol :-)
 
What about the supergrip ? Wasn't it present on the store at some point ? It sure isn't there anymore.

I'm happy to hear the Red motor is coming, but when ?

I KNOW you guys are busy, that's quite a few cameras set to be delivered in the coming weeks, and months... Mine is among those, so I wait patiently and hope for a quick and painless delivery ;-)

But if you have a moment to give me an approximate timeframe for motor and supergrip, it will influence my purchasing decisions.

Cheers,
Damien
 
I'm quite sure RED will be annoucing some new additions to their store. It is evident from LART TEST that there were some new accessories from RED which are still unannounced.
 
Shawn,

I own a Bartech + M-One motor, it works really well, never let me down so far and is quite cheap compared to other systems. A lot of steadicam ops use it and are happy with it.

If you're in a hurry I would go with it. If not, let's see what Red/CVB come up with...
 
There are a lot of products like matte boxes and follow-focus systems on their way right now. All of them are systems at a very interesting price point for some of us on a budget. The Arri and Chrosziel stuff is super nice but also pretty expensive. I'm personally waiting on news from Redrock about their upcoming matte box and wireless follow focus, but information is pretty sparse so if RED want to get ahead of the rest and sell me a similar system for a little more then I'd much rather go with that.

Any chance we'll be able to buy this stuff around NAB 08? (when I get my RED)
 
A growing number of AC's are moving to working with remote focus for all applications. However the need for such a system to be super reliable, accurate and fast is critical with a 35mm front end. It is unfathomable to me that a remote system that can approach the performance of a standard follow focus could cost less. Also understand that each time a lens is changed, the remote system needs to be recalibrated for that lens. The high end systems (Preston, C-motion) will automatically do that with a high degree of repeatability, allowing one to reuse marks from previous times that the lens was marked out. With systems that require the user to calibrate themselves, this will depend on their own accuracy. And if the system is lower-cost and the repeatability/resolution is not as high, it will require re-marking each time the lens is put up and constant checking to make sure the witness mark is accurate.

Having suffered through 3 early models of remote lens control before buying a Preston 10 years ago, I can tell you that it's a white-knuckle affair, having to deal with erratic remote systems for both operator and assistant. Buzzing shots is not sexy or an arguable "choice", they are just plain out of focus and the enhanced resolution of RED will only amplify this.

I'm looking forward to seeing the forthcoming units from RED, Redrock and whoever else. I've already evaluated a $1000 system that I found unusable, and not just from a "pro" standpoint--it turned the lens, yes, but had little else to do with the demands of pulling focus.
 
I plan on only getting a remote FF unit. But I'm a complete newbie, so....

$1,250 VFS Impero Pro remote for follow focus
$3,750 RED Motors (3X @ $1,250 ea.)
-------------------------------------------------------
$5,000
 
OK, I've got a NEWB question. I'm no engineer BUT, has there ever been an electronic device developed that could be worn by an actor that would send a signal to the camera to stay focused on that person as they moved within the frame? Seems like that would be a boon for a jib.
 
You'll need a zoom control for that third motor, unless you are planning to have your AC zoom for you from the hand unit.

I looked at the proposed specs for that system. That's an impressive wish list for that kind of money. I imagine that if you receive your camera and the remote system is not imminently shipping, you might have to consider a conventional follow focus...?
 
redsky said:
OK, I've got a NEWB question. I'm no engineer BUT, has there ever been an electronic device developed that could be worn by an actor that would send a signal to the camera to stay focused on that person as they moved within the frame? Seems like that would be a boon for a jib.
Click to expand...

Yes, I've worked with a prototype of that system, although it was designed to deliver a readout of distance rather than actively turn the lens. It is dicey removing the human element from focus pulling unless the shot is particularly tailored for that sort of thing (the Light Ranger system that was used on super telephoto shots of the runners coming at the camera in"Without Limits" was a good example, but it utilized a laser scope aimed at the actor rather than a bug worn by the actor). For shots that require any choices other than staying sharp on a given individual throughout, this sort of thing might work, as long as you can convince them to wear it (given that they may already be saddled with a wireless mike)!
 
Charles Papert said:
You'll need a zoom control for that third motor, unless you are planning to have your AC zoom for you from the hand unit.

I looked at the proposed specs for that system. That's an impressive wish list for that kind of money. I imagine that if you receive your camera and the remote system is not imminently shipping, you might have to consider a conventional follow focus...?
Click to expand...

http://viewfactor.net/forum/index.php?topic=11.msg11#msg11

The PRO unit is even more impressive. It will eventually have LBC (lens breathing compensation), lens database, and the ability to record and repeat FIZ tracks and save it along with the data from my Mirus moco head. Also, with full control of camera functions, I can just put it on my moco rig and control it from a mile away.

I don't think the PRO version of the Impero will ship until sometime in the first half of '08. But, I will get the STANDARD Impero transmitter in the meantime, and just upgrade the transmitter when the PRO version is available.
 
Charles Papert said:
Having suffered through 3 early models of remote lens control before buying a Preston 10 years ago, I can tell you that it's a white-knuckle affair, having to deal with erratic remote systems for both operator and assistant. Buzzing shots is not sexy or an arguable "choice", they are just plain out of focus and the enhanced resolution of RED will only amplify this.

I'm looking forward to seeing the forthcoming units from RED, Redrock and whoever else. I've already evaluated a $1000 system that I found unusable, and not just from a "pro" standpoint--it turned the lens, yes, but had little else to do with the demands of pulling focus.
Click to expand...

What's the case with Birger Mounts and it's remote follow focus.Do you think they can do good job, as they are controlled by it's internal CPU..?
 
macville said:
What do you all think about getting JUST the remote follow focus unit instead of a normal FF unit? Price wise, the remote unit would probably cost less and you'd be able to use it on a stedi-cam also...

Matthew
Click to expand...

Hi Matthew,

That's what I did - I went with the Bartech/M-One after having previously rented it for Steadicam work on a feature - and I couldn't be happier. It's extremely precise and even if you don't need to be pulling remotely, it allows the AC to hold the transmitter in front of him/her and face the action at all times which many pullers find extremely handy.

The only caveat is that if you want one, order it ASAP; there is a pretty beefy lead time as Jim Bartel - the genius behind the system - makes them all individually. Give him a call if you're interested... he's extremely helpful and a great guy.

www.bartechengineering.com
 
FIZ dreams

FIZ dreams

I sure hope Curt and the gang at View Factor can deliver their remote FIZ pieces soon. The combination of quality, price and integration into the RedOne architecture is very attractive.

No sleep for you Von Badinski :matrix:
 
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