Cine Style zoom lenses on Scarlet 2/3"

[Andrew Rieger]

I watched The Hurt Locker recently (amazing film BTW) and noticed that in the footage, there were slight and often subtle zoom ins and outs that were not from the operator walking away from or closer to the subject. This obviously means that they are using a Super 16 zoom lens (I believe). Does this mean that they have two follow focus units on the rails? (one for focus and one for zoom?) I have never seen a camera set up with two follow focus units. Anyone know what I am talking about?

This is the type of lens I am talking about: http://cinematechnic.com/products/Angenieux_115-138HR.html

Here is a picture from the set of the film. All of the cams appear to only have one follow focus unit: http://www.aaton.com/gallery/album01/5_Aatons_and_1_Cantar

 

[Joe G.]

Why would you need a follow focus to turn the zoom ring?

 

[Pietro Impagliazzo]

You don't need a FF to turn the zoom unless for a very specific purpose (matching focal lenghts back and forth etc).

I wasn't aware this film was shot on 16mm, loved the grit, loved the movie as well.

S16 is a great format for working with zoom lenses indeed.

 

[Mitch Gross]

They likely had either a small motor attached to the zoom or a fluid dampner.

A motor would be controlled by a handgrip with an actuator with an adjustable sensitivity for very subtle zooming, such as a Microforce. A fluid dampner is a hydraulic resistance wheel much like a fluid tripod head. The resistance can be adjusted and then the zoom is operated manually, usually with a screw in zoom stick rod into the side of the lens itself. This is a Chrosziel product.

 

[Andrew Rieger]

Ya, I think the zooms were just done by hand. Although I have heard of follow focus units used on zoom rings. It seems like it is one or the other (zoom or focus, not both).

 

[Pietro Impagliazzo]

They likely had either a small motor attached to the zoom or a fluid dampner.

A motor would be controlled by a handgrip with an actuator with an adjustable sensitivity for very subtle zooming, such as a Microforce. A fluid dampner is a hydraulic resistance wheel much like a fluid tripod head. The resistance can be adjusted and then the zoom is operated manually, usually with a screw in zoom stick rod into the side of the lens itself. This is a Chrosziel product.

This dampener seems like an awesome product.

Is it listed on the AbelCine site?

 

[Andrew Rieger]

These fluid zoom units are common on old electronic broadcast cameras but I didn't think that they were really used for cine applications.

 

[Mitch Gross]

It is not listed on the site but we do offer them for sale. It can be mounted on a swingaway bracket that mounts to a 15mm or 19mm rod. Any of Sales staff can provide info and anyone is always welcome to PM me for further info.

 

[Eric Bader]

The microforce is the most common of these, usually when you see a quick snap in or out, the op has one of these. http://www.prestoncinema.com/products_micro.html