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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 :)

DJI Wireless Follow Focus - 1st Impression

Björn, I have both and compared directly...believe me...the difference in accuracy is there.

I also shot 2 features and various other jobs and the RTMotion performed flawlessy with ALL KIND of lenses.

But if you are happy with the DJI that's good! You just saved some $$$ too! ;)

BTW If someone ask me to shoot a feature in which we absolutely have to use the DJI,
I'd feel safe only if having 2 units on set at all times...just sayin'...
 
We were very impressed with the Price/performance of these FF units when they came out. it was so cheap we ended up with (3) when we had a spurt of FF rental requests that couldn't be filled with our inventory of more robust/expensive wireless units. Then one by one they came back with motor malfunctions. All three units are in to DJI for service, all within a few months of purchase. If you've never experienced DJI service your in for a rude awakening, 3-4-5 months. Maybe you will be lucky with yours, maybe we were un-lucky (3 out of 3)..... i don't know. I'ts not like we are doing something wrong over and over, its a rental..... which means (yes maybe not kit-gloves being used) but different people just trying to get through a job but running into some consistent design flaw that cant handle the real world.
 
Ben Scott said:
Just like my SmallHD monitor it really doesn't look like something that would stand up to the rigors of being a rental unit.
Click to expand...

your right. But when I think rental unit "rigor"... I think over the long haul of just being used over and over and yes once in a while even abused by an aggresive AC who doesn't give a damn and probably should do something else for a living. But mostly rentals are being used be someone just trying to do their job. When a new piece of gear fails within a few months, the concept of (well made) Rigor never had a chance to come into play, only design flaw or maybe a spurt of quality control issues because our 3 failed units were all bought within about 4-5 month period.
 
Erich Roland said:
We were very impressed with the Price/performance of these FF units when they came out. it was so cheap we ended up with (3) when we had a spurt of FF rental requests that couldn't be filled with our inventory of more robust/expensive wireless units. Then one by one they came back with motor malfunctions. All three units are in to DJI for service, all within a few months of purchase. If you've never experienced DJI service your in for a rude awakening, 3-4-5 months. Maybe you will be lucky with yours, maybe we were un-lucky (3 out of 3)..... i don't know. I'ts not like we are doing something wrong over and over, its a rental..... which means (yes maybe not kit-gloves being used) but different people just trying to get through a job but running into some consistent design flaw that cant handle the real world.
Click to expand...

Hmm, and you did the firmware upgrade, or no?
 
Do you mean after the motors failed? They have been at DJI for months now to be repaired, still waiting. I would imagine if it was a simple firmware update we would have received them back by now.
 
Erich Roland said:
Do you mean after the motors failed? They have been at DJI for months now to be repaired, still waiting. I would imagine if it was a simple firmware update we would have received them back by now.
Click to expand...

I meant before they failed. The firmware they ship with has a lot of issues. Thinking that can runt the motors down.

But maybe I just been lucky so far as our has done quite a few shooting days and no issues.
 
Björn Benckert said:
I meant before they failed. The firmware they ship with has a lot of issues. Thinking that can runt the motors down.
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I cant say for sure, but if its a known issue then we were hit also. But there ya go, shipped with an issue that burns out the motors. Then takes many months to re-solve. Others were luckier and up-dated firmware before burnt motors.

You'd think if a company shipped with firmware that ruined the motors..... that they quickly produce a crap load of motors and ship them as quickly as possibe to show customer support. But.... that has not happened. DJI is after a quick buck and lacks smart and ethical support.
 
That is not a firmware problem...the dealer I bought it from had many units with burnt motors to be RMAed...and some were already the replacement!!!

all with 1.5 installed...
 
Okay so I got hold of one. All tests were with an FS7 and Metabones mk4.

Sigma 18-35 (not rehouse) with DJI focus gear - manual caibration - worked flawlessly.

Milvus 21mm with zip tie gear - auto calibration - worked flawlessly.

Otus 55mm with Zeiss focus gear - auto calibration - kept on making the focus gear unscrew itself which was a pain, and there was a jolt at the start on certain moves. Added a lens support and turned the torque down on the motor settings and it works flawlessly.



Using it on a paying job tomorrow for the first time so will report back any issues. My one concern is that I am powering the motor plus a Bolt 300 transmitter using a d-tap splitter cable off a Swit version of a Sony BPU (60w batts) that is also powering the camera and I wasn't sure how well it would work and how long the battery will last, but a very quick test just now shows everything is working okay.
 
Ben Scott said:
Okay so I got hold of one. All tests were with an FS7 and Metabones mk4.

Sigma 18-35 (not rehouse) with DJI focus gear - manual caibration - worked flawlessly.

Milvus 21mm with zip tie gear - auto calibration - worked flawlessly.

Otus 55mm with Zeiss focus gear - auto calibration - kept on making the focus gear unscrew itself which was a pain, and there was a jolt at the start on certain moves. Added a lens support and turned the torque down on the motor settings and it works flawlessly.



Using it on a paying job tomorrow for the first time so will report back any issues. My one concern is that I am powering the motor plus a Bolt 300 transmitter using a d-tap splitter cable off a Swit version of a Sony BPU (60w batts) that is also powering the camera and I wasn't sure how well it would work and how long the battery will last, but a very quick test just now shows everything is working okay.
Click to expand...

Motor, Free current: 80 mA (@12 V) Stall current: 2 A (@12 V) It does not suck much power so not much to worry about.
 
Wasn't any shift/wiggle on this shoot once the lens was properly supported but agree a locking adapter with electronics for stuff like the Otus/Milvus would be great. I know c7adapters.com do a locking unit for the Speedbooster but would love to have something like that for the regular e-mount adapter too. I love S35mm and am not always wanting my lenses to seem wider and faster.
 
Received my unit this week. On tests it works flawlessly; will be tried out on the real world this weekend.
I think that there are probably several thousand units already working out there; and owners will not come here to write "My unit worked OK today, the motor didn¨t burn up"... the more units, the more potential problems, naturally.
Hope this holds true!
I have owned a Bartech since 2004 and it is a dependable thing. Of course it has its problems occasionally, but a skilled technician can solve most of the ssues, and Bartech has an extraordinary response on servicing and spare parts.
I don´t expect the DJI to be operating by 2028, anyway...
Guido
 
I would roll the dice on a Tilta FF GB for sure. Hoping...
 
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