Follow Focus and 2,5" HDD

[Slobodan Milivojevic]

Hi all,

hope we will receive our Scarlet with Canon mount very soon, and I have few questions:

1. What follow focus do you suggest? We want really a good and realiable one - We have a lot of Canon lenses from our 5d Setup, and we will buy more Zeiss Cp.2 ones. Currently, for 5d we have Redrock Micro FF.... Is there a better one on the market?

2. I have just received 2,5" REDMAG for mounting HDD on Scarlet.....Is it ok if we buy some good SSD Hard drive, or we should go safe route, and get some fast 2,5" regular HDD?

Thanks!

 

[Trevor Meeks]

The O-Connor O-Focus DM is fantastic. I suggest the Cine version for the CP.2s... that's what I use and it's absolutely the best FF I've used. Had a Redrock FF and I hated it. Sloppy, bulky, and very limited. You'll be impressed with the O-Focus. It's very full-featured and an incredible value. B&H has them in stock.

Don't know what you mean about the hard drives.... are you saying you expect to record to hard drives from the Scarlet....??

 

[Todd T]

The 2.5 Inch Redstation does not connect to Scarlet. Scarlet(and Epic) only record to 1.8 Redmag SSD modules.

It is just a hard drive dock that you connect to your computer and use to copy/back-up files on to external disks.

 

[Slobodan Milivojevic]

Oh, ok....mistake....I thought it will work as HDD module also, similar like external HDD on RED ONE....
Can you tell me then what is the capacity in minutes od 64 Gb SSD?

 

[Trevor Meeks]

Oh, ok....mistake....I thought it will work as HDD module also, similar like external HDD on RED ONE....
Can you tell me then what is the capacity in minutes od 64 Gb SSD?

about 25 minutes

 

[Slobodan Milivojevic]

HI, sorry for my RED dumbness, until now I was only using it from rental houses, so I was not able to pick up all technical bits and pieces......
Can we connect SSD and HDD station on location to make a backups directly to HDD which will be in 2,5" RED station?

 

[Peter Majtan]

HI, sorry for my RED dumbness, until now I was only using it from rental houses, so I was not able to pick up all technical bits and pieces......
Can we connect SSD and HDD station on location to make a backups directly to HDD which will be in 2,5" RED station?

YES, that is the purpose of the 2.5" station. You can dock them on top of each other - the feet click into the top of another one. You can then interconnect them (including power if you have the power base) via the included cables...

Peter

 

[Yoav Yerushalmi]

HI, sorry for my RED dumbness, until now I was only using it from rental houses, so I was not able to pick up all technical bits and pieces......
Can we connect SSD and HDD station on location to make a backups directly to HDD which will be in 2,5" RED station?

Just to clarify: are you asking if you can connect the 2.5" to the 1.8" station AND a computer to copy from 1.8" SSD to 2.5" drive? Or are you asking
if you can connect the 1.8" to the 2.5" and NOTHING ELSE and have all your data magically copied over?

The former (using a computer) is what they were designed for. The latter is (to my knowledge) not possible...

 

[Slobodan Milivojevic]

OK, I got it! We will need a computer definitely, thanks for enriching my knowledge

 

[Chad Bonanno]

The O-Connor O-Focus DM is fantastic. I suggest the Cine version for the CP.2s... that's what I use and it's absolutely the best FF I've used. .??

Trevor,
Can you mount this FF upside down from top rails or are you using a riser and mounting from the bottom rails?

Best
Chad

 

[Trevor Meeks]

Trevor,
Can you mount this FF upside down from top rails or are you using a riser and mounting from the bottom rails?

Best
Chad

Hey Chad, I'm sure you could, but I don't like having the FF up that high. I use top rods for my wireless FF motor, but not for the O-Connor.

I used a friend's Viewfactor FMJ bottom plate and 15mm LW mount, and they're perfect. Ordered them the same day. The RED QR plate bolts on the bottom of the VF plate and it all fits together perfectly. I use short redrock micro carbon rods, can't remember if they're 3" or 4", which fit everything perfectly under my CP.2s.

Edited to add: pic of my Scarlet w/ my friends' O-Connor O-Focus (photo version, with the smaller hard-stop knob.... I ordered the cine version with the slightly larger knob.)

 

[Loren Simons]

Slobodan,

Take a look at our newer microFollowFocus | Blue system. It's a definite improvement over our previous follow focus systems, as there was much more attention payed to our cinema oriented users as opposed to DSLRs like our previous units. With the ability to adjust backlash, you can be sure to have a solid-no play-pull at all times. It's also upgradeable to a double sided studio version if that's what your shooting style requires. I've used it on a bunch of different lenses, from the RED Pros to the new Canon Cinema Zooms, and it works great.

Cheers,
Loren Simons

 

[Trevor Meeks]

Slobodan,

Take a look at our newer microFollowFocus | Blue system. It's a definite improvement over our previous follow focus systems, as there was much more attention payed to our cinema oriented users as opposed to DSLRs like our previous units. With the ability to adjust backlash, you can be sure to have a solid-no play-pull at all times. It's also upgradeable to a double sided studio version if that's what your shooting style requires. I've used it on a bunch of different lenses, from the RED Pros to the new Canon Cinema Zooms, and it works great.

Cheers,
Loren Simons

The FF Blue still has the same drive gear as the V2 FF correct? It was bulky, wobbly, and really crummy IMO on my V2 and the FF Blue that I used.

Also, the O-Connor comes ready-to-to as a 2-sided FF, the knob just comes off and swaps over to the other side if needed, or you can put another knob on it. Their gearbox is very slim as well, and the quick-release clamp is much cleaner IMO. Gears are also interchangeable on the O-Connor, and it ships with 4 or 5 assorted sizes and types of gears (including a friction-drive) for different lenses. I realize we're talking about slightly different price points here, but the FF Blue isn't THAT much different than the FF V2, and if someone wants to move UP from a V2, the O-Connor is clearly a better, cleaner, tighter, more professionally-oriented unit. Once you add up what you get, both quality and accessories-wise with the O-Connor, it isn't much more expensive than the FF Blue either... and worth every cent.

Just my $0.02... adjust for inflation and/or economic recession...

 

[Jeffrey T. Morgan]

I used and abused the Redrock Micro FF a few different times now, for weeks at a time, and really enjoyed using it. It had no play or inconsistency, and just felt right.

 

[Loren Simons]

I used and abused the Redrock Micro FF a few different times now, for weeks at a time, and really enjoyed using it. It had no play or inconsistency, and just felt right.

Thanks Jeffrey, always glad to hear my experience with product reflected by other users. It's a really great unit; and again, new lower profile gear box, new body, new pretty much everything, other then our tried and true quick release clamp and standard .8 cine pitched drive gear.

 

[JairoIglesias]

Slobodan,

Take a look at our newer microFollowFocus | Blue system. It's a definite improvement over our previous follow focus systems, as there was much more attention payed to our cinema oriented users as opposed to DSLRs like our previous units. With the ability to adjust backlash, you can be sure to have a solid-no play-pull at all times. It's also upgradeable to a double sided studio version if that's what your shooting style requires. I've used it on a bunch of different lenses, from the RED Pros to the new Canon Cinema Zooms, and it works great.

Cheers,
Loren Simons

I had the Redtock micro follow focus 2 and It's the worst purchase I have ever done. Bad bad bad. I spent and lost my money. All days of my life i Think about this Follow Focus. Sorry but it's the true. It's expensive. For this money you can buy another more cheaper (200$) which will wotk the same way. The RR didn't work well.
And seriusly, i Wouldn't like have to speak about Redrock mattebox. I don't like...

uf.....

 

[Trevor Meeks]

I had the Redtock micro follow focus 2 and It's the worst purchase I have ever done. Bad bad bad. I spent and lost my money. All days of my life i Think about this Follow Focus. Sorry but it's the true. It's expensive. For this money you can buy another more cheaper (200$) which will wotk the same way. The RR didn't work well.
And seriusly, i Wouldn't like have to speak about Redrock mattebox. I don't like...

uf.....

lol pretty much my experience as well... with both the follow focus and mattebox. Except I wouldn't call them expensive, I just wouldn't call them worth the money. The O-Connor FF is $1800 or $2,000 depending on which knob you get (photo version with hard stops or cine version with larger, non hard-stop knob) but it's absolutely a better value and a superior unit. A FF isn't something you want to skimp on. It's one of the more important and precise pieces of gear you will need... so buy once and buy right. Unfortunately my $800 was wasted on a FF V2 a while back, and I wasn't all that impressed with the FF Blue when I used one... very happy with my choice to ditch RR follow focus and mattebox for more precision, professionally-oriented bits.

 

[Loren Simons]

All products improve, and our new microFollowFocus and microFollowFocus | Blue follow focus units are a great reflection of that. They were used in all the films made for the C300 release, and Director of Photogtaphy Brook Aitken called it "something the pros can rely on with cinema lenses." The new follow focus system scraps everything you knew about the V2's mechanics, most importantly a new custom designed original gear box. The unique ability of backlash adjustment lets you reset the follow focus to new performance at anytime, making it a real long term investment.

 

[Trevor Meeks]

Still pretty lackluster, but thanks for the plug Loren.....

Like I said, I was unimpressed with the FF Blue... sure it's a bit sleeker and has hard stops as compared to the V2, but the difference is not huge, and it wasn't worth the switch.

No offense, but you're paid to plug the product, and your customers aren't. There are a lot of options out there, and many are better, which is what the original question was to begin with:

we have Redrock Micro FF.... Is there a better one on the market?

The answer is YES, there's a lot better, and it doesn't have to be Redrock. If someone wants a quality, long-term investment, something like the O-Connor is very desireable.

Cheaper is not always better, I think a lot of us can agree on that... except maybe the DSLR crowd haha.

 

[Brian Valente]

Like I said, I was unimpressed with the FF Blue... sure it's a bit sleeker and has hard stops as compared to the V2, but the difference is not huge, and it wasn't worth the switch.

Trevor - We're talking about the micxroFollowFocus | blue, which is completely redesigned and different than the microFF v2 including an original-design gearbox. The | blue was designed with more demanding performance in mind and I think is a great fit for this conversation and is $795. Yes you will get more features in your $2000 O'Connor, but I think the redrock is a better value.

f you used the ff blue on a shoot, I'm very interested in what you liked or didn't like, always helps build better products. If you just picked it up at a tradeshow and fiddled with it, not sure how valuable that input is. (Anyone with any familiarity with the V2 would see immediately the gearbox is completely different and wouldn't have to ask). We think the ff | blue compares really well against all the follow focuses, including the oConnor which is literally more than twice the price, and others agree with us. We were outfitting the Canon C300 shoots and all had their choice of gear including Arri, and many of them chose FF blue.

We didn't say it was the only choice, we think it's a great choice

Slobodan I encourage you to check them all out and see what you are getting for your money.

Brian