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Follow Focus Poll

A

Andrew Patterson

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First of all, here is my situation -- I hope maybe some others are in the same boat and this will be helpful to all:

  • I've never owned or used one
  • I live where I can't test anything worth buying
  • I use primarily still lenses
  • But I do own RED & Angeniuex PL Zooms
  • Weight REALLY matters -- I like my rig light
  • I operate with 15mm Rod Systems
  • I've never hired or used a Focus Puller -- Projects rarely call for it
  • Price doesn't matter
I'd like to the know the community's thoughts on a good Follow Focus based on the info above.

Thank You.
 
well red rock micro is a popular choice and well made. so is genus but a little more, i have a genus, because a few years ago it was a little cheaper than the red rock and same quality. plan on spending about 500-700 on a unit. dont buy the budget ones for 200 or less, a waste, i had one. if you want a longer focus pull look at this http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/833967-REG/OConnor_C1242_0001_O_Focus_Dual_Mini_Photo.html

tho still lenses arent great for pulling focus i saw a dp that did it without a follow focus on a canon 5d.
 
We went with the O'Connor FF1, high quality item, hard stops!!!! and interchangeable wheels and rail options 15mm or 19mm. The Red Rock gear is plastic and feels cheep and you have to put a ring around you lens.

Red Rock Blue ($1000 range), FF1 ($4000)
 
If your using still lenses then you'l need gears fitting. Duclos are excellent but there are other companies also to help with this.

The Genus unit mention first 250 were deigned and made by TLS in the Uk and are of high quality. The production run in Asia but also good quality.

Our our choice is Chrozsiel 203 as we needed a second hand wheel for the assistant. We also have on order RT motion mk3 which reports are excellent.
 
There are a ton of threads about follow focus units. A wildly popular unit is the OConnor O-Focus DM Cine. It's an incredibly full-featured PROFESSIONAL follow focus, priced at $2,000. I tested many units including the Redrock, and that thing doesn't compare. If you want something that'll last, the OConnor is badass and really well priced for what you get. I assume you mean you're using 15mm LW and not studio spaced rods, so that's perfect for most FF units obviously.

EDITED TO ADD: I see you use mostly still lenses - in which case you may want to look into the DM Photo version, which has a smaller handwheel with a different gearing ratio. That's the only difference between the two units - you can use the Cine handwheel if you purchase one later... you can even run one on one side and one on the other if you so desire.

Good luck man, enjoy!
 
I own the ARRI MFF-1 - top quality, light, two hard stops, 15mm rods - highly recommended
I saw the new Chrosziel "dv studio rig II" yesterday - if i would buy now i would choose the chrosziel over the arri.

hope that helps,
martin
 
Andrew,

just for technical information.
ARRI MFF-1 and MFF-2 are to 15mm LWS only. There is an adapter which offers the use of the MFF-1 and MFF-2 to 15mm or 19mm Studio. I know Abel has it and I am pretty sure also other resellers out there will have one.
There is a special sale for the MFF-1 because it is discontinued and we are clearing the stock right now. The successor is the MFF-2 which has the additional feature that you could swap easily three different focus knobs (same focus knobs which are used with the Studio Follow Focus FF-4 and FF-5 Cine and HD) - hard stop, standard and two speed focus knob.
The two Studio Follow Focus units FF-4 and FF-5 could be used with 15mm LWS and 15mm or 19mm Studio via an adapter which is offered together with the main unit by ARRI.
For more information visit our website or you could ask my colleagues in the US.

Feel free to get back to me if you want.
 
if price really doesn't matter, get ARRI LFF-1 - in my opinion the best and most flexible FF ever made.
 
I appreciate all of the responses. I had been leaning toward the MFF-2 for weight and flexibility. What are the advantages of the Chrosziel over the MFF-2?

Pawel -- Is the Arri LFF-1 Ligther than the MFF-2?

All things being equal, I prefer a light rig and keep most accessories off camera for that reason. I even wear a brick on my belt for power.

So any thoughts with that in mind would be much appreciated.

Andrew
 
Andrew Patterson said:
Pawel -- Is the Arri LFF-1 Ligther than the MFF-2?
Click to expand...
I think they would be about the same. The main difference is that the LFF-1 has extremely low internal backlash and the MFF-2 doesn't. Also, it appears that LFF1 has more solid and more adapatable design than the MFF-1 and it is aimed at pro (rental) market where MFF-2 is more for indie-style customer.
 
I'm a big fan of ARRI FF4 or FF5. Problem with FF4 is that it won't clear your Red 18-85. FF5 will, so make sure to get it with "cine" gearing. I personally find no other other FF's compare to Arri for simplicity, build and ease of use. If price is no issue, I'd avoid the Red Rock as it's dual sided option doesn't detach making changeovers a POA. Also, flipping the gear to the other side is less than convenient. Genus makes a good little guy for the money but probably won't clear an 18-85.
 
Andrew Patterson said:
I appreciate all of the responses. I had been leaning toward the MFF-2 for weight and flexibility. What are the advantages of the Chrosziel over the MFF-2?

Pawel -- Is the Arri LFF-1 Ligther than the MFF-2?

All things being equal, I prefer a light rig and keep most accessories off camera for that reason. I even wear a brick on my belt for power.

So any thoughts with that in mind would be much appreciated.

Andrew
Click to expand...

MFF2 is great. Very lightweight and fast to put on rods. Mechanics are smooth, precise and sturdy. First week of use you'll be spellbound by the design and build quality. Later you'll love how compact it folds on a backpack pocket.
After testing both versions, I discarded the "cine" (2:1) and got the "HD" (1:1) with a second, smaller gear (needed and annoyingly not included). Perfect with good focus still lenses (I use Leica).
 
Easy. Get an oconner ofocus DM. Get the photo AND cine knob, get a 15 to 19mm adapter from Abel cine(AB1519), and you are covered for 99 percent of all situations. Arri build quality.
 
Jake Wilganowski said:
Easy. Get an oconner ofocus DM. Get the photo AND cine knob, get a 15 to 19mm adapter from Abel cine(AB1519), and you are covered for 99 percent of all situations. Arri build quality.
Click to expand...

Agree. I had both the Arri MFF-1 and 2 and returned them both for the O'Connor O'focus DM. FANTASTIC. Much more versatile than the Arri units. The gearbox rides low and swaps easily to either side, and the gear can be placed front or back very quickly. It works with our 19mm Leica R which is a very short still lens as well as our Arri Ultraprimes. Very smooth, no backlash. I like the larger cine knob - great grip and feel, fits your hand better, works with still or cine lenses, and can be rotated up or down relative to the bridge - which is also a huge advantage depending on where you have your viewfinder positioned.

Plus it has a friction wheel for non-geared still lenses, which came in hand when I had to use it on a Canon 70-200 that didn't have a zip gear.

We have an Arri FF4 as well which is awesome for cine lenses. But it is too big and clunky for 15mm LW and still lens set ups.

Talk to Steve Cohen at Abel Cine about the O'Connor.

M
 
We use Cinevate's Durus follow focus - has no backlash at all. Just none. Small and handy in the case.
 
I love my Chrosziel Studio FF. It's lighter than the Arri FF4, built like a tank, the same amount of backlash or less than the FF4 (basically none) and can be found used for a reasonable price on ebay.
 
AFter owning a Redrock and using an FF-1, I looked at NAB for hands on testing. I chose the Oconnor DM Still, and will get the Cine wheel soon. That gives you two ratios for pulling, one for stills and one for cine glass with the same follow focus.
 
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