Introducing the OConnor CFF-1

[Demetri Zuev]

Mitch, is it possible to add the swing arm to the gearbox like on the CFF-1?

Here's Mitch's response to the same question in the AbelCine blog:

Sorry, no. While it would thread in, there is no clamp to hold the angle of the swing arm in place. It would attach but just flop around. This is one of the key differences between the two models.

 

[Mennovandijk]

thanks Demetri, totally missed that one.
The reason I was asking is because I got the feeling the gear is too close to the rods.

 

[Mitch Gross]

Mitch, the Photo Lens set for O-Focus DM is currently out of stock, when can we expect it to be available?

Actually, that was a mistake, now corrected. We have the Photo version in stock now!

 

[Mitch Gross]

Mitch, I love your video blogs. Some of the other guys I can't watch 'cause they talk soooooo slooooooowly. Definitely not a problem with you

Thanks, I guess. Hey, when you have a lot of good info you wanna get out but not take too long, it just means you have to speak fast. Andy Shipsides can be even worse than me. We both drink way too much Coke Zero.

 

[Mitch Gross]

Still not close to the original prices projected, however, some great accessories and looks like a really nice build. No reverse capabilities for Nikon, which is kind of a deal breaker for many if the still lens market / 1:.75 gear ratio is the pitch.

There are a few add on reversing gear options one could use with it, although I must admit I've never tried the pairing with the O-Focus. Duclos has one.

 

[Mitch Gross]

Mitch, is it possible to add the swing arm to the gearbox like on the CFF-1?

No. While it would screw into the mount where the gear currently mounts, there is no clamp to keep the arm from swnging freely.

 

[Mitch Gross]

thanks Demetri, totally missed that one.
The reason I was asking is because I got the feeling the gear is too close to the rods.

I see it was asked and answered already.

The gear is not too close but if it was a problem, simply switch to one of the various other gears included in the kit. OConnor has thought this through quite well.

 

[Dustin Sims]

Just a quick question: does the focus knob itself have a gear in it? You said there are two knobs, one for photo lenses and one for cine (each with different focus throws) and you pick which to order. Does this mean that simply swapping the knob will change the ratio? If so, wouldn't it be best to order both knobs to have the best of both worlds?

 

[Jim Elias]

Just a quick question: does the focus knob itself have a gear in it? You said there are two knobs, one for photo lenses and one for cine (each with different focus throws) and you pick which to order. Does this mean that simply swapping the knob will change the ratio? If so, wouldn't it be best to order both knobs to have the best of both worlds?

Here's the skinny on transmission ratios.

The CFF-1 bridge has a 1:1 internal ratio. So one rotation of input gives you one rotation of output.

The O-Focus bridge has a 1:0.75 (rounded) internal ratio. So one rotation of input gives you approximately 3/4 of a rotation of output.

The eccentric Cine handwheel has an internal transmission of 35:19. It's an old standard that was set somewhere back when the primordial sea creatures made their way out onto land and decided to pull focus, and I've not yet met anyone who could tell me how it was arrived at or who the first one to use it was. But it means that a standard disk marked up for use with several other makes of "Cine" FFs can be used on the CFF-1 with the Cine handwheel, assuming the same driver gear.

The photo hard-stop handwheel has no internal transmission, i.e. it's 1:1.

Multiplying the ratios out, you get:

Cine Handwheel on CFF-1 is 35:19, or approx. 1:1.8 (input : output)
Cine Handwheel on O-Focus DM is approx. 1:1.4
Photo Handwheel on CFF-1 is 1:1
Photo Handwheel on O-Focus DM is 1:0.75

 

[Dustin Sims]

Thanks for clearing that up. I was thinking it must have been some kind of transmission in the wheel itself, but wasn't really sure. I was hoping it would be something as simple as swapping wheels and not the entire bridge. Glad to see that's the case. So either one you get (cff1 or o'focus) it's definitely best to use the photo wheel for still lenses and the cine wheel for cinema. The photo hand wheel on the cff1 with cinema lenses would make for some awfully long focus pulls.

 

[Jim Elias]

Thanks for clearing that up. I was thinking it must have been some kind of transmission in the wheel itself, but wasn't really sure. I was hoping it would be something as simple as swapping wheels and not the entire bridge. Glad to see that's the case. So either one you get (cff1 or o'focus) it's definitely best to use the photo wheel for still lenses and the cine wheel for cinema. The photo hand wheel on the cff1 with cinema lenses would make for some awfully long focus pulls.

And the cine wheel with still lenses would often make for some rather short ones.

One more important thing about the cine wheel is that it can always stay above the camera base due to the eccentric. With a heavier studio build, you definitely don't ever want to have the camera rest on the handwheels, should you ever set it down on any flat surface.