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MiniPrimes and Follow Focus

T

Trevor Swaim

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Like most people I am blown away buy the pricing on not just the Scarlet itself but also the miniprimes. I have been planning on a 2/3" scarlet removable for sometime now but I do have a concern. It appears that the gear ring for the Focus controls on the miniprimes is in the rear while the iris is in the front. My concern is that the gear ring is, or appears to be, very, very close to the body of the camera and is thus not going to be compatible with the vast majority of follow focus units on the market.

Is this something that I should be concerned about or no?
 
Well just looking below at the fixed Scarlet (looking at the body, not the lens) it looks like the brain is square enough to where it wouldn't get in the way of a follow focus.

1259699942.jpg
 
The problem is not the body persay but rather the fact that the focus gear is smack dab up against it.
removable.jpg

1259682119.jpg


very few follow focuses are able to get the gear that close to the camera body.
I'm worried the most about the Redrock because thats the one I have
microff_v2_15mm_lg.jpg

But it looks like even the various arri products will have trouble:
FF-5 for $3500 It was made for small barrel lenses on video cameras
t_10883.jpg


the MFF-1 for $1775 Might work in its flipped state
t_1001193.jpg


the only one that I am fairly certain would work is the Zacuto as when the gear flips its well to the back
t_1001509.jpg
 
From the images of the Pro Redmote, it looks like a remote follow focus dial has been attached it to. for $1750. sounds pretty sweet. I pressume it'd will work on all Scarlet models including the fixed and 2/3 interchangables.
 
On most of these follow focuses the gear can be flipped to either side of the arm or transmission assembly, so there won't be any problem with getting clearance. Don't know about the Red Rock, but there is not a problem on any of the other units you pictured.
 
I'm sure the design has to do with the "Touch Focus Tracking" with the lens & the touchscreen lcd monitor. So I guess we'll have to wait to see how it will work, and to see if 3rd party follow focus manufactures will have some Scarlet mini prime adapter.
 
Mitch Gross said:
On most of these follow focuses the gear can be flipped to either side of the arm or transmission assembly, so there won't be any problem with getting clearance. Don't know about the Red Rock, but there is not a problem on any of the other units you pictured.
Click to expand...

Yeah but when they are flipped they will still have to be so close to the body that the controls will be impeded. Yes?
 
I can put the redrock on the dumb side and get the gear close enough in there but idk if thats really a solution.
 
You might get really close to that new record button or the two user definable keys, but otherwise it should be fine. And for ARRI, Chrosziel and Zacuto there are fat gears available that would push the follow focus further up the rods so that there could be more clearance.

Once these cameras get in my hands I'm sure I could figure this stuff out in a couple of minutes no problem.
 
Zhibo Lai said:
From the images of the Pro Redmote, it looks like a remote follow focus dial has been attached it to. for $1750. sounds pretty sweet. I pressume it'd will work on all Scarlet models including the fixed and 2/3 interchangables.
Click to expand...

Zhibo, Jarred confirmed that the RMP's are manual-only...
 
Peter Majtan said:
Zhibo, Jarred confirmed that the RMP's are manual-only...
Click to expand...

which leads me to wonder why they chose to put they iris controls on the front of the lens and the focus on the back.

I guess I might be being to picky, T1.5 lenses for under a grand... I should probably just STFU.
 
Yea it's time for other companies to develop all the new hardware for Scarlets. It will be huge, like for iPods. New lenses, monitors, handles, rods, FF, MB, cases etc. I think that they are already starting now :thumbsup:
 
I would love to see that. Actually I would love to see red look into licensing some companies to even make modules. Red would of course get a cut in the license agreement and they would be able to make sure everything is up to spec.

A sound module from lectrosonics or sennheiser with built in wireless receivers and XLRs would be very very handy. A video I/O module and encoding module from AJA or blackmagic design would be awesome.
 
Mitch is right (of course).

Arri or Chrosziel follow focus units will have no problem with this (not sure about brands).
 
Trevor Swaim said:
Like most people I am blown away buy the pricing on not just the Scarlet itself but also the miniprimes. I have been planning on a 2/3" scarlet removable for sometime now but I do have a concern. It appears that the gear ring for the Focus controls on the miniprimes is in the rear while the iris is in the front. My concern is that the gear ring is, or appears to be, very, very close to the body of the camera and is thus not going to be compatible with the vast majority of follow focus units on the market.

Is this something that I should be concerned about or no?
Click to expand...

This is a valid point, I though the same myself, since none of the mini primes are electronic a manual follow focus system is essential.
I think this also holds for the S35 as all lenses used will need a manual follow focus system (I would love to see the S35 coming with remote follow focus, not sure if this is possible) from previous posts I believe the FF35 Scarlet will have manual and remote control features.
If Jarred or any of the Red team are on line maybe they could clear this up.
 
Hey Mitch,
Thanks for the clarification on the "fat gears". Are they available for the Chroiszel single sided FF?
I purchased a single sided Chroiszel from Abel Cine 2 years ago (it works great) and I was unable to use it on the new Canon EC Primes. I want the 2/3 inch Scarlet w/primes of course, but I do not want to take the skin off my fingers.
My guess on the reverse gear placement is to minimize breathing with focus changes.
What are your thoughts?
 
There is a fat gear available for the Chrosziel follow focuses, including the single-sided units. They all use the same gears.

There are many lenses constructed with the iris ring in the front and the focus in the back. There can be a few reasons and I'm not going to speculate on why these lenses are this way, although I have my suspicions. Sometimes my statements on such things get misconstrued so I don't see any reason to go there. The lenses may work well. I have no idea byt Jarred seems to like them.
 
$1,000 for nice prime lens? That sounds pretty awesome. Too bad I can't use these lenses on other 2/3 cameras, like a camera with a prism.
 
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