Modifying Redrock Micro's follow-focus to save weight and space for smaller lenses

[Stephen Pruitt]

Hi all. . .

First of all, a description of the problem:

I'm a Nikon lens user, and since some of those Nikon lenses are pretty small, it is very hard to get the Redrock follow focus close enough to the front of the RED to actually use the follow focus on some very small lenses (such as the dinky little 50mm f1.4). Those of you who use the Redrock follow-focus know that you all have to use RED's 15mm adapter, a couple of short carbon fiber (or metal) rods to attach from the adapter to the follow focus, and a RED universal mount. All those extra parts add weight and, even more importantly, front-of-camera space.

The solution:

Simply glue the RED universal mount directly to the bottom of Redrock Micro's follow-focus!

Here's what you'll need:

1. One 2" 32 pitch #10 machine screw
2. One #10 washer
3. One tube of gel super glue
4. One can of satin-finish black spray paint

Here's what you do:

1. Pitch RED's 15mm adapter completely and remove the tightening screws on the Redrock follow-focus. You don't need 'em and they add extra weight. Also remove the screw that came with the follow-focus.

2. Spray the 2" screw and the #10 washer with the satin black paint to create a nice factory-made look.

3. Spread a thin layer of gel super glue on the bottom of the Redrock Micro follow-focus and quickly and carefully align it squarely on top of RED universal mount.

4. Insert the 2" screw and washer from below (under the bottom of the RED universal mount) and put the follow focus unit on top and tighten into place using Redrock's black adjustment knob.

5. Wait an hour for the glue to set firmly and you are ready to go!

The result:

You'll now be able to get that follow focus right up to the edge of your RED's Nikon mount, and so you will now be able to use it on the shortest lenses.

And the best part?

Nothing you have just done is irreversible! If you ever want to sell the Redrock follow focus, just apply some fingernail polish remover and the super glue will melt away quickly, leaving you able to reconstruct an unmodified Redrock follow focus to sell to someone else!

Stephen

 

[A. Clint Litton]

any pictures of your setup?

 

[Stephen Pruitt]

Believe it or not, I don't have a digital camera. . . two REDs, but no digital camera.

:-(

Stephen

 

[A. Clint Litton]

camera phone?

wait, you have two cameras? let's see a 4k, graded TIFF with some dramatic Land-style product lighting!

on the other hand, you likely have better ways to spend your time. still, post one if you ever have an opportunity to snap a few pics of your creation.

cheers

 

[Brandon Fraley]

wait, you have two cameras? let's see a 4k, graded TIFF with some dramatic Land-style product lighting!

yeah, seriously

 

[Stephen Pruitt]

Geez. . . so demanding. . .



Hey. . .it's really, really easy to do. . . and it really, really works. With my mod you could use a lens only half an inch long.

Stephen

 

[Steve Sherrick]

Cool. Haven't played around with my RR follow focus too much, but I had been giving thought to using the universal mount. Between this and Hunter's suggestions for reversing the gears, some cool info for the RR.

 

[Billy Mead]

Photos.. We have 2 FF's units in need of this and I know I'll do it wrong.. have you ever tried to remove gorilla glue? lol.

Billy

 

[Stephen Pruitt]

Not Gorilla glue. . . SUPER GLUE. . . cyanoacrylate. . . the clear stuff. . . it dissolves in acetone very easily. . . finger nail polish remover. Easy, easy, easy. . . and works like a charm!

I'll see I can post some shots next week.

Stephen

 

[Brice Ansel]

Hello Stephen, don't forget us and the shots of your redrock FF.
Thanks
Regards
Brice

 

[Julio Quintana]

I also would like to see photos of this setup. I also want to know how you're dealing with the reverse focus on the Nikons.

 

[Joel Kaye]

I just use one carriage bolt. Looks like this.

The other bolts keep the FF from spinning. (To make this really confusing, that's a Birger Canon mount with a Nikon lens attached via a little mount adapter ring. The RR 19mm Mattebox fits on there just fine. Haven't tried the 15mm one)

Just seems like a simple way to go to me. Using the RR FF gives you an adapter to 15mm rods at the same time.

 

[Brian Valente]

Hi Stephen

Yes - we'd love to see it as well


Brian

 

[Sean]

Aha! Good idea mate. I too have had this issue with my Redrock follow focus. I even told Redrock about the issue. But yours is an ingenious little solution. I'm gonna do it.

 

[Steve Sherrick]

Joel's method is working for me. It's a little easier to do. Not that the other method is that hard.

 

[Brian Valente]

Looking at Joel's pics, please konw that we have an upgraded drive gear here:

http://shopping.netsuite.com/s.nl/c.472981/it.A/id.514/.f?sc=2&category=10

This is a larger diameter drive gear which gets closer to the lens, and also sits closer to the microFollowFocus gearbox, so the overall width is much thinner

Brian

 

[Stephen Pruitt]

Pictures at last. And look how elegant it is!

Pictures at last. And look how elegant it is!

And you can get the follow focus RIGHT UP TO THE SMALLEST LENS using this approach:

And, again, no permanent modifications at all. It's all easily reversible, saves a lot of weight, and works perfectly.

Stephen

 

[Brian Valente]

Thanks Stephen - where exactly is the glue?


Brian

 

[Stephen Pruitt]

The glue is between the two pieces (on the top of the universal mount and the bottom of the RR 15mm piece). The beauty of it all is that you can't see it at all. It's just a very thin layer between the two pieces, but it holds like steel. And it's easy to reverse with a little fingernail polish remover.

Stephen