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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Movcam Studio Follow Focus

Tom Greenberg

Tom Greenberg

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Has anyone used the Movcam MCF-1 Studio Follow Focus kit? I'm very curious about how you feel it stacks up to either the Arri FF4 or O'Connor CFF-1. I need a bridge-style follow focus because of the short length of some of my Contax and Nikon lenses. The Movcam looks like a great package for the $$$, including 2 hand wheels, multiple gear ratio arms, extension, whip, crank, etc all for a bit over $3000.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/839029-REG/Movcam_MOV_302_0205_Studio_Follow_Focus.html
 
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Patrick O'Sullivan said:
Tom on ebay right now I just picked up a dual sided Ocon CFF-1 for well below the price of the Movcam.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/OConnor-...LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a82f75f19&_uhb=1

$2700 to be exact. But I just sent through an offer and after a little to-ing and fro-ing I got it well below that.

Couldn't believe they accepted it.
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Let me know what you think of the Oconnor. Both times I used it I wanted to run it over with my car and burn it. I have a couple friends who sold theirs because they felt the same.
 
I've used it in the past. It was either the ff-5 cine or the ocon and after using both as rentals on a few different gigs I couldn't pass up the price.

I don't often pull focus myself but I've never had an issue with any of the units.
 
im looking for FF myself too..Tilta looks like knockoff Arri FF4/Movcam.im just ignoring Oconn posts because im using it for 2 years and its the worst quality FF i have ever seen.i wouldnt pay 1000$ on that..
would love to hear comments about Movcam and see some photos.i have seen the video product looks ok but $3K is too expensive for this brand' in the end its CHINESE product like tilta and you can buy factory with 500 worker for $3K..
 
Yeah the Oconnor is garbage. I'm really curious about the Tilta just because of price and what is included. Their new gear seems to be good, just wish someone around had one that I could test. If it's as good as the Movcam there's no reason not to buy it at that price.
 
It was a tough bullet to bite price-wise, but I've been using the OConnor CFF-1 for a bit over two months and it's seen a great many lenses. I've been shockingly pleased by it.

The Movcam looks pretty nice. Didn't know it existed until now. Love to test one out for sure.
 
Matt Ryan said:
Yeah the Oconnor is garbage. I'm really curious about the Tilta just because of price and what is included. Their new gear seems to be good, just wish someone around had one that I could test. If it's as good as the Movcam there's no reason not to buy it at that price.
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im using FF4 all the time and its the best FF i have ever seen.Filmtools selling FF4 kit from 3500$ if im gonna pay $3K for FF it has to be FF4...
 
Kemalettin Sert said:
im using FF4 all the time and its the best FF i have ever seen.Filmtools selling FF4 kit from 3500$ if im gonna pay $3K for FF it has to be FF4...
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Yeah but the Tilta is $1,700, that's why I have hopes for it.

P.S. the build and materials cost of an FF-4 is $xxx (can't say but it is low 3 digits). Funny that these things have such a mark-up.
 
Mat hello. This is not exactly how it works Iam afraid. Being in the manufacturing for many years, I will tell you that you can produce the best piece of crap, using the best available materials and CNC machines. Engineering is not just having the money to pay for a cad program and a good CNC. Many products have been very thoughtfully designed after a lot of hands on experience, endless trials, and R&D. Companies in China at 99,9 % look at visual products, even buy them then start copying with out knowing what they re doing , with reverse engineering.
Sometimes they make something good, but many products hide more that you can visually see in a picture or hording it in your hands.
Its also many other mechanical engineering factors that can make a product suck even if it was build at a good CNC machine.
To build something you need first to understand what it does , how it does it and how it can do it better. And you have to be a relative to the business person.
That's why when you take something to a machinist that makes car parts and you try to explain him what it does on a camera, he needs to either spent an enormous amount of time to understand it, and more time to build it. Otherwise he will make you something that it will be missing important things that he didn't really know they are valid.
So everything has its price.
As for Chinese materials , I have learned my lesson. 95% of the aluminum stated being 7075 T5 or 6061T6 or even called aerospace, well, try and analyse with a metal analyser gun, and then you will see the real story behind its contains and what it really is.
same goes with Titanium, Carbon, fiber, and even stainless steel.
So yes there might be some true in your post but its only.....some and not confirmed specially in a already made product and what is hidden behind its black anodizing color.
best regards
 
Thanks for all the replies! I've never used the CFF-1, but I bought an O-Focus-DM for the college and have been very underwhelmed with it. The little adjustment screws are very poorly placed and hard to get at...especially if you have fat fingers like me, lol. And the area where the knob attaches to the shaft has broken twice on our unit. The only advantage the CFF-1 has, IMO, is that the lens gear is on a swing-arm, which means that you shouldn't have to slide the whole unit in as close to the lens to adjust it. But I am very suspect of the build quality after my experiences with the O-Focus.

The Tilta looks interesting, Matt...there are definitely some things about the design that I like from the pictures...wish I could see one in person.
 
Tom Greenberg said:
Thanks for all the replies! I've never used the CFF-1, but I bought an O-Focus-DM for the college and have been very underwhelmed with it. The little adjustment screws are very poorly placed and hard to get at...especially if you have fat fingers like me, lol. And the area where the knob attaches to the shaft has broken twice on our unit. The only advantage the CFF-1 has, IMO, is that the lens gear is on a swing-arm, which means that you shouldn't have to slide the whole unit in as close to the lens to adjust it. But I am very suspect of the build quality after my experiences with the O-Focus.

The Tilta looks interesting, Matt...there are definitely some things about the design that I like from the pictures...wish I could see one in person.
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Tilta is not worth of checking out.i would rather to spend 1300$ more and get FF4 Set from Filmtools :) BTW its ARRI.also if you rent equipment ARRI name is huge plus.(i would say what a piece of shit for movcam&tilta on set)
 
Matt Ryan said:
I'm curious how this compares: http://www.ebay.com/itm/251252205056?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
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titla dual follow focus with 2 wheels..5 gears..4 marking discs..whip..crank..and case..little bit cheaper through Ikan http://ikancorp.com/productlisting.php?id=205

Movcam and Tilta are regarded as a sort of BMW/Mercedes of the Chinese manufacturers.
Ikan is now Tilta distributor for all of North America. If it was junk they wouldn't rep. it.

Tilta wooden handles http://ikancorp.com/productdetail.php?id=704


TT-0507_6.jpg


movcam for bmc

$(KGrHqNHJ!8FHTkU0zfoBR3nnrfT3g~~60_3.JPG
 
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I was just using a CFF-1 today infact and it's absolutely dogshit. It was like using a salt and pepper grinder to pull focus. I literally wanted to rip it off the camera and throw it down a flight of stares. FF4 or go home.
 
Tom C. Hall said:
I was just using a CFF-1 today infact and it's absolutely dogshit. It was like using a salt and pepper grinder to pull focus. I literally wanted to rip it off the camera and throw it down a flight of stares. FF4 or go home.
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No, gear at this level requires routine professional maintenance. Last week I operated off a very new 2575 and the pan action was really bad, sticky start and stops, no matter where the drag was set. All that means is it requires service, not that "all model 2575 are bad, so buy another brand."

I've have owned a Arri FF5 since 2006, it does need a tune up but it still works without issue every time I pull it out of these case. The CFF-1 was designed by some of the same people that made the FF5. I've used the CFF-1 and it is a great piece of kit. There must be a few CFF-1 floating around that need a turn up, because the design and built is on par with the Arri FF4/5.

I have not seen the Tilta, but after 15 years working with Cine level kit every week, I can say the Arri and Ocon gear is very similar. It comes down to maintenance + personal perf.
 
People are certainly passionate about their preferred FF units. If I had the $$ I'd get an FF4 without a doubt, but unless I can find a used one, it is just not realistic. I have personal experience with the O-Focus, and don't really care for it for a variety of reasons. I'm willing to concede that the CFF-1 is probably better...it certainly costs a lot more...but there are enough design similarities that it makes me not trust it. The Tilta and Movcam are unknown quantities for me, so I am really interested to hear from anyone that has used them. I totally get the "if it seems to good to be true" concept, but this stuff is SO bloody expensive, I have a hard time accepting that an $1800 FF (Tilta) automatically falls into the "cheap overseas junk" category. Which begs the real question, why does this shit have to cost so much??
 
Tom Greenberg said:
People are certainly passionate about their preferred FF units. If I had the $$ I'd get an FF4 without a doubt, but unless I can find a used one, it is just not realistic. I have personal experience with the O-Focus, and don't really care for it for a variety of reasons. I'm willing to concede that the CFF-1 is probably better...it certainly costs a lot more...but there are enough design similarities that it makes me not trust it. The Tilta and Movcam are unknown quantities for me, so I am really interested to hear from anyone that has used them. I totally get the "if it seems to good to be true" concept, but this stuff is SO bloody expensive, I have a hard time accepting that an $1800 FF (Tilta) automatically falls into the "cheap overseas junk" category. Which begs the real question, why does this shit have to cost so much??
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Tom trust me you ll regret with CFF1 choice so get the FF4 (Filmtools $3K)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/712800-REG/OConnor_C1241_0001_Cine_Follow_Focus_One.html
whats the lowest price you can find for CFF1.
 
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