The remote follow focus problem

[Christoffer Glans]

All Komodo owners with V-Lock plates can easily continue with remote follow focus workflows just as with DSMC2s, but what about us who went all-in on the Canon battery route? How do we power regular and common remote FFs like the ARRI WCU-4?

Some have mentioned that it's possible to get power out of the EXT port, but maybe not enough to drive the motor. So what are the options here?

 

[M Harvey]

At the current moment, for any build where you'd be using a WCU-4, I'd have to think sticking a v-mount somewhere in your rig would make your life easier. (You'll probably have at least a monitor or Teradek on that build, too.) Even if you're running the camera off Canon batteries for the hot swap capabilities, maybe you have a mini v-mount on rails or affixed to the side of a cage. I'd love to be wrong, but my thoughts come from the power challenges I've faced building up FS7/C100-type cameras in the past.

For some lower power draw items, you can use a USB power bank-- I have one that works with a Tilta Nucleus Nano focus motor, and a smallrig cradle that allows me to attach it to a cage, etc. I expect we'll see more of this kind of thing in the future-- but then, if you're going to rig a USB power bank, you might as well rig a v-mount battery. (Not to make this a Tilta commercial, but they now make a side handle that has a power output for a follow focus motor. Not sure what the output is and if it works with motors from other brands.)

 

[Jacek Zakowicz]

All Komodo owners with V-Lock plates can easily continue with remote follow focus workflows just as with DSMC2s, but what about us who went all-in on the Canon battery route? How do we power regular and common remote FFs like the ARRI WCU-4?

Some have mentioned that it's possible to get power out of the EXT port, but maybe not enough to drive the motor. So what are the options here?

Seems like a perfect opportunity for electronic ff that uses af lens motors

 

[Christoffer Glans]

Seems like a perfect opportunity for electronic ff that uses af lens motors

Rather work with proper cine glass and smooth focus pulls than breathing still lenses with jumpy focus pulls. Also won’t help my CN-Es.

 

[Christoffer Glans]

At the current moment, for any build where you'd be using a WCU-4, I'd have to think sticking a v-mount somewhere in your rig would make your life easier. (You'll probably have at least a monitor or Teradek on that build, too.) Even if you're running the camera off Canon batteries for the hot swap capabilities, maybe you have a mini v-mount on rails or affixed to the side of a cage. I'd love to be wrong, but my thoughts come from the power challenges I've faced building up FS7/C100-type cameras in the past.

For some lower power draw items, you can use a USB power bank-- I have one that works with a Tilta Nucleus Nano focus motor, and a smallrig cradle that allows me to attach it to a cage, etc. I expect we'll see more of this kind of thing in the future-- but then, if you're going to rig a USB power bank, you might as well rig a v-mount battery. (Not to make this a Tilta commercial, but they now make a side handle that has a power output for a follow focus motor. Not sure what the output is and if it works with motors from other brands.)

What a shame. Built up a battery army of canon batteries. Having a separate V-lock attached at the same time is just not a good idea and erases the point of having the setup low key.

So there simply isn’t any other way to drive a focus motor? What about the EXT port? Does it provide power out and is there any FF system capable of using that?

 

[Dennis Kuhnel]

Despite the P-Tap problem: Any chance anyone knows if there is a way to use a WCU-4 (either with c-force mini RF motor or an AMC-1 module) so that you can use the start/stop function? I think there's a new protocol and I just can't figure out how to get this to work.

 

[Martin Konrad]

Since you already have the batteries and chargers I would get two Canon battery plates and a long d-tap cable and wire a power supply with a long(ish) cable and female d-tap to clip on a belt.
Not a great option for gimbal use with the extra cable but otherwise it will keep the size of the kit down.

 

[M Harvey]

So there simply isn’t any other way to drive a focus motor? What about the EXT port? Does it provide power out and is there any FF system capable of using that?

I don't have a definitive answer. However, per the diagram Jarred posted, the EXT port offers a 5v power out. The cforce mini (and plus) take minimum 12v.

The Tilta Nucleus Nano can operate on 5v and should be fine with Canon CN-E-- but someone else will have to let us know if there exists a cable that will allow it to interface with the EXT port. Otherwise, the only option I know is the Tilta side handle that offers a power out to Tilta motors.

 

[Bob Gundu]

I don't have a definitive answer. However, per the diagram Jarred posted, the EXT port offers a 5v power out. The cforce mini (and plus) take minimum 12v.

The Tilta Nucleus Nano can operate on 5v and should be fine with Canon CN-E-- but someone else will have to let us know if there exists a cable that will allow it to interface with the EXT port. Otherwise, the only option I know is the Tilta side handle that offers a power out to Tilta motors.

Yeah for small builds I’m using the battery in the handle to power the small nucleus FF.

 

[Christoffer Glans]

Since you already have the batteries and chargers I would get two Canon battery plates and a long d-tap cable and wire a power supply with a long(ish) cable and female d-tap to clip on a belt.
Not a great option for gimbal use with the extra cable but otherwise it will keep the size of the kit down.

This would just incite the question of why I just don't go with a V-Lock battery belt clip to drive the entire setup. Why split up batteries like that?

I don't have a definitive answer. However, per the diagram Jarred posted, the EXT port offers a 5v power out. The cforce mini (and plus) take minimum 12v.

The Tilta Nucleus Nano can operate on 5v and should be fine with Canon CN-E-- but someone else will have to let us know if there exists a cable that will allow it to interface with the EXT port. Otherwise, the only option I know is the Tilta side handle that offers a power out to Tilta motors.

Yeah, I feel like Red is extremely quiet nowadays on this forum, almost all new information gets communicated through Jarred on Insta, which is fine, but there's no discussion or feedback on questions in here. So we get a 5v out on the EXT port, but we don't know if it works for real or not.

Yeah for small builds I’m using the battery in the handle to power the small nucleus FF.

What batteries are used for this? And this would not work on the RS2. But RS2 already has a focus motor, would be nice if it would be used on the same protocol as the Nucleus, switching between them.

I would just like to have a system that can be self-contained. A setup that can be put on a tripod, handheld and gimbal without dismantling everything. Having a rod setup for a focus motor with power that is always attached regardless of where the camera is. Seems like a futile attempt to build a small setup.

 

[Christoffer Glans]

The cforce mini (and plus) take minimum 12v.

If this could be solved and put on the Komodo without any change in battery setup, that would be awesome. Then the Arri WCU-4 would work. However, I'm not sure how the 12v can be made to work?

Is there a possible transformer that could be used and connected to the EXT port? I know the torque would be less, but maybe it would be enough for CN-Es? Not sure what their torque need is.

Or is there any motorized gear with internal battery that works with the Arri WCU-4?

 

[Thomas B.]

I'm not 100% sure about this, but according to Tilta's product page, their latest Focus Handle for Komodo have 2 power outs:

1x USB-C 8V (which is also used for R/S triggering on Komodo)
1x barrel connector 12 V

Powered by a Sony F570 battery. Don't know if this battery can deliver enough Amps, though.

 

[Christoffer Glans]

I'm not 100% sure about this, but according to Tilta's product page, their latest Focus Handle for Komodo have 2 power outs:

1x USB-C 8V (which is also used for R/S triggering on Komodo)
1x barrel connector 12 V

Powered by a Sony F570 battery. Don't know if this battery can deliver enough Amps, though.

Sounds promising, but worried it would add a lot of weight. Saw this picture in another thread:

Seems to have a 12v output on the adapter plate?

 

[Thomas B.]

Looks like this.

 

[Christoffer Glans]

Looks like this.

But isn't it a Canon battery attached in the picture? Damn shame if there's no BP solution, then it would work. It would be even better if it was possible to have something like this, but that actually provide power to the camera at the same time. Like a small BP to BP plate that adds a 12v output like this. It would solve everything and still keep everything pretty tight and low weight.

 

[Thomas B.]

I agree, there should be a proper BP solution. Unfortunately, Tilta's preferring the Sony batteries for some reason.
The BP9 adapter plates I found (for monitors or cameras) had no socket, but a preinstalled cable. (which may be another no go)

BP9 cheap version (not sure if it works with 955/975 batteries, though)

TV Logic offers an adapter plate, too...but I'm not sure if you can take the adapter off the monitor mounting plate.

Ikan version 1

Ikan version 2

Maybe THIS is what you were looking for IF it only would have a 12V out!
Ask SWIT to make an updated version with 12V out...

Here's a 5V version by SHAPE

 

[Mike P.]

Yeah for small builds I’m using the battery in the handle to power the small nucleus FF.

Which finger wheel handle is that Bob? One of the Tilta ones (for other cameras) that use an LPE6?

I've been hoping they'd make a 12v one or at least one with swappable mount, so it can be put on the left or right side of the camera. Alas, it's been over a year or waiting, so it's time to bite the bullet.

 

[Christoffer Glans]

What about this one?
https://www.coreswx.com/store.coreswx/product/nano-c98/

If it's not damaging the camera to use these (due to higher volt), it could easily be attached to the right slot on the camera and pretty much only power the FF system while letting you hot-swap the left battery.

But I'm not sure if it will work, doesn't look like the right BP type?

EDIT: yes, it's not the right BP version. Damn. Would be nice if CORE did a BP-950 version of this battery, specifically for Komodo. Would solve everything.

 

[Björn Benckert]

Phone fixture with on board power bank. Then you can pull focus with a tilta nano usb motor...

But if running with a WCU4 then you normally you want good SDI wireless, SDI onboard monitor, AC SDI wireless montor etc. To feed all that then, as I see it the best way to go is something like the Vaxis ATOM 600 KV with and small Vlocks that has dual Dtap.

 

[Christoffer Glans]

Yeah, I'm thinking more for low budget stuff, maybe we get away with the onboard video transfer from Komodo. Compared to low-cost wireless video, it performs well. But then again, if adding a monitor with an onboard battery, that monitor might have wireless transmission (haven't checked around so don't know if these exist) and also might be able to power the motor.

But at the moment, the NANO-C98 is a really good solution if it could be made into a BP-950-type battery instead. Then you get all the power you need.

This thread isn't really about v-lock solutions because they all work. It's more about those who film with BP batteries and need a solution to wireless FFs. It's weird that we don't have any real good solutions for this. I also wonder if 7v is enough to drive some of the more high end systems? Right now we have 5v out of Komodo, but the batteries are 7v so couldn't it be possible to get the EXT to output 7v and have a solution for FF systems supporting 7v?