Electric follow focus solutions

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Price: $230 + shipping

http://www.aliexpress.com/product-fm/535368761-Electric-follow-focus-zoom-controller-for-5D2-wholesalers.html

mythmaker

This looks interesting but I'd have to see a review or two before getting it. I wish there were a couple more pics showing how it mounts, whether it can mount to a rig (not just a pan handle) and video showing how responsive/reliable the motor is. If there is any delay or drift whatsoever then its of no use. Having used high-end controllers in the past, I'm not particularly optimistic when it comes to low-priced controllers - even the high-end ones aren't always 100% reliable.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

I am almost sure that it is noisy, and far from ideal.

Otherwise, if you are using rig and do it alone, it is preferable to normal FF, as you can mount it on or near handle.

Most probably 2012 will be year of many affordable electronic FF.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Opteka rig with electrical drives for focus and aperture

http://www.amazon.com/Opteka-FFR-900-Motorized-Controller-Camcorders/dp/B00AQNRXDS

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Remember that wireless options are located in other topics:

LPowell

It's not inexpensive, and has other well-known limitations, but the best electronic follow focus system I've seen for MFT and legacy Four Thirds lenses is an AF100 with a Manfrotto 521PFI remote controller.

The 521PFI provides manual control of both focus and aperture, with optional max and min limits on focus range. What makes it slick is the AF100's digital readouts of lens aperture, focal length, and focus distance in the viewfinder. This makes calibrated shots easy to reproduce and confirm.

Of course, these features work only on electronically controlled Panasonic and Olympus lenses, and some users have reported 521PFI compatibility issues with certain lenses. The Manfrotto 521PFI was designed for a previous generation of Panasonic pro camcorders which use the same lens control signals as the AF100, but it was not officially tested or marketed for the AF100. I've found it works well with the following lenses:

Olympus 14-35mm f2.0 - literally a dream come true

Pana/Leica 25mm f1.4 - legacy Four Thirds

Panasonic 9-18mm f4-5.6 - legacy Four Thirds

Olympus 12-50mm f3.5-6.3 - with motorized zoom

Panasonic 45-175mm f4-5.6 -with motorized zoom

Panasonic 45-200mm f4-5.6

Vitaliy_Kiselev

It's not inexpensive, and has other well-known limitations, but the best electronic follow focus system I've seen for MFT and legacy Four Thirds lenses is an AF100 with a Manfrotto 521PFI remote controller.

I think it is best to make topic for it, as it no way fit in the category describing electronic follow focus devices. it is just controller, and very specific one (lanc controllers are much more common).

vicharris

I'd really like to hear a true example of the noise from the motors. Anything this cheap scares me for sound issues. My homemade motorized slider I made sounds like shit and the motors don't look that different from what I've used.

vicharris

As soon as they offer that Opteka one on Amazon Prime I'll pull the trigger and test one out!

vicharris

The Opteka is on pre sale for $399 and reg price is $999. Interesting.

Meierhans

What kind of motors are in the Opteka? Is there any clips showing their noise? 400$ sounds very tempting, but I would like to see some reviews before.

Brian202020

For the DIYers out there.

http://m.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Lens-Controller-Synchronized-ZoomFocus-/

Meierhans

@Brian202020 This DIY solution uses normal servos. They are not very exact.

I found this DIY site using stepper, it looks very good: http://weblogs.thinktecture.com/DigitalFollowFocus/

edit: Link to updated project: https://github.com/alancairns/followfocus/blob/master/README.md

Vitaliy_Kiselev

@Brian202020 @Meierhans

I suggest to make separate topic for any DIY related things, to not make strange mix here.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

rockroadpix

Oh, that's quiet as a church mouse!! :)

vicharris

This thing is looking pretty damn good now. I actually use pieces from one of Optekas rigs and it's really solid stuff.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Opteka just under different brand

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PRO-Motorized-Follow-Focus-Zoom-Control-w-DSLR-Camera-Shoulder-Mount-Rig-Bundle-/121118897927

CFreak

@rockroadpix and anyone thinking of buying this thing:

just go to 2:25 and listen carefully when he zooms. Then ask your self how much your sound person is going to like that (or you if you're editing the piece).

vicharris

I've seen other videos of this and it was one of the quietest ones I've heard that was not $2000. If you have your people boomed with the right mic, I think you would be ok and could certainly find that freq in post and remove it.