05Jun Budget DSLR Follow Focus
Thanks to a tip from Jarrod, here’s a look at a very inexpensive DSLR Follow focus with universal lens gear. The R.J. Follow Focus states that it’s made mostly out of Aluminum with a reversible gear to be used both left and right handed. There’s a large marking disc area and standard knob to accept an external ‘whip’ if you decide to get one in the future. The gear sits low, so if you’re using a small lens and a battery grip, you may have some trouble getting the FF to mate to the lens gear. The last question would be how much ‘play’ the follow focus has in the gear box, but at this price it can’t be all bad.
DSLR Follow Focus with Lens Gear
Like most follow focus systems, this one will require a set of 15mm rods to mount. If you don’t have a set you’re best bet is to take advantage of those Gini auctions. What you’re looking for is a rig that has at least the DSLR base mount and two rails.
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June 5th, 2011 at 10:19 pm
I’m checking out this inexpensive follow focus device, and I’m wondering if I can modify this to attach to my rails, to control my zooming.
Has anyone ever made a dual follow focus and adjustable zoom control?
I find my zooms to be pretty clunky, when I’m doing the run and gun…and then there’s an extra step for the focus. Just from moving from using my right hand to my left hand, from the zoom, to the focus…
I’m wondering if there was a 2 controller type thing out there.
June 5th, 2011 at 10:42 pm
It costs the same as the DFocus one. There’s no information if it has standard pith gears or proprietary. No crank either?
June 5th, 2011 at 11:00 pm
@Peter Shapiro – Yes, several people have used two FF’s one for zoom and one for focus.
June 5th, 2011 at 11:03 pm
Looks like the Gini Rig stuff is cheaper from their store http://www.gini1.com/
June 5th, 2011 at 11:03 pm
@Olphus – Actually this one is a bit cheaper than D-Focus, and looks like it has a better gearbox. From what I can tell this one looks like a better design.
June 5th, 2011 at 11:04 pm
hmmmmmmm reeeally interested in it, but like you said, the question is the amount of play and what else the seller hides from us
June 5th, 2011 at 11:14 pm
@David Brown – I’m not a fan of his store, and i’ve actually bought several items cheaper than the site. I hear there could also be discrepancies on shipping rates through the gini site. eBay is the only thing I ever suggest because you have two extra layers of payment protection. I suggest everyone stick with eBay.
June 5th, 2011 at 11:30 pm
The reversible gear is nice.
How do you know it uses industry standard gears? It would be nice if you could use any of the lens gears available now from various dealers.
June 6th, 2011 at 1:20 am
Co-sign on Gini’s Ebay. Always cheaper. Just keep checking – sometimes the prices drop real low, you can find real bargains. And these last few months shipping has had a fixed rate at 27USD on all auctions, international express shipping(2-3 business days).
Anywho, too bad there isn’t more information or a review on this FF unit. Looks nice.
June 6th, 2011 at 6:16 am
@Mickey Jones – My guess is that it is industry standard.
June 6th, 2011 at 10:00 am
Looks like a great price, but I’m too gun shy to buy when the DFocus is not too much more and is returnable.
This place doesnt take returns, only exchanges. On what looks to be a really inexpensive build quality, thats too risky.
I’ll just save more nickels and dimes until I can get a Dfocus
June 6th, 2011 at 11:13 am
This does look great for the price because if you needed it soon the DFocus is out of stock and has been for a while now. My biggest problem is the distance from rails to lens. I like to use a grip to help avoid overheating so i need to be able to raise this up. Does anybody know if the DFocus can be used nicely with a grip?
June 6th, 2011 at 11:28 am
@Thomas Reynolds – You’ll need to get an optional adapter that they make.
June 6th, 2011 at 11:51 am
THESE DO NOT USE “Universal Lens Gears” they are 1 MOD gears. I emailed the seller.
June 6th, 2011 at 11:58 am
EDIT: So I guess they are saying that the gears are .08 mod gears and not 1Mod gears.
Even though I had asked them just like two days ago what the pitch was and they emailed me:
“and for the gear… the MOD = 1.0, slightly larger than the .08 one, but it’s compatible with our gearbelt though.. and we do include 1 with this listing… and if you need extra ones, they’re available for $15 ea.. (and if you buy more than 5 pcs… we can offer it for just $12 each…)”
Also I asked if it would take a standard whip and they said: “btw, can you enlighten us how the whip is more useful than the crank ?”
I think they are still learning about what a follow foucs actually IS. I’m going to wait for a v2.0.
June 6th, 2011 at 12:34 pm
@PClement
What dies that mean… The gear won’t fit every lens?
June 6th, 2011 at 1:24 pm
I wonder how hard it would be to replace that gear though. It looks like its easily removed.
June 6th, 2011 at 2:40 pm
I’ve been reading here an on ebay… the seller seems pretty active answering questions and speaks pretty good English. I don’t know if anyone else has seen this but just a bit ago he posted a link to a photo of the bottom. http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y271/wenonah_gown/photo_gadget/FFrearpicture.jpg
I might go for this and if its not tall enough well I might DIY a riser for it.
June 6th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
Also shortened up the url and found the whole gallery http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y271/wenonah_gown/photo_gadget/
June 6th, 2011 at 3:01 pm
@PClement – From the images, it looks like the standard gear. Hopefully we will get confirmation soon.
June 6th, 2011 at 3:03 pm
I did want to add one thing:
I have purchased from this seller before. I bought one of their friction arms and I was very happy with the build quality considering it was $39 with free shipping
.
June 6th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
He just emailed me back and said that he is going to try it out on a camera with a battery grip and see if it is tall enough to work. who knows. I’d still probably DIY it if needed. (gotta buy a grip first though)
June 6th, 2011 at 6:07 pm
Hope the gear pitch thing gets resolved. Looks like the overhang on that strap gear would get in the way on smaller lenses. Guess you have have to buy a few and shorten them.
Seems the crank/whip insert is larger than industry too. Too bad, seems like a nice design overall. Hopefully there is a 2.0 version.
BTW, just bought one of those Gini rigs mentions in the post. Thanks
June 6th, 2011 at 8:31 pm
For anyone looking for a solid deal on a gini made base plate with rods should check out this seller, gini778
. He’s been putting up one per day with no reserve or starting price. I got mine pretty cheap, and looking at his reviews some folks got the rig for under forty bucks, well under the starting bid for the baseplates in several auctions here: http://shop.ebay.com/gini778/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686&clk_rvr_id=238282006846
I hope the quality on these is pretty solid as I haven’t seen one in person yet, but the reviews have been really positive and hopefully with the adjustable height I can keep my juicedlink preamp under my camera and still use my follow focus.
June 6th, 2011 at 8:44 pm
Also, here is a very basic, American constructed rod setup, and some variations for some extremely low prices…look for seller visions68 here: http://shop.ebay.com:80/visions68/m.html?_nkw=dslr&_sacat=0&_sop=15&_dmd=1&_odkw=&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3911.c0.m270.l1313
June 6th, 2011 at 9:52 pm
@Darius – I can attest that Gini’s stuff is some of the best i’ve seen as far as DSLR rigs go. This seller gini778
that you suggested looks pretty good for finding small Gini parts.
June 6th, 2011 at 11:07 pm
The seller did contact me (after reading this thread I guess) and reconfirmed that the gears
——> ARE 8 MOD
RJ was very nice and seemed genuinely interested in making his product a good one.
He also emailed and told me he was working on a compatible whip and speed crank that would be available very soon.
He also hinted at more affordable DSLR products in the works….so keep a look out.
June 6th, 2011 at 11:08 pm
FYI, we should see some reviews pop up here in a week or two, when accounting for shipping time.
June 7th, 2011 at 12:48 am
What about the indiFOCUSmini? Is it an affordable and good FF system? It’s just a couple of more bucks and already has whip and crank as an accessory for $50.
June 7th, 2011 at 6:01 am
http://stores.ebay.com/GINI-RIGS-HDSLR-RIGS?_rdc=1
I got an adjustable baseplate with rods for 55 here (plus 27 for ups express shipping)
@PClement – Nice. Link us up when you get it done!
June 7th, 2011 at 7:36 am
@John Johansson – I’ve heard that there’s ‘play’ in the indiFOCUS gearbox.
June 8th, 2011 at 12:38 pm
Pulled the trigger… let you know what I think in a couple weeks!
June 8th, 2011 at 2:20 pm
So I just wanted to update to my earlier post that the gini rig I ordered (from the mentioned seller) arrived today and is amazing. Furthermore the auction ended early sunday morning, and by Wednesday the rig had arrived to my front door in TN. The build quality is literally incredible!
My only gripe on the rig is that the height adjustment runs into the twist nob that locks the camera into place, therefore I can’t get the unit as low as it should be capable of going, and therefore my JuicedLink preamp-under-the-camera dreams are gone. But I’ll just mount it elsewhere as I wouldn’t trade this rig for anything.
Em, if you’re still reading this do you have any suggestions for a follow focus gear small enough to fit onto a vintage m42 lens? This is my new dilemma.
June 8th, 2011 at 4:44 pm
These orders shot through the roof after this post. I ordered mine and then right after 20+ more did. The sales we at 8 when i saw it first now they are at 62! R.J. told me they are week behind in shipping and mine probably wont ship until next wednesday. Ill review it as soon as it arrives. That is if it worth reviewing.
June 9th, 2011 at 7:27 pm
Purchased one.. probably won’t come till two weeks b/c of delay
Cheap loupe
http://cgi.ebay.com/2-8x-LCD-viewfinder-loupes-Canon-600D-60D-7D-T3i-/140549564288?pt=US_Viewfinders_Eyecups&hash=item20b9682780#ht_4088wt_1110
June 9th, 2011 at 10:32 pm
Just got a gini extreme. I was the only bidder so it was a great price. Shipping was $19. I got it in 2 days! I put it together today. Super nice and solid. I am happy with it. Now I’m eyeing this FF. Those of you who ordered one please post your feedback. It would be much appreciated.
June 11th, 2011 at 10:12 am
For those who think the shoulder pad is not comfortable, I talked to the seller, and he just listed another shoulder pad SP-1. However it is a separate listing for $99. $175 for buy it now. I sent him another message asking if he would swap the one in the rigs. Awaiting for reply right now.
June 11th, 2011 at 10:32 am
The seller is amazingly fast in replying messages, almost anytime the day. He said he cannot swap the new shoulder pad SP-1 if you purchased a rig (I asked about extreme 17 plus).
June 11th, 2011 at 10:32 am
The seller is amazingly fast in replying messages, almost anytime the day.
The answer is No, you can’t swap.
June 12th, 2011 at 8:14 am
if you want to get a real should pad get this one instead:
http://cgi.ebay.com/DSLR-Shoulder-PAD-Mount-Rail-System-5D2-9D-550D-D90-/320677479712?pt=AU_Cameras_Photographic_Accessories&hash=item4aa9de0520#ht_3950wt_1141
and you will be able to put V battery on top!
June 12th, 2011 at 9:01 am
@Eugene – I’ve seen this one before, looks pretty good.
June 14th, 2011 at 1:54 am
I love how as soon as Emm points people to a product, the price starts to creep up. Its been raised twice now and I see the seller has put a message saying the “production cost has gone up, so now its $143″ right…
I am sure the price would drop with more orders? This is a shame, as I can see it going slowly up even more
We shall see.
June 14th, 2011 at 7:29 am
@Josh – That sucks that it’s going up, but at least there were several dozens of people that jumped on it.
June 15th, 2011 at 1:18 am
production cost increased? Seriously, who buys that kind of nonsense? This thing does not cost more than $50 USD to make in China.
June 16th, 2011 at 9:32 am
@Peter Shapiro check out the new D|Zoom from the makers of the D|focus
Its a nice zoom lever that uses the same technology as the follow focus
http://www.dfocussystem.com/dzoom.html
June 18th, 2011 at 9:22 am
These are now $130-$150, how much were they before they went up in price?
What is a good price for a gini extreme 17? I see a lot of. Auctions that are completed with no bidders at the starting price.
June 18th, 2011 at 9:35 am
@Luke – They started about $125. For Gini, if you compared the setup to any other rig manufacturer, it’s a steal. The quality of build and parts are up to par with any other, or even better.