06Jul New Fotga DSLR Follow Focus
While the RJ Follow Focus prices have been inflating, and the orders are on very long waiting lists, another Follow Focus system appears. These auctions appeared to have been listed yesterday, so fairly new stuff here. A smart design using a riser to make sure you’re hitting all the right spots on your lens gear unlike the other low profile FF’s.
Designed to mount using 15mm (60mm center to center) industry standard rods, which is basically everything under the sun including Gini DSLR Rigs (you’ll need a set of rails). The gears ‘look’ standard, but no mention if it’s the same as the RJ. [Update] Someone caught printed on the drive gear: M0.8 – 43T, and that’s the most popular standard to turn most lens gears. This is really looking like an FF to get. The design does not look like the gears can be reversible, if that’s a big thing for you. So if you’ve been on the hold for a cheap FF, or want to add a second FF on your rig for the Zoom ring, here’s another option. Glad to see more of these budget FF’s showing up. More images and information can be found at the store (click here)
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Fotga DSLR Follow Focus with lens Gear
Can be mounted on inexpensive Gini DSLR Rigs
Gini DSLR Rig Stabilizer Kits
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July 6th, 2011 at 2:40 pm
Are there any advantages over the d-focus, and will it mount on the jag35 field runner?
July 6th, 2011 at 3:52 pm
Yes, price wars please. A budget LCDVF was over $60 months ago and now they are like half the price. I hope the same happens with follow focuses.
July 6th, 2011 at 4:03 pm
There’s nothing like some healthy competition to get those prices down, especially if one guy offers a better product.
July 6th, 2011 at 4:18 pm
@Eirik – The D Focus is standard and will mount to most rigs outside of Jag35.
July 6th, 2011 at 7:33 pm
Nice find. Build quality appears very nice.
If the gears and crank slot are standard, I’m in.
Anyone know what the knob on the position indicator does? Maybe to change the indicator position on the marking disc?
July 6th, 2011 at 8:43 pm
Nice find Emm!
Got rid of my Dfocus last summer (felt too cheap and wobbly on my rig). Just played with my friends RJ ff and love it!
Now i see this!! Went ahead and purchased one. Will post a review once it arrives! Reasons why I like this over the RJ:
1. taller (for my battery grip)
2. indicator (better build and looks position-able)
3. mount (3 locking points rather than just 1)
July 6th, 2011 at 8:48 pm
@john d – All good points. Let me know how it goes.
July 6th, 2011 at 10:00 pm
Still debating on picking up one of these to review, but since i just got the RJ Follow Focus, it hard to justify.
Looks a lot like the link below, is someone stealing cad designs again? Thats what happened to Letus gear.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Professional-follow-focus-kit-gear-rings-/270685974013?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f06242dfd#ht_500wt_1156
July 6th, 2011 at 10:30 pm
@Jarrod – Looks pretty close if not the same.
July 6th, 2011 at 11:07 pm
The Fotga’s riser is much taller to my eyes than that in the link you posted Jarrod.
By the way, had a quick look at the attached photos and I saw printed on the drive gear: M0.8 – 43T.
Could that mean this FF has a standard 43 tooth 0.8 gear?
I’m no expert in FF but O’Connor gear just happens to have the same specs:
http://www.abelcine.com/store/Drive-Gear-43-tooth-0.8M-6mm-Face-Cine-for-OConnor-CFF-1-Follow-Focus/
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/740946-REG/OConnor_C1241_1600_Driver_Gear_43_Teeth.html
Even Arri gear has 43 tooth 0.8 mod gear too:
http://www.zgc.com/webstore.nsf/productsseo/arri_381574.html
Someone should get this verified soon
July 7th, 2011 at 2:25 am
copy of tilta follow focus, now days they just “borrow”, or maybe just put different logo on exactly the same product which is made by the same manufacture. Now all DSLR will be more widely available, within a year there will be even more, cheaper similar items by different suppliers and made under one roof, like Foxconn for Dell, Apple, HP. If you want you can put “CheesyCam FF” and sell it for around $140. I’m sure it will be popular…
July 7th, 2011 at 4:42 am
but will this(fotga) mount to the field runner?
July 7th, 2011 at 4:53 am
@Eirik – Yes it will mount, it’s all 15mm (60mm apart).
July 7th, 2011 at 2:42 pm
Why are follow focuses so expensive? Even just the gears that Anh Dang links to in his comment are $88! I don’t get it, and can’t justify it on my budget.
As an alternative, I ordered a “sort-of” follow focus for $12 at http://cgi.ebay.com/dslr-video-cam-follow-focus-zoom-aperture-iris-control-/190538197463?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c5cf629d7
Hope it’s an improvement over manual focusing….
July 8th, 2011 at 12:39 pm
Just spent 530$ on Jag35 Field runner, Fotga FF, and Jag Tripod plate.
Will i bee happy? ^^
July 10th, 2011 at 11:40 am
looks like genus bravo to me
July 11th, 2011 at 3:36 am
Are there any other chances of mounting this FF, like a cheap DSLR baseplate?
For the price of a baseplate (rod support) I’ve found, I can get a large Gini rig… but then, for what could i use a shoulder rig except for holding a FF?
It will shake a bit, so i can’t use instead of tripod…
It won’t fly smooth, so i can’t use it instead of flycam..
July 11th, 2011 at 8:07 am
@vision – I’ve seen some that mount through the tripod hole of the camera, but those tend to slip and don’t provide good tension against the lens gear. Buying the shoulder rig kit is better than buying in small pieces for overall savings. But just for the FF, you just need the very basic rod set.
July 21st, 2011 at 11:56 am
Anyone out there who has had a chance to play with this one?
July 25th, 2011 at 7:27 am
Just received today the Fotga FF – It’s superb. Really solid – all alloy, only the slightest amount of play in the gearbox, but so silky smooth. Fits like a dream, by far the best item I have purchased for my rig to date. Really recommend you get this FF – and for the price… I’m just blown away. Looks like a Shoot35 model (£350) Shame it’s not reversible. But then it only cost me about £120 off ebay…
July 25th, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Hi aston, any chance of a video review. I plan to buy a ff in the next week and i’m trying to decide between this and the Rj.
Thanks
August 7th, 2011 at 1:28 am
Sorry to say, my just broke in one day I Will do a Video as Soon as possible, but stay away. Be careful, do not buy.
So sad because it felt as solid
August 7th, 2011 at 3:39 am
Here is the video of the problem http://vimeo.com/27394815
August 7th, 2011 at 8:24 am
@Tommy Rodriguez – That’s pretty weird. Have you contacted the seller? I don’t think it’s fair to say you’ll lose the money spent.
August 18th, 2011 at 8:39 pm
I just got this follow focus and experienced the same problem that Tommy had in his video. I found out that it is actually the set screw that holds the wheel to the gear box was found to be loose. After a sigh of relief I tightened it and it no longer spun freely. The thing is built like a tank, but they need to check their quality control before shipping.
August 23rd, 2011 at 8:23 am
is that a hard stop on that picture?
July 5th, 2012 at 11:53 am
Has a little backlash, if you open the gear box (it´s really simple) you can tight the gears to the axis. The backlash is drastically reduced (+-2mm). Maybe you can change the gears by others that make better contact (still a good deal considering the price)