What's so hard about a DIY Follow Focus?

Giroud Francois · September 25th, 2005, 12:18 PM

just received the part for my cheap FF.

some pictures here

big plastic potentiomenter button with mark
http://www.giroud2.com/divers/button.jpg
http://www.giroud2.com/divers/scale.jpg

the right angled drive (6mm axis version)
http://www.giroud2.com/divers/angle.jpg

the full stuff with a pvc rod and metal parts
http://www.giroud2.com/divers/full.jpg

will add a pulley and some gear belt, et voila...

Obin Olson · September 25th, 2005, 08:29 PM

good, looks like we have a taker, go man go...if it works on the Letus setup with the micro35 rail system I will buy it..I need one bad..;)
make sure it works on Nikon 35mm lenses

Leo Mandy · September 26th, 2005, 07:19 AM

Looking great. I found an old printer on the weekend with the turning knob, I am going to use that and I am looking for the gears as well!
Are you going to do a tutorial for this? PArt lists? Suppliers and all that jazz?

Giroud Francois · September 26th, 2005, 10:58 AM

basically , if you are going to the easy way (buy parts and assemble them), you should stick to one technology (the electronic potentiometer in my case), because all parts are sharing the same sizes.

You can find thousand of button for potentiomenter with 6mm standard axis and most of time you do not even need to buy them, just find some electronic surplus.
look at
http://www.conrad.de (where i order my parts)

and on top of screen paste these numbers into the field "Artikelnr.-Suche"

184007
183731
183504
183771
183797
You need to add a white plastic disc (for the marking), a 3 inches of aluminium corner to mount all the parts, the gear and gearbelt, few screws.
The deluxe version would add a little motor (i already found one in my drawer, but the origin is unknown, so cannot purchase more).
i am sure that goldmine-elec should have the little marvel.
for sure you can find equivalent or same parts/supplier anywhere in the world.
Yes ideally, somebody would build one kit to proof feasability and then
order all parts in big quantities (50 or 100 items) to build a kit with instructions.
unfortunately, even if the kit cost only 50$, it makes 50x50=2500$ +overhead to manage orders and send kits. It is for instance out of my capability or my will.

David Delaney · March 8th, 2006, 07:49 AM

Richard, how exactly did this work? I can't figure out how the strongboy gives you the 90 angle?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Mellor

I use this on a homemade 35mm adapter, with a canon 1.8 lens.
It fits right in with the under $200 total cost .

shallow depth of field on minidv for less than $200.

http://www.tabletools.com/tabletools...strongboy.html

September 25th, 2005, 12:18 PM	#91
Giroud Francois Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: switzerland Posts: 2,133	just received the part for my cheap FF. some pictures here big plastic potentiomenter button with mark http://www.giroud2.com/divers/button.jpg http://www.giroud2.com/divers/scale.jpg the right angled drive (6mm axis version) http://www.giroud2.com/divers/angle.jpg the full stuff with a pvc rod and metal parts http://www.giroud2.com/divers/full.jpg will add a pulley and some gear belt, et voila...

September 25th, 2005, 08:29 PM	#92
Obin Olson Trustee Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 1,414	good, looks like we have a taker, go man go...if it works on the Letus setup with the micro35 rail system I will buy it..I need one bad..;) make sure it works on Nikon 35mm lenses

September 26th, 2005, 07:19 AM	#93
Leo Mandy Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 749	Looking great. I found an old printer on the weekend with the turning knob, I am going to use that and I am looking for the gears as well! Are you going to do a tutorial for this? PArt lists? Suppliers and all that jazz?

September 26th, 2005, 10:58 AM	#94
Giroud Francois Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: switzerland Posts: 2,133	basically , if you are going to the easy way (buy parts and assemble them), you should stick to one technology (the electronic potentiometer in my case), because all parts are sharing the same sizes. You can find thousand of button for potentiomenter with 6mm standard axis and most of time you do not even need to buy them, just find some electronic surplus. look at http://www.conrad.de (where i order my parts) and on top of screen paste these numbers into the field "Artikelnr.-Suche" 184007 183731 183504 183771 183797 You need to add a white plastic disc (for the marking), a 3 inches of aluminium corner to mount all the parts, the gear and gearbelt, few screws. The deluxe version would add a little motor (i already found one in my drawer, but the origin is unknown, so cannot purchase more). i am sure that goldmine-elec should have the little marvel. for sure you can find equivalent or same parts/supplier anywhere in the world. Yes ideally, somebody would build one kit to proof feasability and then order all parts in big quantities (50 or 100 items) to build a kit with instructions. unfortunately, even if the kit cost only 50$, it makes 50x50=2500$ +overhead to manage orders and send kits. It is for instance out of my capability or my will.