Hi Paul,
The Indifocus was the one i had seen with the friction wheel, but that's the only one from what i have seen. If i had added up all my time to make this, & the cost of the parts, then it probably would have only worked out a little bit cheaper than the Indifocus, but i sure had fun making it!

Bryce

Hi all,
Wow! I had never used a follow focus before i made this one, but now that i have, i wonder how i ever did without it! I have just spent a few hours using it, & i can't believe how much easier it is to adjust focus. Not only is it a more natural movement that you make when using it, but the adjustments to the focus that can be made are far more precise.
As i wrote in my first post on this thread, i need to tweak the friction gear to make it work better, & now that i know how well it works, i am really keen to get it sorted. I also want to drill holes in it to reduce the weight as much as possible, & do the same to the lens support i had made earlier to support the Raynox tele converter. I will then look in to getting them both anodised in matt black, which should make them at least look a bit more professional.

Bryce

Bryce,
Can you explain to me the situation in which you would use a follow focus?

I have never used one and am not sure exactly what it is for. Is it for when you physically are moving the camera closer to a subject and need to keep focus? Is that why it's called "follow" focus?

It looks like you just worked a mechanism so that you can change focus with a knob on the side instead of the ring on the barrel. Is this correct?

Now with this unit in the way of your aperture and zoom rings, how do you adjust zoom and aperture? I like the idea of the knob on the side for focus, but what else does it do?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Follow_focus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Follow_focus

Great. So it is just another way of using the focus ring. Cool. I understand that. But what about the issue with the zoom and aperture rings?

I'm sorry, I do event videos (car and truck shows) and move the camera a lot and there is a lot of adjusting of everything. I like the fine control of the focus with the follow-focus setup, but I need access to the other adjustments.

BTW, your setup looks nice and very clean. Well done.

Folow foccus is a necessary tool for cameras with low depth of field - like film cameras or video with DOF Adapter or maybe extreme teleconverters. This make focusing more sensitive and camera more stable. But in event video...
Zoom ring is for a fast zooming between shots - for news reporters etc. During filming you should use buttons on the right side of the camera with smooth motorzooming.
Aperture work in steps. You don`t need extra sensitivity.

The Instant Focus module does look like it's just screwed onto the lens with two small screws. So maybe it will be possible to remove the entire module? If it is, hopefuly the IR emitter isn't hard wired to the rest of the camera and there is some standard connector there. A connector would be awesome because then we could remove the module and disconnect the connector.

The IR sensor is also blocked if you put a matte box on the lens so being able to remove and relocate the module would be even more important if you still wanted to use Instant Focus. I wonder if the exact position of the IR sensor is important to the Instant Focus system and if moving it around will mess up the algorithms.

Hi, so i got the follow focus and then I found this thread. Grrr. Life is not just easy...
Did anyone tried to remove the instant focus? I do not use it anyway.

Thank you very much. Any thoughts appreciated.

I use the IndieFocus FF (with the rubber wheel) on my A1 all the time. it works really well and as long as it and the camera are mounted securely on the rails, it doesn't slip. Honestly, it spoils you. You'll never want to focus the lens by hand again :)

Thanks Marcel for the tip. I will consider to replace it with the one I have got from India, which is also very good but unusable without their own gear rings which, of course, I cannot attach to the XH A1.

My cameraman still complains about the sensitive/jumpy focus ring control on the XHA1. It makes it tricky to focus accurately on complex or developing shots.

Anyone know if controlling the XH A1 with the available focus puller will allow for easier focusing?

Is it possible they will make a firmware update allowing the focus speed to be better controled?

I found that adding a Follow Focus helps considerably. I use a friction wheel for the A1 lens when I'm not using an adapter and lens gears when I am.

Thanks for your help Marcel

Do you know of a friction wheel that is compatible with the XHA1?

Yes, I use the Follow Focus from IndiSYSTEM - Studio 4 Productions (http://www.indifocus.com) .

you can kind of see what it looks like here:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/874257-post49.html

Thanks again Marcel :)

I've never used a follow focus before. Do you need the rail system to mount the follow focus on?

Yes, you do need a rail system. But, besides the Follow Focus, a rail system also gives you a way to mount matteboxes, handles / shoulder mount, even articulating arms for monitors. Also, later on if you decide to get a 35mm adapter, you already have a rail system to support the adapter. Indifocus also sels some reasonably priced rails.

Thanks very much. I'll look into getting a rail and follow focus for my next production.

What size rail and which follow focus would you recommend?

If you're going to use the follow focus directly on the A1 then indifocus is the only company that I know of that makes a friction wheel for a universal control. You might do a google search to see if you can find others. I have to say that once you get used to using the follow focus, it does spoil you...at least it did me. I don't use anything in auto mode. everything is manual.

Or you could just change the sensitivity setting in the menu.

That's a good suggestion and might improve the response a bit if you haven't tried that already (I made the assumption that you did...probably erroneously). See if that satisfies your focus puller. It could save you some $$. My understanding is that most "focus pullers" prefer the FF though.

Unfortunately I've already tried changing the sensitivity in the custom setup but the focusing is still too sensitive and jumpy. I think the FF is the way to go.

Unfortunately I've already tried changing the sensitivity in the custom setup but the focusing is still too sensitive and jumpy. I think the FF is the way to go.

So how is adding a cheap friction follow focus going to change things?
The sensitivity will still be the same, it will just be controlled from 3 inches away.

I'd say give your AC some practice time to get better aquatinted with the camera.

it's all in the ratio of the follow focus gear to the lens gear. If you use a small ff gear then it will take a more turning (i.e., slower response) to move the focus ring a certain distance than if you use a larger ff gear...then the focus ring will move faster.

In the case of the friction wheel, at least to me, that ratio to the A1 lens seems to work very well. I guess it's a matter of preference though. Unfortunately, the friction wheel only comes in one size so you can't change the ratio.

You can't put a FF ring on the A1 or G1 because the instant auto focus module blocks it. If you want a FF, you'll need to get XL H1a or H1s.

Jim Martin
Birns & Sawyer Inc
"At the ArcLight"

You can't put a FF ring on the A1 or G1 because the instant auto focus module blocks it. If you want a FF, you'll need to get XL H1a or H1s.

Jim Martin
Birns & Sawyer Inc
"At the ArcLight"

Yes, actually you can. I have one. you don't need the FF gear. It uses a rubber friction wheel against the A1's focus ring without a gear. Works pretty well.

You can sort of see it here on my camera: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/874257-post49.html

Marcel, I'm going to ask some really silly questions here...

Should I get the 12", 18" or 30" (deluxe) IndiSYSTEM rail for my XH A1?

Does the Shrigg Rig make the camera upside down for some reason? Do I need one of those?

There are four different IndiFOCUSpro follow focuses - normal, geared, geared deluxe and geared ultimate. Which one should I get?

Thanks!

Marcel, I'm going to ask some really silly questions here...

Should I get the 12", 18" or 30" (deluxe) IndiSYSTEM rail for my XH A1?

Does the Shrigg Rig make the camera upside down for some reason? Do I need one of those?

There are four different IndiFOCUSpro follow focuses - normal, geared, geared deluxe and geared ultimate. Which one should I get?

Thanks!


It really depends on what you are planning on doing. I got the 18" rails because I planned to use a 35mm adapter as well. If you never plan on using an adapter, then the 12" rails will work.

The normal FF, I think it's listed as "Universal" is the least expensive one ($299) and that's the one with the friction wheel, or at least it was when I purchased it. I strongly suggest that you give Tim a call at Indifocus and tell him what you are doing so that you make sure you get the correct one. He's very helpful.

You don't need the Shrigg Rig. That's only for 35mm adapter users that don't have flip modules. It mounts the camera upside down so that the video comes out right side up and appears right side up when looking at the LCD flip out monitor.

Marcel,

I will go for the 18" rail in case I ever get a 35mm adapter.

I'll check with Indifocus on the FF before I buy.

Thanks for all the help :)

I recently just experimented with using my G1 with my Letus, Follow Focus and Shoulder mount and found that even though the shoulder mount helps alot, things become extremely tricky to change the focus. I know that I need to counter-weight the rig to balance it, but while changing the focus, I become wobbly... Any suggestions to help change focus and not moving too much with this type setup?
Thanks!

-Jeremy

I have a sort of method which feels and is weird and un-natural when freehanding the Letus/camera combination on the shoulder or overhead.

I use the wrist-end palm of my right hand as support under the Letus body and work the lens focus directly from beneath through the rods with my right fingertips or support the right rod with the inner hook of my thumb and work the lens with the fingertips more from the right side.

I hold the camera from above with my left hand, thumb under handle, fingers on top of it. Rolling and stopping the camera gets a bit tricky. The Sony Z1s, EX1s and the JVC GY-HD*** have a second run button on top of the handle and I use the left-hand finger 3 or 4 to set it off. However being a musician, that comes easy.

The newer low-friction manual-autofocus stills lenses are easy to operate but the older and better metal-bodied manual lenses are harder as they have a high friction lubricant and are not so easy to snap-focus with finger pressure.

Supporting the main weight high from the camera handle induces a front-down pendulum effect which can be a little helpful keeping things steadier hand-held.

.., things become extremely tricky to change the focus. .. Any suggestions to help change focus and not moving too much with this type setup?..
-Jeremy

Hi Jeremy,

What kind of set up do you have in place at the moment for follow focus? I recommend you take a look at Philip Bloom suggestions here Philip Bloom Blog Archive My favourite things… (http://philipbloom.co.uk/2008/11/08/my-favourite-things/#more-1687)

I'm thinking of investing in one of those follow focus systems myself, although would like to practice with them first to see which I like best.

Chris

Chris,

I currently have the RedrockMicro Shoulder Mount and RedrockMicro Followfocus w/ the whips and speed crank to use with the LetusEx.
Not sure what you're in the market for, but I've found that one way or another, it is quite nice and makes life easier.

-Jeremy

This thread is a merger of several existing discussions concerning follow focus for the Canon XH series... and I'm just wondering if any of you are using this product currently:

IndiSYSTEM - Studio 4 Productions - Products (http://www.indifocus.com/products_indifocuspro.htm)

If so, please report! Thanks in advance,

I am using this system. I use the friction wheel when using the A1 with a bare lens and the gears when using an adapter. About my only complaint with this system is that the gears protrude a little farther from the knob than some other FF out there. It can get in the way of a mattbox if you're not careful.

I've never used any other brand of FF so I don't have anything to compare it too. There is nothing fancy about this FF but it does get the job done. Is it as good as some of the name brands out there? Probably not. Buld quality is okay. It's not a fancy CNC piece of hardware. But it also costs only a fraction of what the big boys charge.

Again, it works. And the customer service is great.

I'm just wondering if any of you are using this product currently:

IndiSYSTEM - Studio 4 Productions - Products (http://www.indifocus.com/products_indifocuspro.htm)

If so, please report! Thanks in advance,

I have one Chris.
It is seriously a waste of money.

Hi, I got one too. I can't say how does it compare to others, the only one I have got before was the one from India on ebay known as Dvaccessory. Their follow focus was not as good as the Indi Focus but the Matte Box they offer is good value.

The IndiFocus I use only with the supplied rubber wheel on XH A1 focus ring which works well. Do not have 35mm adaptor so can't say about the gear rings anything.

I found a little odd the assembly of the unit, it has too many part and the tripod mount is not very stable, basically the tripod plate which attaches the unit to the follow focus rails is too tiny to do any serious job like running with the camera, etc.

I feel it is a good value for the money and Tim, the guy who runs the business is very responsive and helpful.

For budged solution I would recommend it unless you need to work in extreme conditions and doing lot of fast movements with the camera, then you may have to look elsewhere. The arm pad needs to be improved a bit too. But the carbon fibber rails are excellent and light.

Hope this helps.

I found a little odd the assembly of the unit, it has too many part and the tripod mount is not very stable, basically the tripod plate which attaches the unit to the follow focus rails is too tiny to do any serious job like running with the camera, etc.



How are you using the tripod plate? It's designed to mount the rails to a tripod so you shouldn't be running with the camera attached to a tripod. If you're using it to mount the camera to the rails that may be why you feel it isn't stable.

How are you using the tripod plate? It's designed to mount the rails to a tripod so you shouldn't be running with the camera attached to a tripod. If you're using it to mount the camera to the rails that may be why you feel it isn't stable.

Hi, ya, well not running with the tripod, well spotted. :)

That is what I probably meant when the camera is on my shoulders, like that walking, running, or fast panning I have to screw the knob which attaches the plate and rails to the camera really, really tight and still there is a little 'play'. It's a good product for the money I just felt that the mounting bracket could be larger, broader and have proper rustic surface where it touches the camera base.

If you have some tips you did find working why not to share them...?

I cut a piece of old bicycle innertube and glued it onto the indifocus base (the square one that the camera mounts to). That helps keep the camera secure. If you have the little pin installed in that base, the camera shouldn't twist much. With the added rubber, it doesn't move at all. some cork sheet would work as well.

Marcel

I haven't bought an Indifocus yet, but will probably get one soon. Is yours still going strong?

Do you find you can put focus distance marks on it and return to the same focus distance repeatably?

Or must you watch the focus distance on screen whenever focusing?

Did anyone succesfully remove the XH A1's instant AF sensor in order to slip a geared wheel over the top of the lens focus ring?

Stuart,

My FF is still going strong, although I've been using it on 35mm lenses instead of the canon for the past few months since I'm using a 35mm adapter for most things now.

As far as returning to focus marks, since the Cannon lens is not a mechanical focus, its a bit more difficult to know where you started and ended up and then return to the start point unless you attached the stops to the FF itself (comes with the FF).

Occasionally, I will take the adapter off and use the friction wheel, but it's rare these days.

Thanks Marcel :)

Will the Indifocuspro follow focus fit on Camvision rail systems?

The Camvision rails look better quality than the Indifocus ones.

I'm not familiar with that rail system, but if it's a standard 15mm system, I don't know why it wouldn't.