View Full Version : Canon 50mm 1.8 + Follow Focus


Evan Agee
April 29th, 2010, 08:18 AM
Hey all, I'm wondering if the Canon 50mm 1.8 will work with a follow focus setup with the focus ring being on the very front of the lens? Does anyone have any experience as to whether or not this will work?

Stephen Henderson
April 29th, 2010, 09:34 AM
Yeah, I was wondering the same thing, I was thinking about ordering the indiFOCUSmini, I'm guessing it will, it's a pretty standard lens.

Brennan Barsell
April 30th, 2010, 10:47 AM
I have the indifocusmini and the 50 1.8. It won't work--the focus ring isn't wide enough to attach the gears

Skye Giebink
April 30th, 2010, 11:59 AM
I've seen people using a rubber band around the focus ring to help mount the gears.

James Donnelly
April 30th, 2010, 02:58 PM
I have held back commenting, as I don't own the follow focus unit in question. However, I am sitting next to my EF 50mm f/1.8, and I have to say, I wouldn't even attempt it.

Your big problem is not only the width of the focus ring's surface (I'd say about 6mm), but the fact that it is not perpendicular to the plane of the lens, instead it tapers/slopes in. towards the lens face.

I have seen videos of the indy's snap gears and general operation, and I would be very doubtful that you could reliably fix the two systems together.

Evan Agee
April 30th, 2010, 03:01 PM
I'm planning to get the Redrock Micro DSLR Cinema Bundle. I guess I'll just have to flip open the mattebox any time I want to set the focus, it's hinged so it shouldn't be a major issue.

G. Lee Gordon
May 2nd, 2010, 12:24 PM
I was facing the same predicament. My solution was that I returned my "nifty fifty" and shelled out the money for a 1.4. The 1.4 is an awesome lens (IMHO). You won't regret the upgrade.

Andrew Allsbury
May 5th, 2010, 04:14 PM
Easy fix guys, just use a friction wheel. I use the nifty 50 all the time with no problem at all on the indifocusmini.