HV30 Manual Focus Ring!! whoa...very slick!
 

hello there,

I came across this on another forum today and think it's totally bad@ss. I searched this forum and didn't see anything about this focus ring in particular, but please excuse if you already know about this

Check it out: :: Irv Design :: MFR ::

It's goes for $38 + shipping, but says he is currently out of stock??!! This is a simple and beautiful device..much more sleek and unobtrusive than some of the DIY jobs I have seen (which are a complete freakin eyesore IMHO). $38 for pure HV30 focus Sanity!! well worth it, we all know know that the stock focus "dial" sucks a fatty!!:) hope he manufactures more very soon!

regards,
Brendan

Simply brilliant. I'd be curious how effectively it works in the real world.

People seem to like it. I believe the guy sold out 200 units. I plan to buy one when they are available.

One of my big problems with the camera is the inability to focus and use the LCD at the same time--I tend to like low angle shots where I need the LCD in a horizontal position. This would seem to handle that problem well. Now for the zoom control...

edit: He hopes to have some next week some time...

Tripp, I think anything is better that the HV30's focus dial at this point, haha. For controlled shots, it's probably excellent; for run and gun shots, it's probably pretty darn stable too...did you check out the YouTube Demo??..it's pretty compelling!

YouTube - Irv Focus Wheel Review

This is amazing, I thought that the HV30 was incapable of doing a decent rack focus.

wow...cool...I want one.

I've been wanting for one for a little while, he hasn't had any for sell :(

He originally posted info about this product quite a few months ago..I got one when he first starting selling them and it does work great...

That's brilliant.. If I wasn't using an SGPro on my HV20, I'd buy one of these.

just ordered one
 

I'm glad that I found this thead....I just ordered one and it's shipping tomorrow. It looks like it will work out well.
Best, Craig
BTW, this is what we produce video for. www.keystv.com
The HV30 should be perfect. I'm going to shoot a piece with it this weekend and will post it here next week.

I have two. Both work, but they're a bit noisy (there's a grinding noise) and a bit flaky to get consistent motion (the thing touching the focus wheel has to be set off center, and it's not a sure thing it'll catch every time). It's a big step up from nothing, but it's not perfect. Well priced, I think.

I got mine yesterday. It does work as advertised but there is a flaw in the HV20 that makes it less useful--it takes a lot of travel on the focus ring to get from point a to point b. I had to check to see if it was moving!

I haven't shot anything with it yet and I'm sure it will be an improvement but I'm a little dissapointed in the functionality--not with the product itself.

HV30s have less distance to travel when pulling focus? I noticed that it took quite a bit of thumb spins with my HV20 to get the focus to move too.

Actually, I need to amend that. In actual practice, the focus ring worked rather well. Putzing around in the living room didn't seem to be a relevant test to actual shooting.

Thanks for highlighting this...
 

Thanks guys, Brendan and Andy in particular, for highlighting the focus ring...it certainly appears to pass the 'fit for purpose' criteria.
The feedback has been really helpful - so much so in fact that I've just ordered one!
This thread is another great example of a community helping each other out - DVi at its best.

Got mine!
 

Ordered and received mine within a span of 5 business days. Just tested it, but haven't shot anything as of yet; will really soon!

Hi Sean--I don't think you'll regret ordering one.

Best,

Would this focus ring make it difficult to attach a matte or lens hood?

Its a friction fit on the camera; it ends up being flush with the front of the cam. If your hood/box threads on, you'll be fine.

Otherwise, I couldn't say.

I've had no difficulty accessing the threads to attach a matte box or filter. A matte box does make the space a little cramped - but that's not a ding on the focus ring, just the reality of limited real estate.

Mine is for sale.
 

Hi, I just got my focus ring about two weeks ago and it worked great on my 30. It is fantastic!!!
BUT, I had to return the camera because is became defective and because it was under 30 days old and J&R didn't have 30's in stock any longer, I upgraded to an HFS100.
So...I have no use for the IRV focus ring because it won't fit the new 100.
Yours for $30. You pay the shipping. I accept visa and mc. call me at 305 393 7503. I'll ship it right out.
I only wish that there was one for the 100, it's that good.
Best, Craig
BTW...Irv if you are listening...you have got to make one of these for the HFS100...call me when you have one. Thanks!

sold
 

I just sold it....wish it was available for the HFS-100.
IRV!!! come to the rescue!

Focus Ring worked great at airshow!
 

Yesterday I went to the Sun'nFun airshow we have every year. Irv's Focus Ring worked great to maintain focus on the aircraft while doing their stunts. It also was convenient while using the circular polarizing filter. My left hand controlled the focus ring and circular polarizer while my right hand controlled the tripod handle (Gitzo fluid head). It was a smooth setup.

The HV30's focus knob on the side wouldn't have worked nearly so well. My left hand would have been moving constantly from polarizer to knob on side, with plenty of fumbling to boot. Instead, my left hand stayed at the front of the camera, controlling the focus ring and polarizer with ease.

Next time???
 

Does anybody know when they will get around to making the next batch? At the very least, how long it took any of you to get yours on the last batch, so I can have an idea of how long it might take?

Thanks, Justin

you can sign up for email notification at their website, :: Irv Design :: MFR ::, for when they will be available again.

Perhaps the more that sign up, the sooner they'll make more(?).

Ian
Festival Video and Audio Previews - Festival Previews Ltd

it's in stock, 1 per customer. I've just ordered mine...

Ian
Festival Video and Audio Previews - Festival Previews Ltd

it's arrived and it's great. Fantastic!

Ian
Festival Video and Audio Previews - Festival Previews Ltd

Got mine!
 

New batch came out 6/9 and I ordered mine that afternoon. It arrived on the 15th and, unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to review the test footage, despite messing around with it a few times. Anyway, I just looked at the site today and figured I would let anyone else interested know that it is still open to orders.

Justin

Love it!
 

I ordered a focus ring for my HV20 and it works great! Fantastic job! The shipping was really fast, thanks!

BTW, I have Cavision shoulder system (http://www.cavision.com/rods/RS1580DSPE.htm). I was considering getting the Basic Mini Follow focus that sells for around $300 (http://www.cavision.com/follow_focusing.htm). Does anyone know what size Focus Gear Ring would fit the focus ring?

http://www.cavision.com/followfocus/gearring.htm

Peter

Pin placement on installation?
 

I just got mine and on his site he has a video showing the pin in one place
and a still picture of his shows it on the other side
and another forum suggested installing it at 12 o'clock
three different placements
emailed Irv twice on reply yet
does it make any difference?
if so, pl where to place the pin when mounting?
thanks
Stuart

I didn't look at any instructions (!) but here's a picture of where mine is. Hope it's right!

Ian
Festival Video and Audio Previews - Festival Previews Ltd

MFR ring
 

No instructions or directions with mine either....
??
Your placement is the same as what he has on the still photo on his site, so will go with the same.
Thanks
Stuart

Ques on its use?
 

Just got my (third, ugh!) refurbished HV 30
first, hotshoe not screwed in, no screws
second firewirewire port faulty
third arrived today

and I have not been able to find this in the manual or threads.
I have the ring attached to the camera, but I can not figure out what I have to do in able to use the ring.
-do I have to go to the menu? Only thing I could find is I.AF, Instant auto focus.
And, AF NORMAL
what is the difference, pls?

And does this have anything to do with the manual use of the lens. No directions came with the unit, so I am not sure how to use it with the camera.

(One thing, though, on his video, the pin (looking at the front of the camera) shows it at 8 o'clock. His still shows it at 4 o'clock. The video was shot in a mirror, so is not in the position he recommends, which is at 4 o'clock)

Thanks,
Stuart

Hi Stuart. If you look at the picture in Ian Wright's post just above, you will see a button marked "Focus", next to the manual focus wheel. When you press this button (on your camera), the camera will go into manual focus mode and the focus wheel will allow you to adjust the focus.

If it doesn't work, maybe the cam is set to full auto mode. Check the slider switch on top of the camera.

Richard

Thanks
 

I have the focus wheel, so will try that and pushing the Focus button.
On P, the Manual Focus MF appears on LCD, so all seems well
Now, to practice
Thank you
Stuart