Follow Focus for Canon XH at DVinfo.net

Zack Birlew · July 27th, 2006, 09:09 PM

Well, I was just wondering, based on the images we've seen with the added iris ring, will current follow focus systems be able to take advantage of it?

I don't know the exact usefulness of it, I just thought that would be neat. Maybe someone could come up with a dual follow focus-like system?

Chris Hurd · July 27th, 2006, 09:26 PM

Hi Jack, how's Vegas. It's been awhile.

So far the best follow focus solution I've seen for these particular lenses comes from my friend Karl Horn out in L.A. -- basically it's just a geared ring that fits snugly over the lens control ring. No reason why you can't have one for focus and one for iris. I hope this pic from NAB does justice to the concept. It's showing an XL1 but the same idea applies to these cams.

Zack Birlew · July 28th, 2006, 08:54 AM

Thanks Chris, that's reassuring to know there's something out there already for this.

Vegas has been pretty darn hot lately actually, but I haven't had much time for the strip or anything, too busy with summer school at the moment. =)

Chris Hurd · July 28th, 2006, 03:01 PM

Oops -- boy did I goof up big time.

Sorry guys, but the solution I talked about above will *not* work.

I was thinking about this and realized there's a physical limitation on the XH camcorders that will prevent the slip-on geared ring idea from working. If you look at the photos included below, it's pretty clear that the Instant AF sensor and the XLR audio input module over on the right side of the camera body are going to prevent you from slipping anything over those lens control rings. I don't know why I didn't think about this before responding to Jack's post.

If you can't see the attached images, just go to http://www.dvinfo.net/canonxh/articles/images2.php and look at the fourth photo down from the top and you'll see what I mean.

Matthew Kent · July 28th, 2006, 08:06 PM

I suppose if you were really desperate, the instant af could be removed, and maybe left dangling?

Cole McDonald · July 28th, 2006, 11:45 PM

I've seen a follow focus that uses a rubber wheel and no gear on the boards here somewhere, can't remember where, but I think they were developped by a board member.

These should work for this camera.

Matthew Kent · July 29th, 2006, 01:36 AM

I forgot about that... It's called the indiFocus, click here for the site. I've heard it works fairly well except for fast racks, which can sometimes cause it to skip.

Evan C. King · July 29th, 2006, 06:19 AM

Can't all those things just then be mounted on the opposite side?

Chris Hurd · July 29th, 2006, 08:19 AM

Matthew, thanks for that link, I remember seeing it before and thought I had it bookmarked, but couldn't find it recently. I've been looking for that thing.

Evan, the type of FF we're talking about that won't work at all with the XH is the kind that involves slipping a geared ring over the lens focus control ring... it's not a question of which side the FF control is on... but a matter of not being able to slip the geared ring over the lens. The photos above should show what I mean.

Tim Le · July 29th, 2006, 11:09 AM

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.

Chris Hurd · July 29th, 2006, 11:40 AM

Removing it might void your warranty though. Also, just about any lens attachment (not filters, but things like teleconverters, wide angle adapters etc.) will probably block that sensor too.

Matthew Kent · July 29th, 2006, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

Removing it might void your warranty though. Also, just about any lens attachment (not filters, but things like teleconverters, wide angle adapters etc.) will probably block that sensor too.

No problem with the link Chris, I wouldn't be surprised if I originally got it from you on some other post somewhere. As for the instant AF, is this the only AF mechanism on this camera? It seems to be a poorly thought out device if it is, since these models are clearly intended for professionals, and Canon had to know many would be using support gear that would get in the way.

James Collinson · February 15th, 2007, 09:46 AM

Has anyone successfully adapted or been able to use a follow focus on the A1/G1 with the focus sensor being in the way?

Bill Pryor · February 15th, 2007, 09:54 AM

I'm finding that I can follow focus myself in most cases because of the distance readouts on the screen, something impossible with manual lenses. When an assistant is available, I can flip out the LCD screen into a position where he can read it, and he does the focus shift. The external sensor is irrelevant for that.

Matthew Nayman · February 15th, 2007, 10:28 AM

James,

I've got an arriflex follow focus over here (rented) and am using it with Nikon lenses on my M@ adapter.. however, you cannot use a follow focus on most video cams (HVX and DVX excluded) because the lenses are electronic, not manual. The lens marlks would be inconcistent because focus distances changes if you spin the focus wheel faster or slower.

Shame

July 27th, 2006, 09:09 PM	#1
Zack Birlew Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 613	Follow Focus Compatibility? -- Oops! Well, I was just wondering, based on the images we've seen with the added iris ring, will current follow focus systems be able to take advantage of it? I don't know the exact usefulness of it, I just thought that would be neat. Maybe someone could come up with a dual follow focus-like system? __________________ "Babs Do or Babs Do not, there is no try." - Zack Birlew www.BabsDoProductions.com

July 27th, 2006, 09:26 PM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Hi Jack, how's Vegas. It's been awhile. So far the best follow focus solution I've seen for these particular lenses comes from my friend Karl Horn out in L.A. -- basically it's just a geared ring that fits snugly over the lens control ring. No reason why you can't have one for focus and one for iris. I hope this pic from NAB does justice to the concept. It's showing an XL1 but the same idea applies to these cams. Attached Thumbnails __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 28th, 2006, 08:54 AM	#3
Zack Birlew Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 613	Thanks Chris, that's reassuring to know there's something out there already for this. Vegas has been pretty darn hot lately actually, but I haven't had much time for the strip or anything, too busy with summer school at the moment. =) __________________ "Babs Do or Babs Do not, there is no try." - Zack Birlew www.BabsDoProductions.com

July 28th, 2006, 03:01 PM	#4
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Oops -- boy did I goof up big time. Sorry guys, but the solution I talked about above will not work. I was thinking about this and realized there's a physical limitation on the XH camcorders that will prevent the slip-on geared ring idea from working. If you look at the photos included below, it's pretty clear that the Instant AF sensor and the XLR audio input module over on the right side of the camera body are going to prevent you from slipping anything over those lens control rings. I don't know why I didn't think about this before responding to Jack's post. If you can't see the attached images, just go to http://www.dvinfo.net/canonxh/articles/images2.php and look at the fourth photo down from the top and you'll see what I mean. Attached Thumbnails __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 28th, 2006, 08:06 PM	#5
Matthew Kent Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Location: Berkeley, Ca Posts: 75	I suppose if you were really desperate, the instant af could be removed, and maybe left dangling? __________________ The tall unorthodox Asian Tackling life one day at a time. Camera: Canon XH A1 (once it's out!!) Lens: Canon FD 50mm f/1.4, 35mm-70mm f/2.8-3.5, 70mm-140mm f/3.8 Adapter: Micro35 DIY Ghetto style!

July 28th, 2006, 11:45 PM	#6
Cole McDonald Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sauk Rapids, MN, USA Posts: 1,675	I've seen a follow focus that uses a rubber wheel and no gear on the boards here somewhere, can't remember where, but I think they were developped by a board member. These should work for this camera. __________________ Web Youtube Facebook

July 29th, 2006, 01:36 AM	#7
Matthew Kent Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Location: Berkeley, Ca Posts: 75	I forgot about that... It's called the indiFocus, click here for the site. I've heard it works fairly well except for fast racks, which can sometimes cause it to skip. __________________ The tall unorthodox Asian Tackling life one day at a time. Camera: Canon XH A1 (once it's out!!) Lens: Canon FD 50mm f/1.4, 35mm-70mm f/2.8-3.5, 70mm-140mm f/3.8 Adapter: Micro35 DIY Ghetto style!

July 29th, 2006, 06:19 AM	#8
Evan C. King Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 532	Can't all those things just then be mounted on the opposite side?

July 29th, 2006, 08:19 AM	#9
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Matthew, thanks for that link, I remember seeing it before and thought I had it bookmarked, but couldn't find it recently. I've been looking for that thing. Evan, the type of FF we're talking about that won't work at all with the XH is the kind that involves slipping a geared ring over the lens focus control ring... it's not a question of which side the FF control is on... but a matter of not being able to slip the geared ring over the lens. The photos above should show what I mean. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 29th, 2006, 11:09 AM	#10
Tim Le Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 350	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.

July 29th, 2006, 11:40 AM	#11
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Removing it might void your warranty though. Also, just about any lens attachment (not filters, but things like teleconverters, wide angle adapters etc.) will probably block that sensor too. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 15th, 2007, 09:46 AM	#13
James Collinson Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Glasgow, UK Posts: 45	Follow Focus Has anyone successfully adapted or been able to use a follow focus on the A1/G1 with the focus sensor being in the way?

February 15th, 2007, 09:54 AM	#14
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I'm finding that I can follow focus myself in most cases because of the distance readouts on the screen, something impossible with manual lenses. When an assistant is available, I can flip out the LCD screen into a position where he can read it, and he does the focus shift. The external sensor is irrelevant for that.

February 15th, 2007, 10:28 AM	#15
Matthew Nayman Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 917	James, I've got an arriflex follow focus over here (rented) and am using it with Nikon lenses on my M@ adapter.. however, you cannot use a follow focus on most video cams (HVX and DVX excluded) because the lenses are electronic, not manual. The lens marlks would be inconcistent because focus distances changes if you spin the focus wheel faster or slower. Shame