$50 Follow Focus

so if i become a backer am i buying one or just pledging money? i was a little confused on that
 
No. I picked one up to have as a backup, or for run and gun set ups. I'm actually looking forward to use it for smoother zooms while I have a different follow focus on there. Who knows though...if something that is $50 works better than something that is 3-400...why not use it.
 
Nice to see these kickstarters gaining some traction...

The cineskates raised a ton of money on Kickstarter, and looks like this dude will get plenty of funding.
 
need someone to clarify something to me..

I honestly dont get the point of a follow focus system. I truly dont get it. I know there is some reasoning but I just cant find it. Is it really worth spending hundreds of dollars to have a little handle to focus something? As well as making your rig a ton more bulky? I am in no way shape or form saying these are stupid, I just dont get point of them.

 
After you use one, you'll see why. You can set it so when you spin forward, it focuses forward, etc it makes it 1000 times easier to focus. Plus, you can make marks to plan out any kind of focus change you want, which is more for specific focus controllers in bigger situations. Think how much focus changes when you watch a show on tv or a movie, having a precise device is very necessary.
 
^ i see. Now yould you take all of this off if your on the glidecam? I can see why it is easier. Might have to make some rails and just pick up the plate and focus system itself
 
in all honesty i really don't feel that us amateurs need a railsystem, mattebox, follow focus, ECT for what we do. I can see that jeff has a need for it, but for what we do (which is predominately skiing) that it isn't necessary. like evan said its for something with a much bigger production and bigger focus changes

i have seen people get a ridiculous rail system and not fully understand the functions or even fully understand how to operate basic camera movements
 
I agree on the follow focus statement. I've gotten away with never using one really. Rail systems are a totally different story. Again another thing I've neglected but Lens support is crucial with some glass. The Scarlet and Epic mounts are burly but it helps to have support to prevent any warping. It's also nice to have that for Quick releases when going between Rigs, sliders and your tripod.

Again, not the most important accessory but Eheath is right. Once you use it and can set focus marks it's well worth it and you wouldn't be dissapointed.
 
most have a disk and some sort of marker that you can draw on with a grease pencil to set focus points. some even have 2 adjustable hard stops so that you can snap right to those points
 
Exactly. That would be a benefit to a more expensive one, but in reality this is all you need. Think of some shows/movies that have shots that change focus nearly perfectly.

Say from character to character, you can set marks, some stops that allow you to hit the mark perfectly for how the shot is composed. Obviously for skiing this could work well in certain scenarios, but generally it isn't worth it.

For commercial and Narrative work though it can be very helpful. It's just alot smoother as well.
 
well yes and no. there is nothing physically stopping you as along as your glidecam can handle the weight, but you wont be able to change focus while filming and if you change it between shots it might throw off the balance of the rig
 
honestly you really wouldnt need to, obviously people have big stedicam rigs for tv shows/movies which is a different story. but for ski stuff, not needed.
 
In terms of price? Yes they are cheap. Go look up a RedRock Micro rig with similar features and tell me they're not cheap in value.

Now I'm not saying it's cheap to the invidiual, but those rod's are inexpensive. You can get to 15mm rods for 30 dollars. Thats inexpensive in my books. Go look at Zacutos rails. Sure not everyone can afford them or needs them. But I'm sharing this so that people can have the opportunity to get a setup if they so choose.

In terms of quality, they're similar to Genus. Which has good reviews.
 
For value they're great.

I'm looking at Edelkrone personally. There rigs seem to fit a little better for what I'm looking to be able to do. And they just cut there prices in half.
 
i was just checking them out last night, i feel like their pocket rig would be perfect for anyone on here looking to be able to use a follow focus and matte box. now i just need to start making some money with the 1000$ 70-200 2.8 i just bought so i can buy one! haha
 
I always build from the camera out. I make sure I can afford to adequately shoot and get work. Other parts and components such as sliders, rigs, and other parts follow shortly after. For example I just ordered a slider after I had a solid shooting kit together first.
 
i did the same, have my camera, lenses, quality tripod and video head, glidecam, slider. now thinking about a rig.
 
whenever you need to change focus with precision. think of whenever you watch a movie or a tv show and the focus goes from one person talking to another (for example) to direct the viewers attention to the desired subject. you need the focus to be dead on and focusing with a normal focus ring is difficult. personally i don't think a follow focus is necessary at all for skiing unless it's something like this $50 one.
 
And this is used with mainly a tripod then? Cause as answered before, a follow focus would screw up the balance on a glidecam.
 
If you're shooting sports, you don't need a follow focus. They're for choreographed scenes in narratives where you mark everything out beforehand.
 
im thinking about picking one up for skiing anyway. It is handy if youre focusing in on a rail/feature. or if youre on a dolly filming urban and you want to focus from whatever is in front of you in the beginning to the rail you eventually move to. i wouldnt pick up a really expensive one, but this is only 50 bucks, could be worth it
 
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