Chrosziel DV Follow Focus?

[Jaime Vallés]

Just curious. According to this site, The Chrosziel DV Follow Focus unit is "designed specifically for HDV/DV cameras — small and light weight. The DV Studio Rig/Follow Focus is designed as a complete unit with a fixed handwheel; one-sided operation. It can only be used with lenses equipped with a focus gear ring."

My question is: Could I use that follow focus unit with Nikon prime lenses if I attach gear rings on them? If not, why? And is the DV version "worse" than the "Pro" version?

Basically, I'll be needing an inexpensive follow focus unit to use with a set of Nikon primes, but I'm leery of the Redrock Micro version. Thoughts?

[Jaime Vallés]

What about the Petroff Mini Follow Focus? How does it compare to others out there? For only $999, if it performs well, I think it's a winner. See the link here.

[Kevin Halverson]

You might be able to use it with the right gear added to your Nikon lens, but I don't see a mechanism for setting the distance between the focus drive gear and the lens barrel. I would assume that there is some solution to this, but from this single image, its not apparent.

[Matt Garrett]

It looks like the distance is set by sliding the unit left/right before locking it down.

[Jaime Vallés]

You might be able to use it with the right gear added to your Nikon lens, but I don't see a mechanism for setting the distance between the focus drive gear and the lens barrel. I would assume that there is some solution to this, but from this single image, its not apparent.

I think how it works is by sliding the knob horizontally. There's a bolt that you can loosen at the bottom between where the rails go. See the attached picture below.

[Mike Prevette]

Well if you plan on using this on the Red, you might be out of luck. These FF are set up for 15mm LW not arri 19mm. So you'd need to oder the proper adapter. Also what was said before about the gear diameter having to be exact since this thing only has a minimal amount of adjustment. These things are belt driven, and have a fair amount of play in them once they get broken in. They work in a pinch, but considering how stiff most nikon primes are compared to their cine eqiv, you might be in trouble. My advice is take out a loan and get a real FF.

_mike

[Mick van Rossum, NSC]

Well if you plan on using this on the Red, you might be out of luck. These FF are set up for 15mm LW not arri 19mm. So you'd need to oder the proper adapter. Also what was said before about the gear diameter having to be exact since this thing only has a minimal amount of adjustment. These things are belt driven, and have a fair amount of play in them once they get broken in. They work in a pinch, but considering how stiff most nikon primes are compared to their cine eqiv, you might be in trouble. My advice is take out a loan and get a real FF.

_mike

Actually, I own one, using it on my Aaton A minima and used it recently on a arri 235. It is quiet nice and since there is no belt involved there is hardly any play. Yes one does slide it in to get the proper distance to the lens. Downside like all one sided follow focus is that once an assistant has to move from one side of the camera to the other (which is always just before takes) the whole FF has to come off and to flip over. Since calibration is only good for one side you need double focus rings.

cheers

mick van rossum nsc

[Mike Prevette]

I must have been thinking of the full sized ones with the belt.

[chuck colburn]

Well if you plan on using this on the Red, you might be out of luck. These FF are set up for 15mm LW not arri 19mm. So you'd need to oder the proper adapter. Also what was said before about the gear diameter having to be exact since this thing only has a minimal amount of adjustment. These things are belt driven, and have a fair amount of play in them once they get broken in. They work in a pinch, but considering how stiff most nikon primes are compared to their cine eqiv, you might be in trouble. My advice is take out a loan and get a real FF.

_mike

I believe the RED camera can be configured to accept 15mm rods on either 60mm or 100mm centers. The follow focus unit in the photo does not use belts. Not all belts stretch.

[Mike Prevette]

Everything I have ever heard from RED has been about 19mm rods.