DV Info Net - Follow Focus

Mervin-
Follow Focuses have traditionally been looked at as a "tool box" item that moves with you when you go to your next camera and beyond. They have been a precision piece that lets you smoothly adjust your focus, from wide shots to tricky telephoto shots....without bumping or knocking the camera. Particularly on the telephoto, where you say, zoom in 10 times, you magnify your movements 10 times....so if you just slightly bump the camera, on a wide shot it is not too bad but on a telephoto, it's really jarring. The original units from Arri & Chrosziel are solid and accurate with no slop or looseness in the gearing. 10-15 years ago they were your only choices and they cost over $5K. Today, you do have lower cost versions from both companies ($ 15-1800) as well as their main units that now cost between $2800 and $4000. In the last 5 years or so, there has been many new companies joining the party with low cost versions ($400-900). The overall problem with most, if not all, is they have varying levels of slop. For example. RedRock's original MicroFocus unit was/is very attractive at $599 but it does have some slop. Their second version, the MicroFocus Blue (which is now black) is much improved with little or no slop at $799. Both have sold and continue to sell well....but if you were to use Cine lenses (primes and zooms), we'll recommend that you get the more expensive Arri & Chrosziel units. The cine lenses are "stiffer" and you need a unit with more torque and a very firm build so nothing flexes....the proper tool for the proper job.
The bottom line is buy the best you can afford for the work and equipment you use...there are places to save money, but follow focuses are not one of them.
Check out our site or, if you are in town, stop by our big store here in Burbank.

Jim Martin
Filmtools.com