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Remote follow focus for different lenses?


Andre Trudel

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Hey there everyone!

I own a Steadicam EFP. I don?t know much about the different remote follow focus units that are out there. My question is do all of these follow focus systems work on all the different film lenses as well as ENG video lenses and how do they typically mount onto all the different style cameras that are in use today?

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Andre,

 

There are quite a few different brands of remote focus systems for use with Steadicam. The most popular are (in no particular order) Arri , Preston, Scorpio and Bartech. A remote focus system is broken down into three basic parts: Transmitter/Handset, Receiver/Motor driver, and the Motor(s). You could use any of the above systems on an EFP (or any other steadicam for that mater). The Motors you use need to have interchangeable Cogs (with different thread sizes) to mate correctly with the different Film and Video style Lenses. Most people mount the Receiver/Motor driver unit on the Sled, under the lens of the camera. Some power from their Upper J-Box, others power from the camera. The motors draw power from the receiver/motor driver and mount in different ways depending on your personnal preference and what type of camera you are using. If you are shooting mostly video stuff you could mount the motors onto the lightweight 15mm iris rods that come with most video kits. Some companies make video dovetail plates with built in iris rods that you could mount your motors to as well (I think Baer-Bel have one).

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Hi Andre and Richard

the Genio Follow Focus is still quite popular in Europe and still going strong.

Bar Bel do indeed sell the film and light weight video dovetails with 15mm or 19mm rods for mounting motors etc. http://www.baer-bel.de/Web/index2.htm

If you want a demo of these or any other Bar Bel products in UK please give me a call

Cheers now

Joe McNally

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Thanks you Stephen and Joe for the response,

It was vary informative. These systems I would imagine are a small fortune for someone who is just starting. Could you give me a rough estimate on what the complete follow focus setup would cost? Thanks again guys.

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Ball Park figure for a 3 axis LCS from Preston, Arri or Scorpio would be 25 - 30 grand depending on what cables/offsets you need and how many of each you want. If you go with Jim Bartells BFD you can buy one axis at a time for about 5 G's including motor. Jim makes an excellent product and gives excellent service. www.bartechengineering.com

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Ball Park figure for a 3 axis LCS from Preston, Arri or Scorpio would be 25 - 30 grand depending on what cables/offsets you need and how many of each you want. If you go with Jim Bartells BFD you can buy one axis at a time for about 5 G's including motor. Jim makes an excellent product and gives excellent service. www.bartechengineering.com

Thanks indeed! You are a touch high in the price, though. A BFD & M-one is $3850. Add in shipping and a couple of accessories and $4000 to $4500 is more accurate.

 

But thanks again for the support!

 

Jim "building & shipping" Bartell

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