wired FOLLOW FOCUS unit (pre production)

[Alfeo Dixon SOC]

Marko,

 

I think you got caught in the cross fires of the 'boys' being 'boys.' But your operator is technically operating with bad technique with his operating hand above the gimbal... BUT... if your operator just happened to be paralyzed with the other arm, it would have been a kudos all around for finding a way to "Just Do It!"

 

Now, your statement about 10 hours in a rig IS a slap in the face to professional operators that feed our families via our trade of steadicam.

 

Your product, yes it reaches out to a lower market, but that market use to put food on the table for the veterans and is also the learning grounds for the new professionals serious about their craft, NOT just a someone that feels they want to buy a rig and shoot their own direction in order to save a dime.

 

I was actually talking to someone at NAB about using a mini [automobile] radiator style belt for those types of cameras. If your serious about selling to steadicam ops, figure out an inexpensive way to go wireless... we hate wires, period! I definitely hate using the plastic gears on the lenses, but it works and most of US on this forum already have a wireless system or are in need of buying one.

 

Best of luck.

 

-Alfeo

[Janice Arthur]

Marko and others;

 

I like your product. I don't care what operating style you have, seems like your shots are good. To the others I think we need to encourage people to make stuff for the DSLR market because its going there whether we like it or not. (As an aside, I loved the Tango video but one showed a Preston motor on the DSLR, heck the motor costs more than the camera!)

 

I'm constantly looking for a cheap way to pull focus on these DSLRs on my Pilot. I rent the Pilot out and the renters, most of the time, don't have gears on the lenses and/or can't afford my Bartech. (My BFD costs more than the Rig.) I just lost a rental to some guys who had a DSLR shoot and absolutely no way to pull focus.

 

 

Anything that is cheap, say under 1k, and works I'd try. I worry about torquing the housing of the DSLR if you pull too hard on the belt but that could be taught or if you support the lens underneath.

 

It would be nice to have a longer cord option and certainly wireless would be the version 2.0. Maybe the control box will shrink too with the next version. If they sell a few of these they'll be able to make 2.0 all to our benefit.

 

 

The video is very nicely done and I enjoyed watching it.

 

JA

[Marko Butrakovic]

Many older frustrated SAOs hate this little thing. I am just saying you can play with it, it is far from perfect but it can be done with some practise. My friends made it, they are selling it...don't spit in my face. I just made the damn video.

I still do the steadi shots (2-3 sec) for my productions ON MY OWN...I turn that wheel and from time to time I get focus right. Oh yess I do edit it too. Maybe in USA is a crime, but here it is way to survive.

Now try to put your 20lb camera (I have one of those damn things) on TANGO. Ou yeah...my ass.

[Darren McDonald]

Mate for what it's worth, I liked the demo video very much...enough to make me want to buy it!

 

There 's a saying, "How many cameramen does it take to change a light bulb ? answer: one, and ninety nine others say they have done it better"!

 

Please let us know where we can buy it when it becomes available?

[Felix Forrest]

All I hope is that you have it sensibly priced...because I will buy one.

 

Anything that is cheap, say under 1k, and works I'd try....

 

JA

 

 

IMHO - Seems expensive

 

http://bit.ly/9cjdCa :blink:

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

All I hope is that you have it sensibly priced...because I will buy one.

 

Anything that is cheap, say under 1k, and works I'd try....

 

JA

 

 

IMHO - Seems expensive

 

http://bit.ly/9cjdCa :blink:

 

 

$2990 Euro, $3960 US?????? are you smoking crack?

 

It's not hard to build a wired focus, nor is it expensive

 

Holy hell that's just trying to take advantage of people

[Tom Wills]

To add insult to injury - not only does this cost about what a BFD setup would cost, but the control itself actually works like a zoom rocker. (the comment on Vimeo said that it's like a "Playstation joystick") It's just blindly spinning the motor proportionally to how hard you push the wheel in different directions. So, no marks, and pretty easy to buzz focus.

[Marko Butrakovic]

To add insult to injury - not only does this cost about what a BFD setup would cost, but the control itself actually works like a zoom rocker. (the comment on Vimeo said that it's like a "Playstation joystick") It's just blindly spinning the motor proportionally to how hard you push the wheel in different directions. So, no marks, and pretty easy to buzz focus.

 

I know, I told guys that this ff unit must be in 500 eur price range. It is worth 500, not more.

I use it coupled with my 24mm f1.4 when I want to make very tight DOF shot and sometimes I use it with 50mm but rarely. 90% of time i have my 14mm f2.8 which even on 3.2 or 4.0 is sharp all over and therefore excellent wide&glide set. ( http://www.vimeo.com/11238373 )

 

When I agreed to be a beta tester I told them my wishes and thing they can do to make it more usable. Must I say they didn't listen to me. Only thing I really like are the connection options for sachtler plates or manfrotto plates but it is a minor issue.

Motor it self is a noisy one and yes....kind a playstation insensitive but you can get the shot U need. I am not saying it is worth that much guys ask for it.

I just made the video ... I mean ... I am looking into buying a BFD + M One as we speak because I need more accuracy for 50mm or 85mm.

I think they fell on their head when they discussed the price.

Accuracy rate is under 50% according to my tests.