GT35pro Follow Focus

Monday, April 9, 2012

Cheap Film and Video Gear from China Floods the Industry

Singapore, 09 Apr 2012
For Immediate Release

Gt35pro keeps ahead with low cost motorized electronic remote follow focus kit.

The high definition video capable DSLR revolution in 2010 brought many changes to the industry. Expensive equipment once only available in the film and movie industry are now very affordably priced thanks to these video capable DSLRs.

Before the entry of the video DSLR into the mainstream market, there was the 35mm Depth of Field adapter which allowed many film makers the freedom to use the commonly available (Canon Nikon Olympus) SLR film lenses with the standard DV and mini DV camcorders and later the HDV camcorders to obtain shallow depth of field, very much like the high end 35mm movie lenses. These were pioneered by companies like Letus, Brevis and Redrock Micro whom all had their roots in the DIY user groups of dvinfo forum. Lower cost versions of these devices came later from innovative individuals like Jag35, gt35pro and many others who offered alternatives to the more costlier offerings of the big boys.

Now that the high definition video capable DSLRs are here, many of these companies turned to selling DSLR accessories like rod support, matteboxes, follow focus kits. Jag35 has also abandoned the 35mm adapter product range. Hungry Chinese companies jumped on this bandwagon and started producing very low cost copies of these American made support kits and matteboxes.

In order to beat the competition, gt35pro of the 35mm DOF adapter fame has just released a low cost motorized electronic follow focus unit to stay in the game. This unit has features present in higher end offerings costing up to 3 times more. The follow focus unit is a manual follow focus unit which can be converted to a remote motorized follow focus when required. But the most amazing thing about

it is that it is programmable with a 2 position memory capability and the ability to have total control of the focusing speed when it is in automatic rack focusing mode. A user can control the speed from a super slow crawl to a high speed crash rack focus movement offering endless creative shooting options. This would be really useful on a Jib arm or slider. Manual realtime electronic control is also available at the flick of a switch.

The only downside to this is the sound from the servo motor. This makes the microphone on the camera useless. Most units in this low cost price range are also plagued with this problem. Movie makers usually have a boom mike for shooting so this is not a problem. This is also useful for shots in which the audio will be removed and replaced with a soundtrack, much like many TV commercials we see today.

Manual normal follow focus configuration can be restored by removing the motorized gear module and re-attaching the standard focusing knob.

Since this is aimed at the entry level market, a silent version will not be produced, according to gt35pro. However, a higher end product with a silent motor will be in development soon, also dependent on demand.

Youtube footage shows Greg Tay of gt35pro demonstrating the product.

Gt35pro develops and builds all their products with very little subcontracting in Singapore. All products are designed, built and machined with 2 different cnc routers, a lathe and a 3d printer for creating small difficult to build parts in ABS plastic. Customization of parts is also possible. Please contact Greg Tay to know more pr go to www.gt35store.com to order

Friday, July 23, 2010

What is a Follow Focus

A follow focus is a focus control mechanism used in film and video cameras. It is ergonomic rather than strictly necessary; in other words it does not contribute to the basic functionality of a camera but instead allows the operator to be more efficient and precise. It is usually operated by a focus puller (often called the 1st assistant camera, or 1st AC) but some camera operators prefer to pull their own focus (the act of changing focus is called "pulling" or "racking" focus).

The mechanism works through a set of gears on the follow focus that are attached to teeth on the focus ring of the lens. These gears feed to a wheel which, when turned by a focus puller, will spin the teeth and thus the ring on the lens. Practically, the device is not necessary as the operator can directly turn the ring on the lens. However, this would place the hand in an awkward position perpendicular to the camera rather than parallel, and turning beyond a certain distance (such as 360 degrees) would be impossible. Sometimes, such a "focus pull" would even be difficult with a follow focus, so an L-shaped metal rod called a speed crank can be attached in the provided square hole at the center of the wheel. Thus, the hand merely has to spin the rod, which turns the wheel. The stationary white disk surrounding the wheel is used by the focus puller to jot down marks, and take care of the focus according to the marks he/she took during rehearsals. A focus puller often uses a tape to correctly measure the distance from the lens to the subject, allowing for accurate marking of the disk.

A manual lens is usually a requisite for professional filmmaking. This is because some autofocus lens systems use lasers or infrared beams to measure the distance between the lens and the subject. This technique does not anticipate an actor stepping into the foreground of the frame, nor can it focus on anything which is not in the center of the frame. Passive Autofocus (not needing lasers or infrared beams) systems cannot always adjust quickly enough to sudden changes. The job of the focus puller then is to adjust the focus onto different subjects as well as change, or (follow) focus during movement of the camera onto the required subject, hence the term.

A follow focus is usually a compulsory piece of equipment for professional filmmaking, although those with low/no budgets or cameras not equipped with detachable manual lenses will have to do with autofocus systems or turning a lens ring by hand. To make matters worse, most autofocus lenses with a focus ring (such as those on most consumer and prosumer camcorders) are not "true" manual focus lenses, meaning that turning the ring does not directly adjust the elements inside the lens but rather actuates the electronics inside the camera which predict how the focus should go depending on how fast or far the ring was turned. These lenses make precise and repeatable focus pulls difficult, and use of a follow focus impractical. They are sometimes called "servo" focus lenses or "focus by wire" cameras.
(Article from Wikipedia)

Sunday, June 20, 2010