dslr follow focus

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The inexpensive Cowboy shoulder support gets a nice little discount and falls to about $17 bucks. [Thanks Serge]. This shoulder support is often considered a chest clamp and can be a true hands-free shoulder rig without the need of counterweights. It's possible to expand on this system by using rails sets like the updated Rig X - B version from Express35.com.

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I also have an old video showing some rails on this shoulder support (here). The Cowboy Shoulder Support is on sale right now via Amazon (click here).

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find-price-button Cowboy Video Camera Shoulder Support

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YouTube member TheJoeDigital shares a video review with a look at some of the new designs from the Lanparte DSLR rigs. The video above shows the Follow Focus with two hard stops, a new clever swing open cage design, and variable position handles with geared locks. They also make Matte Boxes and other accessories.

I picked up one of the shoulder pads a while back to replace the not-so-comfy Gini silicone pad on one of my rigs. As seen in the video above from Vimeo member brandpartners, the shoulder pad from Lanparte I picked up has a much more contoured soft pad and rails on top to mount other accessories or a V-Mount battery pinch solution (which they also make). The V-mount battery dock provides various voltage out to power different accessories, but also includes an HDMI splitter to send video to a second monitor. You can check out more of their gear following the link (here).

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find-price-button Lanparte DSLR Rigs, MatteBoxes, Follow Focus

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A few days ago I received a package from Jag35.com. I've been very excited about this, so what's in the box? Well the box was a bit larger than I expected, but that's because of the included rig that was shipped along with two motors. This is a prototype of their soon-to-be-available Wireless Follow Focus V2 system. The motors are essentially the same, but if you choose to run two motors, one can control the lens Zoom Ring and the other can control the Focus Ring. If you're shooting on a Prime, you would only need one.

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This Jag35 rig in the box has one handle in front and one kitty-corner to the rear. A simple but effective way to stabilize for hand held shooting. I don't think this is a standard rig, but you can see the many different Jag35 Shoulder Rigs on their website (Click Here). One interesting part of the Jag35 rig is the anti-rotation lock screw. They are pre-drilled so that you can align a tiny set screw under the camera to prevent any movement. Because a follow focus gear must be perfectly lined up, any shifting of the camera position can cause problems. A nice little touch on the Jag35 base plate that you won't see very often on other rigs.

I don't have time to run through all the stuff right now, but i'm leaving you all with a few images out of the box of what all the new pieces look like. It's all custom metal housings on the WFF system, and all metal parts on the Rig. keep in mind that this is a very early prototype of the WFF V2, so things might change in the production model. More to come when I set this up (possibly tomorrow). BTW the gallery below has 2 pages of images.

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This morning I woke up and literally slapped myself in the head for finally figuring something out that should have been pretty obvious from the start. A few months ago Gini DSLR Rigs began working on a few prototype follow focus system that attached only to one rail. The first versions were based on a Huco gearbox, which is the same stuff found in old RedRock Micro Follow Focus systems. Gini eventually ditched the Huco gearbox and began working on a second design with a different gearbox.

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Through this process there were unfinished versions so it wasn't clear about the direction this follow focus was heading. Now that there are more recent images of the new Follow Focus, I finally figured out the inspiration for this design! (Slaps ForeHead) The entire time the follow focus was being developed, it was based on the Cinevate Durus Follow Focus system. Single Rail mount, adjustable marking point, the removable marking disc, knob design, and latest gearbox design. In fact the new Gini Lens gears are also a tribute to Cinevates universal lens gears. Here's a side by side on the FFs.

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Cinevate Durus (left) Gini Latest Follow Focus (right)

Hands down, the Cinevate Durus Follow Focus is the best Follow Focus i've used under $1300 dollars. If you want something rock solid, literally ZERO Backlash, and built to last for years don't hesitate on any of Cinevate's equipment. They make the best sliders, Matte Boxes, Follow Focus systems, and more. Customer service behind all their equipment is a big added bonus. Find more of Cinevate products (click here).

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find-price-button Cinevate Durus Follow Focus

From looking at all the other photos, Gini truly appears to have been inspired around the Cinevate Durus, but the question is how closely has the new FF followed in actual design? Gearbox design? You can see all the new additional photos following the link (click here).

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find-price-button Gini i Focus Follow Focus

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Here's a couple of quality videos from Vimeo member FilmCyfrowy showcasing some Skier DSLR Video equipment. Skier is fairly new and is still building up their product line. They have an unusual cage-like design that wraps over the camera lens, a Follow Focus, ViewFinder, Small Transformer rig, and a Merlin-like stabilizer which seems to perform well.

Company information found at at their website luck-in.com, but so far they only have pricing on one item listed in their eBay store (found here).

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find-price-button Skier DSLR Video Equipment

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Some people don't like wearing Nike jumpsuits with Adidas running shoes. That's called cross branding. If you're not fond of the colors in the RJ Follow Focus, Vimeo member HD-tography shows how he addressed the 'Cross colors' issue. There's some additional information following the link to the video.

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Ok, so Gini wasn't completely off his rocker selling what looked like unfinished versions of a Follow Focus. Now we're starting to see some finished versions of the new Gini DSLR Follow focus. Now in anodized black with Marking disc. Check out the stuff following the link (click here).

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find-price-button Gini Black Follow Focus with marking disc

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Looks like Gini is still looking to create more accessories outside of the standard Shoulder rig. Just recently introduced a full size (incomplete-like) Follow focus, and now there's the Gini Mini (rhymes). What's up with the unfinished look? Interesting how someone was just asking me about a super tiny FF to be used on a Sony NEX camera, and here we might have an option. Now you have an option to stay away from those beastly knobs on a Micro Four Thirds rig. No marking disc, no lens gears, no pointer included, and too bad he didn't add some knurl texture to the knob. You can find the new Gini Mini Follow Focus in his auctions (click here).

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find-price-button Gini Mini Lens Follow Focus.

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Fotga has released an impressive budget follow focus, and if you're the type who's against 'cross branding', now they are starting to leak out a Standard set of rails to match. The basic rail set is needed to mount the FF, and should normally come with a camera mounting plate and a tripod plate (under the rail set). It's industry standard 15mm with 60mm apart, with metal knobs (not plastic) and also come with a lens support clamp (adds Long lens support when using an FF).

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For a bit more Fotga has another set that includes a (proprietary) Quick release system. Looks like they are working towards a full shoulder rig, which doesn't seem to be available just yet. Not extremely competitive with pricing, but compared to what we were seeing just a year ago it's a welcome option.

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find-price-button Fotga Standard Rail Set Optional Quick Release