RedRock MicroFollowFocus
|
|
RedRock MicroFollowFocus |
|
|
HDV:What You NEED to Know
|
Until perhaps a year ago, RedRockMicro was probably a name you'd never heard before. But like a dark horse in a political campaign, this small company has been catapulted from unrecognizable status to a company that big name manufacturers are having to reckon with. Their dedication to design and reliability is second to none. Serious Magic recently released an update to DV Rack and HDV Rack to support the RedRock Micro M2, demonstrating the popularity of the RedRock Micro products. Their M2 35mm lens adapter kit has been found on the set of some of today's biggest television series, and has become an integral part of more than one large-screen production. For a small company with newly found legs, they're making exceptionally wide strides. Their newest product on the market is a follow focus device, and like the trend-setting 35mm lens adapter, it's a product to be taken very seriously.
If you've never used a follow focus,
Beware! Use of a follow focus device can be addictive, and may lead
to seriously better images in your production. The MicroFollowFocus blew me away when I was first shown the prototype at NAB 06'; unlike other follow focus devices, it's got an incredibly fluid motion and rolls easily under the fingers. Under no load, the focus wheel could be spun and it would continue smoothly spinning on it's proprietary ball-bearing system that makes it incredibly sweet to operate. The fine-tuned wheel becomes a solid, but responsive to very light touch under tension from the lens gear. There is no feeling of "gear on gear" or grinding with the MicroFollowFocus. If you've ever spun a well-lubricated skateboard wheel, that's what the MicroFollowFocus feels like when you spin the grip. I took MicroFollowFocus apart to see if I could figure out the secret behind the incredibly smooth knobs; RedRockMicro has sealed the bearing system, assuring their design stays proprietary. It is sealed with a pressed carbon-like plastic, and without a small torch to melt the housing, the insides will remain secret. However, suffice it to say that it is the most smooth follow focus I've ever handled at any price point.
The focus gear ring that goes on the lens is a bit unwieldy when compared to other follow focus devices, as it's approximately 3/8" wide, and comes in four different sizes, depending on the lens to be controlled by the device. The extra width provides a solid feeling however, which more than makes up for its size. The ring is held on with an Allen screw with a small curved washer. This makes it very easy to install or remove, as it's a standard size Allen wrench that comes with the device. No hunting for a micro-small Allen wrench with this unit!
The side of the MicroFollowFocus is set to accept standard accessories, such as a speed crank or whip, so they've recognized that a lot of various cameras and sets will find this device as part of the production. With the optional hard-stop feature, users can also set hard stop points for focus. The MicroFollowFocus provides a marking disc as standard fare, making it easy to use a dry erase marker to set stop points if the hard-stop option is not purchased. Mounting on industry-standard 15mm rails, the MicroFollowFocus is ready to attach to any camcorder. Users will need to acquire rails separately, unless they own the RedRock M2/Micro system already. If you don't own a RedRock Micro M2 system, you'll still be able to use the MicroFollowFocus on the lens of your favorite DV or HDV camcorder lenses. At the time of this article, lens gears for the Sony HDV camcorders are shipping; Gearsets for Canon and JVC lenses/camcorders should be available soon.
Serious kudos to the boys at RedRock Micro; their products are rock-solid, and given their dedication to providing great tools at an affordable cost to the independent film community, they'll be around for a long time to come. More information can be found at http://www.redrockmicro.com Price: $645.00 |
||
|
BOOKS from VASST
|
|||
|
|
|
|||||||||||
