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Are there any gimbals that use manual focus when follow focusing?
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Oh I thought you said you haven’t used the follow focus before in one of your previous posts.
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[Ryan Elder]
Oh I thought you said you haven’t used the follow focus before in one of your previous posts.The answer to this question and the last question are both found in my last reply. This explains why this thread has over 30 posts since it appears you are not fully reading all replies. ☺
Bottom line, the electronic focusing sucks and I don’t think it even works with Sony. To see it in action watch this video, you can see it isn’t smooth at all: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj_wcoM7qlk
The follow focus accessory that comes free with the Crane 2 is smooth and will be what you want to use if you want that ability. I think for your shot you are describing it will be a challenge to use the Crane 2 to do your move and keep your subject completely in focus. But you seem dead set on the move and are up for the challenge so best of luck.
The more ideal set up would be a wireless follow focus for an additional person to operate so they can just focus on “focus”. But that solution cost a lot more money.
Stephen Smith
Check out my Vimeo page
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Gary,
Good stuff! Looks like that was a lot of fun to film. How do you like the C300 Mark II?
Stephen Smith
Check out my Vimeo page
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Okay thanks. Sorry for not reading all the replies before I think I missed some of them before.
When you say the accessory comes free, and it is smooth, which one do you mean? You say the electronic focusing sucks, and you say that the follow focus is a lot more money. So which is this free one you mean? I thought the free one, was the electronic focus, unless I am wrong?
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[Ryan Elder]
When you say the accessory comes free, and it is smooth, which one do you mean? You say the electronic focusing sucks, and you say that the follow focus is a lot more money. So which is this free one you mean? I thought the free one, was the electronic focus, unless I am wrong?By electronic focus, I’m talking about the ability to plug a cable from the camera to the Crane 2. It will control the focus through the camera as shown in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=Xj_wcoM7qlk
The free attachment I’m talking about is the “Zhiyun-Tech Focus Motor for Crane 2”. Here on B&H it is free: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1359107-REG/zhiyun_tech_crane_2_3_axis_handheld_stabilizer.html
You can see it in action on this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjcMXRiFdYY&t=182s
[Ryan Elder]
you say that the follow focus is a lot more money.
I said, “The more ideal set up would be a wireless follow focus for an additional person to operate so they can just focus on “focus”. But that solution cost a lot more money.” That would be a third party like the DJI follow focus: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1389735-REG/dji_cp_zm_000234_02_dji_focus.html?ap=y&gclid=Cj0KCQjwi8fdBRCVARIsAEkDvnLav_z3MJ3ITkaxL8o0od87mXoMJWGi1nYGHOavjZ3EoUKzpBcmHwgaAp1aEALw_wcB&smp=y You would need that and a monitor to watch your image. Which will cost a lot more the free. But it frees up your camera operator to not have to focus on keeping everything in focus.Stephen Smith
Check out my Vimeo page
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Okay thanks. I’ve seen that video before, but doesn’t that gadget in the video count as a wireless follow focus? What’s the difference between this free follow focus, vs. the one you have to pay a lot more for?
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[Ryan Elder]
Okay thanks. I’ve seen that video before, but doesn’t that gadget in the video count as a wireless follow focus? What’s the difference between this free follow focus, vs. the one you have to pay a lot more for?The one that comes with the Crane2 is controlled by the Crane 2. On the handle, you have some buttons and a menu and a wheel that allow you to control the focus. If you are doing a move where you see most of someone’s body and then move the camera really close so you only see the actors face that can be a challenge to keep the whole thing in focus using just the Crane 2 wheel.
The DJI one is wireless so the focus is controlled by a different person. So 1 person operates the Crane2 while the 2nd person operates the DJI wireless focus controller. Because it is wireless they can stand out of the way of the actor and Crane 2 operator. Which is why they will also need a preview monitor.
Stephen Smith
Check out my Vimeo page
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Oh I see, okay thanks. So basically this focus that comes with the crane 2 is a follow focus and it’s free… and you say it works better than the electronic wire focus, is that right? Why is the follow focus free, compared to the electronic wire focus? I thought that follow focus’s were typically more expensive, unless there is a catch to this one?
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Correct, but since it is free you can try both for yourself and not take my word for it. Why is it free, I don’t know. I’m assuming it is to get more people to purchase it. If you want you can always rent it and test if out for your self. If no one locally has it you can try an online rental house like https://www.lensrentals.com , be sure to get the crane 2 and the follow focus servo motor.
Stephen Smith
Check out my Vimeo page
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Okay thanks. I might try it out! I was thinking maybe I should perhaps listen to what you said before and not get all this fancy equipment to move the camera so much.
I was looking for other options, and a possibly cheaper option would be to get a tripod dolly, that can be operated by one person. It’s probably more simple to use than a gimbal I am guessing, since all you have to do is lay down track and roll it along, compared to balancing a gimbal. Plus it would be easier to pull focus on a tripod dolly.
However, gimbals are selling like hotcakes over tripod dollies. So why are filmmakers are more interested in considerably more expensive gimbals instead?
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