Follow focus for DSLR video

Epigraph
"I twist and twist, I want to focus"


I am engaged in the shooting and subsequent editing of the video. Mostly shooting is done on professional and semi-professional cameras. But recently I had to get angry with shooting on a digital SLR. Without going into all the details and problems that have arisen, this post is dedicated to our perversions of lowcost inventions of the follow focus system.

The essence of the problem: when shooting video on DSLR when the mirror is raised (liveview mode), the camera’s automation when focusing is not an assistant — it is exclusively manual focusing. And if this does not cause any problems when taking pictures, manual focus in video mode spoils a fair amount of nerve cells.
Under the cut, a small study of the existing options for solving the problem of the problem and personal experience with the cheapest option for emergency cases.

When photographing, the photographer is in approximately this position (variations depending on the width of the shoulders are possible)

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But using the viewfinder will not work when shooting a video (I do not consciously take into account the new flagship from Sony with a translucent mirror, by the way it focuses pretty well, but there are some troubles in terms of choosing glasses). Sighting takes place exclusively on the screen. (If possible, you can connect a small TV, which simplifies focus tracking) If you are not a fan of the fashion of constantly focusing on Brownian style (which, according to my observations, is now an incredible amount), then there is a natural desire to control it. And not only when shooting with a tripod, but also from the shoulderhands. It turns out to follow either the focus ring or the screen, and this is if you are not in a particularly sophisticated pose. The more interesting the view, the more difficult it is to manage it all.

Naturally, the first thing it was decided to just shoot as is. When shooting more or less static plans, without any special dynamics, the frame came out pretty tolerably, somewhere from 1-3 takes. But when shooting in motion and when the focus several times shifted from plan to plan, problems began. The focus then flew over the desired plan or did not reach. This is approximately how soap dishes focus in low light. After futile attempts to drag ourselves, we abandoned this idea - time was running out. In order to calm his pride, this scythe was attributed to imperfection of the vestibular apparatus and poor coordination of the operator. Those. focus in the frame moves back and forth, and the ring must be twisted left and right.

Further, it was suggested that we were not the first to ask this problem. After all, before the advent of electronics, they somehow shot a movie. As the saying goes: new is a well-studied old, even if it is a bicycle. This solution has long been used in the film industry and everything that could have been invented has long been invented.

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And voila. A simple system worth it for movie cameras of crazy money (Ariflex produces and offers such things for N thousand dollars). They also make similar systems for DSLRs, too, with an exorbitant price tag in the region of 2k cu.

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Here it is, it would seem, a ready-made option! But the price tag caused a mental contradiction, because the cost of this system was equal to the cost of our Canon 7D. At least it would be blasphemous to pay for German quality and a long history of production of film equipment embodied in several tubes, one small gearbox and a pair of cogs. In this opinion, we were supported by hardworking and honest residents of the Middle Kingdom. Without specifying specific sites, the price tag at Chinese auctions turned out to be very tasty in the region of 100-300 yei with free delivery (though the delivery time is around a month).

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(Similar systems can be found with us, but they are still brought from China or from India, and sometimes the seller honestly indicates the monthly delivery time and even, in fact, the Chinese manufacturer’s website).
But these terms did not suit at all. (By the way, the device was still ordered and should arrive somewhere in February)

Having completed the global network, several DIY solutions were found. But most of them boiled down to one very simple formula (most of the authors are residents of the celestial United States), namely “blah blah blah, foloufocus-foloufocus, we go to the store, we buy the necessary parts and collect the foloufocus at home”. Of course, I am very happy for the country of developed capitalism, but we had to get around all household goods, car markets, do-it-yourself stores, and as a result, we could not find anything but a kilogram gearbox. If you try to make such a system on your own, then you can not do without metalworking machines and design savvy (but more about that next time).
We were saved from a fiasco by one video, with a simple solution like boots. Although it was not a panacea, it greatly simplified the filming process.



Once again, after making the shooting, I was convinced that the video was for camcorders, and the photo, respectively, for cameras. To use DSLR in video production you need to invest well in additional devices. Which ultimately will fly into a good penny. And then the gap in price between the DSLR and professional camcorders is not so big. Although, it all depends on what tasks to set and what goals to mark.
In any case, cameras have seriously increased the number of people who are passionate about videos and translating their wildest ideas into reality films .

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