Follow Focus for older anamorphics that move in and out

[Rob Bannister]

Hi everyone,

 

I was wondering if I could get some insight, feedback, reviews, attempts etc at finding or modding a follow focus for older anamorphic lenses where the front element moves in and out like the Iscorama and Lomo roundfront lenses.

 

Ive been leaning towards a lanparte follow focus and trying to join 2 of the smaller gears so hopefully the larger gear on the lens will just travel from one to the other. suggested by Mr Gale :)

 

Anyone else have any experience on this. Is it even an issue....People have to have a solution for the Lomos at least. The Iscorama is tapered which puts friction FF's out of the question.

 

Thanks everyone

Rob B

[Lucian]

Rob, I've asked this before and not had much luck. One person mentioned they did get the Edelkrone ff working on it.

Both that and the lanpart are probably more than I'd want to spend though as the need to rack is pretty rare for me.

 

Keep us posted though if you get a working solution going!

[QuickHitRecord]

There's a seller on eBay (helicoptersean) who prints custom delrin focus gears. Here's one of his listings:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Custom-Focus-Gear-Ring-for-Sigma-50mm-F1-4-Lens-/261286581672

 

He has now made two gears from spec for me that are much wider for use with anamorphic lenses. I've been pleased with the quality and the price (around $30 per custom gear). If you want to contact Sean directly, his email is helicoptersean@gmail.com.

[Rob Bannister]

Thank you I will write to him today and inquire about getting one fitted for my iscorama for starters.

[Rob Bannister]

I emailed him with no response yet. Hopefully he can make a custom gear for the iscorama with its moevement and tapered body.

[Lucian]

I emailed him with no response yet. Hopefully he can make a custom gear for the iscorama with its moevement and tapered body.

 

Cool, keep us posted. I'll buy one for sure if he can!

[Rob Bannister]

never got a response, maybe it went to junk mail. I'll try again.  Did you get him to make one for the iscorama? Im wondering because the body is tapered and moved in and out so Im wondering how easy this will be.

[QuickHitRecord]

That's odd. He's always been very responsive when I have contacted him.

 

It wasn't the Iscorama, but I've had one before and I know exactly what you mean by the tapered body. I always used mine with one of the thicker ziptie gears from Half Inch Rails, tightening down one of the zipties just a little more than the other. But of course it was not seamless. 

[au8ust]

Rob, are you trying to contact Sean? His email is helicoptersean at gmail

 

I've been sending some emails back and forth with him for a few times since Nick posted the eBay link. He is a bit slow at replying but he does reply.

[helicoptersean]

Hi guys,

 

I heard that some were trying to get in touch with me about some custom follow focus work here. I 3D print the follow focus gears to what ever specifications you may need. Im afraid on the tapered lenses, I would probably need to have the lens in my hands (unless someone wants to give me very detailed measurements/drawings from the lens). If some one is willing to part with their lens for a week or so, I'll get one fit on there and begin selling them via eBay. I'll even give anyone from eoshd a discount on custom gears, so try emailing me again and we'll get one rolling. Just shoot me an email at helicoptersean@gmail.com or contact me through eBay's messaging system. 

 

Sorry if I've missed any of your messages!

[Rob Bannister]

I did email him but I will have to send another one just in case it went into the junk or got buried wth other emails. 

[Lucian]

Hi Rob, not sure how you went getting the custom gear made. But another isco owner told me he just puts a filter or hoodring on the front of the isco so theres is a flat surface for the follow focus. Of course this would be not great at the wider end because of increased vignette...

[drewski310]

Paul at Duclos Lenses said they're able to add a solid one-piece gear to my Iscorama.  They made a custom wide ring for my 60mm macro lens that has about an inch of forward movement.

[Lucian]

Any idea of a price?

[drewski310]

I don't have his email in front of me at the moment, but it was around $100-130 depending on how wide they need to make the ring.

[Rob Bannister]

Let us know more if you do it. Id get one for sure...do you have to send in your isco?

[Lucian]

Rob: I think these are the wider zip ties from half inch rails/wide open camera that quick hit record was talking about.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Lensgear-Large-Sized-Lens-Gear/dp/B005GKAMN4/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1391709638&sr=1-3&keywords=wide+open+lens+gear

 

I'm considering giving them a go before forking out for duclose. Did you ever hear back from helicopter sean?

[Rob Bannister]

I never did hear from him no, I just have not had time to hunt him down again, I would consider this too but my isco has the mod and moves very far in and out now, I should measure it.

 

I was asking about the duclose one because if he is sending it in I would like to order one along side of him and save the trouble of sending it anywhere and just get a second one made up.

 

Maybe if 3 or more of us want it we could all get a bit of a discount too :)

[drewski310]

You'll have to send in your Iscorama to get the ring fitted.  I tried the zip tie gears...they don't work well because they slip, and you can't put the gear over the serrated area (for more grip) because it's tapered and will eventually slide off.  Duclos ensured me that they can make a ring that won't slip and I believe them 100%.  I considered the Duclos solution, but the bigger issue for me is the movement of the whole Iscorama/taking lens combo due to the "slop" of the adapter where it attaches to the camera body.  My Iscorama is smooth but a bit stiff in the focus, and any attempt to use a follow focus causes the whole lens combo to shift slightly. 

[Rob Bannister]

I sent mine into Rich and had him do the mod and smooth out the focus. Mine was the same way and id hear the stoppers clicking it didnt sound very nice. Now its a treat to focus...I just need a follow focus setup for it