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$117,178
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on February 13.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
THE DREAMER - Hey, you don't need a 50-Dollar Follow Focus now, but you might, soon. Think of this as insurance that the FDFF will be available when you need it. As a reward for your forethought, you'll get a lens cloth imprinted with a fabulous handlebar mustache design, as well as the words, "Stand by for action." Add this option to the other levels if you want an FDFF and a lens cloth.
Pledge $60 or more Pledge $60 or more
THE STRAIGHT SHOOTER - You know you want one, so you get one. For $60 you get one 50-Dollar Follow Focus in the color of your choice (The Italian: all red and black powder coat), (The Canon Fanboy: Red, White, and Black powder coat) (The Dark One: All black anodized). Note, the extra $10 is for shipping to U.S. and Canadian addresses only. International shipping will be extra.
Pledge $60 or more Pledge $60 or more
THE STRAIGHT SHOOTER - You know you want one, so you get one. For $60 you get one 50-Dollar Follow Focus in the color of your choice (The Italian: all red and black powder coat), (The Canon Fanboy: Red, White, and Black powder coat) (The Dark One: All black anodized). Note, the extra $10 is for shipping.
Pledge $75 or more Pledge $75 or more
THE BIG SHOOTER - You've got some big lenses so you'll need a 50-Dollar Follow Focus that includes a larger pulley and a longer belt. And that's what the Big Shooter package gets you: An FDFF in the color of your choice, the standard belt and pulley package, plus the bigger belt and pulley. Also, free shipping.
Pledge $75 or more Pledge $75 or more
THE BIG SHOOTER - You've got some big lenses so you'll need a 50-Dollar Follow Focus that includes a larger pulley and a longer belt. And that's what the Big Shooter package gets you: An FDFF in the color of your choice, the standard belt and pulley package, plus the bigger belt and pulley. Also, free shipping in the U.S. and Canada.
Pledge $150 or more Pledge $150 or more
THE ZOOM BARON - The FDFF can be used as a smooth-zoom lever as well. So why not get two? For the price of a single, sloppy-geared follow focus from some other manufacturer, you'll get two rock-solid 50-Dollar Follow Focus units in your choice of colors, plus a large belt and pulley kit for each. And because you're obviously Baron material, we'll throw in an appropriately-bushy clip-on handlebar mustache to seal the deal. Also, free shipping.
Pledge $150 or more Pledge $150 or more
THE ZOOM BARON - The FDFF can be used as a smooth-zoom lever as well. So why not get two? For the price of a single, sloppy-geared follow focus from some other manufacturer, you'll get two rock-solid 50-Dollar Follow Focus units in your choice of colors, plus a large belt and pulley kit for each. And because you're obviously Baron material, we'll throw in an appropriately-bushy clip-on handlebar mustache to seal the deal. Also, free shipping in the U.S. and Canada.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
THE PRODUCER - You're a big shot, and everyone needs to know it. When you become a Producer, you'll get two Zoom Baron packages (That's four FDFFs) to throw around on set. We'll also anodize or powder-coat your follow-focuses in ANY colors you want. And in any combination. If the color exists, you can have it. Let your garish side run wild. Plus, and here's the kicker, you'll get a limited edition CNCd aluminum case, finished in discrete, textured black, with pockets specially shaped to hold a pair of mirrored aviator sunglasses and a clip-on handlebar mustache. Engraved on the inside of the lid are the words, "Stand by for action," and Your Name, whatever that may be. We won't be making more than 50 of these special cases. And free shipping, of course.
Project By
Connected as Wiley Davis (117 friends)
My name is Wiley Davis and I like to tell stories in a variety of forms. When I'm not writing or shooting video, I'm making things out of metal in my cold garage using nothing but dangerous fuels, intense flames, and The Robot, a home-brewed CNC mill.
I have a background in action-sports videography and CNC manufacturing.
Hey,
I'll probably get one in the very last batch, but wanted to know how you found the entire experience of producing this follow focus and kickstarter initiative. I can only guess that at times it must have felt overwhelming and stressful, looking at the number of backers did you go " ohhh ****" how are we gonna get all this done? it must have been an experience of a life time in the space of a few months, would love to know
all the best
Quick Update:
We ran short of red knobs, but we're getting 60 of them tomorrow and the rest next Friday. So that means we'll be shipping a batch this weekend and next weekend. I can't say for certain who will be in which batch.
We do have a lot of extra black knobs, though. So if anyone wants to swap out a red knob for a black one, then I can make sure your order goes out this weekend. If you want to do that, send me an email at wiley@hondogarage.com and I'll get it changed over.
Still waiting for mine in Seattle, WA.
Got mine now and it is great, just need some rails now :(
Hi wiley,
How is my order going?
I received my "your order has shipped" 9 days ago - just wondering what the average delivery time is to the UK?
Loving the positive posts below from people who have received theirs! Soon...!
I got my mine yesterday :D It's blue, and it's beautiful! Now I just need something to mount it on :P I'm thinking this will work for now: http://www.ebay.com/itm/160675855290…
Got the FDFF two days ago and already now I can safely say that my 300 dollar ff with gears will collect dust from here on out.
You say guacamole smooth? This is so much better than that.
And setting up is just so easy. LOVE IT!
MORE! :)
Mads,
Sisimiut, Greenland?
@Amjad - Yours is awaiting the remainder of the red knobs, which we will get early next week.
@Kevin - It's a bummer about that lens too, as it's nice and affordable.
@Wiley Davis: Yep, my problem was with the Canon 50mm f1.8, and exactly as you described (angled focus ring). Next time, I'll inspect the focus ring better before buying a lens. Thanks!
hey wiley
could you let me know status of my order please
@Ken's Lil' Sister - I jus replied to your email...I need more information besides your username to track your order down since your username and actual name don't match.
I left a message five days ago and have yet to get a response. It appears as though all the FDFF have been shipped domestically. I don't have mine, what gives?
I am in the States and don't have mine.
well it says that all the internationals are sent except for the red knops. i haven't received mine yet!
Hey Wiley!! Thanks for creating the AWESOME follow focus! You have make an impact to all DSLR video camera person in the world who uses the 50 bucks follow focus!
I just got mine yesterday. (Singapore)
meeee toooo :) Please send us an update thanks...
hey wiley,
waiting on my stuff too, any updates
@Boris We were just waiting on some gear information from you, and once we get that, we will ship it out. Unless there were strange issues, all of the US orders have been shipped out, so if you don't have a confirmation email from us, please contact us. Thanks.
Still waiting on my follow focus. If there is 1527 backers and you can ship 100-200 how come that another month passed and still no product on my door steps?
@Zhou
Haha, glad it helped :) that design lacks of much "features", as if you lens has a long throw it will collide with your rig or can be out of reach of one side of the cam, that sucks a bit. Still I think it's a better decision then the Lens Shifter, IMHO :)
I hope my FDFF arrives till next Tuesday because I have to leave the country on Wednesday for three weeks. Might come in handy :)
Any internation Backers already received theirs?
@Wiley, I've tightened everything as far as I could and the clamp still rotates around the rail easily. I'm using the rails on the Pocket Rig. Is it possible that I received one of the loose clamp units?
@Lucas, WOW! What a great discovery! My only concern with these jar openers is that they might not be able to lock up around the lenses, but at $3.50 I'll order a few right away and give them a try!
@Zhou
IMHO, the Lens Shifter is an expensive Version of the Jar-Opener Design: http://www.petapixel.com/2011/03/02/jar-opener-as-a-cheap-follow-focus/
Looks better then DIY, still does the same. I'm happy when I'll receive my FDFF, even if it sucks for my workflow I can use it for zooming :)
@Zhou - The clamp shouldn't slip in use. You can definitely tighten it pretty hard without breaking it. One thing to check is that the camera itself isn't pivoting slightly around the tripod mount. That can cause the same effect and it doesn't take much pivot to loosen the belt. This is more likely with long lenses (actual length, not focal length) because there's more force exerted on the camera with a longer lens where the focus ring is farther from the mount. So make sure the camera is also as tight as you can get it ont the rails. When using the gear adapter and lens gears, this is less of a concern because usually the gear contacts the lens at the side and the forces push the lens up and down rather than side to side.
As for the full range, you are correct, not all lenses and rigs will let you adjust over the full range in one motion without re-positioning the handle. The only "fix" to that would be an absurdly-large pulley, or to add a gearbox, which would add cost and complexity. The fdff was specifically designed to not be a 1:1 ratio of movement so that smaller focus adjustments could be made more precisely, even on short-throw lenses.
Just backed another follow focus project called Focus Shifter. It seems to address both the slipping problem and the length of focal throw (plus it includes a white board). Might be worth taking a look: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/microfacturing/lens-focus-shifter-lens-mounted-follow-focus…
Another thing, even when completely tightened the follow focus is able to rotate around the rail and causes the belt to be loosened at times. Is this normal?
Just got mine. It's a beautiful piece of tool indeed. The only thing that bothers me is that even with the large gear and pulley, on my 50mm f/1.4 lens the 50-dollar follow focus doesn't give me access to the full range of focal length. The repositional handle solves part of the problem but doesn't work if I have a shot in which I need to quickly shift the focus from far background to something really close. Hope there is a way to fix this.
@tony - were still working through the international color orders, so your hasn't shipped yet.
@kens sister - can you email me with your contact info so I can locate your order? There's no easy way for me to tie your kickstarter username to our records. Thanks.
I'm in Canada, still haven't received mine.
Hi Wiley,
I see you have started the overseas colors and shipping does that mean all domestic orders have gone out? If so, I don't have mine.
To everyone who wants a cheap and good rail system: this is Cineik's new kickstarter project http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cineik/cineik-ir13-dslr-camera-rail-and-shoulder-support
Please pledge so that it can get funded so I can get my rails hahah
Just got mine! So glad that this worked out so well. Can't wait to see what you can come up with next!
@Ronnie Bell - Yep. We started shipping international color orders last Friday. Yours hasn't gone out yet, but very soon.
@Wiley Hey, Just wondering if you have started to ship international ones now? I can't wait to get mine!
@elliot - I'm having trouble finding you in the system. Is it possible it's under a different name? Can you email me at wiley@hondogarage.com? The gear is usually included in the same shipment. If I could get some more info from you that would be great.
Hey Wiley, I received my follow focus, but i didn't receive a gear adapter, which I placed as an add on, is this going to be shipped separately?
@kevin - if you mean the canon 50mm f1.8, then yeah, that lens doesn't work well at all due to the angled focus ring. I'm not aware of a stretchy belt that would work. If the belt stretches, it makes it difficult to control the lens due to the stretch.
I've gotten it to kind of work by moving the fdff back a little bit so that it pulls the belt against the angle, but it's not a great solution.
I've got a 50MM Canon lens with a very narrow -- and angled -- ring for focusing. The stiff belt that comes with the (great) follow focus doesn't grip it too well (great on other lenses.) I'm thinking if I had a stretchier version of this belt, it would work perfectly -- any ideas or suggestions on where I could get a rubber band with teeth that would work in place of the standard belt?
@chris @Matt - It's true...won't work very well w/o a rails kit. however, if anyone is having trouble clamping down on a standard rail, don't hesitate to send me an email. It's possible you got an out-of-tolerance part, and I'd have no problem sending you a replacement clamp.
I agree with Chris G! Nothing fits. Also does anyone else's clamp not tightening when you tighten the lever?
Heads up: If you don't have a rail system, you're gonna have a bad time. Bought one thinking it'd be easy to throw together. If the rail isn't EXACTLY 15mm, it doesn't work. Expect to spend at least $100 to make the FDFF work.
@Wiley, Is there any chance to get a second unit along with the first one before mine is mailed out. jerry
@bumkicho - Ahh. A good question. No response is necessary. The emails we send out are just notifications... so no need to reply. Also, once we think we've got everyone shipped, we'll send out an update to everyone saying as much. That way if we did miss anyone, they can let us know.
@Wiley, thank you for your response. I guess what I wanted to know and what may help others as well is whether I need to make sure to check for the email and to respond to you guys to be able to receive the item. If you say yes, I will check my junk folder for the next few days, but if you say no, then I won't bother to check my junk folder.
@ronnie - Not yet. We'll be diving in to the overseas color shipments this week though.
@bumkicho - Not yet shipped. We ran out of red parts but will have more again from lasering this week.
I don't check my junk folder and most times I just empty it out when I see many junk mails in that folder. Do I need to respond to this email to receive mine? Is there an easy way to check if mine has been shipped or not?
JUST GOT MINE TODAY!
LOVE IT!!!!!
Just wondering if mine has been shipped yet? Haven't had an email and I checked my junk folder, there was nothing there :(
A well designed and thought out device for sure. Adjustable in all the ways I can think I would need and seems really smooth. The extra rubber band for lenses where the belt slips is a nice touch!
Thanks!
Thank you guys!
I just received mine and it is a beautiful looking tool.