Look Sharp with the Gift of a Follow Focus System

Shallow depth of field, large-format sensors, longer lenses, moving subject and camera positions—all these factors present a challenge when keeping your video shot in focus. “But my camcorder, DSLR, or mirrorless camera now has touch focus and autofocus,” you say? While such systems continue to improve, they do not provide the fine-tuned, immediate control that you get using a dedicated follow focus system. Consider that, when touch focusing, you probably grasp your camera with only one hand to free the other for touching the screen and you’ll see how your image stability is jeopardized. And while some cameras offer a choice of focusing speeds, it’s quicker and easier to adjust on the fly to a subject’s sudden change in speed and/or distance with a mechanical focus control.

Hands-On Follow Focus

Using a follow focus system can also help you get smoother, more precise focus, whether you’re working alone or can hand off that exacting task to your 1st A.C. (actually called the “focus puller” in Brit-speak). Follow focus systems come in two styles: hands-on systems with a knob-driven gear and wireless systems that use a handheld controller, enabling you to pull focus from a distance. Both styles use a gear to mesh with your lens gear; .08 mod gears are standard for the majority of cine-style lenses. If you’re using still photo or other non cine-style lenses, some systems can be used with add-on gear “belts” like the Wide Open Camera Universal Lens Gear and the Zacuto ZipGear.