Newly Refined Rig for TV Commercials

Since the earlier post detailing the HDSLR rig we were using for the ABC Family commercials, my team has done several more tv commercials and have extensively refined the kit. The last setup was highly functional but a bit of a Frankenstein monster.

The new rig is more compact, cleaner and more functional, especially from the standpoint of pulling focus — which is kind of a big deal. You can see the new rig in the slideshow below. The major changes outlined underneath.

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DIY LEGO Follow Focus

This is hilarious. After seeing some of the cheap follow focus units on the intertubes, I have often said that I could make one like that from my old LEGO gear kit that could even be motorized it since I probably still have my lego motor in my parents attic. It looks like this intrepid DIY’er put together what the rest of us have only talked about. The blog posting is in Chinese but the parts breakdown is in english. Let the LEGO rig construction begin! Just don’t be surprised if your client’s embarrassed when you show up to a paying gig with a home built rig made up from kids toys. Check out the story here.

The lowest cost follow focus rig you may ever find for a VDSLR!

Some people seem to have a lot of time on their hands to invent and create new ways of doing follow focus with VDSLR cameras. This guy (who doesn’t identify himself on his web pagesbut I’m inferring that he is Scott Lerman from his URL and the name of one of his products) has created two unique and decidedly low-tech ways to get follow focus with his 5D.

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