What the thread found

• GPI introduced a dovetail bracket system that attaches Preston motor drivers via thumbscrews to follow focus brackets, enabling quick removal for handheld and crane work.
• The dovetail system works only with the Donkey Box 3 follow focus mounting bracket, though an adapter can retrofit it to older Preston brackets and other systems with PRO hole patterns.
• Mounting a motorized focus system directly to the camera body rather than the rig allows the operator to maintain remote focus capability when switching between rig-based, handheld, crane, and dolly shots without repeated recalibration.
• Steadicam operators have adopted the practice of mounting follow focus units to the camera rather than the sled to keep the equipment in view and simplify transitions between different shooting setups.
• Matte box rod mounting brackets on the camera body can be used with camera-mounted follow focus systems, with power cables available to run from camera batteries to the receiver.
• A universal 15mm rod plate system mounted to the camera bottom could standardize attachment points for follow focus motors, matte boxes, and other accessories, similar to Chrosziel video plates.
• Plastic thumbwheel screws provide a tool-free quick-release alternative to allen socket cap screws for attaching motor drivers to brackets.

Depends on

• The specific dovetail bracket compatibility requirements limit which older systems can use the new mounting approach without modification.
• No final pricing or production timeline was confirmed for the proposed universal camera-mounted rod plate system.
• The rigidity and vibration isolation properties of camera-mounted focus systems compared to rig-mounted systems were not fully evaluated in the discussion.
• Some participants expressed concern about production departments reassigning equipment or cutting rental budgets if camera-mounted systems became standard practice.

Gear in this thread

MDR, BFD

Parts

Donkey Box, Follow Focus

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