Storage and reusability of focus marking rings for BFD follow focus systems

Gear

ZephyrCan I fly my Alexa or RED on a Zephyr?389

Master SeriesIs a used Master Series rig worth buying as a first big rig?191

BFDHow do I power my BFD receiver from my camera or sled?186

VoltCan I retrofit a Volt onto my existing sled or gimbal?168

ArtemisHow do I power my camera and accessories from an Artemis sled?166

MDRWhere can I mount my Preston MDR on my rig?143

ModulusIs there a Modulus option for HD wireless video?141

G-70Will my G-70 fit my vest, gimbal or sled?126

FI+ZCan I control iris and zoom wirelessly, not just focus?60

HU3Where can I get my HU3 repaired, refurbished or repainted?60

CineLiveHow do I pack and case my CineLive rig for transport?54

G-70XHow does the G-70X compare to Pro Titan, Xarm and other arms?46

Trinity 2Is Trinity 2 SUP 3.0 firmware safe to install or buggy?46

Ultra VestWhich vest should I choose for my body size, comfort and operator type?39

2009Follow Focus forum

17 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.

Each lens has unique mechanical characteristics, so marking rings made for one lens will not match the same size and model lens from a different manufacturer batch or serial number.
Marking rings can be cleaned with alcohol and remarked for new lens sets, making them reusable across different productions.
Hard plastic marking rings are more reliable than flexible tape or bendable plastic strips, which tend to stretch and shift during use.
The Preston HU3 uses a logarithmic scale on its rings that remains consistent across different lenses, requiring only an infinity position zero adjustment when changing lenses rather than complete remarking.
Some focus pullers create transparent plastic rings stored in a divided plastic cylinder, allowing quick lens changes with only 10-15 seconds of calibration time per lens.
Marking rings should be prepared during camera prep day and stored in the lens cases.
A modification to tighten BFD tape strips involves cutting an additional hole on the opposite side and using a second fastening screw for improved stability.

Hard marking rings were reported out of stock at the time of this discussion and availability was uncertain.
The comparison between BFD and Preston systems was based on reported experiences rather than direct testing by all participants.
The transparent plastic ring storage solution was described anecdotally and photographic documentation was requested but not confirmed to be provided.