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2007Follow Focus forum

Problems and reliability issues with BENZ focus system equipment

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

DisputedParticipants disagreed and reached no conclusion. Read the findings as positions, not as an answer.

What the thread found

  • A BENZ follow focus system using HEDEN motors exhibited multiple operational problems including delayed motor response, intermittent motor cutouts lasting seconds, inconsistent lens position readings when moving in opposite directions, and malfunctioning zoom commands that only zoomed in but not out.
  • Another user reported owning a BENZ 5000 two-channel unit for approximately two years without experiencing problems.
  • Low or unstable battery voltage can cause motors to behave erratically, such as jumping, running in only one direction, or wireless receiver malfunctions.
  • Inconsistent calibration between the focus ring and lens marking can result in discrepancies of 1 to 4 millimeters when the focus is moved through full range and returned, which becomes problematic at close distances with wide apertures and longer focal lengths.
  • A replacement rental follow focus system with horizontal motors proved more reliable than the problematic BENZ unit during a production.
  • Service and support from the manufacturer proved difficult, with some customers unable to recover equipment sent in for repair.

Depends on

  • The problems may be specific to particular hardware configurations or individual units.
  • The user reporting issues was still conducting tests and planned to upgrade to a different configuration.
  • No root cause was definitively identified for all reported problems.
  • The thread lacks information about whether issues were resolved through troubleshooting or configuration changes.
  • One user's positive experience contrasts with multiple reports of problems, suggesting variability in unit quality or setup.

Parts

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