2012Follow Focus forum
Wireless follow focus systems at NAB 2012: Redrock Micro WFF prototype performance and market alternatives
14 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
- Redrock Micro announced a wireless follow focus system with iPhone interface and a traditional handset at NAB 2012, priced at $2500 with individual motors at $595 each.
- The Redrock prototype experienced multiple issues including non-functional wireless on the show floor despite competitors having working wireless systems, a receiver that crashed and required complete recalibration, and an ergonomically challenging handset design.
- Bartech and Preston wireless follow focus systems were widely regarded as established, reliable alternatives with proven track records of years of professional use and strong customer support.
- Hocus Focus original system was designed for DSLR and video lenses but not cinema lenses, while a new professional redesigned system called Axis1 was in late-stage testing and claimed to be cross-compatible with Heden and Preston motors.
- The Axis1 system prototype demonstrated responsive performance and reliable wireless operation at NAB with minimal motor noise and only two internal moving parts.
- Heden and M-One were identified as available motor options that could be paired with digital hand units from various manufacturers including Bartech, Preston, and Cmotion.
Depends on
- The Redrock prototype was not yet in production and exhibited typical early-stage issues.
- The Redrock wireless interference problem was claimed by the company but unverified, as competing systems worked on the same show floor.
- The Hocus Focus Axis1 system had not yet completed production or been field-tested long-term, unlike established competitors with years of proven reliability.
- Personal preferences and cost considerations varied among users based on individual business models and financial situations.
- One observation of Axis1 was based on a single prototype visit rather than production use.
Parts
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