Comments on: Bartech Remote Follow Focus System Review and Setup http://www.freshdv.com/2008/02/bartech-remote-follow-focus-system-review-and-setup.html Serving up fresh, crispy news & views for users and consumers of DV, HDV and HD video Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:59:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Jim Bartell http://www.freshdv.com/2008/02/bartech-remote-follow-focus-system-review-and-setup.html#comment-38353 Jim Bartell Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:48:14 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2008/02/bartech-remote-follow-focus-system-review-and-setup.html#comment-38353 While the M-One can make noise when moving at full speed, it is quiet at slower speeds. Since full speed moves are almost exclusively used in near focus to infinity shots, they are shot outdoors where noise isn't an issue. On sounds stages, focus moves are slow, constant speed moves where the motor noise is low enough to be acceptable. M-Ones are used on sound stages every day. Jim Bartell While the M-One can make noise when moving at full speed, it is quiet at slower speeds. Since full speed moves are almost exclusively used in near focus to infinity shots, they are shot outdoors where noise isn’t an issue. On sounds stages, focus moves are slow, constant speed moves where the motor noise is low enough to be acceptable. M-Ones are used on sound stages every day.

Jim Bartell

]]> By: Dennis Sas http://www.freshdv.com/2008/02/bartech-remote-follow-focus-system-review-and-setup.html#comment-36370 Dennis Sas Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:58:00 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2008/02/bartech-remote-follow-focus-system-review-and-setup.html#comment-36370 Hello, great review, one question, the motors seem to make a lot of noise making live sound recording troublesome. I would like to keep my remote focus on the camera and use it like a traditional follow focus shooting the scene and switching to steadicam mode as quick as possible. Does anybody have any experience experience with live audio recording? Thank you Hello,
great review, one question, the motors seem to make a lot of noise making live sound recording
troublesome. I would like to keep my remote focus on the camera and use it like a traditional follow
focus shooting the scene and switching to steadicam mode as quick as possible. Does anybody have any experience
experience with live audio recording?
Thank you

]]> By: Matthew Jeppsen http://www.freshdv.com/2008/02/bartech-remote-follow-focus-system-review-and-setup.html#comment-36242 Matthew Jeppsen Fri, 15 Feb 2008 01:51:22 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2008/02/bartech-remote-follow-focus-system-review-and-setup.html#comment-36242 Many thanks for the clarification, Jim! I'm happy to hear that they are still selling like chicklets, it's a testament to the BFD's rock-solid performance and reputation. -Matt Jeppsen Many thanks for the clarification, Jim!
I’m happy to hear that they are still selling like chicklets, it’s a testament to the BFD’s rock-solid performance and reputation.

-Matt Jeppsen

]]> By: Jim Bartell http://www.freshdv.com/2008/02/bartech-remote-follow-focus-system-review-and-setup.html#comment-36240 Jim Bartell Fri, 15 Feb 2008 01:41:16 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2008/02/bartech-remote-follow-focus-system-review-and-setup.html#comment-36240 Thanks very much for the nice review! A few tiny corrections/clarifications: 1. The run/stop switch doesn't have anything to do with focus. It is to remotely Run a film camera or put a video camera in record mode, or to stop them. It requires a camera specific run/stop cable. The motor will move in response to the knob regardless of what position the switch is in. It is perfectly acceptable to use the BFD without using this function at all. 2. After moving the calibration knobs to the start position, the calibration switch should be clicked towards one of the knobs before interlocking the motor to the lens. This causes the motor to move to the center of its range of travel, where it should be prior to interlocking to the lens at its center. That way you guarantee to cover the entire range of lens travel. Thanks again for the great review. Sales are at an all time high! Jim Bartell, Owner BarTech Engineering Thanks very much for the nice review! A few tiny corrections/clarifications:

1. The run/stop switch doesn’t have anything to do with focus. It is to remotely Run a film camera or put a video camera in record mode, or to stop them. It requires a camera specific run/stop cable. The motor will move in response to the knob regardless of what position the switch is in. It is perfectly acceptable to use the BFD without using this function at all.

2. After moving the calibration knobs to the start position, the calibration switch should be clicked towards one of the knobs before interlocking the motor to the lens. This causes the motor to move to the center of its range of travel, where it should be prior to interlocking to the lens at its center. That way you guarantee to cover the entire range of lens travel.

Thanks again for the great review. Sales are at an all time high!

Jim Bartell, Owner
BarTech Engineering

]]> By: Kendal Miller http://www.freshdv.com/2008/02/bartech-remote-follow-focus-system-review-and-setup.html#comment-34546 Kendal Miller Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:25:08 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2008/02/bartech-remote-follow-focus-system-review-and-setup.html#comment-34546 Dang thats funny lol.... Dang thats funny lol….

]]> By: DaNni http://www.freshdv.com/2008/02/bartech-remote-follow-focus-system-review-and-setup.html#comment-34421 DaNni Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:47:05 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2008/02/bartech-remote-follow-focus-system-review-and-setup.html#comment-34421 Haha, thanks for your synchronized answers! Haha, thanks for your synchronized answers!

]]> By: Kendal Miller http://www.freshdv.com/2008/02/bartech-remote-follow-focus-system-review-and-setup.html#comment-34420 Kendal Miller Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:34:54 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2008/02/bartech-remote-follow-focus-system-review-and-setup.html#comment-34420 How the heck did I forget the price LOL!! Its around $4,200 I believe with the Palomar One motor ($2,100). Now the lens is a Zeiss super speed 1.3 85mm. Cine, lenses are generally better glass but they still can breath like still lenses, and depending on the design the lens barrel can travel as focus is adjusted. How the heck did I forget the price LOL!! Its around $4,200 I believe with the Palomar One motor ($2,100). Now the lens is a Zeiss super speed 1.3 85mm. Cine, lenses are generally better glass but they still can breath like still lenses, and depending on the design the lens barrel can travel as focus is adjusted.

]]> By: Matthew Jeppsen http://www.freshdv.com/2008/02/bartech-remote-follow-focus-system-review-and-setup.html#comment-34419 Matthew Jeppsen Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:34:14 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2008/02/bartech-remote-follow-focus-system-review-and-setup.html#comment-34419 The Bartech BFD is currently listed at $2100 on their site, that does not include the motor. If you go with the M-One motor from Palomar (which I would highly recommend doing), it will set you back another $2100 (as shown online). For $4200 you end up with a bulletproof remote focus (or iris) control. And if you've ever priced the Arri remote focus or a Preston unit, you'll agree that is a killer price point. Yes that is a Zeiss 85mm PL-mount cine prime lens, and yes it does breathe a bit. The "growth" isn't an issue with a decent matte box that is equipped with the appropriate lens ring/hood, but I do agree that both characteristics are not exactly desirable. I guess it goes to show you that even relatively expensive glass isn't perfect. -Matt Jeppsen The Bartech BFD is currently listed at $2100 on their site, that does not include the motor. If you go with the M-One motor from Palomar (which I would highly recommend doing), it will set you back another $2100 (as shown online). For $4200 you end up with a bulletproof remote focus (or iris) control. And if you’ve ever priced the Arri remote focus or a Preston unit, you’ll agree that is a killer price point.

Yes that is a Zeiss 85mm PL-mount cine prime lens, and yes it does breathe a bit. The “growth” isn’t an issue with a decent matte box that is equipped with the appropriate lens ring/hood, but I do agree that both characteristics are not exactly desirable. I guess it goes to show you that even relatively expensive glass isn’t perfect.

-Matt Jeppsen

]]> By: DaNni http://www.freshdv.com/2008/02/bartech-remote-follow-focus-system-review-and-setup.html#comment-34409 DaNni Thu, 07 Feb 2008 03:53:47 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2008/02/bartech-remote-follow-focus-system-review-and-setup.html#comment-34409 Very nice and thorough description of the unit. There's a couple of things that come to mind. Firstly, you say it's affordable but you don't mention the actual price. It wouldn't hurt :) Second... is that a cine lens in the video? I noticed the front part grows and shrinks forward and backward when you focus, and also that the image "breathes" (zooms a little when focusing). Aren't these two characteristics (or lack of them) supposed to be the main advantage on using cine lenses vs slr ones? Is that "growth" a problem for mounting a matte box? Thanks! Very nice and thorough description of the unit. There’s a couple of things that come to mind.

Firstly, you say it’s affordable but you don’t mention the actual price. It wouldn’t hurt :)

Second… is that a cine lens in the video? I noticed the front part grows and shrinks forward and backward when you focus, and also that the image “breathes” (zooms a little when focusing). Aren’t these two characteristics (or lack of them) supposed to be the main advantage on using cine lenses vs slr ones? Is that “growth” a problem for mounting a matte box?

Thanks!

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