Until perhaps a year ago, RedRockMicro was probably a name you'd never
heard before. But like a dark horse in a political campaign, this small
company has been catapulted from unrecognizable status to a company
that big name manufacturers are having to reckon with. Their dedication
to design and reliability is second to none. Serious Magic recently
released an update to DV Rack and HDV Rack to support the RedRock Micro
M2, demonstrating the popularity of the RedRock Micro products.

Their M2 35mm lens adapter kit has been found on the set of some of
today's biggest television series, and has become an integral part of
more than one large-screen production. For a small company with newly
found legs, they're making exceptionally wide strides. Their newest
product on the market is a follow focus device, and like the
trend-setting 35mm lens adapter, it's a product to be taken very
seriously.

If you've never used a follow focus, Beware! Use of a follow focus
device can be addictive, and may lead to seriously better images in
your production.

A follow focus allows a DP/director of photography, camera op, or focus
puller to focus a lens without touching the lens ring and possibly
jarring the frame. Additionally, a follow focus allows for measuring
distance from the lens to the subject, and marking various points of
focus as the subject moves through the scene, giving an accuracy to
focus that is difficult to achieve with a lens-only focus system.
Smooth and solid is critical for a good follow focus system, as any
hiccup in the focus maneuvers means the lens will jerk or hitch during
critical focus operations.

Instead of rotating the focus ring on the camera, the large knob on the
side of the lens becomes the focus control. With proper gearing, the
follow focus moves smoothly and easily; usually moreso than any lens
system can move with direct finger contact. Of course, it goes without
saying that a follow focus also eliminates any potential issue of
accidentally shifting exposure or zoom setting on the
lens.

The MicroFollowFocus blew me away when I was first shown the prototype
at NAB 06'; unlike other follow focus devices, it's got an incredibly
fluid motion and rolls easily under the fingers. Under no load, the
focus wheel could be spun and it would continue smoothly spinning on
it's proprietary ball-bearing system that makes it incredibly sweet to
operate. The fine-tuned wheel becomes a solid, but responsive to very
light touch under tension from the lens gear. There is no feeling of
"gear on gear" or grinding with the MicroFollowFocus. If you've ever
spun a well-lubricated skateboard wheel, that's what the
MicroFollowFocus feels like when you spin the grip.

I took MicroFollowFocus apart to see if I could figure out the secret
behind the incredibly smooth knobs; RedRockMicro has sealed the bearing
system, assuring their design stays proprietary. It is sealed with a
pressed carbon-like plastic, and without a small torch to melt the
housing, the insides will remain secret. However, suffice it to say
that it is the most smooth follow focus I've ever handled at any price
point.

The focus gear ring that goes on the lens is a bit unwieldy when
compared to other follow focus devices, as it's approximately 3/8"
wide, and comes in four different sizes, depending on the lens to be
controlled by the device. The extra width provides a solid feeling
however, which more than makes up for its size. The ring is held on
with an Allen screw with a small curved washer. This makes it very easy
to install or remove, as it's a standard size Allen wrench that comes
with the device. No hunting for a micro-small Allen wrench with this
unit!

The side of the MicroFollowFocus is set to accept standard accessories,
such as a speed crank or whip, so they've recognized that a lot of
various cameras and sets will find this device as part of the
production. With the optional hard-stop feature, users can also set
hard stop points for focus. The MicroFollowFocus provides a marking
disc as standard fare, making it easy to use a dry erase marker to set
stop points if the hard-stop option is not
purchased.

Mounting on industry-standard 15mm rails, the MicroFollowFocus is ready
to attach to any camcorder. Users will need to acquire rails
separately, unless they own the RedRock M2/Micro system already. If you
don't own a RedRock Micro M2 system, you'll still be able to use the
MicroFollowFocus on the lens of your favorite DV or HDV camcorder
lenses. At the time of this article, lens gears for the Sony HDV
camcorders are shipping; Gearsets for Canon and JVC lenses/camcorders
should be available soon.

The entire MicroFollowFocus kit sells for $645.00 and includes three
lens rings, a marking disk, and the follow focus unit.Current M2 owners
can get a free fourth ring upon order (this is a limited-time offer).

Serious kudos to the boys at RedRock Micro; their products are
rock-solid, and given their dedication to providing great tools at an
affordable cost to the independent film community, they'll be around
for a long time to come.

More information can be found at http://www.redrockmicro.com
Price: $645.00
Availability: Now
Fits: Virtually all DV and HDV camcorders that offer lens rings, or for
35mm lens adapters like the RedRock Micro M2.