DIY DSLR Rig with Follow Focus (WIP)

Hello. I've been constructing a DSLR Rig with follow focus. It's a work in progress and I did the first tests with the rig last weekend. I would say that the price so far is about 50-100$ not including any tools or machinery. And about 100 hours divided on two people. The most time is spent on the follow focus. I used the Huco L-box and bought plastic gears at a local shop. Everything else is constructed from aluminum.

Here are some pictures, if you like any other angles just holler:

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I'm looking for some clamp levers like you see in this picture:

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I have found the type of clamp lever I use in my follow focus but I want something smaller. I'm also looking for some nice shoulder pad. Any links or even what you call such products would be very helpful.

Best regards.

very nice, looks pretty similar to the indirails pro setup i have now.

Are you planning on mass producing these? If not, 100 hours? Wow, thats like a dollar an hour!

I'm not planning to mass produce. The cost and hours spent are higher and much more because it's a prototype. If I would do another rig the same as this one I think it would take around 20 hours. But it's far from finished. Needs polishing and anodizing. Also my machines are not made for mass produce. What I do is more of a craftsmanship. I do it not only because I need a rig to my DLSRs but also because I think it's a lot of fun.

The next step for me is get some feedback from other users and try new ideas. The Huco gearbox for the follow focus for example. It's pretty cheap and nice to work with but way to much backlash. I have found another L-box for about twice the price but hopefully a lot less backlash and it's also casted in aluminum.

If you have any questions or any feedback please don't hold back.

Best regards.

looks great, especially the cost of follow Focus, please write me how are you?

can you tell us the parts you bought for the follow focus ?

Hm, i have the follow focus at the machine shop at the moment so I can't post any new pics.

I used the Huco L-Box for the gearbox, but as I said I'm going to change it for another L-shaped gearbox with less backlash. Also bought "raw" aluminum 30x30mm at 1 meter lengths which I cut at 80mm, drilled the 15mm holes and milled the "lane" and the cut between the 15mm holes. Also cut one piece at 30mm for the "raiser" which is attached under the gearbox. Bought a aluminum plate which is 30mm wide and 5mm thick also at 1 meter lengths. Cut it at 100mm milled it down to 20mm wide and attached it to the raiser. Also milled a "track" for the screw to run in. Bought the plastic gears and the knob at a local shop.

Very simplified and also excuse my bad technical English if it's anything you don't understand please say. I will also post some new pics when I got the follow focus at my home the next time.

Thanks for the heads up on the gearbox. now to find something in the US that is similar to that.

Hello raph,

very nice rig / follow focus - I wish I could build one half good as yours...

Did you already decide which L-Box instead of the Huco you will use in the future?


Thanks.

Gardinero

hey nice rig its nice to see a bit of quality diy solutions

just wanted to ask how long did it take you to machine the rail mount for your FF and other

oh and did you buy "professional made" rails or did you just get 15MM aluminam rails from hardware store

Looks Great !!

What do you use for gears on the lens?

Bart.