By Tati Taylor 16 days ago, Cameras & Lenses
Top-rated wireless follow focus systems to “pull” focus more efficiently.
If you're a moviemaker or a photographer, you should understand the critical importance of the camera focus. Few things are more frustrating than witnessing how the autofocus is focusing all over the place while you found the perfect lighting and composition. Moreover, nothing is more disheartening than seeing a shot that you thought was the best in the series turn out to be out of focus when reviewing your work after the photoshoot.
We've all experienced such situations and even though precise autofocus is essential for regular point-and-shoot photos, larger productions typically demand a focus puller that will allow the videographer/photographer to focus entirely on composing the shot and paying attention to the movement. The good news is that you can get wireless camera focus devices for as cheap as $300, which is a perfectly reasonable price.
The best wireless follow focus will help you achieve more precise focus while allowing you to record higher quality footage than if you would rely solely on traditional manual focusing. If you're an aspiring filmmaker or are simply interested in starting a new hobby, you’ll quickly see that manual focus pulling is an incredibly difficult skill to develop. The list below will help you overcome that hurdle by providing top-tier remote follow focuses that provide wireless lens control, which is far superior to wired/focus-whip models that only provide mechanical lens adjustments.
Weight: 430g | Runtime: 10 hours | Rod compatibility: 15, 19 mm
The Nucleus-M is probably the best wireless follow focus product out there, as it features a highly adjustable 3-channel lens control mechanism. It provides unlimited control over the focus, iris, and zoom on the FIZ hand module or the pair of wireless handgrips. It even lets you divide channel control between the hand module and handgrips as needed by simply pressing the relevant button.
The wireless range of the hand unit and handgrips is 1000ft and once the upcoming transmission update rolls out, it will be increased to 1 ¼ mile! Such characteristics make the Nucleus-M the ultimate option for drone and vehicle-mounted recording.
All motors are supplied with their own integrated drives that are paired directly with the hand module and handgrips. As a result, you don't have to attach an MDR to the camera rig, meaning you can enjoy a more compact camera setup. You merely have to choose the same channel for the motors and hand module/handgrips to receive complete control.
Weight: 225g | Runtime: 8 hours | Rod compatibility: 15mm
This affordable wireless follow focus offers an integrated marking disk and an OLED screen that shows the battery life, calibration, travel, and space data, and you can browse through its menus with the help of the controller buttons. The motor and controller provide run/stop and shutter functionality and allow you to establish A/B/C/D limits for deeper control over your device even if you’re using a budget video camera and lens. The system also has a loop that allows connecting the controller to a strap.
The motor is supplied with 0.8 MOD components and can run at a high-torque 0.5Nm speed while achieving 250rpm. It also offers a mini-USB input that lets you pair it with the camera for run/stop remote control and software updates. The calibration is performed automatically and its results are stored in the device’s memory.
The Came-TV Astral is supplied with an integrated 1000mAh LiPo battery that can serve you for up to 8 hours when fully charged, while the motor receives power from the camera or external battery by being connected to them with the provided D-Tap LEMO-type cable.
Weight: 132g | Runtime: 6 hours | Rod compatibility: 15mm
This remote follow focus is a pleasantly small lens motor that can be mounted onto one 15-mm rod. The device's compact and lightweight construction makes it suitable for being connected to the camera’s hot shoe by using a short rod and an adapter as well as open to other mounting possibilities.
The system employs brushless motors and offers silent performance without any vibrations. The motors rely on 0.8 MOD components that can be paired with the majority of cine lenses. This version is significantly more compact than its predecessor while offering superior torque of 0.5NM and smaller latency.
The unit is supplied with a dual battery that can last for up to 6 hours, which isn’t that much compared to the competition. The kit also comes with a charger that can host two dual batteries simultaneously.
Weight: 110g | Runtime: 8 hours | Rod compatibility: 15mm
The Accsoon F-C01 is a compact, reasonably priced, and dependable wireless focus puller that comes with a high-torque motor and fantastic range. You can pair this system with other Accsoon wireless devices or connect it to your camera rig separately.
The F-C01 relies on the manufacturer’s proprietary FHSS technology that lets the frequency modulate between the motor and the focus knob. As a result, it doesn’t suffer from signal interference caused by other nearby gear and provides a highly stable connection. FHSS lets you employ several device pairs, which are essential for multi-camera recording.
FHSS technology allows you to employ several F-C01 motor and controller combinations at the same time when working on a larger project. This system also provides automated calibration that determines the focus and zoom limitations of any lens and allows performing manual calibration in case you’d like to establish different tolerances without taking advantage of the full capabilities of your camera’s focus/zoom rings.
| IMAGE | NAME | FEATURES | |
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Tilta Nucleus-M
OUR CHOICE
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CHECK PRICE → | |
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Came-TV Astral
BUDGET
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CHECK PRICE → | |
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Live Air 2
PORTABLE
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CHECK PRICE → |
The best wireless follow focus is worth every dime you invest and it isn’t something you should compromise on. To ensure you make an educated decision, pay attention to the following aspects:
Weight is a crucial aspect to consider when picking a wireless follow focus, particularly if you want to employ handheld gimbals. Thankfully, a significant portion of modern systems is pleasantly lightweight and suitable for manual handling.
Battery life is another important factor to think about. High-quality systems come with power-efficient motors that provide hours of runtime without forcing you to swap the batteries. Products that include chargers and other relevant accessories can help further deal with power-related problems.
The best wireless follow focus has to be compatible with either 15-mm or 19-mm rod systems, which are the two globally-accepted standards. It requires a controller that can deliver a stable, strong signal over long distances so that when you employ a focus puller, it doesn’t get in the shot.
This criterion is measured in hours. It is sometimes specified that this term denotes the period when the brightness of the lamp is reduced by half. Typically, a projector can operate in two or more lamp load modes.
Therefore, manufacturers provide info for the Normal mode, for the Eco mode and, for special Eco modes, if they exist. As a rule, the brightness in Eco-mode is about 70% of the maximum. For most lamps, the resource starts from 2000 hours. However, the higher this indicator is, the better.
If one of the components stops working, how quickly will you be able to get a replacement? Also, consider that a lot of companies simply copy the newest designs and don’t provide enough parts for their older products. You have to be reasonable here and ask yourself: Is the manufacturer just interested in quick profits or are they keeping the consumer’s best interest at heart? What are their design principles?
Rule of thumb: Don’t settle for cheap products that don’t guarantee satisfying, reliable performance over years of frequent use.
A remote follow focus is a system that is designed for improving focus precision and making video recording more convenient. Its main purpose is to ensure the camera’s focus always follows the action. The process of following the action while employing a follow focus mechanism is referred to as racking focus or pulling focus.
A wireless focus puller is a must-have when taking photos or recording scenes that are full of movement since proper balance is key here and an operator manually handling a follow focus can ruin it.
A follow focus system relies on gears that are connected to the teeth of the focus ring on your lens. As a result, when the focus puller is activated, it turns the gears, which in turn spin the focus ring.
Such systems are usually used by event filmmakers. Since even the best 4k video camera with a hyper-accurate autofocus system won’t be able to keep up with all the moving people and objects, a follow focus mechanism becomes essential when working at such crowded events like weddings, parties, or concerts. The better you can control your camera’s focus, the more suitable photos and footage you’ll have once you get to the editing stage.
