Focus Wheel

[musickapes]

I am interested too, keep us informed

[David]

remember I am first on the list!

Oh I don't know about that. I have you beat by more than 14 hours with "Can't wait to buy one" So there!

[thirdflr]

Any Latest development? I was hoping to have it before I left for Alaska on the 20th? Am I dreaming?

[irvb]

Am I dreaming?

No, it could happen... everything is looking good to start selling very soon.

I have made a few working prototypes. They are working very well, but some minor tweaks are needed... and I mean very minor. I plan to be done with the production model before the week is out. I promise I will let everyone know.

Sorry to keep you waiting... I just really want to have it right.
-Irv

[Randall]

Better to wait and have properly working construction. But i think ppl will love you for anything that works, anyway.
Do you maybe have a priority waiting list or smthing, cause i know you're going to be crushed by a LOT of orders...

Anyway count me in for one, of course if u're willing to ship to Poland

[irvb]

Okay... I'm not quite ready to sell, but I at least wanted to show the finished design.

mfr_front01.jpg mfr_front02.png mfr_side01.jpg

Some features:
- All the pieces are plastic, to provide quiet, smooth operation
- The outer ring is offset to avoid covering the sensors, light, etc.
- Easy Mounting

Mounting
1. A black rubberband (included) is placed on the lens ring of the HV20/30.
2. The MFR is pressed on the rubberband. It is very snug but can be removed without trouble.

I'm currently working out the sales/packaging/shipping details. I'm hoping to be ready to start sales next week. The price will be $31 plus S+H

I'm happy to answer questions until then.
-Irv

[VideJo]

You should have an idea about the price by now?

[irvb]

You should have an idea about the price by now?

Haha... Yeah, Sorry about that. $31 plus S+H. I'll edit the other post to show this... Good call.

[VideJo]

Sorry, but what does S+H stand for?

[mkat_tdc]

Shipping and Handling

[bluesgeek]

irvb, i don't know if you're checking your PMs so I'll post my request here to please be added to your list. Thanks

[irvb]

Okay I think Admin straightened out the thread.
Once I begin selling... I will post the sales info in the Trade & Exchange Section... For now it's all here in this one.

[Ian-T]

Since I had a chance to check out this product I just wanted to chime in here and give you guys a little history and semi-review from my perspective. But I actually met IrvB some time last year out here where I work. We work for different companies but in the same general area. But it was…maybe a little over a month ago that we realized we belong to the same online community…HV20.com. It was around that time he mentioned to me that he was working on a focus ring for his HV20. In that discussion we talked about some of the great ideas others here had come up with in regards to a focus ring. Kudos to those DIY’s but my only problem with those other designs was the bulkiness and placement of those units. After describing his design Irv brought in a prototype for me to check out. That unit worked quite well. It was a little different than how I initially thought it was going to be….but it worked great for such a simple design. When it comes to those of us who like to DIY…we end up posting our work here in the forum for others to check out…but I knew if he had posted this idea here there would be a lot of folks …myself included… that would ask the question….r u selling….can you make me one…how much… I’m not sure if he was considering making mass quantities of these to sell at the time…but personally…I knew right away that this design was what I was looking for.

My first impression of his design was that though the outer ring is perfectly rounded, as it should be, but the inner circle (where the camera attaches to) was off centered (more biased towards the left). What that did was allow for the left side of the ring to stay clear of the led light and the other sensors of the camera (nice thinking). This aluminum prototype also had a flat outer ring, unlike the nice ridged hand grip that’s on the current design. It had one problem though…which would have been a major one with most folks…..and that was…it squeaked. Yes…it was a little noisy…which I realized might have been picked up by the camera’s very sensitive internal microphone or even maybe an external mic. The reason for the squeaking….it was all aluminum. I’m coming from a Panasonic GS500…and when the HV20 came out I liked everything about it except that…I really missed the focus ring that the Panasonic had to offer. But I was willing to live without it.

When by marcusrenft posted about the focus the ring he bought off EBay the first thing that went through my mind was .. … I thought Irv was selling. But that turned out to be something entirely different. Anyways….as Irv promised….he was able to finally make a final plastic version of his focus ring. A couple of days ago I got to check out the first mold he put together. This one was white…and looked just like the prototype. ….except (as I mentioned above)…it had this cool ridged grip (instead of a more flat surface)…basically like a real focus ring. I tried it out on the HV20 here at work. This time my experience was different from the first one…this one was quiet…no noise… it worked quite well. It allowed for me to handle the HV20 differently while in manual focus which I’m sure most of you will appreciate (I didn’t have it on a tripod…it was handheld). The little spinning wheel of the focus ring sits quite snuggly on the focus dial of the HV20. I didn’t have enough time to use it (of course being at work) but from what it looks like….one full turn of the focus wheel seems to spin the HV20’s focus dial about 7 revolutions. The unit sits firmly on the camera also….so much so….that you can actually lift the camera up by the focus ring and not expect it to detach. I think that’s cool…because my use of something like this would be sort of a permanent fix…meaning…I don’t expect to take it off the camera at all. You can definitely put other accessories on the camera while this unit is attached…as I mentioned…it does not get in the way of anything. There was however a problem with that unit. The actual turning of the ring would stick every so often. I would turn the ring…and it was not quite smooth. It was not really a problem when zoomed in…but when zoomed out (telephoto)….those little glitches could become a problem…causing your footage to shake a little. Remember though….that ring was the first iteration of the final product. For those of you waiting patiently (like me) for one…this is why Irv stated that he had to work out a few kinks.

Lastly…I have to say…those kinks seem to be finally worked out. Irv stopped by today with what looks like the final black version of the product…and…it works very smoothly. I did not have any problems focusing in regular zoom or telephoto. In my opinion…this is a cool and very useful product. Since I own a HV20 I would expect it to look good on there…but because of its black color….it will probably look even better on the HV30. This is just my 2 pennie

[doubleD]

Oh yeah. Sign me up too.

[tiny]

WOW. This is just in time. This may be exactly what I have been looking for.

[Mooose]

Please sign me up for one too - I will cover the extra for posting to the UK

[justinspirational]

count me in too- this looks great (I have an HV20)- Thanks

[b.soysal]

congratulations, mate. sign me up for two of them. I hope the focus wheel doesn't prevent ataching big filters (I use 58mm filters with a step up ring.)

[irvb]

You've seen it on the HV30, but here's a shot of the it on the HV20.

mfr_hv20.jpg

Also... I know many are wondering how it works with filters and lens attachments. The Focus Ring is designed to be flush with the front of the Camera, so any threaded attachments will work as usual. Here is the HV20 with a Wide Angle Lens. A 43mm to 52mm adapter is used. Not a problem. Same applies for larger adapters (58mm, etc)

mfr_WA.jpg

Thanks for the interest everyone.
-Irv

[ginsu_widget]

I'll add to the me too posts and express my interest in purchasing one as well.

Also... I know many are wondering how it works with filters and lens attachments. The Focus Ring is designed to be flush with the front of the Camera, so any threaded attachments will work as usual. Here is the HV20 with a Wide Angle Lens. A 43mm to 52mm adapter is used. Not a problem. Same applies for larger adapters (58mm, etc)

Thanks for the interest everyone.
-Irv

That's great that there is no interference with threaded attachments. Not to get too off-topic but I happen to have the same Impact WA lens. I got it with my B&H HV20 kit - but I've never seen it discussed here before. Do you like it? I find it a bit soft in the corners and have been contemplating the Raynox 6600? On the other hand its 0.38x so what can one expect.

[David]

This looks like a really great product. Simple, yet effective. Nice job.

[Max Goldberg]

How will you be selling them, on these forums, or on eBay? Or on another site all together? I am very interested in buying one.

[alanz]

I'll be happy to order one of these when they become available. Thanks for all your tinkering.

[phanatik]

I def. want 1 and may buy another!!

[VideJo]

I would like to compliment Irv on his achievement.! The best idea I have seen here. Baranteed to work well, because of the technical design, looking like a professional piece of equipment and for a very nice price,.
Needles to say I will order one as well. I will probably upgrade to a bigger camera next fall, but I just like to have it.