HVFF Follow Focus System for Canon HV20/30/40 (Official Thread)

[darthpaully]

I will be shipping out orders today and tomorrow to try and get somewhat caught up! Thanks to all for your business and congrats!

Included in the current batch is the first "HFFF" follow focus for the Canon HF-S series cams. I got a bunch of extra time with an HF-S30 and was able to get the HFFF all dialed in and ready.

Interestingly, the HFFF will do quite a bit more than just manual focus. This is due to the fact that the dial is actually the "custom" setting like on the HV cams. You can set a bunch of different controlls to that dial, including manual focus, apeture control, and I'm assuming other things in different shooting modes. It's also pretty cool that when using the manual focus setting the results of your twist of the HFFF dial shows on the screen!!! This is SO HUGE!!! You can essentially bypass using the white marking disc- a killer option for use with the focus whip!

REMEMEBER: You will still need an extension of some sort, but no step-up. I used 2 58mm filters and it work perfectly, but I imagine a WA lens or lens hood or any other type of extended piece will do. Many HVFF customers and builders were able to get the HVFF to fit on many different accesories so I think this will actually be easier.

As always, let me know if you have any questions...

[darthpaully]

Wow, Thanks to everyone for their orders! I've been so busy lately I've barely had time to post...

Anyway, some less than fabulous news on the parts front- I just bought out another part that will no longer be carried by Lowe's or Home Depot. This makes 2 major current parts that I can no longer get!!

The first one sold out is, you guessed it, the current clamp knob... This was the third different knob I've gone through, and easily the longest lasting, and first since the M & D SE knobs... This I can live with...

The 2nd part is a REAL doosey... It's the 6 lug conductor that hold the whole unit together... This was the one of the last few parts the I get at Home Depot, and a real heartbreaker... I have looked around town for replacements, and although some of the other brands are the same "size" for their electrical application, they need to be EXACTLY the same to work for me...


SO, if you haven't recieved your HVFF or HFFF yet, PLEASE be patient as I am scrambling to get replacement parts. Some orders have been finished and sent, and a handful are waiting for parts. As always, I am making it first priority to figure this out and get orders filled. I appreciate your patience immensely!

[Almohada]

It's the 6 lug conductor

Oh no!!!! I know first hand how essential that part is. And even if it is slightly off by 1mm it won't work.

[darthpaully]

Here's some more DPD updates:

I'm getting closer to a finding a new supplier for certain parts. I'll be picking up the conductors tomorrow- it looks like they're the same- cross you're fingers! That just leaves the clamp knobs...

ALSO- I have made some changes in the design to the PRO models and I am working feverishly to combine the design from the HVFF 3 and the PRO. What this means is ultimately the 3 model will go away and the PRO will be whip compatible. Not sure if we'll change the name or anything, but I am pretty excited about simplifying everything...

So, I am getting closer to ironing everything out and orders will be sent next week!! Thanks everyone for your business and patience!

[darthpaully]

Just picked up the conductors- the place is a mile from my house.... Go figure.

So, false alarm, really. The clamp knob will still be, well "floating", meaning whatever I can get that's nice.... Heck, it's always been like that anyway! LOL!

[darthpaully]

Thanks to everyone for the kind emails and for your patience! I'm cranking orders out like hotcakes- the Filmmakers kit has surpassed the PRO as the TOP seller, almost 2-1 now, in fact. I'm pretty sure Jan. and Feb. combined will be the biggest stretch so far...

It seems bringing BLACK back in was a good idea too... ALL orders have been black since the change!! They do look VERY sharp, I might add...
IMG_0840.jpg

[Almohada]

They look beautiful!!!

[web317]

Actually the HVFF is just a "hobby that pays." And a good one it is!!

I'd have to say it is a very good hobby. $10 in parts, 5 minutes to assemble, 3 minutes to package and address, sell for $50 plus shipping. (number may not be exact but, close enough for government work). Not a bad hobby at all.

[darthpaully]

$10 in parts, 5 minutes to assemble, 3 minutes to package and address, sell for $50 plus shipping.

HAHA- Well, I wish the numbers looked like that! I think you forgot to mention the 300 trips to Home Depot and Lowe's, the countless hours at the workbench, and all the caffeine! As far as I'm concerned, I'm still paying myself back for this time and (all the gas money) LOL!!

[web317]

In truth, it is my intention to purchase one of your Pro series as soon as I purchase a camera to put it on and, the only reason I'm doing both is based on recrimination of someone I trust. On the flip side, I personally, think it is over priced but, maybe after getting one for myself I'll be telling others about it as it was told to me. Fair?

[1]

LOL

No kidding.

web317, welcome to this forum, BUT it's a little odd to come here and make a virginal post facetiously pointing out the price of an item offered for sale by a member here.

Something smells fishy....

[web317]

Simply voicing an opinion, no more, no less. Now, if that is not allowed there should be a posting on the door. I was told about this site after I made up my mind to purcahse an hv20, 30 or 40 and was told I should get, very first thing an HVFF. I started reading the original thread and read all about how it came about. Then, I got to the point where there was a Website. I knew I wanted a PRO and I wanted to see what it was going to cost me. Well, so as not to offend anyone else, I was surprised. So, when I got to the part where the statement was made about what a profitable hobbie it had become, I commented. So, if I've managed to hurt anyone elsese feeling or anyone else thinks Web317 is a bad guy for speaking up, feel free to express your own opinon about him. You won't hurt my feeling at all.

[1]

Fair enough. It just seemed odd to START with such a post. First impressions, and all.

Anyway, my previous comment stands: welcome aboard!

[web317]

Thank .... I'm here to learn and, so far I've learned that I have a lot more to learn than I thought.

[Almohada]

I used to build these -- trust me. Costs way more than $10 and a LOT of work involved putting it together. It also needs to be molded which is a long and slow process. Also I believe they come only in black now so there's spray painting and waiting. I'm sure there's a lot more to it now in these newer versions. I haven't made any for a year. I have version 1.5 M&D SE or something. But yeah it may seem like he's making a fortune but that is not the case. I took only maybe 7 or 8 trips to Home Depot and was already becoming sick of it. Imagine having to go there every few days or at least once a week to gather parts. Not so much fun.

[darthpaully]

I personally, think it is over priced

Sorry for getting to the party late-

Welcome web317, we do value your opinion. Just rememeber that I worked very hard on this design, and really, let's just be clear here, I DO not make a ton of cash off of it. It's hobby money, sure, but I have another business that I own, and a family with young kids, so in MY grand sheme, the HVFF is much more of a hobby than a business.

Otherwise, I could be a real businessman and jack up the price to $99.00 because I OWN the market, and everyone would still buy it because it's THAT good of a product. I'm pretty sure anyone else would have already done that if this was their business. So as far as price goes, i thik the HVFF is not only fairly priced- but I don't rely on the money as income so I won't ever gouge my customers' wallets either. I can afford to keep it affordable and I take a lot of pride in that.

Furthermore, based on comparisons to the IRV manual focus ring ($49.99 when you could get it) or any other DSLR style FF ($100 and up), I'm just not seeing the HVFF as expensive. These are handmade and unbreakable, and really make shooting awesome with the HV series cams.

I'd love to outfit your rig web317, so if I haven't convinced you already, go ahead and email me and we can talk about it. I promise you will love the HVFF...

[Almohada]

What ever happened to Daniel's HVFF?

[darthpaully]

I told him to send it back for free repair, including updates... Offer still stands.

[Almohada]

I told him to send it back for free repair, including updates... Offer still stands.

Oh wait I just realized he's probably using his DSLR much more than the HV so that probably explains why...

[drapeama]

Oh wait I just realized he's probably using his DSLR much more than the HV so that probably explains why...

I think you're right. I remember him writting about selling one or his two HVs at a time, in order to upgrade to another DSLR body.
Who knows!

[darthpaully]

Wow, almost 2 months without a post! I didn't realize it had been that long...

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY! In a nutshell, the last two months have been CRAZY, as I've changed jobs, errrr, opened my OWN music lesson studio called: Imagine Music Instruction the webpage isn't done yet but you can hit us up on facebook. It was quite the endeavor, and I learned SO much- from designing a studio layout to hammering in each and every stud!

Anyway, somewhow, some way I have managed to keep up with heaps of HVFF orders, but shipping times have suffered, and for that I apologize. I am shipping a round of 5 HVFF orders tomorrow and andother 3 early next week- just running out of gas, but happy to have the customers. I worked five twenty hour days in a row and still found time to get a couple units made. I am very proud of that. Two years ago i was broke and in need of a break, and here I am now running TWO succesful companies and answering to NO ONE! I am also proud of that too...

Thank you SOOO much everyone at HV20.com!!! I can honestly say that my time here has been so overwhelmingly life changing, that no matter how long i go without posting, it seems like yesterday we were all arguing about something relevant,or funny,or both. I will never forget these experiences, as they chave come to literaly define me! I hope I can find more time in the near future to post and share with all of you who give so much to this community because it means so much to me... Been busy, but still lurking...

And yeah, still selling the daylights out of my HVFF's! Should be near 150 or so I think, and people still send me all kinds of cool emails and orders from every corner of the planet. I'll keep making them until the last one of us (cgbier) has his HV20 pulled form his cold dead hands! If you have an order placed, then it's almost done or already done and geting shipped ASAP. I am making a BIG push this weekend to get ahead of schedule.
Just rememeber that as long as your order may take, as busy and backed up I get, it never gets old, I promise- I LOVE the ME time I get building these things. IT's a wonderful experience that pays in so many ways. And although I am crazy busy in week 2 of my real own real company, there is no excuse for bad service! Thanks to those of you that have made sure I rememeber that, wheter you know it or not.

Finally... I have actually been busy with a video project (music video) and am excited to share it with you guys.... It should be done in a few weeks!

[Almohada]

Thank you SOOO much everyone at HV20.com!!! I can honestly say that my time here has been so overwhelmingly life changing, that no matter how long i go without posting, it seems like yesterday we were all arguing about something relevant,or funny,or both. I will never forget these experiences, as they chave come to literaly define me! I hope I can find more time in the near future to post and share with all of you who give so much to this community because it means so much to me... Been busy, but still lurking...

Cheers!

[MrMicah]

Just reading the reviews here and having a quick e-mail exchange with darthpaully made me want to order one.

So I did.

[HV2030]

Darthpaully,

I bought the HV20 in the summer of 2008, got to use it just a handful of times before life threw a bunch of wrenches into the mix.
Well in the blink of an eye here it is 2012 and as I near retirement I am renewing my photography and movie making hobby.
Time to dust off that HV20!!!
And I'll tell ya... I'm amazed at all the great innovations you and other creative souls have brought forward to make the HV20/30/40 more professional.

I just placed an order for the HVFF PRO... and looking forward to using it.
Thanks for your professionalism & care in supplying such a great piece of gear!

[darthpaully]

It's my pleasure, HV2030, and as busy as I get- it doesn't get old. I don't get to post as much anymore because I just finished opening a music lesson studio and have been CRAZY busy, but you enthusiasts keep me busy for sure! I still love hearing the stories of how the HVFF helped or saved a shoot and words like professional and care mean the world to me.... Remember, I too use the HVFF and love it!

HV2030, You're order came in at 1:30 and my phone beeped (forgot to turn it down) but I'm never bothered my getting awakened by customers. It's actually pretty fun considering i'm working while I'm sleeping HAHA!
Anyway, thanks for the kind post and we hope to see you around here more often. As always, please leave me some HVFF feedback here or at the webstore or both, and enjoy your new toy!