Focus Pulling is about so much more than just keeping a subject in (or out) of focus. It’s a role that involves an enormous amount of problem-solving, collaboration, and arts and crafts.
So when the DOP tells you that they want to run a vari ND in the mattebox for a 12 week shoot they needed to come up with a solution to make it workable that wasn’t at the expense of losing fingers by physically grabbing the cog as it turns to create end stops on an otherwise infinite rotation.
Yes, you can use the ARRI Hi5 & and mini RF motor to do a ‘manual calibration’, but that would involve getting 2x additional (unavailable) Hi5’s for a 2-camera unit and also handing control back and forth from the DIT tent. A lot of time was wasted and extra money spent on additional premium gear.
Charlie Whitaker and Loaders Lounge designed this slip-on cog that goes over an existing 40t m0.8 cog and turns it into a 50t m0.8 that has a small spike added.
This allows a regular calibration to occur (on low torque) without the need to grab the cog with your fingers, and also means that the amount of rotation is defined and consistent every time.
From concept to testing in just a couple of days (including interstate shipping) and the prototype seems to function perfectly on every level. Now they are just testing durability.
Simple innovations like this make the job so rewarding.
Other items required:
