SmallRig Follow Focus F60 3850 Review

The SmallRig Follow Focus F60 3850 is an video accessory that lets you take fine control over manual focus while filming. The unit has been designed to be modular, so you can update the system to suit your camera and lens setup.

If you haven’t come across follow focus before, essentially, it’s an accessory used in video production and photography that attaches to a camera and enables you to smoothly and accurately adjust the lens’s focus while filming or shooting.

The F60 3850 consists of a gear wheel connected to the lens focus ring, either by friction or a gear strap, and a knob or handles that you turn to adjust the focus. Follow focus systems are especially useful for professional videographers or photographers who need to create smooth and precise focus pulls or transitions during filming or shooting.

The SmallRig Follow Focus F60 3850 is designed to fit onto standard 15mm rods, which are standard for most Mirrorless and DSLR rigs and were part of the SmallRig rig I looked at back in January , making it easy to set up and adjust to your camera system. The build quality of the SmallRig Follow Focus F60 3850 is exceptional, with a solid construction that ensures it will stand up to the demands of professional use.

One of the standout features of the SmallRig Follow Focus F60 3850 is the sheer number of adjustments that are available to you, ensuring it not only fits that camera system snuggly but also feels comfortable for you to use. For instance, there are multiple options for the wheel’s position and the ability to adjust the friction control and the lens gear; this follows focus is incredibly versatile. It can be easily adapted to your specific shooting requirements.

In terms of design, the SmallRig Follow Focus F60 3850 has a sleek look with a tactile wooden finish that gives decent purchase and feels great in hand. While the wooden look may not be to everyone’s taste, it is a nice touch that adds character to the following focus.

The F60 3850 is incredibly easy to fit and use, attaching to standard 15mm rods, which enables a universal fit. The build quality is notable for it’s high quality.

One of the first things you will notice when using the SmallRig Follow Focus is the 15mm rod supplied is rather short. However, the quick switch feature on the follow focus lets you flip the gear’s position, and suddenly the shorter length makes sense, another lever flipped and the direction of the rotation reverses.

The connection between the focus gear and lens focus ring is either made directly using direct friction from the silicon gear cover, or removing the cover and using the gear directly on Cine lenses gear systems or by attaching a gear strap to stills lenses.

Plenty of additional accessories are available to expand how you use the follow-focus, allowing you to customise it to fit your needs. The follow focus is smooth and easy to operate, with a sleek design that looks great on your camera. The adjustment options allow for precise focusing, with the A / B stops making it easy to set your focus limits.

The damper effect adjustment is another handy feature, enabling you to control the ease of the focus rotation. This can be particularly useful for lenses with stiffer focusing rings, giving you greater control over your shots.

The SmallRig Follow Focus F60 3850 is a superb choice for anyone wanting to focus manually when filming, with plenty of adjustment options that make it easy to adapt to your system. Its sleek design and high-quality build makes it a great addition to any DSLR or mirrorless rig. Overall, this reliable, versatile, and durable follow focus is worth the investment for anyone shooting video on a DSLR or Mirrorless camera. Still, photographers will also benefit from the increased manual focus control that the follow focus offers.

The SmallRig Follow Focus F60 3850 is a fantastic addition to any videographer or photographer’s kit. The design of the follow focus is impressive, and the high-quality build makes it easy to fit onto standard 15mm rods. The following focus also has a universal fit, which can be adapted to fit any rig.

The number of adjustment options that the SmallRig Follow Focus F60 3850 offers are impressive. There are multiple options for the wheel’s position and how you use it, and it is easy to adapt to your system; during the test, I used it on a Canon EOS R5 C and Sony A7 III. While the wooden effect on the follow focus is a little twee, it feels tactile and is not a major drawback.

In use the follow focus is smooth and easy to use and the adjustment over the position is a major benefit when it comes to comfort of use. Setting the A/B stops is of course essential and these are as easy to adjust and set as any. The damper effect adjustment is also handy, enabling you to control the ease of the focus rotation.

Initially, the amount of adjustment available on the SmallRig Follow Focus F60 3850 may seem daunting. However, after a few outings, it becomes clear where you need to fine-tune. After adjusting the follow focus, it’s easy to focus between two positions with the A/B stop and having the dampening and stops enables a professional change in focus point.

The follow-focus is a great partner for the Canon EOS R5 C and 24-70mm when using the silicon cover over the focus gear. The price is well balanced, and considering what’s on offer and how it can be used with any camera lens combo, it’s a great value for money. I highly recommend the SmallRig Follow Focus F60 3850 to anyone wanting to focus when filming manually.

For more details check out the SmallRig website