Bright Tangerine Revolvr Single-Sided Core Follow Focus Kit, Includes Hard Stop Pack, 15mm LWS Core Bridge, Follow Focus Swing Arm

2018-12-04T19:00:00

I have worked in film and television since 1984 when most projects were shot on Arriflex and Panavision 35mm and 16mm cameras. I used follow focus units from Chrosziel and Arri exclusively as that is what the rental houses provided with camera packages worth upwards of $200,000. When it came time to outfit my own digital cinema camera those are the brands I looked to but the prices were a bit beyond my budget. I never had to actually buy a follow focus unit before. Having a well built, double-sided, modular, and most importantly, smooth and lash free follow focus was high on my list of priorities. I was cautiously about to pull the trigger on another well known but less expensive brand when I came across Bright Tangerine. From what I could tell, they stand alone in competing with Arri, Chrosziel and OConnor and even though the price was a bit of a stretch for my budget I knew I would not be happy with something that didn’t measure up to the quality I was used to. I went back and forth and then this unit came up as a Black Friday special for a bit less than the Chrosziel so I decided to go for it. I’m happy to say that this unit is every bit as good, and in some ways better than what I’m used to. It mounts quickly and firmly and dismounts just as quickly without disturbing the rest of the setup. The kit can be expanded easily, multiple swing arms and drive gear sizes allow you to get just the right speed and there are lots of little thoughtful touches that you discover with use. Most importantly, the unit provides a very smooth operating, immediate and intimate connection to the focus ring of whatever lens you are using. There is absolutely zero lash, zero play, and everything about it feels high quality. It’s not just good enough, it’s as good as it gets. And the orange anodizing looks cool sitting on the rails! Now for a few nits to pick. I purchased it from B&H photo and each part came individually packed in an unusual bubble wrap sleeve. A box with the proper foam cutouts to fit into a Pelican case would be nice as the BT case is a bit rich for my blood. Everything about its use was pretty familiar from other units I’ve used except the hard stops. I had a devil of a time getting them on and found it impossible to remove them. After a bit of struggle I emailed customer service and within 20 minutes received a call from Rob Eagle in the CA office. He walked me through the process which was both brilliant and might have been obvious had I been a bit more patient. The customer service was exemplary. Still, some simple directions would have been nice. In any case, I have now cut my own foam in a Pelican case, understand all the workings of the unit, and smile every time I mount it on the rails as the purchase price disappears in the review mirror.

Adam G.

Originally posted at