Uploaded December 2011 | Updated September 2026, 7 hours ago
I had been looking for a good follow focus and rail system for my DSLR video camera but I couldn't justify spending $1-2K on it. I was skeptical at first because of the price, but this rig from Red Star looked to be of good quality. This kit far exceeded my expectations and after trying it out I was VERY impressed with Red Star's build quality. The Pro II version of their Follow Focus is truly awesome...super smooth and solid. This version has the new stop pins for micro adjustment of your focusing range, and the LED light and shotgun mic worked like a charm. They're perfectly balanced for this rig and has worked great on my shoots so far. The rail system and shoulder mount dramatically stabilize my DSLR video in comparison to just hand holding the camera. I was also amazed at the accessory arms and super clamp. Normally accessory arms like this are all plastic and do not hold the monitor or light properly. These are almost steel and they hold very well, and it increases the versatility of the kit because you can attach items almost anywhere you need on your rig. The super clamp easily has enough holding power for a small monitor, LED light or shotgun mic and has a rubberized grip so it doesn't scratch surfaces. The only thing I really didn't like is the blue color on the knobs but that doesn't affect the functionality of the rig at all, so it was not a deal breaker. For this price, this kit would be a bargain just for the follow focus and rail system alone! The LED light, mic, and extras make this kit (by far) the best bang for the buck out there right now. I couldn't be more happy with this purchase! Looking to get their more advanced version for my main camera...so I will post a new review once it comes in and I give it a test run.
I had been looking for a good follow focus and rail system for my DSLR video camera but I couldn't justify spending $1-2K on it. I was skeptical at first because of the price, but this rig from Red Star looked to be of good quality. This kit far exceeded my expectations and after trying it out I was VERY impressed with Red Star's build quality. The Pro II version of their Follow Focus is truly awesome...super smooth and solid. This version has the new stop pins for micro adjustment of your focusing range, and the LED light and shotgun mic worked like a charm. They're perfectly balanced for this rig and has worked great on my shoots so far. The rail system and shoulder mount dramatically stabilize my DSLR video in comparison to just hand holding the camera. I was also amazed at the accessory arms and super clamp. Normally accessory arms like this are all plastic and do not hold the monitor or light properly. These are almost steel and they hold very well, and it increases the versatility of the kit because you can attach items almost anywhere you need on your rig. The super clamp easily has enough holding power for a small monitor, LED light or shotgun mic and has a rubberized grip so it doesn't scratch surfaces. The only thing I really didn't like is the blue color on the knobs but that doesn't affect the functionality of the rig at all, so it was not a deal breaker. For this price, this kit would be a bargain just for the follow focus and rail system alone! The LED light, mic, and extras make this kit (by far) the best bang for the buck out there right now. I couldn't be more happy with this purchase! Looking to get their more advanced version for my main camera...so I will post a new review once it comes in and I give it a test run.
