SmallRig FreeBlazer Heavy-Duty Carbon Fiber Tripod & F60 Follow Focus – First Look

by Francesco AndreolaApril 18^th, 2023

SmallRig has just announced two new camera accessories, the FreeBlazer Heavy-Duty Carbon Fiber Tripod that can withstand payloads of up to 10kg/22lbs, as well as the F60 manual follow focus system. Both products are now available to pre-order.

After building a strong reputation by producing affordable rigging solutions for many years, Chinese manufacturer SmallRig started exploring new market segments and now offers a full range of accessories for filmmakers, including lights, batteries, and more.

Last year, the company introduced an aluminum heavy-duty tripod, which is now being complemented by a carbon fiber version. Moreover, their lens control ecosystem is growing with the introduction of a new manual follow focus. On the show floor at NAB 2023, David Zhou from SmallRig introduced us to both systems!

SmallRig FreeBlazer Heavy-Duty Carbon Fiber Tripod – features

The SmallRig FreeBlazer is a heavy-duty carbon fiber tripod with a maximum payload capacity of 10kg/22lbs. The tripod itself weighs 5kg/11lbs and can extend from as low as 94cm/37” up to 197cm/77.6”. What’s interesting is that the extension of each three-section leg is adjustable by releasing and locking a single latch, which speeds up the process of adjusting camera position.

Moreover, the top section features silicon parts that should provide a solid grip when carrying the tripod around. The tripod is designed to adapt to different terrains as the natively flat feet can be easily turned into steel spikes.

The SmallRig FreeBlazer integrates a 75mm bowl video fluid head with friction control as well as 360° pan and 90°/-60° tilt excursions. The head accepts both Manfrotto-style and DJI RS series quick-release plates and you can simply switch between these two modes with the press of a button.

SmallRig F60 manual follow focus – overview

The SmallRig F60 is a modular follow focus system featuring a hand wheel with a sleek mahogany wood finish. Unlike its wireless MagicFIZ sibling, the F60 is a manual-only lens accessory.

The follow focus attaches to a single 15mm rod, has a tension ring to adjust friction, and is designed to be used with cinema lenses featuring industry-standard 0.8MOD gears. However, SmallRig also developed a special silicone gear wheel that makes the system compatible with photographic lenses without the need to use annoying gear belt adapters (also included).

The F60 integrates a focus marking disk and allows users to set A/B hard stops for performing precise focus racks. Finally, a quick-release system makes it easy to detach the accessory from the lens when needed, while a lever allows you to reverse the direction of the focus wheel.

SmallRig F60 – what’s in the box?

• SmallRig F60 Modular Follow Focus
• M0.8-43T Gear
• Silicone Gear
• 15mm rod
• Rod Clamp (with NATO Rail)
• Snap-on Gear Ring
• Palm Support
• Screwdriver
• Carrying Case

Price and availability

The SmallRig FreeBlazer Heavy-Duty Carbon Fiber Tripod and F60 Modular Follow Focus are now available to pre-order from B&H. They retail for $399 and $159, respectively. Both items come with a carrying bag/case.

For more information, please visit SmallRig’s website here and here.

Have you ever used a follow focus system from SmallRig? What do you think about the FreeBlazer Heavy-Duty Carbon Fiber Tripod? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!