I've got a 550D and a 60D with battery grips and a Z-Finder. Need a rig with a follow focus - anyone got any of this gear?

Willing to spend about £500 maybe not even JAG35 stuff, can anyone recommend?

JAG35 is a good low cost solution. There are also any number of eBay items that would suit a limited budget. Bear in mind, though, that you do get what you pay for. If you can manage it, save up to purchase proven gear from the likes of Redrock Micro, Zacuto, Letus, etc. It will be a case of buy once as opposed to "buy cheap/buy twice".

I've got the D/focus follow focus which I use on the 7d.

It's not bad, does the job and is very cheap.

I'm using it on a Vocas rails/mattebox system.

Got mine from Pink Noise Systems in the UK.

http://www.pinknoise-systems.co.uk/dfocus-v3-p-716.html

I started off with a JAG35 fieldrunner and a D|Focus, took about a year before I either sold them off or cannibalized the parts into other rigs.
That said apparently the JAG35 stuff is a lot better now, but I wouldn't bother with a D|Focus unless you've never used a FF before.

I have this Genus follow focus and I like it http://www.amazon.com/Genus-GL-G-BF...7BYM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330230347&sr=8-1. There is very little play. It is tighter than the zacuto ff (doesn't spin as easily) but it has never hindered me. If you are shooting in cold weather (20° and below) it will freeze up on you though. I had that FF before I touched a D|Focus and when I did, I hated it. Felt cheap and I did not like it at all. I do have a JAG35 handle for my rig and it is fine, except I don't care for the super soft foam. I would much prefer a denser foam, but that may just be my opinion. Not sure how other people feel about it.

I agree with Mitch about the soft foam being a poor choice, prefer either dense foam or softer rubber (like the Redrock handgrips)

I also have the Genus Follow Focus, it's really a very lovely unit.

Might wanna check out Shoot35's CINEfocus:
http://www.shoot35.com/products/dsl...uspackage/dslrmountcinefocuspackageframe.html

My rig is built around it. Add to that some longer rails and Half Inch Rails Shoulder Pads:
http://www.halfinchrails.com/hir/ha...OD=&DRN=&ORN=&CST=&PIG=1&SID=&TAG=0&STC=&SES=

My handles came of an ebay rig.

For affordable gears check out Half Inch Rails Zip Tie Focus Gears:
http://www.halfinchrails.com/hir/ha...OD=&DRN=&ORN=&CST=&PIG=1&SID=&TAG=0&STC=&SES=

I've heard good things about the Shoot35 Follow Focus.
Those zip gears are good value too, I have them on my primes.

I really like the looks of the Shoot35. I've got a Jag35 full shoulder rig with an Ikan ELE-FGK follow focus. The Ikan is built like a tank and was a good value and I read some decent reviews on it. I have no regrets in buying it.

I wish I could compare it to other outfits, but it's all I've ever used. I could see a better solution to the shoulder pad. It doesn't really dig into your shoulder or anything, but it's not a light rig at all. But I can't imagine any better build quality. Maybe more polished components, or more elegant knobs. The knob on my zacuto gorilla mount seems a bit more elegant. I could see lighter rigs, but not something built better.

But in the end, it gives me a very stable rig with enough balance to take my hand off it and work the follow focus. And it gives me smooth handheld shots. And it works equally well looking through a z-finder as it does using the Small HD monitor.