Preston Cinema Systems HU3: professional wireless follow focus system controlling up to three motors (focus, zoom, iris) with 360° continuous rotation and 99 lens calibrations.
Technical Details
The HU3 operates with a 7.4V Li-ion battery (Sony L-Series compatible) and offers an operating time of approximately 8 hours. The housing weighs 680 grams and measures 190 x 120 x 45 mm. The focus ring features 360° continuous rotation with programmable mechanical end stops. The system supports up to three simultaneous motor controls (focus, zoom, iris) and can store up to 99 different lens calibrations. The wireless connection uses 128-bit encryption and automatic channel selection in case of interference.
History & Development
Preston Cinema Systems introduced the first HU3 generation in 2016 as the successor to the HU2. Company founder Preston Hirten developed the first electronic follow-focus system for the film industry back in 1979. The HU3 received a firmware update in 2017 for RED camera integration and the Mk II version in 2019 with an improved display and longer battery life. In 2021, the current Mk III followed with expanded compatibility for the Sony FX series and ARRI Alexa Mini LF.
Practical Application in Film
Director of Photography Tom Sigel used the HU3 on "Bohemian Rhapsody" (2018) for complex handheld sequences with precise focus pulls during concert scenes. The system proved its worth on "1917" (2019) for the seemingly continuous long takes, where First Assistant Cameraman Charlie Hamilton executed simultaneous focus and zoom control over distances of up to 200 meters. The HU3 enables lens mapping with up to 16 individual focus points per lens and offers A/B focus transitions with programmable fade times from 0.1 to 30 seconds.
Comparison & Alternatives
A direct competitor is the Tilta Nucleus-M system (from 1,200 Euros vs. 8,500 Euros for the Preston HU3), which, however, only offers a 100-meter range and less precise calibration. The ARRI cforce mini RF costs 4,800 Euros but is primarily limited to ARRI cameras. Modern alternatives like the Teradek RT MK3.1 (3,200 Euros) offer similar functionality but do not achieve the precision and reliability of Preston systems under challenging wireless conditions.