Can someone explain the manual focus on the 100a. I use manual focus exclusively. I basically try and focus using either the eyepiece or the viewfinder... by eye.

What funtion do the focus numbers in the viewfinder serve? How do they facilitate focusing? How would I use them to my advantage?

The numbers are a precise scale. Search here for a PDF that translates scale into feet. However, you can use it without just by noting the numbers as they are abosolute - i.e. "75" will always be the same distance.

In other words, if you are framing up your shot, before you start recording you can figure out, by numbers, at what focal plane everything is at that you want in your composition. This is great for getting quick and accurate rack focusing, or in a situation where your focal point may change during a pan or your focal point is not in the frame when you want to focus on it.

<<<-- Originally posted by Stephen van Vuuren : The numbers are a precise scale. Search here for a PDF that translates scale into feet. However, you can use it without just by noting the numbers as they are abosolute - i.e. "75" will always be the same distance. -->>>

The link I found in an old post here is outdated. Here is the link to a Web page and available PDF.

http://www.flickerfactory.com/egp/morestuff/dvx100focus.htm