Glidecam Demo Reel-Shot on 5D-Converted to 24P in Sony Vegas

Michael Gebben · March 21st, 2010, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry Simpson

How? How do you keep such great focus while shooting at what looks to be wide apertures? Seems like with the glidecam it's be hard to keep the subject in focus. Heck on a tripod I have a tough time. What's the secret?

Basically wide angle lenses help a TON!! I'm almost always shooting on the glidecam with the 16-35 shooting somewhere between 16-24. I set the focus to infinity and then FLY AWAY ;)

Harry Simpson · March 21st, 2010, 04:26 PM

Say with a 24-105 f4L at 24 setting focus to infinity is gonna make the whole band 5 feet away out of focus. I could see this working with landscape shots but close in even with wide angle I have problems.

Nigel Barker · March 22nd, 2010, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry Simpson

Say with a 24-105 f4L at 24 setting focus to infinity is gonna make the whole band 5 feet away out of focus. I could see this working with landscape shots but close in even with wide angle I have problems.

It all depends on your aperture. Stop down to F8 & at 24mm you are in focus from 4ft to infinity. Using the 16-35mm zoom as Michael is then you can have even greater depth of field. At 16mm even at F5.6 you are in focus from a tad over 3ft to infinity.

What get's much more difficult is when you want to work with a very narrow DOF e.g. at 24mm & F8 if focused on a subject at 3ft the DOF is between 2.2ft & 4.8ft i.e. 2.6ft (less than 1m). Charles Papert posted on here recently recommending that aspiring Steadicam operators consult DOF calculators when planning shots.

Jim Giberti · March 22nd, 2010, 11:06 AM

I keep a set of general charts in our three camera bags based on our average prime FL 28mm, 50mm, 85mm, etc. I have print outs of DOF and hyperfocal for these lenses from their lowest aperture 1.2/1.8 through a range of these average stops - 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11

It's a good reference for shallow DOF closeups, tracking moving subjects etc. on the fly.

Harry Simpson · April 12th, 2010, 09:21 PM

Wonderful advice on the DOF charts which I've not visited in years.....now i really need them!! DoF Calculator for the iPhone has been super help.

March 21st, 2010, 04:26 PM	#17
Harry Simpson Major Player Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Nashville, TN. Posts: 581	Say with a 24-105 f4L at 24 setting focus to infinity is gonna make the whole band 5 feet away out of focus. I could see this working with landscape shots but close in even with wide angle I have problems. __________________ Nashville TN using Canon 5D MK3, Canon 550D, RODE SVM mic, 70-200 f2.8L II IS, 24-105 f4L IS, 50 and 85 f/1.8, Vegas Pro 11, Zoom H4n, Blackbird, Lilliput Monitor, Lightroom

April 12th, 2010, 09:21 PM	#20
Harry Simpson Major Player Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Nashville, TN. Posts: 581	Wonderful advice on the DOF charts which I've not visited in years.....now i really need them!! DoF Calculator for the iPhone has been super help. __________________ Nashville TN using Canon 5D MK3, Canon 550D, RODE SVM mic, 70-200 f2.8L II IS, 24-105 f4L IS, 50 and 85 f/1.8, Vegas Pro 11, Zoom H4n, Blackbird, Lilliput Monitor, Lightroom

March 22nd, 2010, 11:06 AM	#19
Jim Giberti Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bethel, VT Posts: 824	I keep a set of general charts in our three camera bags based on our average prime FL 28mm, 50mm, 85mm, etc. I have print outs of DOF and hyperfocal for these lenses from their lowest aperture 1.2/1.8 through a range of these average stops - 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11 It's a good reference for shallow DOF closeups, tracking moving subjects etc. on the fly.