Progressive harder to focus at DVinfo.net

Brendan Sundry · March 27th, 2006, 05:41 AM

I was operating the other day in progressive, and it seems harder to focus, kinda like film.

Is this because ther is less light, or becasue of the nature of the "softer" picture?

B.Sundry

Leo Pepingco · March 27th, 2006, 07:02 AM

I hope you dont truly belive that.

I've worked with film for quite some time (3 years Uni, 2 years experimental) And Focus is (I say) 90% in the lens.

Sure Progressive is a format that has its drawbacks, but softer pictures is not really one of them.

Robert M Wright · March 27th, 2006, 07:26 AM

If you're talking about the difference in shooting interlaced SD (like with a miniDV camera) compared to shooting progressive HD (like with an HD100U), as being more sensitive to focus, that's because the higher resolution is less forgiving to minor focusing errors (like film also).

Mike Marriage · March 27th, 2006, 08:43 AM

What camera were you using? Were you using autofocus? I believe some cameras focus slower in progressive mode because the lower refresh rate slows down the focusing calculations. If you are focusing manually, I can't see why it would make a difference.

Brendan Sundry · March 27th, 2006, 08:15 PM

The cam was a xdcam, but ive noticed the same on a dvx100. That refresh thing sounds kinda like it makes sense to me.

I was alwasy using manual focus. Both cams were PAL

Peter Jefferson · March 28th, 2006, 08:23 AM

well dude, IMO and from experience, im yet to find a problem focussing with progressive footage compared to interlaced.
In fact, i find it easier to focus in progressive than i can with interlaced.. i think its the slower frame rate which actually lets me SEE things a little clearer. it could just be me...

As for the speed in which assist works, one must consider that in progressive modes, (especially on a DVX100a) the unit is pumpin out twice the resolution. And when using Cinegamma settings, its even slower...
I wish it was faster coz sometimes that infinite focus wheel really does drive me up the wall...
I would say that the NTSC model is prolly about 20-30% faster with its assist.

March 27th, 2006, 05:41 AM	#1
Brendan Sundry Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 112	Progressive harder to focus I was operating the other day in progressive, and it seems harder to focus, kinda like film. Is this because ther is less light, or becasue of the nature of the "softer" picture? B.Sundry

March 27th, 2006, 07:02 AM	#2
Leo Pepingco Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 275	I hope you dont truly belive that. I've worked with film for quite some time (3 years Uni, 2 years experimental) And Focus is (I say) 90% in the lens. Sure Progressive is a format that has its drawbacks, but softer pictures is not really one of them.

March 27th, 2006, 07:26 AM	#3
Robert M Wright Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minnesota (USA) Posts: 2,171	If you're talking about the difference in shooting interlaced SD (like with a miniDV camera) compared to shooting progressive HD (like with an HD100U), as being more sensitive to focus, that's because the higher resolution is less forgiving to minor focusing errors (like film also).

March 27th, 2006, 08:43 AM	#4
Mike Marriage Major Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NE of London, England Posts: 788	What camera were you using? Were you using autofocus? I believe some cameras focus slower in progressive mode because the lower refresh rate slows down the focusing calculations. If you are focusing manually, I can't see why it would make a difference.

March 27th, 2006, 08:15 PM	#5
Brendan Sundry Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 112	The cam was a xdcam, but ive noticed the same on a dvx100. That refresh thing sounds kinda like it makes sense to me. I was alwasy using manual focus. Both cams were PAL

March 28th, 2006, 08:23 AM	#6
Peter Jefferson Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Aus Posts: 3,884	well dude, IMO and from experience, im yet to find a problem focussing with progressive footage compared to interlaced. In fact, i find it easier to focus in progressive than i can with interlaced.. i think its the slower frame rate which actually lets me SEE things a little clearer. it could just be me... As for the speed in which assist works, one must consider that in progressive modes, (especially on a DVX100a) the unit is pumpin out twice the resolution. And when using Cinegamma settings, its even slower... I wish it was faster coz sometimes that infinite focus wheel really does drive me up the wall... I would say that the NTSC model is prolly about 20-30% faster with its assist.