Would you like a radio control focus system? at DVinfo.net

Obin Olson · February 14th, 2004, 05:57 PM

Hello guys please email me if you want to stay updated on a radio control follow focus system for use on the dvx100/A for shooting cine style on a steadycam/dolly. This will allow the focus puller to sit with the monitor on-set and do all the focusing lots easer then being with the camera...I am working on the design now.... I have one for myself that is homebrew that works great and now I am working on a professional version forsale..it will work PERFECT...my email is:

oolsen1@ec.rr.com

thanks!

Marc Young · February 14th, 2004, 07:48 PM

Don't keep us in suspense any longer. How much do you think it will sell for? I'd love to be able to do follow-focus on this camera.

I never believed in the myth of DOF. If DOF were so great, why wouldn't all cameras be shipped with 3 focus positions, small, medium and large? Next to aperture control, focusing is the most critical control you have on a camera. It means the difference between an amateur result (my specialty) and a professional one. A camera in motion without focus control is like a near-sighted driver without glasses or contact lenses. Blurry.

Ken Tanaka · February 14th, 2004, 07:49 PM

Obin,
Sounds interesting. Certainly there are already remote focus pulling systems but they are quite costly...more than the DVX100 camera.

On critical performance item for such a device is precise repeatability. How does the operator of your device interact with it?

Obin Olson · February 14th, 2004, 10:24 PM

yes you will hit marks with this unit...very important as you say :) i am thinking marks on the transmitter unit so that you know what marks you are hitting OR you can just watch the monitor and hit your"marks" via onscreen video feed... this will NOT be a free spinner type device :0

Obin Olson · February 14th, 2004, 10:27 PM

I have not set a price yet..I think it will be around $700-1200..not sure yet gota see how it turns out! :)

Charles Papert · February 15th, 2004, 02:58 AM

Marc:

The large DOF with DV cameras is not unsubstantiated. I think it safe to say that any DV camera at a wide-angle setting has a vast amount of depth of field, even at close to wide open it's not surprising to be able to hold 4 feet to infinity. It gets trickier as you zoom in. The long end of the zoom for many cameras (the DVX100 doesn't go as long as the standard XL1 lens) is actually extremely long in photographic terms, and the depth of field shortens considerably. This is when more precise focusing becomes an issue, no doubt.

February 14th, 2004, 05:57 PM	#1
Obin Olson Trustee Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 1,414	Would you like a radio control focus system? Hello guys please email me if you want to stay updated on a radio control follow focus system for use on the dvx100/A for shooting cine style on a steadycam/dolly. This will allow the focus puller to sit with the monitor on-set and do all the focusing lots easer then being with the camera...I am working on the design now.... I have one for myself that is homebrew that works great and now I am working on a professional version forsale..it will work PERFECT...my email is: oolsen1@ec.rr.com thanks!

February 14th, 2004, 07:49 PM	#3
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	More Info, Please Obin, Sounds interesting. Certainly there are already remote focus pulling systems but they are quite costly...more than the DVX100 camera. On critical performance item for such a device is precise repeatability. How does the operator of your device interact with it? __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

February 15th, 2004, 02:58 AM	#6
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Marc: The large DOF with DV cameras is not unsubstantiated. I think it safe to say that any DV camera at a wide-angle setting has a vast amount of depth of field, even at close to wide open it's not surprising to be able to hold 4 feet to infinity. It gets trickier as you zoom in. The long end of the zoom for many cameras (the DVX100 doesn't go as long as the standard XL1 lens) is actually extremely long in photographic terms, and the depth of field shortens considerably. This is when more precise focusing becomes an issue, no doubt. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

February 14th, 2004, 07:48 PM	#2
Marc Young Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 112	Don't keep us in suspense any longer. How much do you think it will sell for? I'd love to be able to do follow-focus on this camera. I never believed in the myth of DOF. If DOF were so great, why wouldn't all cameras be shipped with 3 focus positions, small, medium and large? Next to aperture control, focusing is the most critical control you have on a camera. It means the difference between an amateur result (my specialty) and a professional one. A camera in motion without focus control is like a near-sighted driver without glasses or contact lenses. Blurry.

February 14th, 2004, 10:24 PM	#4
Obin Olson Trustee Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 1,414	yes you will hit marks with this unit...very important as you say :) i am thinking marks on the transmitter unit so that you know what marks you are hitting OR you can just watch the monitor and hit your"marks" via onscreen video feed... this will NOT be a free spinner type device :0

February 14th, 2004, 10:27 PM	#5
Obin Olson Trustee Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 1,414	I have not set a price yet..I think it will be around $700-1200..not sure yet gota see how it turns out! :)