Sony V1U Focus ring at DVinfo.net

Rishi Kumar · September 9th, 2009, 12:50 AM

Hi Everyone, I am still trying to figure out all the features in my V1U, and one place I have the hardest part figuring out is the manual focus ring.

Suppose I have an object infront of me and I want to blur the background, why can't I do this unless, I stand back from the object and zoom in. This is a big problem for me because its hard to adjust the focus, and keep the camera steady.

Perhaps I'm doing something wrong? please help.. Thanks

Tom Hardwick · September 9th, 2009, 02:10 AM

The only thing you've done 'wrong' Rishi is to buy a camera that uses minute ¼" chips. It's because the chips are so small that the camera uses very short focal length lenses (yet even so doesn't give you a decent wide-angle) and so with these short focal lengths comes oodles of depth of field (dof) as you've found.

So yes - the only way to get differential focus (where the background and foreground are softer than the object focused on) is to

1) Use full telephoto
2) have the background as far away as possible
3) Focus as close as possible
4) Use maximum aperture (raise the shutter speed and switch in the ND filters if necessary).

A bit limiting, isn't it? Especially as the maximum aperture at full tele is only f/2.8.

If you want less dof, chose a camera with bigger chips - it's as simple as that. Don't listen to those that will tell you that a 20x zoom will help.

tom.

Zach Love · September 9th, 2009, 03:46 AM

What Tom said, or get a Letus or Red Rock. But those can cost as much as a used V1.

Pretty much the smaller the chips, the smaller the lens & the greater the DOF.

James J. Lee · September 17th, 2009, 04:59 PM

Cheapest solution is probably getting one of the new DSLRs that do video. A fast 50 or 85mm f1.8 lens will give you much better shallow depth of field than you'll ever get with a prosumer video cam. I wouldn't want to use a DSLR for most of my video, but for these specific shots, they will soon be a real bargain.

September 9th, 2009, 12:50 AM	#1
Rishi Kumar Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto Ontario Posts: 55	Sony V1U Focus ring Hi Everyone, I am still trying to figure out all the features in my V1U, and one place I have the hardest part figuring out is the manual focus ring. Suppose I have an object infront of me and I want to blur the background, why can't I do this unless, I stand back from the object and zoom in. This is a big problem for me because its hard to adjust the focus, and keep the camera steady. Perhaps I'm doing something wrong? please help.. Thanks

September 9th, 2009, 03:46 AM	#3
Zach Love Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 944	What Tom said, or get a Letus or Red Rock. But those can cost as much as a used V1. Pretty much the smaller the chips, the smaller the lens & the greater the DOF. __________________ Nothing says you're a serious video maker like S-VHS

September 17th, 2009, 04:59 PM	#4
James J. Lee Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Triad Area, NC Posts: 99	Cheapest Solution Cheapest solution is probably getting one of the new DSLRs that do video. A fast 50 or 85mm f1.8 lens will give you much better shallow depth of field than you'll ever get with a prosumer video cam. I wouldn't want to use a DSLR for most of my video, but for these specific shots, they will soon be a real bargain. __________________ J.Lee Photography, LLC http://www.jamesjlee.com

September 9th, 2009, 02:10 AM	#2
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	The only thing you've done 'wrong' Rishi is to buy a camera that uses minute ¼" chips. It's because the chips are so small that the camera uses very short focal length lenses (yet even so doesn't give you a decent wide-angle) and so with these short focal lengths comes oodles of depth of field (dof) as you've found. So yes - the only way to get differential focus (where the background and foreground are softer than the object focused on) is to 1) Use full telephoto 2) have the background as far away as possible 3) Focus as close as possible 4) Use maximum aperture (raise the shutter speed and switch in the ND filters if necessary). A bit limiting, isn't it? Especially as the maximum aperture at full tele is only f/2.8. If you want less dof, chose a camera with bigger chips - it's as simple as that. Don't listen to those that will tell you that a 20x zoom will help. tom.