can someone explain spot focus and spot ae in more detail?

John Jay · June 30th, 2003, 12:51 PM

have bluetooth will travel...

I initially thought bluetooth was a gimmik...,

until i heard about the chap who was at the scene of a disaster, took some pix and uploaded to the sony gallery, then phoned some tv stations explaining he was at the scene and would they like to purchase the footage to run as a news item

the point being the photo/video journalist application is immense

wrt to spot functions...,

the main usage i can see here is setting exposure and focus before flying steadicam - saves having to park the rig

the alternative is menu diving with one hand (the wrong one) on a camera free floating in space which is not easy

Boyd Ostroff · July 4th, 2003, 04:38 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Mark Kubat : can you do fast fast rack focus? get it? -->>>

Had the PDX-10 setup yesterday and played a little with this feature. Nothing too serious, but I zoomed in full telephoto on a chain hanging from the ceiling. There was a brick wall about 20' behind the chain.

I did not use a stylus, but just touched the chain with my fingertip on the LCD. Then I touched the wall. And the chain again. It worked fine, but did a bit of hunting before locking in on the chain in the foreground. It didn't seem like a very nice effect to me, looked like autofocus in search of a target. Seems like it's really intended to use before you roll tape, not during.

Mark Kubat · July 7th, 2003, 12:13 AM

The PDX10 would still be my choice I think if I get a 2nd cam this year - I might wait though given the news in the What's new in DV forum about the announcement for "HDV" standardization between JVC/Canon/Sony.

Boyd, how is the focus ring on the PDX10? Dammit, the stores here don't have models for display yet so I'm dying to get my hands on this thing but asking someone who's actually using it I guess is important too!

Thanks for your help!

Kenn Jolemore · July 7th, 2003, 05:29 AM

Boyd, try putting two objects a few(4-8') feet apart (front to back )and focus between the two pulling from one to the other.I think you went to an extream beyond the capabilities of the camera.
KennJ

Phil Dale · July 7th, 2003, 02:25 PM

If canon sit back and watch, then bring out the best what happened with the XM2 its hardly a major jump in technology from the XM1 and the models lower in their range are quite simply boring poor performers.

Mark Kubat · August 13th, 2003, 09:01 PM

Hi everyone.

Still want to get pdx10 users to try something to help me decide on it as an upgrade.

If you mount a stylus to touch against the lcd screen (say using a clip or an elastic band with tension) and put the stylus in the middle of the screen and then proceed to follow a moving object while moving with it (say walking or dollying) - will you hold focus effectively or is there "hunting" due to motion?

Is my crazy question clear?

Can someone try this? I understand that moving shots are tricky with touch focus but wanted somebody to try this to see if focusing while on the move is possible!

thanks!

June 30th, 2003, 12:51 PM	#16
John Jay Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: US & THEM Posts: 827	have bluetooth will travel... I initially thought bluetooth was a gimmik..., until i heard about the chap who was at the scene of a disaster, took some pix and uploaded to the sony gallery, then phoned some tv stations explaining he was at the scene and would they like to purchase the footage to run as a news item the point being the photo/video journalist application is immense wrt to spot functions..., the main usage i can see here is setting exposure and focus before flying steadicam - saves having to park the rig the alternative is menu diving with one hand (the wrong one) on a camera free floating in space which is not easy __________________ John Jay Beware *PLUGGER-BYTES*

July 4th, 2003, 04:38 PM	#17
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	Re: kenn - how big is the stylus? <<<-- Originally posted by Mark Kubat : can you do fast fast rack focus? get it? -->>> Had the PDX-10 setup yesterday and played a little with this feature. Nothing too serious, but I zoomed in full telephoto on a chain hanging from the ceiling. There was a brick wall about 20' behind the chain. I did not use a stylus, but just touched the chain with my fingertip on the LCD. Then I touched the wall. And the chain again. It worked fine, but did a bit of hunting before locking in on the chain in the foreground. It didn't seem like a very nice effect to me, looked like autofocus in search of a target. Seems like it's really intended to use before you roll tape, not during.

July 7th, 2003, 12:13 AM	#18
Mark Kubat Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 375	thanks to all for all your replies! The PDX10 would still be my choice I think if I get a 2nd cam this year - I might wait though given the news in the What's new in DV forum about the announcement for "HDV" standardization between JVC/Canon/Sony. Boyd, how is the focus ring on the PDX10? Dammit, the stores here don't have models for display yet so I'm dying to get my hands on this thing but asking someone who's actually using it I guess is important too! Thanks for your help!

July 7th, 2003, 05:29 AM	#19
Kenn Jolemore Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: norfolk Va. Posts: 124	Boyd, try putting two objects a few(4-8') feet apart (front to back )and focus between the two pulling from one to the other.I think you went to an extream beyond the capabilities of the camera. KennJ __________________ KennJ

August 13th, 2003, 09:01 PM	#21
Mark Kubat Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 375	New variation - how about mounting a stylus to lcd screen and tracking camera(inside) Hi everyone. Still want to get pdx10 users to try something to help me decide on it as an upgrade. If you mount a stylus to touch against the lcd screen (say using a clip or an elastic band with tension) and put the stylus in the middle of the screen and then proceed to follow a moving object while moving with it (say walking or dollying) - will you hold focus effectively or is there "hunting" due to motion? Is my crazy question clear? Can someone try this? I understand that moving shots are tricky with touch focus but wanted somebody to try this to see if focusing while on the move is possible! thanks!

July 7th, 2003, 02:25 PM	#20
Phil Dale Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: UNITED KINGDOM Posts: 25	If canon sit back and watch, then bring out the best what happened with the XM2 its hardly a major jump in technology from the XM1 and the models lower in their range are quite simply boring poor performers.