Focussing Tips?

Leonard Levy · July 30th, 2009, 01:33 PM

To help myself on handheld quick focusing I also just run a piece of white camera tape on the lens barrel so i can see it over the flip out screen and I make marks for infinity , 10' 5', 3' etc. Keeps me in the ballpark when I'm wide.

Dean Sensui · July 30th, 2009, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Young

... the EX is a bear to handhold. I've found it extremely difficult to avoid tiny bits of rotary motion...

I always use the EX1 with a shoulder brace. It eliminates the problem of rolling and also greatly reduces pitch and yaw. Makes the camera a lot easier to handle, although you do lose some of the portability.

Stephen Mick · July 30th, 2009, 04:12 PM

Dean,

Which brace are you using with the EX1 and what do you think of it? (Sorry to thread-jack.)

--SM

Dean Sensui · July 30th, 2009, 04:41 PM

Stephen...

I'm using a CAVision shoulder mount. But it's heavily modified. Made the camera "platform" using Plexiglas and a small amount of epoxy. Replaced the hollow carbon fiber rods with solid rods. And added a Plexiglas wireless receiver mount to the back.

Regarding focusing, I'm 100% manual. I shoot strictly with the eyepiece, rely on the image expansion feature a lot but I don't use peaking at all. I also make use of the DOF info provided by the "lens info" bar.

Stephen Mick · July 30th, 2009, 04:51 PM

Dean,

It's interesting how two people can be completely different in how they focus. I hardly ever use the eyepiece, preferring the LCD screen with the SockLoupe. I also use the peaking feature (blue color) religiously. But I think you and I are on the same page using Expanded Focus to lock in solid focus.

There are so many tools to help with manual focus, I don't ever see myself using any of the AF modes.

--SM

Dean Sensui · July 30th, 2009, 05:11 PM

Stephen...

Using a hooded magnifier with the LCD screen is probably better than using the eyepiece. It's probably very similar to the setup Sony created for the shoulder-mounted HDCams.

I'll probably end up doing something similar. The only drawbacks are the LCD on the EX1 can't be shifted outward to accommodate eye position, and it would make it harder to access the volume adjustment knobs.

Brian Luce · July 30th, 2009, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denny Kyser

I was thinking this was true with video too. I know at 16 mm 2.8 has a lot of dof, and at 300mm 2.8 eyes can be in focus and ears out.

There was a big discussion here about how and why this isn't true. Telephoto doesn't affect DOF. I can't find the link, anyone?

Denny Kyser · July 30th, 2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Luce

There was a big discussion here about how and why this isn't true. Telephoto doesn't affect DOF. I can't find the link, anyone?

You must be talking about video, because I know for a fact Telephoto does affect DOF in photography, I use this technique several times every day.

David C. Williams · July 30th, 2009, 09:39 PM

Two things affect dof, iris and focal length. Wider iris, less dof, longer lens, less dof. But, if you set a frame on a subject, then move the camera further away and zoom in to the same subject frame, the dof at the subject remains the same. What you've actually done is reduce the field of view, which has the effect of looking like the dof is reduce, but it's the same.

Brian Luce · July 31st, 2009, 07:33 AM

DOF is defined as the "Area in focus". Zooming doesn't change the area in focus, it just further softens what's already out of focus. DOF measure AREA, not DEGREE of softness. It's a state of range, not intensity. So it's not really as you guys are saying.

Denny Kyser · July 31st, 2009, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Luce

DOF is defined as the "Area in focus". Zooming doesn't change the area in focus, it just further softens what's already out of focus. DOF measure AREA, not DEGREE of softness. It's a state of range, not intensity. So it's not really as you guys are saying.

I stand corrected, you are right, I guess I was referring to bokeh.

Dano Motley · July 31st, 2009, 11:45 AM

anybody know how to speed up the auto white balance?

thanks,

dano

Bob Hayes · August 14th, 2009, 12:21 PM

I really like the lens info depth of field monitor. It displays what is in focus with a white bar. When you are on a long lens the focus bar may cover 8’ to 9’. Zoom out and it shows 4’ to 20’. It is an easy quick way to see where you focus is. A lot of it’s effectiveness is based on your skill in judging distance.

Denny Kyser · August 14th, 2009, 12:27 PM

I got to try out the Ex1 at a wedding 2 weeks ago, used it as a second camera to the A1 since it was new. I have to say focusing was no issue as long as I had a few seconds to zoom, focus and then compose. Only a couple times was I relying on the steady footage from the A1 to cover the focusing process.

I am using almost all EX1 footage, it is just that darn good. Amazing how nice the picture quality is.

July 30th, 2009, 04:12 PM	#18
Stephen Mick Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 167	Shoulder Brace Dean, Which brace are you using with the EX1 and what do you think of it? (Sorry to thread-jack.) --SM

July 30th, 2009, 04:41 PM	#19
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	Stephen... I'm using a CAVision shoulder mount. But it's heavily modified. Made the camera "platform" using Plexiglas and a small amount of epoxy. Replaced the hollow carbon fiber rods with solid rods. And added a Plexiglas wireless receiver mount to the back. Regarding focusing, I'm 100% manual. I shoot strictly with the eyepiece, rely on the image expansion feature a lot but I don't use peaking at all. I also make use of the DOF info provided by the "lens info" bar. __________________ Dean Sensui Exec Producer, Hawaii Goes Fishing

July 30th, 2009, 04:51 PM	#20
Stephen Mick Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 167	EX1 Focusing Dean, It's interesting how two people can be completely different in how they focus. I hardly ever use the eyepiece, preferring the LCD screen with the SockLoupe. I also use the peaking feature (blue color) religiously. But I think you and I are on the same page using Expanded Focus to lock in solid focus. There are so many tools to help with manual focus, I don't ever see myself using any of the AF modes. --SM

July 30th, 2009, 05:11 PM	#21
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	Stephen... Using a hooded magnifier with the LCD screen is probably better than using the eyepiece. It's probably very similar to the setup Sony created for the shoulder-mounted HDCams. I'll probably end up doing something similar. The only drawbacks are the LCD on the EX1 can't be shifted outward to accommodate eye position, and it would make it harder to access the volume adjustment knobs. __________________ Dean Sensui Exec Producer, Hawaii Goes Fishing

July 30th, 2009, 09:39 PM	#24
David C. Williams Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: melb.vic.au Posts: 447	Two things affect dof, iris and focal length. Wider iris, less dof, longer lens, less dof. But, if you set a frame on a subject, then move the camera further away and zoom in to the same subject frame, the dof at the subject remains the same. What you've actually done is reduce the field of view, which has the effect of looking like the dof is reduce, but it's the same. __________________ www.davidwilliams.com.au

July 30th, 2009, 01:33 PM	#16
Leonard Levy Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: USA Posts: 1,684	To help myself on handheld quick focusing I also just run a piece of white camera tape on the lens barrel so i can see it over the flip out screen and I make marks for infinity , 10' 5', 3' etc. Keeps me in the ballpark when I'm wide.

July 31st, 2009, 07:33 AM	#25
Brian Luce Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,290	DOF is defined as the "Area in focus". Zooming doesn't change the area in focus, it just further softens what's already out of focus. DOF measure AREA, not DEGREE of softness. It's a state of range, not intensity. So it's not really as you guys are saying.

July 31st, 2009, 11:45 AM	#27
Dano Motley Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Montclair New Jersey Posts: 101	anybody know how to speed up the auto white balance? thanks, dano

August 14th, 2009, 12:21 PM	#28
Bob Hayes New Boot Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 23	I really like the lens info depth of field monitor. It displays what is in focus with a white bar. When you are on a long lens the focus bar may cover 8’ to 9’. Zoom out and it shows 4’ to 20’. It is an easy quick way to see where you focus is. A lot of it’s effectiveness is based on your skill in judging distance.

August 14th, 2009, 12:27 PM	#29
Denny Kyser Major Player Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Warren, Pa Posts: 785	I got to try out the Ex1 at a wedding 2 weeks ago, used it as a second camera to the A1 since it was new. I have to say focusing was no issue as long as I had a few seconds to zoom, focus and then compose. Only a couple times was I relying on the steady footage from the A1 to cover the focusing process. I am using almost all EX1 footage, it is just that darn good. Amazing how nice the picture quality is. __________________ 2 Canon XF305's Kyser Photography www.kyserphoto.com