Manual focusing for outdoor filmers???? at DVinfo.net

David Ellis · April 5th, 2006, 02:23 PM

I'm an avid turkey hunter and I'm also an avid amateur videographer. This season I'm going to film all hunts I go on, but I'm running into a couple of problems. My biggest problem in filming hunts is when there'll be a couple of little shrubs in front of my hunting spot and the camera wants to focus in on them instead of the animal. I've watched many hunting shows and tried to see their techniques, but they never show the preparation before they start filming. What is the easiest way to fine focus the camera in manual mode? I have a Sony DCR-VX2000 and there is a manual function on lens assembly. After I switch to manual mode and fine focus the setting you can you use the in and out focusing button to eliminate my problem? If anyone has a technique they use every time they use manual zoom please provide steps of your technique. I don't know how far I need to be out before I use the fine focus feature before it will be clear from the farthest point to the closest point the zoom button allows. When I use the automatic feature everything is so smooth versus the manual feature and zooming in and out with my hand. I hope I master this sooner or later. Thank you so much and have a blessed day!

Mark Bournes · April 5th, 2006, 02:31 PM

Zoom in to the point of what you want in focus, focus, then zoom back out.
(manual mode of course) then everything at that point in the frame will be in focus. Also depends on depth of field and lighting as to what will be in focus in the picture. If it's bright and sunny then just about everything will be in focus. If it's overcast and there are things close to the lens they may be out of focus if your focus point is set far away.
Hope that helps.
Mark

April 5th, 2006, 02:23 PM	#1
David Ellis Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 35	Manual focusing for outdoor filmers???? I'm an avid turkey hunter and I'm also an avid amateur videographer. This season I'm going to film all hunts I go on, but I'm running into a couple of problems. My biggest problem in filming hunts is when there'll be a couple of little shrubs in front of my hunting spot and the camera wants to focus in on them instead of the animal. I've watched many hunting shows and tried to see their techniques, but they never show the preparation before they start filming. What is the easiest way to fine focus the camera in manual mode? I have a Sony DCR-VX2000 and there is a manual function on lens assembly. After I switch to manual mode and fine focus the setting you can you use the in and out focusing button to eliminate my problem? If anyone has a technique they use every time they use manual zoom please provide steps of your technique. I don't know how far I need to be out before I use the fine focus feature before it will be clear from the farthest point to the closest point the zoom button allows. When I use the automatic feature everything is so smooth versus the manual feature and zooming in and out with my hand. I hope I master this sooner or later. Thank you so much and have a blessed day!

April 5th, 2006, 02:31 PM	#2
Mark Bournes Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Jupiter, FL Posts: 565	Zoom in to the point of what you want in focus, focus, then zoom back out. (manual mode of course) then everything at that point in the frame will be in focus. Also depends on depth of field and lighting as to what will be in focus in the picture. If it's bright and sunny then just about everything will be in focus. If it's overcast and there are things close to the lens they may be out of focus if your focus point is set far away. Hope that helps. Mark