Anyone have ideas about camera focusing on the Glidecam? at DVinfo.net

Silas Barker · January 12th, 2010, 12:02 AM

When shooting on the Glidecam, my older Sony Z1 did great with its CCDs for auto focusing...at least most of the time. With the Newer Z5 camera, it uses CMOS chips and is a bit slower to focusing. Anyone have any ideas about how to get the best shots?

I ve thought of setting the focus and staying the same distance away, but most of the shooting I do involves changing around alot. When things are well lit its not too bad, but I would like to know what others are doing or ideas.

Thanks in advance!

Chris Harding · January 12th, 2010, 12:46 AM

Hey Silas

I set my cam to full auto and then just shoot but then again I do run around a lot so manual focus would be tricky!!! It's hard enough trying to keep my legs from buckling after 60 minutes in the vest!!!!

Admittedly I do have CCD's and I have noticed that CMOS are slow to focus but surely with wideangle shots the camera will focus quick enough???? If not I would just shoot tons of footage during the photoshoot and you are sure to get a lot of useable clips???

(I just use a Stedicam during the photoshoot doing 360 run-arounds etc etc..it's not used at the ceremony at all!!)

Chris

Silas Barker · January 12th, 2010, 12:50 AM

Thats true....having it as wide as possible isnt bad. Its mainly in low lighting that its even an issue at all. The Z5 works great in low light. And it is very similar to the CCD Z1 camera....just a tad slow in focusing.

I also run around alot. There would be no way to manual focus what I do. I am wondering how things will look in HD tho!? In HD you see everything that not in focus about 10x better LOL

Ken Diewert · January 12th, 2010, 01:03 AM

You guys should try the dslr on the glidecam... full manual focus, ultra shallow dof, and non-articulating viewfinder. Yikes! After using one of those, something as simple as a tilting vf seems like a dream. The only thing you can do in that case is stop down a little, to buy a little dof, and try to maintain distance... oh, and a little prayer doesn't hurt.

Silas Barker · January 12th, 2010, 01:05 AM

What is the Dr Camera? I am not familar with it

Ken Diewert · January 12th, 2010, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silas Barker

What is the Dr Camera? I am not familar with it

DSLR - Canon 5DMK2, 7D, etc...

Buba Kastorski · January 12th, 2010, 09:53 AM

on steadicam I always shoot in autofocus, just don't forget to turn IS (image stabilizer) off

Silas Barker · January 12th, 2010, 01:43 PM

Does the IS make a difference in Focusing or just the blurring from the motion of the image?

Ken Diewert · January 12th, 2010, 06:15 PM

Usually you turn the IS off as it fights the motion of the camera.

Joel Summers · January 14th, 2010, 11:20 AM

I would think you would want to turn it "on" so it would make the entire picture even more fluid and stable... Am I missing something?

D.J. Ammons · January 14th, 2010, 08:41 PM

Ken is correct that image stabilizatoin should be off when using a steadicam / glidecam. It assumes you are trying to hold the camera steady and fights the very movement you are trying to do.

I have Sony V1U's I use with a Glidecam 4000HD and a Flycam 5000 arm and vest. Even though it has CMOS sensors I have been very successful leaving it on automatic focus. Only in the most dim of lighting situations have I seen the autofocus "hunt". I edit around that as I am usually shooting with two cameras.

I don't see how you can manually focus while on the run with a steadicam / glidecam rig. I know some pro's do it but many have a seperate focus puller.

January 12th, 2010, 12:02 AM	#1
Silas Barker Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 577	Anyone have ideas about camera focusing on the Glidecam? When shooting on the Glidecam, my older Sony Z1 did great with its CCDs for auto focusing...at least most of the time. With the Newer Z5 camera, it uses CMOS chips and is a bit slower to focusing. Anyone have any ideas about how to get the best shots? I ve thought of setting the focus and staying the same distance away, but most of the shooting I do involves changing around alot. When things are well lit its not too bad, but I would like to know what others are doing or ideas. Thanks in advance!

January 12th, 2010, 01:03 AM	#4
Ken Diewert Trustee Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vancouver Island, Canada Posts: 1,200	You guys should try the dslr on the glidecam... full manual focus, ultra shallow dof, and non-articulating viewfinder. Yikes! After using one of those, something as simple as a tilting vf seems like a dream. The only thing you can do in that case is stop down a little, to buy a little dof, and try to maintain distance... oh, and a little prayer doesn't hurt. __________________ C100, 5DMk2, FCPX

January 12th, 2010, 09:53 AM	#7
Buba Kastorski Trustee Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,414	on steadicam I always shoot in autofocus, just don't forget to turn IS (image stabilizer) off __________________ I love this place!

January 12th, 2010, 06:15 PM	#9
Ken Diewert Trustee Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vancouver Island, Canada Posts: 1,200	Usually you turn the IS off as it fights the motion of the camera. __________________ C100, 5DMk2, FCPX

January 12th, 2010, 12:46 AM	#2
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Hey Silas I set my cam to full auto and then just shoot but then again I do run around a lot so manual focus would be tricky!!! It's hard enough trying to keep my legs from buckling after 60 minutes in the vest!!!! Admittedly I do have CCD's and I have noticed that CMOS are slow to focus but surely with wideangle shots the camera will focus quick enough???? If not I would just shoot tons of footage during the photoshoot and you are sure to get a lot of useable clips??? (I just use a Stedicam during the photoshoot doing 360 run-arounds etc etc..it's not used at the ceremony at all!!) Chris

January 12th, 2010, 12:50 AM	#3
Silas Barker Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 577	Thats true....having it as wide as possible isnt bad. Its mainly in low lighting that its even an issue at all. The Z5 works great in low light. And it is very similar to the CCD Z1 camera....just a tad slow in focusing. I also run around alot. There would be no way to manual focus what I do. I am wondering how things will look in HD tho!? In HD you see everything that not in focus about 10x better LOL

January 12th, 2010, 01:05 AM	#5
Silas Barker Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 577	What is the Dr Camera? I am not familar with it

January 12th, 2010, 01:43 PM	#8
Silas Barker Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 577	Does the IS make a difference in Focusing or just the blurring from the motion of the image?

January 14th, 2010, 11:20 AM	#10
Joel Summers New Boot Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Aurora, IL Posts: 13	I would think you would want to turn it "on" so it would make the entire picture even more fluid and stable... Am I missing something?

January 14th, 2010, 08:41 PM	#11
D.J. Ammons Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 506	Ken is correct that image stabilizatoin should be off when using a steadicam / glidecam. It assumes you are trying to hold the camera steady and fights the very movement you are trying to do. I have Sony V1U's I use with a Glidecam 4000HD and a Flycam 5000 arm and vest. Even though it has CMOS sensors I have been very successful leaving it on automatic focus. Only in the most dim of lighting situations have I seen the autofocus "hunt". I edit around that as I am usually shooting with two cameras. I don't see how you can manually focus while on the run with a steadicam / glidecam rig. I know some pro's do it but many have a seperate focus puller.