![]() Sometimes, you might want a larger throw, which means, for a smaller turn of the focus knob you want a larger turn of the focus ring on the lens. You can have 1-to-1 gears, which will give you the same ‘throw’ (the degrees that the lens can be rotated) as the focus knob. This is probably the most important part of the entire follow focus system. The gear attaches to the arm, and is rotated by teeth that connects directly to the focus knob. This can lead to failure over long periods of abusive use. If possible, you should also get an arm that pivots, for the same reason.Īdding these movements has one disadvantage though, and that is, the arm has more moving parts. At the very least, you could look for an arm that moves laterally, so you can push the system outside or inside a bit to accommodate the size of the lens. As a rule of thumb, you must aim for the most versatile arm possible, because this will allow you to work with different kinds of lenses and systems. The arm can either be rigidly attached to the rod clamp or can be flexible. To know more about finding the right balance and size of your rig, read Laying Out the Rig. However, you need to know the entire size and weight of your rig to decide which rod system is right for you, and this dictates your choices. ![]() This is the most popular standard nowadays, since cameras have become lighter and smaller. Some systems come with multiple options, but the cheapest ones come only in one standard – 15 mm/60 mm spacing. This means, you will need two rods and a base plate to set up this system correctly. This is the part that attaches to the two rods that form the base of any camera rig. Here are the generic and typical parts of any follow focus system: To do that, you need to know what they are. The only way you can judge the merits and demerits of any particular system is by observing its parts. However, there’s a whole lot more going on. The most visible part of the follow focus system is the white disc and knob that people turn. The question you need to ask yourself is: How much more of a benefit does this contraption provide over the focus ring? The rest of this guide will attempt to help you find the answer to this question. This person is an integral part of the camera department and is usually also the First Assistant Cameraman. The person who is an expert at pulling focus is traditionally called the focus puller. The technique of following the action using a follow focus system is called racking focus or pulling focus. ![]() It’s primary function is to allow focus to follow the action. What is a follow focus system?Ī follow focus system is a set of parts that work together to help you focus more precisely and conveniently for video work. If you are zen master who can pull focus day in and day out on a 50mm f/1.8 plastic lens at f/1.8, respect.įor everyone else, there’s the follow focus system. Newer lenses, especially the smaller semi-plastic variety, have the worst focusing rings seen in history. Older manual still camera lenses also have good focusing rings (there was a time when auto focus didn’t exist and people still got the shot). Traditional high-end lenses made for film cameras and digital cinema cameras have good focusing rings. How many takes can you screw up before you are kicked out? The bigger the production, the greater the cost of each take. In the professional video world, you need a system that is consistent enough to deliver at every turn. You might want to rack focus (move focus from one point to another) at any time for various reasons. However, filmmaking is not always about documentation. So, what’s the point of a cool 50mm f/1.8 lens if you can’t shoot at f/1.8? One way to get around this problem is by using autofocus (AF). On a large display or cinema screen, any focusing mistake can’t be hidden. If you’re shooting video at these f-stops, and your subject leans, turns or moves, you’ll have a hell of a time using the focus rings on these lenses to follow them around. At f/1.4 the DOF range is 0.65 feet (8 inches).At f/1.8, the depth of field (DOF) is about 0.8 feet (10 inches).Assuming an APS-C or Super 35mm sensor focusing at 10 feet The major draw for all these lenses is their aperture. The position of the focus ring on all three lenses are different. ![]() The f/1.4 and the f/1.2L have similar sized focusing rings, while the f/1.8 has a thin flimsy ring also known popularly as ‘a joke’.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |