Focusing on the moon - not MF 99?

[gilgamesh]

I was shooting the moon yesterday and noticed that my focus number was 95, not 99 when focusing on the moon. I am assuming the moon is at infinity focus :) so I was curious why the HVX said 95, not 99 (which I am assuming is infinity). When I moved the focus ring to 99, the moon became out of focus again. Does this mean that the backfocus of my HVX is not correct - and is this a common problem?

[tacotim]

It's not a "problem" it's a "feature". Don't ask me why, but the focus system allows you to focus past infinity. It's that way on the DVX as well. Infinity is 95.

-tim

[Barry_Green]

Tacotim's right. Don't try to use that anyway, use the push-to-infinity button.

[THoff]

It's not unusual for cameras / lenses to allow focus past infinity. I believe it is to allow for thermal expansion. In other words, infinity won't always be at 95 or 99, it will change if you are in a very cold or hot environment.

[mikkowilson]

...And it's much smarter to build the camera to allow for a bit of overshoot. Much rather have too much focusing range than not enough!


- MIkko

[TheMacB]

you could composite an object behind the moon. and make it look like you're racking focus to the moon from something behind it. that sounds cool.

[gilgamesh]

Well, thanks! That clears it up, and I am glad too, because I will be shooting a lot of moon in the coming weeks.