zooming for focusing

[ggdelarge]

do video cameras hold its sharp focus when you zoom in to focus, then zoom out for proper framing. It works well with film lenses but wasnt sure if the focus stays for video. i remember back in the day it didnt work as well. any thoughts?

[HorseFilms]

That's the way you should be focusing. If it doesn't work, there's something wrong with your camera.

[Ryan Patrick O'Hara]

Horsefilms is right...But sometimes cameras (HVX) are defective about the zoom focus method. This is how you can tell: ggdelarge, when you power down your HVX and tip it forward and backward.... does it clunk?

hahahaha

[ggdelarge]

Thanks Prodigy. what are you a prodigy of? Jerry seinfeld? are you a firestarter?

[Ryan Patrick O'Hara]

:violent5:

[carlone]

I find that when I zoom in to focus on say someones eyes the F Stop changes and that can sometimes (very slightly) affect how sharp the focus is.

[Barry_Green]

If you're at f/2.8 or smaller (i.e., f/4, f/5.6 etc) then the fstop won't change as you zoom. But if you're at more open than f/2.8 (so, f/2 or f/1.7 etc) then yes as you zoom in tighter and tighter the f-stop will change; the more telephoto the lens is set to, the smaller the maximum iris (f/1.6 on the wide end, f/2.8 on the telephoto end).

[ghammons]

Barry- I am a newbie to using the HVX and have tried the focusing technique described in your book, however I do not get sharp focus after zooming out to frame. I am using DV tape, is this common to DV vs. DVCPRO 50?

[Barry_Green]

It should be working no matter what mode you use.