More DOF Questions

[meddesigner]

I recently purchased a music video of an unplugged performance of “The Corrs” that was shot in Europe. The video is 16x9 and clearly has a shallow DOF. It also clearly uses a rack focus as 1 close object will be in focus and the camera operator will make a small change and another close object, yet further away will come into focus and the original object will go out.

So if all that made sense the question is can this be done with Digital Beta or a Varicam system or is this type of effect strictly the realm of film.

I guess the overall question is am I out of luck with regards to a shallow DOF with the DVX – especially in tight quarters? Any lens or filter attachments that could help?

I am shooting a talking head instructional video. Any recommendations would be great.

Thanks for answering what is hopefully not too stupid a question.

Rich in Nashville

[LloydC]

you can always purchase/rent a Mini35 or make one.. the homemade ones look really good if properly made... however, it's still mostly under development, but there are model plans on the net that tells you how to build one.. relatively simple, just basically try and alter type of thing during building

if you have enough room, just zoom in

[Barry_Green]

You should probably read the DOF Tutorial on this site, as it explains the issues involved.

[Stas_Tagios]

Achieving shallow DOF is not impossible with the DVX, though using the stock lens, it's harder to minimize DOF than on 35mm.

Shooting with the Varicam or Cinealta and HD cine-style lenses will give you shallower DOF than the DVX, since those cameras have 2/3" chips. Still not quite equivalent to 35mm, but closer to it than the DVX.

There's also the mini-35 adapter, which allows you to use 35mm lenses on the DVX.

In tight quarters, you could move your subject as far from the b.g. as possible, then shoot at the longer end of your zoom.

Also, if the subject is close to the lens and you can zoom in to your subject, this will help defocus the background, especially if the subject's close enough that you go into macro mode to focus on them.

An achromatic diopter, usually used for close-up/macrophotography (to use your zoom for small objects near the camera), which allows the camera to focus at close range even when at its longest focus length, can help greatly defocus the b.g., though it does distort the image on the wide end, and probably won't be something you'd want to use for talking heads.

I believe the Panasonic anamorphic attachment cuts down somewhat on the DOF.

Finally, there's always the imperfect, but certainly usable post-production method of blurring out the b.g. with a gaussian blur filter, though to do this so it looks good would likely require masking/rotoscoping the b.g. around any movement your subject makes. Not the best solution, but it can work.

[meddesigner]

Thanks for all the input. I will read the DOF tutorial at once. I am also looking forward to Barry's DVD and book.

Does anyone know the links where I can explore the building of a Mini35? I have starting looking myself but have not turned on up just yet.

Thanks for all the help. It is refreshing to see a site like this that helps newbie's like me and does not take shots at them. Very appreciated!

Rich in Nashville