anamorphic guide ....is it really true?

V

Voytek_Stitko

Well-known member
I just got an anamorphic guide (how to shoot with anamorphinc etc). I got it cos I ve been shooting my first feature for a month now and I got scared when I heard that I need a "manual" to be able to get a good quality image using p anasonic anamorphic adapter.

So, I thought - Jesus if it is true that I need manual - maybe all my footage will be out of focus (guide says that autofocus doesnt work when you shoot with anamorphic) - so all those days of shooting was a waste of time.

So, I got the manual and read it. I was scared now. It actually says that if you use autofocus with anamorphic you " guarantee that your footage will be out of focus". So I checked on my 8 inch monitor and my footage was OK. But I went to B&H and got myslef a 16:9 tv (expenive stuff) to check how my footage looks on a bigger screen.
ANd it looks ok. No problems with focus. And I was using autofocus a lot.
So, should I use those charts from maunal and stop using autofocus? I dont know why should I.
Anyone can tell me what is going on? I am quite confused. this monday I have the biggetst shoot and I m going to keep shooting with autofocus .... it is easier to do so when you have few characters moving back and forth etc... and the image IS IN FOCUS.
SO, WHY MANUAL SAYS THE OPPOSITE?

THANKS<
voytek
 
Re: anamorphic guide ....is it really true?

Sounds like you got lucky. Essentially, your source material is telling you there is no guarentee that the autofocus mechanism will not be thrown off by the modified optics of the anamorphic lens.

Experienced camera operators tend to loath the autofocus. I don't know the circumstances of your shoot, but obviously continue to use the autofocus at your own risk.
 
Re: anamorphic guide ....is it really true?

You probably got away by the fact you were shooting on the wide side and the enormous DOF of the DVX just made sure that everything was in focus. If you follow this logic, just focus about 6 feet from you and forget about the autofocus. It will all remain in focus nevertheless
 
Re: anamorphic guide ....is it really true?

You are VERY lucky. In the future, do some testing with the manual focus and the anamorphic and try to use manual focus along with the ana as a rule of thumb. Cheers!
 
Re: anamorphic guide ....is it really true?

[quote author=John Hudson link=board=news;num=1093134760;start=0#2 date=08/22/04 at 12:25:35]Autofocus?  Whats that? [/quote]

It's when someone mentions something interesting and grabs your attention without you really thinking about it.
 
Re: anamorphic guide ....is it really true?

So i just looked at my latest footage and again everything is in focus. I ve been shooting using autofocus when the actors were dancing on the stage for example. I always make sure that when I shoot with autofocus the object is in the centre of the frame and it works.

When I shoot scenes where actors are not moving but there are more then one in the frame and the one I need to be in focus is not in the centre of it - I just look at LCD and find a focus on my object using Manual Focus but I did not use the chart which says that I shuld correct it.... so the focal point will stay in one place. It works too. I just checked on 16:9 monitor, big one.

Jesus, it is great to shoot the movie. I am exhaused and happy.

Voytek
 
Re: anamorphic guide ....is it really true?

I think the prior guess is correct, you were probably on wide-angle and the enormous DOF would cover just about any focus error.

Also, a "sweet spot" for subject framing is around MF80-MF84, and it looks like the anamorphic adapter was designed to be used at that focus distance. The vertical and horizontal planes converge at around 82 or so, so autofocus and manual focus would be the same at that point. Go much further away or closer and you'll find that the numbers differ greatly. Try autofocus on something that's 3 feet away and you'll see that your image is extremely out of focus.
 
Re: anamorphic guide ....is it really true?

So, I guess you are right Barry, I usually stay between 80-88
and if you say that at 82 both horizontal and vertical lines come together ... that;'s why I dont have a problem with focus. I dont even have a monitor on the set. Just LSD.

And it is true I never focus so close as 3 feet in front of me and never go further than 88 cos I found out that the image is out of foucus... So making my first feature I dont cross 88.

So, does it mean that I using anamorphic guide (charts) I can actually use my adapter for close and far away focusing?
If so it is great and as soon as I finish my film I am going to do some tests with the charts I found in the guide..

Voytek
 
Re: anamorphic guide ....is it really true?

Yes, using the guide you can focus at full telephoto and all the way down to about 3' away.
 
Re: anamorphic guide ....is it really true?

Jesus! Really?!
I have no time to check it asap (tomorrow another night of shooting) but on Sunday I am going to make some tests with the charts.

If it is true, oh guys: gooood job with the guide!

Voytek Stitko
 
Re: anamorphic guide ....is it really true?

[quote author=Voytek_Stitko link=board=news;num=1093134760;start=0#8 date=08/26/04 at 13:30:41]I dont even have a monitor on the set. Just LSD. [/quote]
LMMFAO!
 
Re: anamorphic guide ....is it really true?

I'd like to see the 16:9 movie made with a DVX-100 and LSD. I bet it would be an out of body experience.
 
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