Does such a lens exist?

[Sfernald]

A zoom lens with a rocker eng style like the Fujinon Cabrio that lets you use the rocker to control focus and then set the max and min of the focus. So you can pre set up your shot so that you can focus between subjects without worrying about missing focus. Also, a setting to control the speed of the focus would be great.

 

[morgan_moore]

No such lens exists.

Large format/thin focus used to be the exclusive preserve of cinema crews with focus pullers or a few indy nuts using stills lenses

The S35 format is now in wide use outside of the big film sets.

It seems to me that the manufactuers have really given little thought to the concept of focus - which is strange as is is probably one of the most critical parts of forming an image..

S

 

[Barry_Green]

The capability of focus preset does exist, but I don't know of any lenses that have it that are available separately. There were some Sony models that had the ability to pre-program two focus points, and then transition automatically between them. I think the FX1 or Z1 had that feature; I don't know if their current models have it.

 

[Egg Born Son]

Follow focus with A/B hardstops. Set a stop for the beginning and end of the move, takes seconds and then you have repeatable focus as long as your subject hits their marks. I believe some of the motorised FF units are programmable. Never used one and suspect it would be more fiddly than the simplicity of the mechanical unit.

 

[simonpwood]

The stock lens of the XLH1 did (and still does) this - set two different presets and then the electric motor will rock between the two when you want it to. It can also pull the same trick with the zoom.

 

[optitek]

You can set custom in/out points on our Optitron. 3 presses of one button. Simple.
You ofcourse need to turn the focus knob to get from the in point to the out point but that should not be too hard...