DVX Focus Chart and Tips

Re: DVX Focus Chart and Tips

The same chart works for the 100A, from 50 on up. I went through and made a new chart for the numbers from 37 to 49 for the anamorphic adapter user's guide, the chart in there includes the full 37 to 99 chart for both anamorphic and non-anamorphic applications.
 
Re: DVX Focus Chart and Tips

Thank you Barry. Could you possibly post the link for the 37-99 charts?

BTW, a little side note/tip :), if you go into macro mode with the small subject right up to the lens - focus at MACRO 00, and you zoom from 00 to 50 or vice versa, you get a small, easily executed 'Stretch'.
 
Re: DVX Focus Chart and Tips

[quote author=Barry_Green link=board=Events;num=1089734903;start=0#4 date=07/16/04 at 18:30:00]The same chart works for the 100A, from 50 on up.  I went through and made a new chart for the numbers from 37 to 49 for the anamorphic adapter user's guide, the chart in there includes the full 37 to 99 chart for both anamorphic and non-anamorphic applications.[/quote]

I for one, wouldn't mind seeing your revised chart...
 
Re: DVX Focus Chart and Tips

I got differing results from the chart. Either my lens is off (new DVX100 camera, never dropped), or the chart does not apply to all circumstances.

Perhaps use of the internal ND filters throws the number off in the same way that a "behind-the lens" gel would in a Bolex or SR.

haven't had time to test.

-J

BTW, the flicker factory has lots of good stuff...
 
Re: DVX Focus Chart and Tips

The problem with the chart is that each focus # on the DVX has a significant amount of "wiggle room"... i.e., the difference between 89 and 90 is about 13 feet! There's enough movement on the ring between those numbers that they could probably have spelled out 89.1, 89.2, 89.3, etc.

In any case, here's the updated numbers for the 100A:

1' 11.5" 37
2' 0.75" 38
2' 1.5" 39
2' 2.25" 40
2' 3.25" 41
2' 5.25" 42
2' 6.75" 43
2' 8.25" 44
2' 10.25" 45
3' 46
3' 2.25" 47
3' 4" 48
3' 6.75 49
 
Re: DVX Focus Chart and Tips

Why doesn't Panasonic just give us the option of displaying the focus distance and the focal length instead of stupid 0-99 scales?

I wonder if this is something that will be possible on the XL2 since it's programmable? Anyone think so?
 
Re: DVX Focus Chart and Tips

The sad thing is that you know the camera *knows* this information, they just chose not to display it. Panasonic must think that we "amatuers" would prefer something more simplistic.
 
Re: DVX Focus Chart and Tips

Or, perhaps you could give them the benefit of the doubt and realize they made the right decision?

The focus numbers CHANGE DEPENDING ON WHAT LENS YOU USE WITH IT. With the stock lens, infinity is at 95. With the Century .6x, you get infinity focus down around 24. With the anamorphic attached, infinity is about 93.

On close-focus, 50 corresponds to about 3' 10". But with the anamorphic attached you have to set it to 57 to get focus at 3' 10".

How about with the Century Fisheye? How about with the Century Ultra Fisheye? The Century Telephoto? With achromatic diopters installed? Every one of them changes the focal distance.

It would have been nice if Panasonic had included the OPTION to display distances as well as numbers, but if I could only have one, the numbers were the right way to go.
 
Re: DVX Focus Chart and Tips

The focus numbers CHANGE DEPENDING ON WHAT LENS YOU USE WITH IT. With the stock lens, infinity is at 95. With the Century .6x, you get infinity focus down around 24. With the anamorphic attached, infinity is about 93.
Click to expand...
Ok, so you could switch it back to 00-99 when using an adaptor. I can use teleconverters and wide adaptors with my SLR, but the EXIF data still tells me what focal length and focus distance I used to shoot the picture.

It would have been nice if Panasonic had included the OPTION to display distances as well as numbers, but if I could only have one, the numbers were the right way to go.
Click to expand...
Yup, and if they wanted to be REALLY nice, they could have yet another option for displaying the focal length with a 0.6X or 2X (or anamorphic) factor. The focus distance wouldn't be affected, so they could give you that instead of the 00-99 scale.
 
Re: DVX Focus Chart and Tips

I'd certainly prefer both, switchable, yes. That would have been best. But I've seen people say that the numbers are stupid, and I disagree -- they're very handy, and frankly when doing a focus pull, I'd rather memorize that I'm going from 58 to 77 rather than "okay, mark 1 is at 15 feet 3.25 inches, and mark two is at 26 feet 7 and a half inches" etc.

The numbers are good. Numbers + distance scale would have been much better.
 
Re: DVX Focus Chart and Tips

Ok, I can see where the numbers would be useful... especially when telling someone else what to do. If I had to choose one or the other, you know what I'd choose.
 
Re: DVX Focus Chart and Tips

[quote author=Barry_Green link=board=Events;num=1089734903;start=0#14 date=07/19/04 at 16:26:36]But I've seen people say that the numbers are stupid, and I disagree -- they're very handy, and frankly when doing a focus pull, I'd rather memorize that I'm going from 58 to 77 rather than "okay, mark 1 is at 15 feet 3.25 inches, and mark two is at 26 feet 7 and a half inches" etc.[/quote]

I agree... I find this very handy. We even jot thh zoom and focus numbers down on logging sheets occasionally in case we want to re-create that shot...
 
Re: DVX Focus Chart and Tips

Is a focus pull pretty much the same as a rack focus, and how do I utilize the macro ?
 
Re: DVX Focus Chart and Tips

Pulling focus, and rack focus, are terms used fairly interchangeably.

Macro is just any focus number under 50 (on the DVX Classic) or 37 (on the DVX100A). You have to zoom out some to be able to access numbers lower than 50 or 37.
 
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