Focus Problems on the AF100

So basically the EFF detail will screw you. Got it. I've had that on. I'm turning that off from here on out. As for what kind of lenses I used on that short, it was Zeiss Standard speed primes, 16,24,32,50,85mm. We used the 12,24 and 50 almost for the whole shoot.

Here are my settings I almost always use:

1080/24P
Detail Level -4
V Detail Level -4
Detail Coring +2
Chroma Level -3
Chroma Phase 0
Color Temp Ach 0
Master Ped -2
DRS off
Gamma Cine-like
Matrix Cine Like
Skin Tone DTL Off

Any suggestions?


Raising your detail levels will help, I would go to -2 or -1.

I think the keeping the EVF detail off is the most important thing, clearly many of us have been burned with this (I feel your pain). For what it's worth, this issue is the achilles' heel of this camera, IMHO. It's just plain stupid to make a large sensor camera, advertise it as a shallow DOF machine, and the put such a crappy EVF on it. In my dream world Panasonic would come out with an upgrade for the EVF that could be retrofit by the factory.
 
Raising your detail levels will help, I would go to -2 or -1.

I think the keeping the EVF detail off is the most important thing, clearly many of us have been burned with this (I feel your pain). For what it's worth, this issue is the achilles' heel of this camera, IMHO. It's just plain stupid to make a large sensor camera, advertise it as a shallow DOF machine, and the put such a crappy EVF on it. In my dream world Panasonic would come out with an upgrade for the EVF that could be retrofit by the factory.
Just having a magnification while focusing assist like the GH2 has would be very helpful. I wish firmware updates would be able to do that but I don't think so.
 
Raising your detail levels will help, I would go to -2 or -1.

I think the keeping the EVF detail off is the most important thing, clearly many of us have been burned with this (I feel your pain). For what it's worth, this issue is the achilles' heel of this camera, IMHO. It's just plain stupid to make a large sensor camera, advertise it as a shallow DOF machine, and the put such a crappy EVF on it. In my dream world Panasonic would come out with an upgrade for the EVF that could be retrofit by the factory.

It is a challenge to get great focus with the big sensor camera, but you can. I don't use the LCD for focus at all. I mostly use the LCD for the WFM. For controlled lighting situations I have the TV Logic VFM-056WP with 1:1 and FA mounted on camera. I'd be lost without it. I had a good AC on our last and we had pretty good focus, making sure to set good marks when we follow focus. We had a handful of poor takes but nothing unexpected.

I find the EVF adequate and extremely useful. For that same shoot, I had to do a few pickup shots outside in the sun where the monitor was too hard to see so I used the EVF in B&W with FA and everything was sharp. If you're not going with a good monitor, that EVF in B&W with FA works pretty well. It does for me, anyway
 
That requires your adapter and lenses to be properly collimated though. Only workable with actual cine lenses, Nikons and Canons (or other still lenses) are nowhere near calibrated with their focus scale accurately for that to work. And even if they are, that doesn't mean that the lens mount is perfectly collimated for that type of lens.

For cine work with cine lenses on a top-grade PL adapter like the Vocas or Hot Rod, it's a totally viable workflow. For stills lenses, or using a cheap adapter like the Ciecio7, it just won't work.

Barry,

I have the Hot Rod adaptor. Where in LA could I get my lens set, camera and mound collimated? Approx. how much would this cost?
 
Have you done a test in the studio with a focus chart and an HD monitor yet?

No point collimating unless you cant get infinity focus or you are using the datam lines on the lens for focussing to a measured distance. (sensor to subject)
 
Have you done a test in the studio with a focus chart and an HD monitor yet?

No point collimating unless you cant get infinity focus or you are using the datam lines on the lens for focussing to a measured distance. (sensor to subject)

I haven't tried this. Is there a good guide out there? I'm not sure how to do it correctly. Where's the best place to get a focus chart?
 
I haven't tried this. Is there a good guide out there? I'm not sure how to do it correctly. Where's the best place to get a focus chart?

Focus charts are available (ggogle) but you can always make one your self out of contrasty high detail flat prints. Magazine pages, etc...

An AC of mine used to place bank notes ($$$) placed on the corners and centres of properly (flat) lit board.
 
+1 for the B&W viewfinder with Red focus assist on User 1... I have a 10" Lilliput Mon for FRAMING while using jib, but the viewfinder FA works great... just remember to turn detail off.
 
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