focus question

I've been wondering about how to achieve best focus. I've been using the... whatever its called that draws the outline on the LCD, but i misjudge sometimes I guess, and sometimes because im a dick i forget to even check focus (dont judge me)

my video professor says to zoom in on ur subject as much as the camera will go to check focus, but depending on the situation that sometimes doesnt work.

can i just use a measuring tape? if so does the amount of zoom change it or is it just distance from camera? is there a table i can reference?

THANKS!
 
Re: focus question

I know I will take some flack for this but.... I find the auto focus superb and with a bit of practise from the operator it can do a job equal to a focus puller. Use it with discretion, turn it off and on during shot or pre shot, use the infinity focus to create pulls during shot, wipe the focus through with a pan etc...

I advise learning where and how it works before trusting it too much.

Note: it will never bring you a coffee like a focus puller 1st cam assistant will tho'
 
Re: focus question

i believe my viewfinder is focus, but i never use it.

More than anything i was wondering if i could use a measuring tape.
 
Re: focus question

Yes you can use a measuring tape. Somewhere on the web there's a focus chart, originally published by Evin Grant, that references the MF50-MF99 numbers. I went through and verified it, changed a little, added MF37-MF49 for the DVX100A, and also added numbers for the anamorphic adapter. That version is published in the DVX Book, so if you have that, you already have the expanded chart. If you don't, you can still look up Evin's original chart on the web.
 
Re: focus question

thanks barry, i DO have ur book and HAVE seen the chart, but wasnt sure if it worked without the ana adapter.

Does the amount of zoom matter?


Thanks Barry, YOU RULE!
 
Re: focus question

Yes it will work at any amount of zoom. As for anamorphic/not, you'll see two columns, one that says "normal", one that says "anamorphic". Use the "normal" column for when not using any lens adapters.

The chart will not work with the Century .6 wide-angle installed, and I don't know if it works with the .7, the Redeye, or the 1.6, I haven't tested for that...
 
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