Focusing favorite settings

StrobelPhotography

StrobelPhotography

Well-known member
I'm using a 501 smallhd monitor and I'm new to having all these really cool features so I thought I would take a general poll of sorts to see what your favorite focus assist setting are. The second reason for doing this is because in using focus assist and peaking I actually missed focus on my subjects eyes the other day. I guess I'm just to used to my zacuto pro that would just snap on to the back of the camera. It was difficult to learn but I'm kinda missing it. Any tips or what have you's are very welcome. Thx
 
Ok, so maybe this thread is the lamest thread in the history of threads but regardless here's what I've discovered. This is a guy who's coming from dslr world using a clip on zacuto only, on the back of canon cameras.

Now I'm using blackmagic cameras with a 501.

focus assist for faces and eyes doesn't work as well as focus peaking. What I'm currently doing is using focus peaking with a white color/monochromatic monitor setting to get close. Then I use the scaling from the joystick. There without focus assist I can truly see the quality of the skin and obtain a proper focus.

Now, if no one responds I will let this thread die. I just had to see if anyone went through anything similar or has tips for talking heads.

One thing that drives me crazy right now is that every time I want to get focus on the eyes I have to recompose since the zoom on the 501 isn't movable. Otherwise, I'm a lot more consistant and confident with the results.
 
Ha! Not the lamest thread ever. But that would be a great title for a new thread with links to some really lame ones here. kidding :)
I don't own the Small 501... so take this with a grain of salt.... but I use focus peaking in my FS7 viewfinder as well as on my PIX E5 recorder. (both have zooms that are movable) And I prefer the non-color peaking options that both of these can be set at. I've tried different color peaking - but often find it does lead to missing focus rather than helping. With the right setting of your preference - I find that non-color peaking can almost look like your focus point has a slight outline around it (or edge sharpening perhaps?). If I'm shooting at faster than 2.0 - I often like to toggle peaking on/off just to see it both ways.
Hope that helps.
 
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