Focusing

Great Sticky Barry. Good finds all. That stand looks awesome and quite a nice price, but I guess it won't work with the Dell 2405 as it says up to 20". Anyone used the stand with the Dell?
 
Regarding laser measurers, I updated the document at the top of this thread for more clarity: NEVER use a Class III or higher laser measurer anywhere around any human or animal eyes. You can and will permanently damage their eyesight. If you want to try a laser measurer, only use a Class II device that emits less than 1mW. Even so, keep it away from eyes.
 
Justyn said:
That stand looks awesome and quite a nice price, but I guess it won't work with the Dell 2405 as it says up to 20". Anyone used the stand with the Dell?
Click to expand...


I've been using it for about a month now, with no problem. My imagination is that most 20" LCD TVs (with speakers and all) are larger and heavier than the 2405.
 
Ok so back to focusing, should I get a Marshall, Dell, Sony or Panasonic ?
Maybe put them in position from 1 to 4.

I've had a Dell in my wish list but got remove after Barry and other comments about it. I currently have the Marshall on my list, but would I be better to save more and go higher, or it not necesary. Or get a Marshal for focusing and a Panasonic, Sony or Dell monitor for monitoring ?
 
Marshall vs. Panny Monitor

Marshall vs. Panny Monitor

I learned too late that the focus enhancement tools (EVF-DTL and focus assist) cannot be exported to the component output for use on the Marshall monitor. The image on the Marshall is very close to the same size as the focus-assisted view on the HVX LCD. It's a little easier to focus, but I have not found it to be a big advantage over using the EVF with focus assist + DTL. It's a whole lot more portable than the Panny monitor, but at this point, I think I'd rather have bought the Panny instead, even at twice the price.
 
I agree that the focusing capability is about the same. Where the Marshall wins, vs. the on-board LCD, is that you don't have to use the pop-up window. The Panasonic 8" monitor is higher-res than the Marshall, and features a built-in waveform monitor, but it's 4x the price. The Panasonic 17" is about twice the price of the Marshall, higher res, and bigger, and also has the waveform monitor and split-screen and frame-store capability. With a VESA mount you can put it on a c-stand or light stand for field use, and it has a 4-pin XLR connector for battery power. It's pretty nice.

The other option is the forthcoming DVC Rack from Serious Magic, which gives you better-than-pixel-accurate monitoring -- you can zoom way into the picture on DVC Rack, plus it gives you a waveform & vectorscope and a digital disk recorder and other tools.

The Marshall is inexpensive and pretty good for an on-camera monitor. The Panasonic 17" is great for a general production/field monitor. I'd trust the colors of the Panasonic over the Marshall, the Marshall seems brighter and more optimistic than the actual footage. DVC Rack looks like it'll be my favorite way to go for many things, but of course it requires a firewire tether to the camera, and a decently-powerful laptop to run on.
 
DVC Rack is the name of the DVCPRO-HD-enabled version of DV Rack. It's currently in beta-test, I'm one of the testers and I'm REALLLLY liking this program!
 
Oh ok so its not out yet. Since the DV rack and I assume DVC rack will be PC only do they put DVCPro in a quicktime wrapper since there is no DVCPro codec for the PC?
 
Well now, that's a good question. They wrap DV in quicktime wrappers, and I know quicktime is in the menu list, but when I tried it it didn't work; presumably it's due to it being beta.

If you have EDIUS or Avid XPress Pro HD installed, then quicktime DVCPRO-HD files will play on a PC, so maybe they set the appropriate markers and just trust you to have the right software? Not sure about that one...
 
I guess we will find out soon enough. Is there ever going to be a DVCPROHD codec for the PC?
 
Joelnet, smelni and Nature Shooter

You are correct. My HVX does the same. smelni is correct as well. Here's a tip: use the zebra to assist in focus. Choose what you want in focus, turn on the zebra(either one), set an exposure that shows zebra on your choice. As you roll the focus back and forth through the plane your choice is located in, you will notice the zebra increase in size when the what you have chosen to be in focus gets sharper and decrease when it gets softer. When the zebra is as large as you can get it on your choice it is sharp.

I have been using my Sony 9L3 400 res SD monitor with my HVX.

Remember to rely on your instincts when focusing! Just feeeel it.
 
Last edited:
2405 production monitor by dell?

2405 production monitor by dell?

hello,

in regards to critical focus for film/drama, has anyone used the 2405 dell as the production monitor? we are using a 35mm red rock adapter, this flips the image on the lcd. are there any solutions in different monitors (or field monitors) in re-flipping the image for critical focus?

thanks,

harry miguel
 
well, when I plugged the HVX into my 2405 the picture was sth like an AE effect I couldn`t replicate if I wanted...
 
First I did a "live" picture - the picture had some weird ghosting effect of the black parts of the frame, thats what I ment by AE effect...
Then I went outside recorded sth in 1080p, when played back the picture was so so, real noisy, as expected from the Dell...
I´m looking for the sony17" now, hopefully the picture is better in video playback than the 2405s (anyway it is the only monitor I can afford right now...)
Still I wouldn´t miss the 24" for editing, great monitor!
 
the dell 2405 is very contrasty and noisy - but In my experience it becomes a good reference monitor once you get used to it - its not calibrated in the true sense of the word but you can rely on it to see shots relative to each other - checking if lighting is consistent - temp is consistent. And for focus it works well because, although sharp focus is not as sharp as it could be due to the excess noise - you can see the peak of the focus as you move past it to make sure you are at the best focus point.
 
Hi everyone, first time poster here! On the important subject of focusing, I was curious about following focus options. What is the best option price and performance. I like Chrosziel’s follow focus system with the mattebox but it costs $3,000! Alone the follow focus system is around $1,000! Now I found the Foxi by Bebob. It has the same setup but is a camera remote. I find the advantage is that this wheel should cover the whole range within a 270 degree turn. http://www.bebob.de/international/foxi_eng.html
Which is better, the remote camera control, or the follow focus/ mattebox combo?
Thanks
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top