WaveRiderXIX
Well-known member
I'm follow-focus dumb. I've looked on the web but can't find any info about what it actually does(At least I haven't found a site that doesn't just explain it in plain English).
Follow Focus For Half The Price?
- Thread starter D XMAN
- Start date
Follow focus is something new to video. As digital cinematography is used in place of conventional film, you'll see more of the techniques tradionally associated with film production carried over to electronic acquisition - take for instance the assistant camera operator.
Video cameras, from pedestal-mounted studio LDKs to shouldered Ikegamis, have always been operated by one person, who zoomed with their right hand and focused with the left. Now, with less handheld work, and a higher demand for flawless images, the zoom-in, focus-up, zoom-out technique of ENG/EFP newsmen has been replaced with an assistant operated focus control.
Effectively, staged shots are measured with a measuring tape, and the lens focused accordingly using the follow focus mechanism. A large knurled knob with an erasable white disk around it is located on the focus side of the camera - the white disk being scribed with a tick mark for each position within a given scene. The assistant "follows focus" as the camera operator pans and tilts throughout a given scene.
Wireless options abound in addition to the flexible extension shafts used to isolate the assistant from the already busy area directly around the camera itself.
Clear as mud?
e
Video cameras, from pedestal-mounted studio LDKs to shouldered Ikegamis, have always been operated by one person, who zoomed with their right hand and focused with the left. Now, with less handheld work, and a higher demand for flawless images, the zoom-in, focus-up, zoom-out technique of ENG/EFP newsmen has been replaced with an assistant operated focus control.
Effectively, staged shots are measured with a measuring tape, and the lens focused accordingly using the follow focus mechanism. A large knurled knob with an erasable white disk around it is located on the focus side of the camera - the white disk being scribed with a tick mark for each position within a given scene. The assistant "follows focus" as the camera operator pans and tilts throughout a given scene.
Wireless options abound in addition to the flexible extension shafts used to isolate the assistant from the already busy area directly around the camera itself.
Clear as mud?
e
WaveRiderXIX
Well-known member
i seeeee................
clear as mud now.
Thanks!
clear as mud now.
Thanks!
pookie_old
Veteran
overlandfilms said:
New to video?....it's not even new to film.
Flintstone
Well-known member
I'd be interrested too!
Taylor Moore
Veteran
Me too
Gundorf Dunderklumpen
Well-known member
make it happen...........
j
Veteran
OK,
A follow focus is just thing which clamps on to the side of a camera and connects the focus ring on the lens with a focus knob off the side via some gears. (or wireless to a remote control for jib or steadicam)
The point is to have a knob on the side where a camera assistant can stand beside the camera, mark some preset point, or just guess and adjust camera focus as the camera and/or subject moves.
Somebody has to do it, and it's best to have a single person focused (pun inteded) on this task, while the operator worries about framing and movement.
As to why they are so damned expensive...?
-J
A follow focus is just thing which clamps on to the side of a camera and connects the focus ring on the lens with a focus knob off the side via some gears. (or wireless to a remote control for jib or steadicam)
The point is to have a knob on the side where a camera assistant can stand beside the camera, mark some preset point, or just guess and adjust camera focus as the camera and/or subject moves.
Somebody has to do it, and it's best to have a single person focused (pun inteded) on this task, while the operator worries about framing and movement.
As to why they are so damned expensive...?
-J
Redrock is allegedly developing one now, in addition to the vapor35 and the vaporMattebox. Just kidding!! I'm sure he is hard at work on all 3 of the fine products and will release them at reasonable costs so we all can have great DOF, Focus, and Glass Filters for a nice price!! ~reservoir~