Getting Infinite Focus???

Fliques Osman

Fliques Osman

Well-known member
Hey guys,

This might be a dumb question but to get infinite focus (deep focus) on the DVX do you you set Zoom to "Z00" and push down on the focus button?

Or is there another way to get infinite focus?

Thanks in advance,
 
By zooming out all the way, you'll get the deepest focus possible. Simple as that.

Pushing the focus button, or focusing manually... either way, you're good.
 
Are you confusing infinite focus with infinity focus?

Infinity focus is where the focus is it's furthest away, like focusing on distant landscape. There is an infinity switch on the DVX.

If you are looking for deep focus, well, the DVX with a 1/3" chip already has fairly deep focus. If you want it deeper, there are two things I could suggest. First, shoot with enough lighting so you can expose to around F8. The smaller your iris (F8 is smaller aperture than F2, mind you), the deeper the depth of field. Second, as already recommended, zoom out. Zooming out doesn't actually deepen the focus, but it gives an apparant deeper focus to most shots.

A really crazy way might be turn up the DETAIL settings, so the camera is sharpening everything into focus, but that can't look good. :)
 
Yes, I was confusing infinity focus with infinite focus :).

My main concern is to get the scene to have as much deep focus as possible. The reason I need deep focus is because I am a one man production and therefore I will not be able to obtain focus in each shot. I tried shooting in autofocus 24p and it was just to slow.

Thanks
 
http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

Consult a DOF calculator like the one above. Use the hyperfocal distance when you can. It doesnt have a setting for 1/3" sensors, but a CoC of 1/2000 is probably good enough if you arent going theatrical with it. I believe Barry Green estimated the CoC to be .00025 for theater sized screens (based on 1/2 of 16mm CoC), although you could get away with a large CoC if just going to a large TV at the most.
 
Thanks Anderson, The DofMaster is a nice tool. Unfortunately I will not have access to a laptop on the field.

Is there another way to get razor sharp focus?

Thanks guys, really appreciate it.
 
Hmmm. Yeah thats a problem. I'm sure you saw they have apps for the palm and iphone/itouch too. You could print out the tables they have here for some common lens lengths to get close with. Having a good sharp monitor on set of course helps too. If it looks in focus on a monitor you trust, then it is in focus. The tables have the hyperfocal distances listed as well, but they may not be all that helpful depending on what your compisition looks like. ie you may only be able to use them on your masters.
 
Luis Caffesse said:
I guess I'm confused - why can't you just manually focus?
Click to expand...

I'm the director/cameraman/one of the main actors :(. Unfortunately I won't be able to properly focus when I'm on screen, therefore I was thinking that if I was able to archive deep focus, I wouldn't have to worry about any focusing issues.

Thanks,
 
You don't have anyone manning the camera while you're in the shot?

This could get ugly, folks!

Sorry... I digress...
 
I do alot of self videoing.............the best way I have found is to simply set the focus manually on an object in the field of view where I will be and keep it there throughout the shot. Since you have no one manning the camera you won't be moving too much anyway, right?
 
manymoosh said:
I'm the director/cameraman/one of the main actors :(. Unfortunately I won't be able to properly focus when I'm on screen, therefore I was thinking that if I was able to archive deep focus, I wouldn't have to worry about any focusing issues.

Thanks,
Click to expand...

Ahhhh "one of the main actors" definitely makes a difference.

Well, in that case, I would highly recommend finding someone to help out.
 
Totally agree with Luis. Find someone to operate the camera.

If you were just one of the minor actors, it might be a different story. But if you're one of the MAIN actors, then that means NO camera movement at ALL in any scene in which you appear. That's going to get static and boring reeeeal fast.

Is there some overpowering reason why you can't find someone to run camera?
 
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