Ground Glass Focus vs Actual Focus?

[MitchLewis]

So if I don't have my focus on the ground glass set PERFECTLY, will it cause all my footage to be slightly out of focus? I'm VERY careful to focus with the 35mm lens, but my footage still looks a bit soft. I recently too the adaptor off and re-installed it and this time the camera lens focus was in a slightly different spot. I'm hoping that on my next shoot I'll notice that my footage will look slightly sharper. True?

 

[Shooter]

I am not sure why you are even asking this but it makes obvious sense to have both your camera focused on the GG and the back focus of your lens correctly set to the GG for the best result.

Most important is to have the camera focussed but if you are relying on measured focus distances and lens markings, do the back focus precisely as well (and test).

Use a decent external monitor.

 

[MitchLewis]

Let me explain a little better....

I decided to not use the Letus Ultimate adaptor on our EX3 for an upcoming shoot, so I took it off for the first time last night. But when I went to put the EX3 in the Zacuto Storm case, it wouldn't fit with even the stock Sony matte box (no way in hell would it fit with our Red Rock Matte box).

So I decided to do the shoot with the adaptor and put everything back together. But this time, when I went to focus on the ground glass, my focus ring wasn't in the same place as before. Slightly off. So now I'm wondering if it's been slightly off this whole time.

That's why I asked the question....if it's slightly off, will it make all footage look slightly soft?

I guess I'll find out Thuesday, next time I shoot with the rig.