Solving the focus problem once and for all.

J

jacotte

Carbonite Member
One thing I have always wanted is a follow focus which follows automatically a person wearing a electronic decoy. This would allow the camera to follow the person anywhere, dolly in any way, and never be out of focus. Does that gizmo exist?
 
What they have is laser range finder focus systems that are synced with the camera for when the shutter closed so that the camera doesn't see the red dot. And has a readout that shows distance and can be motorized. They used a system like this on that ""Without Limits" " movie about the long distance runner. They had some incredible shots with long lens on a runner, which is very difficult.

With the wireless system your talking about would might have too much of a delay between reading distance and moving the lens?
 
I tell you the entire focus pulling technique with tape on the floor and follow focus gear seems really old fashioned to me. In this day and age each actor should wear a decoy and the cameraman should just push a button to select the person that needs to be in focus. This would allow the most incredible camera moves without hassle, and the actor would be free top move about without having to worry about his marks.
 
RED's Scarlet and Epic cameras are planning to use touch screen follow focus with facial tracking. It'll be interesting to see how that works.
 
Richard J. Johnson said:
Give Teddy a week and he will build it.:shocked: And I will ask for demo unit.:shocked:
Click to expand...

LOL!!

But really! seems like a cool idea, the sensor can be worn like like a lapel thingy, or where you want to focus on, then a laser pointer thingy using same tech as those laser / digital measuring tape! that device gives you distance readouts, now what if the sensor worn by the talent will make the emitter always directs the beam at it?

The readouts then translate to the motor drive to turn the FF gears...

The laser might be made at a frequency that cant be picked up at a ceratin shutter speed...

:thumbsup:
 
I had some thought about this idea a few years ago, although there is one part of the design that needs to be overcome.

The focus plane is an infinite plane that runs parallel to the chip/sensor/film plane, if we were to measure the distance from a fixed point to the subject when in the middle of the frame, and then measure the distance again when the subject is to the left of the frame, the distance will be greater even though the subject is still on the same focus plane. No doubt we would need 2 sensors spread apart parallel to the focus plane.
 
Maybe use GPS technology?

I know there are probably plenty of holes in that idea.

Just a thought. Jeff
 
When is Ted from Red going to announce the 3D automatic focus GPS camera in 10K? I'm waiting. Any announcements yet?

I will tell you one thing, if this focus tracking device existed people would never go back to focus pulling again. Ideally it should be a double purpose device; remote microphone and focus decoy. One camera operator could follow any actor without having to bother about focus or sound. It would be a low budget dream come true.
 
Barry, I'm not trolling anybody. A 4 year old knows I'm joking and the post was not about Ted but about the focus unit. Beyond that, even if I had discussed Ted and his announcements then that's my right to express MY opinion. My opinion is just my opinion. It is my opinion RED over-announces everything. Most of the people in the industry would agree with me. If you are just looking for any excuse to censor me, then don't bother. Just censor me and get it over with. I'm sick and tired of these lame excuses to ban me. At least be a man about it and censor those you don't like. You don't need to give a reason. It would be more honest. I'm not going to contribute to a forum under these double standard circumstances where some people can say anything and others get banned for just making a joke. So either ban me or let me post freely. Thank you.
 
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