Using AF100 on JIB (question about focusing/remote focus)

H

hatsoff2halford

Well-known member
If I am understanding this correctly, all remote focus controllers have a lag in the focus with the Lumix lenses.

IF this is the case, does that mean that using an AF100 with a jib isn't really possible/smart until the Berger mount comes out and makes it possible to use Canon EF lenses?

I'm just confused on how one would use a crane with a manual lens, or even the Lumix ones with the delay on focus?

Can anyone clear this up for me, or let me know how one would still get a decent shot?

Also, is it pointless to purchase lenses right now since the Berger mount is coming out? I would like to save some of my budget for it, because I think the full in-camera control (and wireless/remote control) of the lens is a great thing.

Hearing about the Berger kind of threw me out of the loop when it came to deciding on what lenses to purchase.

Thanks in advance
 
Thanks for the response!

I'll just have to deal with it for now! Until the berger mount comes out...then hopefully a remote control focus with the EF will work and not lag.

It's a fact that the Lumix Lenses have a delay in the focus, right?

Someone posted about a Verizoom controller working perfect for his Lumix lenses during event work, and I'd imagine you couldn't get a perfect focus at an event with bad lag.
 
Barry_Green said:
I don't think there's a delay in focus; instead there's some sluggishness in the iris but the focus should be fine.
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Yep. Just got the 14-140 out and the Varizoom Stealth. Imperceptible focusing lag, and slight iris lag... sort of; if anything, I would call it damping/smoothing, not really lag; if you open/close the iris slowly, the lag is also imperceptible.
 
Awesome, thanks! Good to hear...now I need to figure out if I can somehow mount the stealth to the handle of a shoulder rig and have my index and thumb free for focusing...or just hold the rig with one hand and bbalance it properly.
 
hatsoff2halford said:
Awesome, thanks! Good to hear...now I need to figure out if I can somehow mount the stealth to the handle of a shoulder rig and have my index and thumb free for focusing...or just hold the rig with one hand and bbalance it properly.
Click to expand...

Yes, you can, making it very easy to focus with the index finger. Mounted a certain way, you can also easily (maybe too easily, that is, by accident) adjust the iris with the same index finger.
 
How long is the jib? I have done quite a few shots with rack focusing using the jib, a follow focus with some marks and a whip.
 
You can do it with the Lumix lenses quite easily, if you've got a remote focus controller like the Bebob Foxi. I run a 3.5 stereo audio jack extension cable along my jib upto the camera & then plug the Foxi into the end of the extension cable at the other end of the jib, where i've also got my monitor.

As for the focusing, you've just gotta rehearse your scene a couple of times & make sure everyone stays on their marks. You can counter-act the lag by slightly pre-empting where the subject is going to be & focusing a split second ahead of time. Just practice a bit & you'll be fine.
 
The jib is 8' without the tripod extended.

Thanks for the replies. I was considering the focus controller to be out of the picture when I read there was a 3-4 second delay. Apparently this isn't true, so I'm pretty happy to hear that.
 
hatsoff2halford said:
Thanks for the replies. I was considering the focus controller to be out of the picture when I read there was a 3-4 second delay. Apparently this isn't true, so I'm pretty happy to hear that.
Click to expand...

Yeah, anybody saying that there is a 3 - 4 second delay with a focus controller is either using a damaged lens or a damaged controller, or they've not actually used one at all & are just speculating from what they've heard other say. The lag i get with the Bebob Foxi on both the 20mm 'pancake' & 14-45mm Lumix lenses is about half a second, if that. It's very much a viable & very useful option for remote focusing.

I managed to pick up my Foxi controller second hand from eBay for about £100 :)
 
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