cinematography follow focus (term, not accessory)

M

mrscrouge

i've been learning a whole bunch of things with my t2i. Playing around with the settings to get the best image, understanding aperture, d.o.f etc.
One of the things I find rather difficult is keeping the focus on a moving target (follow focus?). I've got a z-finder which is great to get focus when my subject isn't going to be moving much in the shot, however when this isn't the case (handheld shots, even tripod shots when the subject does not stay on the same plane) my image goes in and out as I try to keep it in focus instead of the subject being smoothly in focus the whole time.
I've got a DlGear from Jag35 wrapped around my 50mm lens so the focus ring isn't so sensitive, and could have more feel on it. Does this skill come with practice?? or is there anything else i should be doing?
 
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mrscrouge said:
Does this skill come with practice??
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Yes. Lots of it. There are people who's entire film making career has been the perfection of this skill. They are called 1st Assistant Camera<men/women>. Probably the least understood job on a set. Also the one that is completely invisible unless the person messes up. The producer will never notice the awesome high speed, into the long lens, sharp all the way through pull you just finished with estimated marks and no downtime for the set- but the second something is soft they know right where to start placing blame. :lol:

mrscrouge said:
or is there anything else i should be doing?
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Practicing. Learning what you can about the mechanics of focus and why field becomes shallower as the subject approaches the lens (for example). Watching things that you like and paying attention to how focus is used. Watching things that you DON'T like and doing the same. Deciding when you think a pull works, when it is too obvious, too cumbersome, or whatever.

"Optics and Focus for Camera Assistant's" is probably one of the (if not the) best books on the subject of pulling focus. Good luck finding a copy, although sections of it may exist online it is out of print and the for sale copies I see are asking ludicrous prices.

Wikipedia and google are your friends. If you don't fully understand depth of field, hyperfocal distance, aperture, focal length, and how all those things relate then take some time to study them on a basic level. Focus pulling is simultaneously very scientific/mathematic as well as very "by the feel." and subjective.
 
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Exactly. My DP spent years in LA as an operator and 1st AC. He's pretty good when it comes to lighting, but he is a freaking master when it comes to pulling focus, floating the camera into a shoot, smooth pans and follows, etc...
 
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Are you using the D|Focus system or just the gear?

If you want to increase sensitivity try adding the D|Crank to the follow focus.

For super tactile feedback (you can feel what its doing) you might try a simple 1$ follow focus..
http://www.vimeo.com/4270555 this is all I have and definitely can RACK focus much faster with it on than by turning the lens barrel.
 
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it does a lot more than the focus ring by itself. i doubt the follow focus system will do much more, at the level of skill i am right now. As i get more handy with focusing im sure a follow focus system will make more sense.
 
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I did the hose clamp too, but I changed it for a homemade focusing ring (what do you call it?? I'm a photographer, so this all new to me) I made on my mill. I bought a T2i and I'm learning video. I don't know what lenses you're using, but I know that even with the focus assist my 50mm f/1.4 isn't as smooth as my 20-35 L f/2.8. There's a dead spot in there that drags no matter how careful I am. And yeah, I think this has made a huge difference in how smoothly I can transition. When you're just cranking the focus ring by hand you have to stop and reposition, but with the lever on the ring it's easy to transition from one end to the other.
 
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