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Keeping shots in focus

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jeb_b_vt
Posts: 1047 - Karma: 1,294
does anyone else have trouble with keeping shots in focus sometimes? some of my shots are just a little out of focus and its pissing me off, do you guys use any techniques to keep them in focus?
Feb 16 2013 7:16PM
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eheath
Posts: 61590 - Karma: 122,945
Check focus every run, it sucks but its necessary. Using a higher fstop (8-11) gives you a deeper depth of field too
Feb 16 2013 7:20PM
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jeb_b_vt
Posts: 1047 - Karma: 1,294
how should I measure the focus range tho? should I aim it at something that i think will be aproximetly the same distance away as my subject?
Feb 16 2013 7:26PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
basically. This is a pretty good way to do it, you'll get good at it pretty quick
Feb 16 2013 7:27PM
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jeb_b_vt
Posts: 1047 - Karma: 1,294
does infinity focus apply to any of this?
Feb 16 2013 7:31PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
It helps to know the depth of field roughly, pretty sure there's apps for it. but yeah just shooting with a small aperture makes it a lot easier.
Feb 16 2013 7:38PM
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jeb_b_vt
Posts: 1047 - Karma: 1,294
something like f/6.3-f/8ish?
Feb 16 2013 7:42PM
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*Fujative*
Posts: 8554 - Karma: 183
Download "Pcam" on a iphone/ipod touch.

Input your camera, lens, aperture and it will tell you you hyperfocal distance.
Feb 16 2013 7:44PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
it really depends on the focal length(mainly) + distance from the subject. at 18mm virtually everything will be in focus at f8
Feb 16 2013 7:45PM
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jeb_b_vt
Posts: 1047 - Karma: 1,294
i shoot primarily with the tamron 17-50, so f/8 should work? Im shooting on f/6.3 right now...that may be the problem
Feb 16 2013 7:47PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
no that's not your problem, you can shoot at 2.8 50mm easily enough and still keep it in focus,

is this followcams or tripod shots?
Feb 16 2013 7:51PM
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jeb_b_vt
Posts: 1047 - Karma: 1,294
followcams mainly
Feb 16 2013 7:52PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
oh right, I don't really do them personally but yeah keep your aperture at like 8, and shoot wide, like 18mm/wider, less shake & more in focus.
Feb 16 2013 7:55PM
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jeb_b_vt
Posts: 1047 - Karma: 1,294
alright sounds good, thanks!
Feb 16 2013 7:56PM
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123+ski
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
Ya, I use a 7.5mm fisheye at f8, the only way I could make it out of focus is to intentionally turn the ring all the way because it can focus at like 4 inches. otherwise everything from about a foot or more is sharp
Feb 17 2013 10:52AM
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boomie
Posts: 1638 - Karma: 3,165
Also if you are worried about a shot being in focus that's a bit of a distance away, double tap the zoom button, and you can check it in the view finder of it 5X zoomed in.
Feb 17 2013 1:35PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
this is super handy, you can also do 10x if you press it again, & magic lantern has focus confirmation when you zoom in.
Feb 17 2013 1:44PM
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.qzyxya
Posts: 1479 - Karma: -26
this x10. The magic lantern focus peak helps a ton. But as long as you keep it at a wide focal length and a small aperture (like f8 as people said) most of everything is oging to be in focus. But for tripod shots or ones with longer lenses/larger apertures the focus peaking (I think thats the name, it puts different colored lines over the parts that are in focus, maybe its just focus assist or something) is awesome. Much easier than having to zoom in 5 or 10x every time.
Feb 17 2013 4:54PM
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sweatshirt
Posts: 1357 - Karma: 483
If you shoot at 17mm @ f/8, manually focus 7 feet away from you. This is roughly your hyperfocal distance, everything from 3.5 feet to infinity will be in focus.
Feb 17 2013 7:06PM
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vandersteeze
Posts: 2650 - Karma: 1,511
Too bad lenses never have focal distance markers on them anymore
Feb 17 2013 9:56PM
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BK
Posts: 2353 - Karma: 1,122
Definetly not as easy as the old days with a video camera that had auto focus. Just concentrate and don't forget to monitor exposure and focus if you are shooting an SLR and doing follow cams especially. As soon as you start spacing out and not concentrating shots will get fucked.
Feb 18 2013 5:27PM
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*Fujative*
Posts: 8554 - Karma: 183
Cheap lenses don't. I use Rokinon and Zeiss ZF and they have markings.
Feb 18 2013 6:40PM
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Upstate_Willis
Posts: 708 - Karma: 7,860
Down load magic lantern, there focus peaks will help you a lot. do some research on the program but its free, and helps me a ton

Feb 22 2013 1:33PM
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