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Focal length for followcams

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Lou.
Posts: 1787 - Karma: 3,876
Hey guys.

So I have a t3i tokina 11 16 and glide cam. I was filming today and I had my lens on 11mm and I was doing followcams from like 10 feet and the person was way to small. Do you guys shoot 16 ever? Or does that just defeat the purpose
Feb 8 2014 6:41PM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,313
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Just use a longer focal length or get closer.
Feb 8 2014 6:44PM
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eheath
Posts: 61648 - Karma: 123,472
For jumps I'll shoot at 16 sometimes but for rails always 11 just get closer
Feb 8 2014 6:58PM
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Lou.
Posts: 1787 - Karma: 3,876
Thanks. K+
Feb 8 2014 6:59PM
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EtCh
Posts: 53 - Karma: 112
how do you focus on the skier consistently? set the focus to infinity? what about lenses that dont have that option
Feb 9 2014 8:29PM
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Lou.
Posts: 1787 - Karma: 3,876
Its all about aperture. Set a low aperture like f3-f7 and you will have trouble getting everything In focus, but f8-f13 imo is my lens sweet spot. If you can just set it to infinity on ur lens then you get more control but if it doesn't just use a higher aperture, soo then use a slightly higher iso cuz your image will be darker so you need to compensate
Feb 9 2014 8:34PM
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CrotchKiller
Posts: 9037 - Karma: 6,943
what "purpose" would using 16 be defeating?
Feb 9 2014 8:54PM
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eheath
Posts: 61648 - Karma: 123,472
It's harder to get as close to skiers when filming jumps. I find using 16 making it easier to follow the skier while still maintaining a consistent distance.
Feb 9 2014 8:59PM
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CrotchKiller
Posts: 9037 - Karma: 6,943
I totally agree, i'm just wondering what op is hesitant about. His problem seems to be he is shooting too wide, and he's questioning weather or not he should zoom in....
Feb 9 2014 9:06PM
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Lou.
Posts: 1787 - Karma: 3,876
I watched back my footy on the computer and 11mm was just fine as far as composition. Problem solved
Feb 9 2014 9:19PM
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Blake.P
Posts: 9894 - Karma: 3,585
use a lower aperature. i normally film at like f/9 with the focus (11-16) set to just before infinity. back when i was using a 18-55 (shitty lens i know...) i would film at like f/13 and just set the focus for about how far away i was going to be
Feb 9 2014 9:26PM
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gravel
Posts: 5520 - Karma: 42,295
Whenever I shoot with a Tokina I have it at 11mm 90% of the time. It looks tiny on your little camera screen but when you put it into an edit it really widens up.
Feb 10 2014 12:06AM
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lIllI
Posts: 1255 - Karma: 1,986
I shoot it at 14mm for just about everything. 16mm for flying follow cams. 11mm feels way too wide for me, even with 2x crop.
Feb 10 2014 12:25AM
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CrotchKiller
Posts: 9037 - Karma: 6,943
.
Feb 10 2014 7:50AM
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