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KilaTsunami
October, 2024

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How do I maintain focus with a manual lens while filming?

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hxv
Posts: 26 - Karma: 44
The title says it all
Jan 14 2018 8:33PM
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Jarvis
Posts: 49 - Karma: 38
It really depends. If you're filming hand held, or on a tripod, then you just need a little practice. If you're filming on a steadicam or a stabilizer, you may need someone else to rack focus for you. One thing that really helps is to use a smaller aperture, and therefore a deeper depth of field. This makes nailing focus a lot easier.
Jan 14 2018 11:10PM
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Tanner_McClune
Posts: 28 - Karma: 347
get a follow focus for easy focus
Jan 14 2018 11:51PM
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LukasSchroeder
Posts: 1460 - Karma: 2,683
Either set & forget (focus to infinity) or set to a focal length and try to stay that same distance the entire time. You can also try to have an aperture that isn't very wide, so higher like f 8 or f11 ish.
Jan 15 2018 10:11AM
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eheath
Posts: 61603 - Karma: 123,089
Most of the time, you will be able to set your focus on a shot and you wont have to change it, unless you're filming a long line on a tripod. For follow cams, just set your fstop to 11 or 16, focus to infinity (or just before infinity) and dont get closer than 3-4ft of your subject while following and youre good to go.
Jan 15 2018 3:51PM
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hxv
Posts: 26 - Karma: 44
eheathMost of the time, you will be able to set your focus on a shot and you wont have to change it, unless you're filming a long line on a tripod. For follow cams, just set your fstop to 11 or 16, focus to infinity (or just before infinity) and dont get closer than 3-4ft of your subject while following and youre good to go.


wait so what if you're filming a more skateboard esque shot. like where you get closer to the feature at the end? (not sure what its actually called)
Jan 15 2018 10:11PM
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LukasSchroeder
Posts: 1460 - Karma: 2,683
hxvwait so what if you're filming a more skateboard esque shot. like where you get closer to the feature at the end? (not sure what its actually called)


if you want the rail in focus just pull focus to the rail at the end
Jan 17 2018 3:09PM
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