Are there any gimbals that use manual focus when follow focusing?

[Blaise Douros]

Here’s a link to what you need:

https://lmgtfy.com/?q=wireless+follow+focus

[Todd Terry]

Blaise… that is my new favorite reply to this guy.

T2

__________________________________
Todd Terry
Creative Director
Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
fantasticplastic.com

[Stephen Smith]

I have a Zhiyn Crane 2 and a Canon 1DX Mark ii. I have been using the cameras built-in autofocus with incredible results. Here is a tutorial on the autofocus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqOKm3Z9zX0

I think it is in this video where you can see what it looks like when the focus wheel is in use. To me, as crazy as it sounds, the autofocus on cameras like the 1DX is more reliable than the focus wheel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOj6G29OTCo

Stephen Smith

Utah Video Productions

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[Ryan Elder]

Okay thanks, but every time I have had DPs use autofocus, it always can’t keep up. The last shoot I did, several takes were not useable because of autofocus either being too slow, or not knowing what to focus on. For example, I had an actor stick his hand out, doing a ‘talk to the hand’ motion, but I wanted to keep focus on his face the whole time, but the camera keeps choosing to focus on his hand when he does that. Some takes I had to choose and live with them going out of focus on the wrong times.

So the camera is not smart enough to know what to have in focus, and what not to have in focus. The DP was using the Sony A7s I believe.

But I don’t want to have to choose my DPs based on how good their autofocus is. Isn’t there a better way, but still be able to use a gimbal or something like that?

Or is the autofocus actually that good on some camera, that you can actually program which actor you want to be in focus, and when?

[Gary Huff]

[ryan elder] “Isn’t there a better way, but still be able to use a gimbal or something like that?”

No there isn’t. Throw out any shots that would need a gimbal. Just don’t do them.

[ryan elder] “Or is the autofocus actually that good on some camera, that you can actually program which actor you want to be in focus, and when?”

No, use the camera you have.

[Stephen Smith]

I have not used the zhiyun crane 2 follow focus even though it came with my setup. Here is a video that can show you what you can expect to see when using the follow focus feature:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjcMXRiFdYY

[ryan elder]
Or is the autofocus actually that good on some camera, that you can actually program which actor you want to be in focus, and when?

Yes, the autofocus on a 1DX Mark ii is pretty close to that good. You have different autofocus options. One will track the actor you want to when the move left or right, forward or backward they stay in focus. Keep in mind anytime it is “auto” it can make mistakes. I just filmed a person riding a bike on a road out the back of a car. The tracking focus did a great job and I can’t wait to share the project.

[ryan elder]
But I don’t want to have to choose my DPs based on how good their autofocus is. Isn’t there a better way, but still be able to use a gimbal or something like that?

I hear you dude. Sometimes you have to work with the limitations of your gear. The “better way”, in my opinion, is to have an additional person to pull focus and let the camera operator “focus” on composing the shot. The bad news is this requires more gear. The person pulling focus needs to be able to do that without touching the lens. You need a wireless focus pulling device such as the DJU Focus https://www.dji.com/focus. To make matters more expensive they also need to see what the camera operator is filming so you would typically want a monitor for them to see as well.

[ryan elder]
So the camera is not smart enough to know what to have in focus, and what not to have in focus. The DP was using the Sony A7s I believe.

Not all cameras are equal. And others are better at certain things than others. I feel the 1DX Mark ii has the best autofocus functionality and that is why videographers will pay the crazy high price tag for it. Keep in mind you can purchase a really expensive RED camera and not have any autofocus ability. That doesn’t make it a crapy camera. It all depends on what you want/need.

Best of luck.

Stephen Smith

Utah Video Productions

Check out my Vimeo page

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[Ryan Elder]

Oh okay thanks, I never knew there was a follow focus for the Crane 2 cause everyone is using the plug in electronic focus device.

So for the price of the follow focus, is it actually worth betting compared to the electronic focus of the crane? By electronic focus, I mean the part of the crane where you turn the dial on the crane, and a wire plugs into the camera, and focuses the camera electronically, while you turn the focus wheel.

Is that electronic focus more or less reliable then the wireless follow focus?

[Ryan Elder]

Okay thanks, but why not use a gimbal for some shots, what’s the big deal?

[Mark Suszko]

Realistically how often would the camera in such situations need to be zoomed or have the focus changed in the first place, from being fully wide and focused at infinity? In the example given, leaving autofocus off and setting the camera full wide, focus at infinity, with sufficient light to have good DOF, there would have been no issues when the hand was raised into shot. The typical use for a hand-held cam is to work in close around a moving subject(s) and the shots 99 percent of the time would not need any zooming or re-focusing because the camera is already being physically moved to re-frame and direct our attention from moment to moment.

My cranky-old-man’s take is, if you’re also needing to do complex manipulations to the already hand-held camera lens *besides* moving it, you may be over-complicating the shot, …or using the wrong tools.

[Gary Huff]

[ryan elder] “Okay thanks, but why not use a gimbal for some shots, what’s the big deal?”

You shouldn’t use a gimbal at all.