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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Focus Pulling For RED

S

Shaun

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Hey all, I just started working with a RED One and am very impressed for many reasons. I have heard nightmares about pulling focus since the chipset produces such a sharp image and we're shooting pretty wide open with the RED lens.

I noticed the actor was several inches out of focus even with an exact measurement to the "film plane" mark in a few shots (he did not move towards or away the camera at any time). The majority of measured shots were in focus however. Obviously, this is not a formal lens test and I was just wondering if anyone else had this problem.

Also, If anyone could give any other advice regarding focus on the RED feel free to chime in.

Thanks!
 
I've noticed on every Red I've used that the mount changes it's focal distance while the camera heats up, so it's good to set it when the camera is hot. Start the camera first thing and it should be fine once you are ready to shoot.

Also your mount or lenses could be out of whack - try seeing if you get the same results with lenses you know to be properly set - probably ones from a reputable rental house would be worth looking at.

Matt Uhry
www.mattuhry.com
 
Shaun said:
I noticed the actor was several inches out of focus even with an exact measurement to the "film plane" mark in a few shots
Click to expand...
Did you prior to shooting confirm that the lens markings were accurate?

On a different note, what Circle of Confusion do people use for the R1 in 4k modus? The same as 35mm film?
 
Well, after many commercial shot, I found that the Red Camera with 35mm Cine Lens, the DOF was even less then the FILM Camera like Arri or Pana, just mine own experienced.

Perry Ho

Dop - Mainland China & Hong Kong
 
Well, shooting with Red, with a 75mm, at T2.0, and your subject at 20 feets, you have... few inch !

I dont like the way the focus drop so fast. It make 1st AC nervous and they double check everything (magnify, with tape, magnify for final check). So they take more time to be ready.

It don't make the AC pretty efficient and i end up backinq is work to the producers explaining why it take so long. That the focus on the Red drop pretty fast (just like HD any HD camera).

Also, when you do a master shoot, with caracters that seem to be on the same focus plan, double check with the MAGNIFY if you will have to rack focus, even if their is half feet between the two subjects, it will be slighty off.

A focus puller told me that the only way to do work with Red as with 35mm, is to have around T3,5 on the lens.
 
Perry Ho said:
Well, after many commercial shot, I found that the Red Camera with 35mm Cine Lens, the DOF was even less then the FILM Camera like Arri or Pana, just mine own experienced.

Perry Ho

Dop - Mainland China & Hong Kong
Click to expand...


I don't think this is possible, DOF of the same lens on different cameras can't change. But the higher resolution of the RED sensor over film stocks could make objects out of the range of perfect focus more pronounced. I think film is much more forgiving in this matter.

BTW: When did RED add a one to one feature for focus? That's fantastic!
 
Steve Sanacore said:
I don't think this is possible, DOF of the same lens on different cameras can't change. But the higher resolution of the RED sensor over film stocks could make objects out of the range of perfect focus more pronounced. I think film is much more forgiving in this matter.

BTW: When did RED add a one to one feature for focus? That's fantastic!
Click to expand...

Well, the DoF does change in so far as that the CoC changes depending on the camera. Thus a lens on a 16mm camera will have a different DoF than the same lens on a 65mm camera.

1:1 came in build 17, I believe. Currently not working on playback, thus not making it a tool for focus checking after the shot is done... but RED is working on it.
 
Is the 1:1 feature really 1:1?

Is the 1:1 feature really 1:1?

Hi all. . .

Our two REDs were upgraded and are running Build 17, but I swear I can tell any difference between old magnify I had with Build 15 and the one I have now with Build 17. I seems to me to have the same magnification as before. Is there something I have to do to turn 1:1 on? Or was there really not that much difference?

Thanks. . .

Stephen
 
Stephen Pruitt said:
Hi all. . .

Our two REDs were upgraded and are running Build 17, but I swear I can tell any difference between old magnify I had with Build 15 and the one I have now with Build 17. I seems to me to have the same magnification as before. Is there something I have to do to turn 1:1 on? Or was there really not that much difference?

Thanks. . .

Stephen
Click to expand...
Well at 3K or 2K 1:1 is less magnification, but yes, at 4K it should be a significant push in. Be sure to also expand the LCD image to full (hiding the info) as well as pushing the 1:1 button (if you assigned it) so you get true 1:1 pixel magnification for the pixels on the LCD. The expansion is not needed for the EVF as it has 1280 pixels as opposed to 1024 pixels across.

HTH

Paul
 
Are you referring to the programmable button marked "1" on the smart side that zooms in momentarily for focus checking?
 
Shaun said:
Are you referring to the programmable button marked "1" on the smart side that zooms in momentarily for focus checking?
Click to expand...
Well, since it is programmable, it is really up to you which button has the 1:1 function.

Have a look at the user manual which you can download from http://www.red.com/support
 
Raul Gonzo said:
I always check with the 1:1 button, that and false color.
Click to expand...

These two feature are very usable for the DP and the AC.
However, it will be very nice if they will be available only on the RED LCD, the director and the clients don't need "to suffer" these features on their monitors.
 
Shaun said:
Hey all, I just started working with a RED One and am very impressed for many reasons. I have heard nightmares about pulling focus since the chipset produces such a sharp image and we're shooting pretty wide open with the RED lens.

I noticed the actor was several inches out of focus even with an exact measurement to the "film plane" mark in a few shots (he did not move towards or away the camera at any time). The majority of measured shots were in focus however. Obviously, this is not a formal lens test and I was just wondering if anyone else had this problem.

Also, If anyone could give any other advice regarding focus on the RED feel free to chime in.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

There is a possibility that the lens itself is at fault. I was working on a music video where we lost several wire work one-chance-to-get-it right shots because of focus. The director was alternating between blaming the first for buzzing the shot and the Red for being an unreliable POS - until I noticed that this had all happened on the 18mm lens. On inspection, I found that the focus ring had a serious amount of longitudinal play in it and I guessed at a loose floating element inside. Depending on how it was handled as it was mounted, it would or would not focus.
 
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