Christoffer Glans
Well-known member
For future reference, I'd like to pinpoint a few key things that I believe should happen on the software side in order for the AF system to maximize efficiency for video. Of course, it's unclear if some or all of these things are at all possible to have on the Komodo, but I think they're important to consider when speaking of the software side of an AF system. Especially considering the differences between still photography AF and a system specifically for video.
Focus Range
Manually program a certain range in which the AF should search focus within. This should be really easy to implement. A manual range, so that if you shoot mainly within 2-5 meters, you could add that range in order for the AF system to never go beyond it when searching for subjects. This would help a lot when shooting wide tele-shots keeping the subject in focus and not the background, even if the background takes up a larger part of the image. This should be something that you can program as presets so that you could easily change which range you would like to focus within. It would also help tremendously if face/eye-tracking is not possible to implement.
Focus marks range
Ability to program several ranges. Letting the AF search focus within a range area, but being able to switch to other range areas. Similar to Focus Range, this would make it possible to program focus marks, but with a range at each mark. Say you have a subject at around 1 meter, then want to pull focus to a second subject at 5 meters, but you aren't sure each subject will be exactly at 1 meter or the other at 5 meters. Then you can program an AF range of 0,8m to 1,2m and the second mark between 4,8m to 5,2m. Then when filming, you can let the AF hold focus within the first mark before switching to the second mark letting the AF search focus within that range instead. This would make it possible for handheld work with planned focus marks much easier when not having a focus puller.
Range speed
A speed setting to slow down or speed up how fast focus should be pulled within a range or between range areas. This would help when using handheld and wanting some play area to search focus with the camera movement. Like super shallow DOF close-ups.
Area dominance
Right now, you can pinpoint what to focus on, but area dominance would be a larger part of the image which AF should search within. Say you have a dominance of subject in the lower left part of the image or left side of the entire image, then the AF would only search within that part of the image and not the right side.
Face/Eye-tracking
Really the crown jewel of a good AF system. Also the most basic form of function in order to film most kinds of scenes. Even a rudimentary version of this would help far more than not having it at all.
Subject lock mode
With face-tracking, the ability to lock onto a specific face so that other faces won't interfere. Requires some kind of registering of the face you chose to focus on until a change is made manually.
Continous face-tracking hold
When a subject turns around and their face is hidden: holding focus on the subject part of the frame where the face was last seen until the subjects face reappear. This will help to film someone who turns around, keeping the AF onto the backside of the head as long as possible until they turn towards the camera again.
There may be more points, but these are certainly the most powerful options to have on the software side. If the processor in Komodo can handle these features, I definitely think they should be looked into. Even if face-tracking might be too complex, there are other points that should help with video work AF and possible to implement.
Focus Range
Manually program a certain range in which the AF should search focus within. This should be really easy to implement. A manual range, so that if you shoot mainly within 2-5 meters, you could add that range in order for the AF system to never go beyond it when searching for subjects. This would help a lot when shooting wide tele-shots keeping the subject in focus and not the background, even if the background takes up a larger part of the image. This should be something that you can program as presets so that you could easily change which range you would like to focus within. It would also help tremendously if face/eye-tracking is not possible to implement.
Focus marks range
Ability to program several ranges. Letting the AF search focus within a range area, but being able to switch to other range areas. Similar to Focus Range, this would make it possible to program focus marks, but with a range at each mark. Say you have a subject at around 1 meter, then want to pull focus to a second subject at 5 meters, but you aren't sure each subject will be exactly at 1 meter or the other at 5 meters. Then you can program an AF range of 0,8m to 1,2m and the second mark between 4,8m to 5,2m. Then when filming, you can let the AF hold focus within the first mark before switching to the second mark letting the AF search focus within that range instead. This would make it possible for handheld work with planned focus marks much easier when not having a focus puller.
Range speed
A speed setting to slow down or speed up how fast focus should be pulled within a range or between range areas. This would help when using handheld and wanting some play area to search focus with the camera movement. Like super shallow DOF close-ups.
Area dominance
Right now, you can pinpoint what to focus on, but area dominance would be a larger part of the image which AF should search within. Say you have a dominance of subject in the lower left part of the image or left side of the entire image, then the AF would only search within that part of the image and not the right side.
Face/Eye-tracking
Really the crown jewel of a good AF system. Also the most basic form of function in order to film most kinds of scenes. Even a rudimentary version of this would help far more than not having it at all.
Subject lock mode
With face-tracking, the ability to lock onto a specific face so that other faces won't interfere. Requires some kind of registering of the face you chose to focus on until a change is made manually.
Continous face-tracking hold
When a subject turns around and their face is hidden: holding focus on the subject part of the frame where the face was last seen until the subjects face reappear. This will help to film someone who turns around, keeping the AF onto the backside of the head as long as possible until they turn towards the camera again.
There may be more points, but these are certainly the most powerful options to have on the software side. If the processor in Komodo can handle these features, I definitely think they should be looked into. Even if face-tracking might be too complex, there are other points that should help with video work AF and possible to implement.