Red Focus - How Useful?

[Adam Howden]

Hi All,

I'm just wondering about the Red Focus and exactly how good or useful it is? From reading the instruction manual it's my understanding that it projects an image of a siemens star onto the sensor and you adjust back focus from there.

I understand that it is quite different to adjusting the back focus using a decent lens and a focus chart but just wondering about peoples experiences with it. Is it a great and necessary piece of kit or does it just not get pulled out that much?

Thanks in advance

 

[Arseni Tomkevich]

Maybe not yet?

Maybe not yet?

I have seen some posts of people suggesting alternative products instead. I forgot to bookmark, but from what I remember, the product is new and software updates are coming to make it better.

 

[Björn Benckert]

We have it and I find it to be a simple way of getting the back focus right. I belive it is built to be more correct than using a lens. A lens is more complex and built to be adjusted etc. The red focus is (i hope ) a chunk of metal with micro meter correct distance to the focus plane, no more no less. That makes it easy to use and when you got your back focus right you can calibrate all you lenses knowing the camera is correct.

 

[Adam Howden]

Any suggestions on those competing products, except the Lumatech, I'll never deal with that company again.

 

[Arseni Tomkevich]

You can perform back focus manually using back focus charts.

"Maybe some of these will help you.
http://www.bealecorner.org/red/test-patterns/index.html

Star charts are often used for focus:
http://www.bealecorner.org/red/test-patterns/star-chart-bars144-600dpi.png
http://www.bealecorner.org/red/test-patterns/star-chart-bars-full-600dpi.png

Any 600 dpi laser printer, or inkjet printer (using good quality photo paper) can print a sharp pattern using these. Of course you can also buy various charts."


I looked into this and found great charts + stand costing around 1K, which didn't make sense, but you can get a chart for a few hundred if you don't have access to a good printer.

You will need to back focus especially if you are renting lenses and they appear out of focus.

People did backfocus manually for generations, you can too! Plus you won't have to do this often.

We use ARRI wireless follow focus, which makes the focusing job easier. Have your actor move to their markers, tag your focusing gear and whoalah. No ruler, no hassle. It is very costly though !!!!

 

[Arseni Tomkevich]

https://www.google.com/search?q=red....,cf.osb&fp=aa6fb2f878bccabe&biw=1263&bih=793