request for 1:1 pixel focus assist DURING recording

[Bill Prouty]

For docs, improv and other productions where focus marks aren't practical.... it would be useful to hit a user key to bring up a small picture-in-picture window while recording... displaying 1:1 pixel resolution for a specified region of the frame.

Something like the HPX170 does (screen grab below). Any hope of this from RED in a firmware upgrade... or should I pick up a 5.6" field monitor from SmallHD or TVLogic?

 

[Ian B. Johnson]

As far as I know, external monitors such as the SmallHD or TVLogic won't do 1:1 pixel crops as they are only fed a 1080-line image. The only real solution is a firmware update like you're asking, and I'm sure tons of us would use it.

 

[Alexander Ibrahim]

Yeah this will be extremely helpful, especially with the raft of new 1AC's who will be working the system, and the variability of performances. (actors, dolly, etc.)

What I mean is that it will be useful, even in an environment where you can set marks and rehearse.

 

[Brennan Clark]

So there's no focus assist at all on the Scarlet? Not even before recording like the 5 and 7D? If not, that's a bungle. The touch screen is only like 800x400something. They need to fix that.

 

[Jeff Lower]

I could live without it, but it would be useful.

 

[Patrick Tresch]

So there's no focus assist at all on the Scarlet? Not even before recording like the 5 and 7D? If not, that's a bungle. The touch screen is only like 800x400something. They need to fix that.

Yes there is. This feature request is about during recording.

Pat

 

[Blair S. Paulsen]

RED has a lot of priorities that may need to be addressed first, but if offered, this is a feature that could be of great value in specific situations.

As a corollary, I would love to have a readout in the EVF that noted critical focus distance. With the RED 18-50 zoom on Epic there is some lens data in the upper left which is nice, but I find it hard to read (thin type over live image) and as of build 1.6.x there was a bit too much latency - but I love the concept and hope it continues to get R & D resources. It sure was handy to see the in focus range at various stops/focal lengths while setting up a shot.

Why would I want the critical focus distance in the VF? As an operator there are times the focus will seem just a little soft. Particularly on a wider focal length where there is more inherent DOF so the difference between tack sharp and slightly buzzed can be hard to see, and racking to find sharp can make things worse but you can't tell until its way off. If I had the critical focus distance constantly updating in the display, I could compare my assessment of the physical distance to the subject I want in best focus, to the number in the display.

For example, let's say I'm at 25mm at T4 with most of the key action happening between 6' and 15' from the sensor plane and lots of camera movement. I did a lot of this for hand held master shots on a recent feature and its common in docco world where a 1st AC/focus puller is a luxury (read fantasy). If I start to notice that the key subject in the VF looks a little soft and I can see in the display readout that my critical focus is 11' 4" and I know by physical proximity that the key element in the scene is actually more like 6' to 8' away (after 30 years as a cameraman I have developed a pretty accurate spacial sense) then I can rack the focus closer while concentrating on some feature of the key element. In the EVF, even a very good one like the Bomb, that 3' to 4' of rack may be too subtle to really show on a wide lens at a healthy stop - but blown up at full res it may be significant enough to determine whether the take is usable or not. Obviously I could crane my head around to look at the markings on the barrel (which I have done many times) but holding a steady shot while doing so can be rather tricky.

Sorry about the partial threadjack, but with so many people shooting shallow depth of field without a dedicated focus puller, anything the manufacturers can do to assist the operator is most welcome. The promise of electronic lenses with automated focus options like the Canon EOS support on Epic is just starting to manifest. Purpose built electronic lenses designed for motion shooting (stills type auto-focus with more AI, more sophisticated trackers, etc) have been on RED's roadmap since 2009 and perhaps are in development at other companies as well - bring 'em on. In the meantime...

Cheers - #19