Forum Thread: Video + Zoom + Focus

When shooting video, I find it extremely hard to focus while zooming in or out. Auto focus simply blows and manual is not much better. It takes me 2-3 tries before I find the right setting. I'm using a T1i with the "standard" 18-55mm lens.

Any recommendations, tricks, tips?

1 Response

Maybe try marking with a grease pencil the focus and zoom marks so that you can line them up as necessary.  As long as the camera doesn't need to move, you can focus all your energy on nailing the focus/zoom.

I wish I had a better answer for you other than this is why film shoots employ camera assistants whose primary responsibility is imperceptibly pulling focus and zooming.  To operate the shot in addition is nearly impossible but I'm all ears to any suggestions.  The fear is that once this process is more mechanical and automatic, camera assistants will go the way of the cartographer.  Nevertheless, one can't help but be fascinated by the art of focus pulling.

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