Nikon R10 follow focus...

Post by **sooper8fan** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 8:48 pm

Etimh just linked me to this over at cinematography.com....looks awesome! thanks for the link, tim.
http://www.cinematography.com/forum2004 ... opic=11999

Post by **Nigel** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 9:36 pm

For all those focus pulls that one does when you have a DOF that is a mile long....

Seems like a waste to me.

But that is just me.

Good Luck

Post by **mattias** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 9:49 pm

it's still nice to have easier access to focus even if you don't have to pull during shooting. plus the whole setup with support rods, matte box, shade and all is what makes it cool. probably not worth buying but it sure tickles my diy nerves.

/matt

Post by **Mitch Perkins** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 10:01 pm

mattias wrote:it's still nice to have easier access to focus even if you don't have to pull during shooting.
/matt

Yep. R10 has a "long rotate" to get from one end of focus to the other, so on this cam in particular, especially if the gearing can be changed, FF would be a huge advantage. Often wished I had it whilst shooting our little feature; one simply can't twist one's hand around far enough without stopping midway.

An awesome gizmo.

Mitch

Post by **Nigel** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 1:40 am

Yep...Even at an f2.8 focused at 10 feet at 12mm you can go from 4'10" to ? The FF is totally something I should invest in.

Looks like a big waste of money.

Good Luck
PS--I thought cars were to be an extension of manhood not cameras.

Post by **S8 Booster** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 2:26 am

second that. the elmo 1012 n 612 sxls do have an focus free lock that ranges from about 6 to 30mm zoom range and within that range you may need to concentrate on the image composition only. cant fail on the focus. knife gem.

s8hÃƒÂ´ÃƒÂ´t

Post by **Mitch Perkins** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 9:23 pm

Nigel wrote:Yep...Even at an f2.8 focused at 10 feet at 12mm you can go from 4'10" to ?

One of the inherent drawbacks (sold as a feature!), of the smallest format; everything is in focus. Thus, part of the visual language of film is lost (directing the audience's attention via racking focus). To combat this, one must zoom in (well past 12mm), to regain use of critical focus. Twisting the focus ring around is problematic. I can think of lots of shots that would benefit from the ergonomic advantage provided by FF.

So...I'm explaining this to a "senior member"?

Nigel wrote:The FF is totally something I should invest in.

Given a good quality product, investment is wise/unwise according to the needs of the investor. If you shoot like dad on vacation, you probably don't need FF. If shooting a feature, you want every available advantage.

Nigel wrote:Good Luck
PS--I thought cars were to be an extension of manhood not cameras.

Wrong format. Plus, while visualizing ideas, it doesn't pay to worry what passersby might think of one's gear.

Mitch

Post by **Nigel** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 11:18 pm

The reason I used 12mm is because that is the Normal focal length for S8.

WHen I can get to my DOF charts for S8 I will write more...Even at the long lengths you still have a ton of depth.

You are right it is a drawback often sold as a benefit.

But I don't see how a FF set up is going to help with S8 other than make you think that you are cool. All because you put some rods, Mattebox and a FF on a super8 camera.

Good Luck

Post by **Evan Kubota** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 11:46 pm

Actually, you do need to do focus pulls somewhat regularly with S8 if you frequently shoot with the lens at around 50-60mm as I do. In a recent project a character walked from 70 feet away to about 15. Having that FF unit would have been useful, but obviously it's pretty expensive for most uses.

Post by **sooper8fan** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 12:20 am

Nigel wrote:

But I don't see how a FF set up is going to help with S8 other than make you think that you are cool.

I always thought using Super8 in general made us cool....crap!....back to the drawing board.

Post by **Nigel** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 12:56 am

Super8 is cool...

Trying to make your S8 camera into a 16/35 isn't.

Good Luck

Post by **steve hyde** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 2:47 am

Nigel wrote:Super8 is cool...

Trying to make your S8 camera into a 16/35 isn't.

Good Luck

...This statement is halarious next to your new avatar..

Steve

Post by **Mitch Perkins** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 4:01 am

Nigel wrote:The reason I used 12mm is because that is the Normal focal length for S8.

R10 zooms to 80mm. "Difference" = not only interest, but life itself. Normal is okay too...

Nigel wrote:WHen I can get to my DOF charts for S8 I will write more...Even at the long lengths you still have a ton of depth.

This hasn't been my experience, even to the point of mucking the focus on long shots. Took me a while to notice that the split-screen on my R10 had to be "off to the left on the bottom half", as opposed to aligned.
Specialized gear is for special situations; I'd rather be able to say, "yes, we can do that", than, "Ohhh, that's gonna be tricky".

Nigel wrote:You are right it is a drawback often sold as a benefit.

But I don't see how a FF set up is going to help with S8 other than make you think that you are cool. All because you put some rods, Mattebox and a FF on a super8 camera.

Good Luck

Not seeing the benefit is a thin reason to jump in and mock those who do. Ridiculing people for perceived weakness says more about the ridiculer than the ridiculee.
Rods/mattebox can be used to mount lots of cool stuff for solid screen value. I have an old mechanical iris from an enlarger which looks way better than the digital version. Lens elements, filters, glasses of water...the idea is opening up the possibilities.

Read the thread linked at top of page. The unit was $60.00, and looks solid as a rock. FF can be removed, and it looks like it has a *lock*, so you can set your points and hit them while concentrating on composition if you're a one-man-band.

Gear is ideas made concrete. The benefit of good gear is on-screen. Looking cool is a side benefit. Plus, in a professional environment, don't under-estimate the value of showing up with tools that say "serious". Especially if you're the Super 8 guy.

Cheers,

Mitch

Post by **flatwood** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 4:17 am

Over the years Ive collected up a half dozen compendium shades and stick them on the front of about everything. I dont know about looking cool but I like to be able to crank my shade right to the edge of the frame when need be. I may be crazy but I think Im getting better color saturation both with film as well as analog and digital video.

Maybe they do look cool because now that I think about it it seems like all the women who have looked at my different cameras on a shoot lately want to run their fingers over the pleats in the shades, and purr. Interesting.

Post by **sonyrelic** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 4:28 am

Super Nigel- How about this waste of time? Man, what idiot would use this, huh? You should write these guys and fill them in on how stupid they are for trying to be something they're not, like 16mm or 35mm, I'm sure they'll appreciate it.