FOCUSING

Question And Answer

1.  Why should you avoid using autofocus when doing videography?

* AF may roll of shift as the subject moves with the frame. Manual focus (MF) mode will give a more satisfactory result.

2.  When is using the autofocus acceptable?

* Autofocusing is intended to make life easier, so as long as the lighting is good, the subject-camera distance is relatively stable, and there isn't a lot of visual complexity or movement within the frame, autofocus can yield acceptable results.

3.  What are the 4 steps to properly set your focus manually when shooting a static subject (such as an interview)?

1. Compose your shoot. Make sure the camera is set to MF mode.
2. Zoom in as far as you can on the subject's eyes.
3. Adjust the focus control until the eyes are sharply in focus. Moving quickly back and forth in smaller sweeps can help you identify the sweet spot more accurately.
4. Zoom back out to compose your shoot.

4.  What does the term "rack focus" mean?

* Rack focus is a popular technique that shooters use to rapidly shift the viewer's attention from one subject to another along the z-axis. A focus puller can change shallow depth of field to obtain noticeable contrast between sharply focused  to soft and blurry.