Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K on a Steadicam.

[Shawn Sutherland]

Since I don't have a focus puller, I need the lens to do all the work. Which lens do you recommend and what setting should I use?

[Brian Drysdale]

The focus setting will depend on the distance on your subject from the camera. You will need to keep them within the depth of field of the lens at a particular f stop. There are depth of field tables available for each focal length and f stop. Short focal lenses tend to have a larger depth of field. 10mm to 16mm. should do the job.

[Shawn Sutherland]

That sounds fine to me. But there's also the Micro Four Thirds crop factor:

10mm = 15mm (35mm Equivalent)

16mm = 24mm (35mm Equivalent)

Which one gives me the best focus option for Steadicam work?

It would be nice to have a lens that I can set to infinity with a wide depth of field and not have to worry about focus. I don't care if it's a zoom or a prime. As long as the shot stays in focus, I'll be happy with it.

Do you have a link for those depth of field tables? I wouldn't mind having a look at them.

[Brian Drysdale]

Try this for DoF http://members.bitstream.net/audadvnc/dofcalc2.html

 

!0mm would have the largest DoF, but that may be too wide an angle for your production..

 

You don't want set it at infinity (unless where the subject is), either use.the hyperfocal distance or alternately the focus that cover the action within the depth of field.