Focus Assist

[Bradley Hobday]

Is there not anything available to electronically focus on film or DSLR cameras? Are the only means of accurately pulling focus on a moving shot to have a focus assist monitor and a focus puller? Sorry...I'm a stupid newbie.

[Brian Drysdale]

Is there not anything available to electronically focus on film or DSLR cameras? Are the only means of accurately pulling focus on a moving shot to have a focus assist monitor and a focus puller? Sorry...I'm a stupid newbie.

 

Some consumer/prosumer video cameras have auto focus. You can use a tape measure (or possibly a Lazar distance measure), which is what the top focus pullers use.

 

The electronic auto focus tends to hunt, which isn't really much use for quality work. Although, I believe it's an option on the new Canon mount RED Scarlet.

[Bradley Hobday]

Thanks...just thought maybe there was something else out other than the IR stuff that I've never read about

[Martin Hong]

Hey Bradley

 

I've posted something related to this post long ago, you can check it out here: http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?showtopic=48244

 

its for DSLR, as for film camera, the closest thing i have heard are Cooke's lenses:

 

http://www.cookeoptics.com/cooke.nsf/products/itech.html

[Bradley Hobday]

Thanks for the help!

[Damien Andre]

if you have a Canon dslr, that isnt a 7D the new magic lantern firmware allows you to control and program focus pulls with the arrow buttons. unless you arent using canon ef lenses