Camera Labs

Hi!

Don't know if this should be put in off-topic or here, but here goes.

Have any of you noticed during dialogs in films where the camera changes (medium close-ups) between the parties talking that sometimes the focus is just plainly off. Almost every film I have seen recently has this tiny defect.
Is this just sloppy focus happening during the endless amounts of takes they do each scene or some kind of effect?
A movie I recently saw, where this is prominent is "Black Book". The movie on technical note is absolutely gorgeous, the colors, exposure, composition and sharpness through the whole is excellent. Pretty much top notch 5/5 in that regard so it kinda staggers me when I see this stuff.

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Canon 5D MkII -|- Sigma 24mm f/1.8 | Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2.0 | Canon 50mm f/1.4 | Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro | Lensbaby Composer
Canon A-1 -|- Canon 28mm f/2 | Canon 35mm f/2.8 | Canon 50mm f/3.5 Macro

Hmm...I don't quite understand what you mean by the focus "being plainly off." I THINK I understand, but the explanation seems a little vague. I would love it if you could post some clips of movies where this is prominent. There's nothing I love more than an analytical conversation concerning cinema.

You've opened up a can of worms in my brain, Lorride. LOL. I like where this is going. I'll go look up "Black Book" right now to see if I can better understand your argument.

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Olivia
A man paints with his brains and not with his hands.
Michelangelo
I want to eventually become a great photographer!

I'll see if I can find an example. But something tells me it will be harder to spot on youtube :p

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Canon 5D MkII -|- Sigma 24mm f/1.8 | Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2.0 | Canon 50mm f/1.4 | Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro | Lensbaby Composer
Canon A-1 -|- Canon 28mm f/2 | Canon 35mm f/2.8 | Canon 50mm f/3.5 Macro

Some new examples, Die Hard 4, some sloppy focusing through the movie.
Also in Star Trek 11, at the end when Spock(Nemoy) speaks with Spock("Sylar").

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Canon 5D MkII -|- Sigma 24mm f/1.8 | Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2.0 | Canon 50mm f/1.4 | Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro | Lensbaby Composer
Canon A-1 -|- Canon 28mm f/2 | Canon 35mm f/2.8 | Canon 50mm f/3.5 Macro

What they generally do is keep the person who is talking in focus, and the other one slightly blurry. They then change focus to the other person when he/she starts to speak.

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I take pictures so quickly, my highschool was "Continuous High".

The shots I am talking about are not focus pulls, they are scenes where the camera cuts between showing the two or more individuals in the dialogue.

Now I actually wish I had a blu-ray drive in my computer cause then I could post screen shots.

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Canon 5D MkII -|- Sigma 24mm f/1.8 | Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2.0 | Canon 50mm f/1.4 | Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro | Lensbaby Composer
Canon A-1 -|- Canon 28mm f/2 | Canon 35mm f/2.8 | Canon 50mm f/3.5 Macro

Found an example of this that I could easily copy.
(720p resolution)

In this scene the camera cuts between several people, at one point it's on him (1. pic) and changes between the other persons in the scene. In (2. pic) it't back at him again, but this time his in perfect focus.

1. Pic
http://kirkedam.mine.nu/kwk/Bilder%20ge ... 42s185.png

2. Pic
http://kirkedam.mine.nu/kwk/Bilder%20ge ... m37s65.png


This is exactly the same look as when it happens in movies.

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Canon 5D MkII -|- Sigma 24mm f/1.8 | Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2.0 | Canon 50mm f/1.4 | Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro | Lensbaby Composer
Canon A-1 -|- Canon 28mm f/2 | Canon 35mm f/2.8 | Canon 50mm f/3.5 Macro

It might just be a cinematographical error. Focus pulling is hard, with the shallow DOF the lenses have I guess.

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I take pictures so quickly, my highschool was "Continuous High".

This is my bet as well, but I still find it a bit to sloppy to lay all the fault on short dof, as this scene in particular is not in any way a moving action scene. And they do look at the video they take whilst they shoot the scene.

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Canon 5D MkII -|- Sigma 24mm f/1.8 | Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2.0 | Canon 50mm f/1.4 | Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro | Lensbaby Composer
Canon A-1 -|- Canon 28mm f/2 | Canon 35mm f/2.8 | Canon 50mm f/3.5 Macro

It could be down to sloppy technique, or more likely could be an 'edgier' effect they're after - like handheld, reportage filming.

That would have flown, but the scenes where I have seen this are almost always calm scenes where such effects would be no point.

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Canon 5D MkII -|- Sigma 24mm f/1.8 | Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2.0 | Canon 50mm f/1.4 | Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro | Lensbaby Composer
Canon A-1 -|- Canon 28mm f/2 | Canon 35mm f/2.8 | Canon 50mm f/3.5 Macro

Hi Cameralabs!

Just registered today.

Check out website http://www.reflexmotion.co.uk/.

The site is mainly aimed at photographers in the Yorkshire area who are interested in making the crossover from DSLR stills to DSLR Movie. But of course anyone is welcome.

Check out our films on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/user/reflexmotion?feature=mhum

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http://www.reflexmotion.co.uk/

Hi reflexmotion, welcome on-board, but please read the rules of the forum.

We prefer new members don't start posting links to promote their own websites, especially on their first posts. It's like spamming.

You can of course link to your site, but only if you intend to stick around here and contribute to the forum and other threads.

I should also warn you that your website isn't even finished yet - the 'how to pull focus' story is still showing filler copy. I suggest you get it finished before trying to promote it as it otherwise sends a poor message.

I notice this mostly in documentaries or mockumentaries, the focus isn't quite on. I don't generally notice this in sitcoms or films though, considering that the camera is probably being focused precisely and is panning on a tri-pod.

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-Evan

Gear: 7 Nikon Nikkor AI-S and AF-S lenses, SB-700 flash, Nikon D7000, Nikon FM, variety of accessories

"There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs."
- Ansel Adams