Blur with focus or in post production?

[Dustin Alcock]

In music videos you see a lot of shots that go from blurry to being in focus. I was wondering if people go about it while filming or in post production in software for more control? My guess is both but wanted to see how some of you do it.

Thanks.

[Justin Tomchuk]

I'd do all the blur focus shots in camera instead of post. The reason being is that real blurring using the lens looks a lot better than post production blur options. In camera blurring allows for lights to blur into spherical orb shapes instead of the diffused 'blur everything' options you'd find in the editing software.

However, it is possible to fake a real lens blur in After Effects, Premier Pro and Photoshop by using the filter 'Lens Blur'. This emulates the effect of using a real lens to blur in post, but it takes a long time to render and it isn't perfect.

[Dustin Alcock]

Originally Posted by Justin Tomchuk

I'd do all the blur focus shots in camera instead of post. The reason being is that real blurring using the lens looks a lot better than post production blur options. In camera blurring allows for lights to blur into spherical orb shapes instead of the diffused 'blur everything' options you'd find in the editing software.

However, it is possible to fake a real lens blur in After Effects, Premier Pro and Photoshop by using the filter 'Lens Blur'. This emulates the effect of using a real lens to blur in post, but it takes a long time to render and it isn't perfect.

Thanks for the reply. I'll play with both but I'm sure I will do it with the camera.