Van Helsing, noticed almost no DOF at DVinfo.net

John Gaspain · February 24th, 2004, 02:00 AM

I just watched the HD trailer for Van Helsing, incredible detail and stunning scenes. I did notice that almost everything was in focus, like NO DOF!

is this a new trend?

Jeff Donald · February 24th, 2004, 05:58 AM

Quote:

I did notice that almost everything was in focus, like NO DOF!

Almost everything in focus would be an extreme DOF. DOF is like a zone of focus. Objects in the scene that are out of focus are outside the DOF. If everything in the scene is in focus you have maximum DOF.

Rob Zeigler · February 24th, 2004, 08:56 AM

...or a bad compositing team. ; )

Dan Uneken · February 24th, 2004, 09:03 AM

Also called Deep Focus, used a lot by Hitchcock. We DV guys & garls do everything possible to avoid it, because it is not "cool" nowadays.

Bill Pryor · February 25th, 2004, 12:43 PM

Orson Welles would have killed for the kind of depth of field we get today.

Chris Hurd · February 25th, 2004, 12:52 PM

No kidding, Bill. Some folks don't realize it, but some parts of Citizen Kane were shot with multi-plane compositions in-camera (with a matte box) in order to achieve the extreme depth-of-field that the movie is famous for.

Bill Pryor · February 25th, 2004, 01:01 PM

Yep. And, I go to a lot of movies, and EVERY shot isn't composed with a shallow depth of field. It's appropriate when it's appropriate, but like anything else, it can be overused inappropriately.

Federico Dib · February 25th, 2004, 02:30 PM

A theory here:

I think that a lot of this "Remove-at-all-cost-Video´s-deep-DOF " obsession, Or "Shallow DOF = FilmLook" might have something to do with a misconception between Deep DOF and a FLAT composition.

Of course sometimes we wish our little cameras could have more DOF, but like Bill said.. DOF is just another aspect of the shot, like lightning, camera movement, etc... It´s there to be used wisely when the shot calls fot it.

Alain Aguilar · February 25th, 2004, 03:14 PM

I did fall in love with the Deep Focus effect after I watched films such as "The 400 Blows" and "Citizen Kane" a while ago. However, due to the obvious shortcomings of DV, Shallow DOF seems to be the new trend among us.

Mike Rehmus · February 25th, 2004, 09:47 PM

For the most successful format in a long time, I'm not certain DV has too many faults. It does have its own look but I'm not certain that is a fault. My customers like the results a lot. But then I do middle-of-the-road commercial work.

They darned well love the lower prices that DV allows.

Bill Pryor · February 25th, 2004, 10:09 PM

Shallow or deep depth of field isn't a DV issue. It's a chip size (mostly) issue.

Alain Aguilar · February 25th, 2004, 11:01 PM

Being that DV does not limit itself to shallow and deep focus (because now days you can do both), it does however, in the deep focus area limits itself to portraying an image of reality (the video look). I think the shallow depth of field, somehow creates a metaphysical sensation regarding the subject being observed.

Chris Hurd · February 26th, 2004, 12:04 AM

Or in other words, Alain, "better than real."

Bill Pryor · February 26th, 2004, 08:07 AM

I think it all depends on how you light it.

Rob Belics · February 26th, 2004, 09:28 AM

One possible reason for the dof issue is the computer graphics involved. From the trailer I saw the cg was very noticeable and not very realistic. This makes me think they didn't have the time or money to properly blend the cg characters into the background so having a flat picture helped in this.

February 24th, 2004, 02:00 AM	#1
John Gaspain Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: WA-USA Posts: 371	Van Helsing, noticed almost no DOF I just watched the HD trailer for Van Helsing, incredible detail and stunning scenes. I did notice that almost everything was in focus, like NO DOF! is this a new trend? __________________ The glory of the World passes by.

February 24th, 2004, 08:56 AM	#3
Rob Zeigler Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 87	...or a bad compositing team. ; ) __________________ Rob Zeigler http://www.robzeigler.com

February 24th, 2004, 09:03 AM	#4
Dan Uneken Major Player Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Andalucia, Spain Posts: 301	Also called Deep Focus, used a lot by Hitchcock. We DV guys & garls do everything possible to avoid it, because it is not "cool" nowadays. __________________ Film & TV locations & production Spain http://www.fotofilmvideo.com/

February 25th, 2004, 12:52 PM	#6
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	No kidding, Bill. Some folks don't realize it, but some parts of Citizen Kane were shot with multi-plane compositions in-camera (with a matte box) in order to achieve the extreme depth-of-field that the movie is famous for. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 25th, 2004, 02:30 PM	#8
Federico Dib Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Barcelona Posts: 312	A theory here: I think that a lot of this "Remove-at-all-cost-Video´s-deep-DOF " obsession, Or "Shallow DOF = FilmLook" might have something to do with a misconception between Deep DOF and a FLAT composition. Of course sometimes we wish our little cameras could have more DOF, but like Bill said.. DOF is just another aspect of the shot, like lightning, camera movement, etc... It´s there to be used wisely when the shot calls fot it. __________________ Messenger Boy : The Thessalonian you're fighting, he's the biggest man I've ever seen. I wouldn't want to fight him. Achilles : That is why no one will remember your name.

February 25th, 2004, 12:43 PM	#5
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Orson Welles would have killed for the kind of depth of field we get today.

February 25th, 2004, 01:01 PM	#7
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Yep. And, I go to a lot of movies, and EVERY shot isn't composed with a shallow depth of field. It's appropriate when it's appropriate, but like anything else, it can be overused inappropriately.

February 25th, 2004, 03:14 PM	#9
Alain Aguilar Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Bergen Posts: 170	I did fall in love with the Deep Focus effect after I watched films such as "The 400 Blows" and "Citizen Kane" a while ago. However, due to the obvious shortcomings of DV, Shallow DOF seems to be the new trend among us. __________________ Alain

February 25th, 2004, 09:47 PM	#10
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	For the most successful format in a long time, I'm not certain DV has too many faults. It does have its own look but I'm not certain that is a fault. My customers like the results a lot. But then I do middle-of-the-road commercial work. They darned well love the lower prices that DV allows. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

February 25th, 2004, 10:09 PM	#11
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Shallow or deep depth of field isn't a DV issue. It's a chip size (mostly) issue.

February 25th, 2004, 11:01 PM	#12
Alain Aguilar Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Bergen Posts: 170	Being that DV does not limit itself to shallow and deep focus (because now days you can do both), it does however, in the deep focus area limits itself to portraying an image of reality (the video look). I think the shallow depth of field, somehow creates a metaphysical sensation regarding the subject being observed. __________________ Alain

February 26th, 2004, 12:04 AM	#13
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Or in other words, Alain, "better than real." __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 26th, 2004, 08:07 AM	#14
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I think it all depends on how you light it.

February 26th, 2004, 09:28 AM	#15
Rob Belics Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 581	One possible reason for the dof issue is the computer graphics involved. From the trailer I saw the cg was very noticeable and not very realistic. This makes me think they didn't have the time or money to properly blend the cg characters into the background so having a flat picture helped in this.