racking focus at DVinfo.net

Joshua Tan · April 16th, 2005, 01:33 PM

is it possible to do a good rack focus with anamorphic lenses in a dvx100? thanks

Barry Green · April 18th, 2005, 11:57 AM

Not really, no. The anamorphic needs to use deep depth of field to overcome the inherent astigmatism of it focusing the horizontal and vertical planes at different distances. Rack focus requires shallow depth of field. So, while it might be slightly possible under certain circumstances, I'll just go ahead and proclaim that for practical purposes, no, no rack focus when using the anamorphic.

Daniel Hollister · April 18th, 2005, 04:15 PM

Ditto.

That's the one thing that I hate about the anamorphic lens - it steals any chance you had of getting a shallow depth of field. I mean, a rack focus is POSSIBLE, but we're talking... the subjects have to be way far apart, your iris has to be all the way open, and you'll have to be zommed about 85%, and even then, it won't be anywhere near as shallow as you'd like.

April 16th, 2005, 01:33 PM	#1
Joshua Tan Tourist Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1	racking focus is it possible to do a good rack focus with anamorphic lenses in a dvx100? thanks

April 18th, 2005, 11:57 AM	#2
Barry Green Barry Wan Kenobi Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,863	Not really, no. The anamorphic needs to use deep depth of field to overcome the inherent astigmatism of it focusing the horizontal and vertical planes at different distances. Rack focus requires shallow depth of field. So, while it might be slightly possible under certain circumstances, I'll just go ahead and proclaim that for practical purposes, no, no rack focus when using the anamorphic.

April 18th, 2005, 04:15 PM	#3
Daniel Hollister Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 128	Ditto. That's the one thing that I hate about the anamorphic lens - it steals any chance you had of getting a shallow depth of field. I mean, a rack focus is POSSIBLE, but we're talking... the subjects have to be way far apart, your iris has to be all the way open, and you'll have to be zommed about 85%, and even then, it won't be anywhere near as shallow as you'd like.