Close focusing of A1 at DVinfo.net

Maheel Perera · September 25th, 2005, 09:57 AM

What is the minimum distance that the A1 lens can be focussed at?. What is the magnification (approximately) at that distance.?

The manual does not say anything about this.

Alexander Karol · September 25th, 2005, 10:56 AM

The manual has information on TELE MACRO. Without TELE MACRO set to ON, the minimum distance is 2.5 ft. With TELE MACRO set to ON, then you can focus on something as close as 48cm (19in.)

Pg. 25 of the Manual

Douglas Spotted Eagle · September 25th, 2005, 11:02 AM

view the whole manual if you need to:
http://www.vasst.com/?v=HDV/hdvportalnew.htm

Maheel Perera · September 26th, 2005, 10:47 AM

Thanks. I made a mistake in formating my question. What I really wanted to know was the magnification at the minimum distanse. It is not in the manual.

Alexander Karol · September 26th, 2005, 02:16 PM

Maginification at the smallest distance? Now I'm confused. =/

Stu Holmes · September 26th, 2005, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maheel Perera

Thanks. I made a mistake in formating my question. What I really wanted to know was the magnification at the minimum distanse. It is not in the manual.

Maheel

Well since the lens is at max. telelphoto, this is equivalent to a 480mm focal length (in 35mm-equivalent speak) and since 50mm (in35mm) is supposed to equate to 1x magnification, my educated guess is that the mag. is 9.6x.

In other words, it's really no different to the magnification you get when at max.telephoto but not in telemacro mode. Telemacro mode simply *allows* the camera (via whatever mechanism) to focus that close.

Alex - you studied film at University i hear, so I'd have thought that you'd have been able to at least hazard a guess at this. Hmm..

Maheel Perera · September 26th, 2005, 08:25 PM

Stu,

You are refering to the zoom factor compared to a standard lens in the 35 mm format. In the macro/close up photography magnification refers to the size of the actual object and the image on the CCD/Film.

For example if the object size is 4" and the image on the film frame is 1/2" the magnification is 1/8.

Stu Holmes · September 26th, 2005, 11:39 PM

Maheel

well why don't you do a simple test. Take an image at max. telephoto of a known object, maybe a coin, which you can measure the diameter of.
The sensor on A1 is 1/3rd in. and aspect ratio of 4:3 so you can look up on variou sites the x/y size of the sensor. (dpreview.com has some good sensor size info).

Then measure what proportion of the width (or diameter) of a full-frame image the coin has taken up and you can easily calculate the answer to your question.

Maheel Perera · September 27th, 2005, 09:23 AM

Yes Stu,

The problem is I do not own an A1. I own an FX1. In fact I thought of buying the A1 because of the advertised macro facility. But looking at the samples shaon in the manual it seems the so called macro does not go beyond 1/10 magnification,which is not macro but close up photograhy.

Fredrik-Larsson · September 27th, 2005, 11:45 AM

I just recorded a short snippet of macrozoom on my HC1.

http://www.apollologic.com/movies/test/macro.wmv

It's quite shaky but I just wanted to give you a rough guess of what it looks like. You probably now the size of a standard R6/AA battery. It's taken on a half metre distance. I think it's the same closeup on 1 metres distance.

Maheel Perera · October 7th, 2005, 07:42 PM

Thanks Frederik,

I only had time to visit the site today. apologies for the late response.

Does the A1 has better macro.

Fredrik-Larsson · October 8th, 2005, 02:31 AM

No I think the macro is the same for A1 as HC1.

September 25th, 2005, 09:57 AM	#1
Maheel Perera Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 128	Close focusing of A1 What is the minimum distance that the A1 lens can be focussed at?. What is the magnification (approximately) at that distance.? The manual does not say anything about this.

September 25th, 2005, 11:02 AM	#3
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	view the whole manual if you need to: http://www.vasst.com/?v=HDV/hdvportalnew.htm __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

September 27th, 2005, 11:45 AM	#10
Fredrik-Larsson Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Malmö, Sweden Posts: 395	I just recorded a short snippet of macrozoom on my HC1. http://www.apollologic.com/movies/test/macro.wmv It's quite shaky but I just wanted to give you a rough guess of what it looks like. You probably now the size of a standard R6/AA battery. It's taken on a half metre distance. I think it's the same closeup on 1 metres distance. __________________ The Russian Captain (upcoming feature) http://trc-movie.blogspot.com/ My movies http://www.larssonfilm.com/

October 8th, 2005, 02:31 AM	#12
Fredrik-Larsson Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Malmö, Sweden Posts: 395	No I think the macro is the same for A1 as HC1. __________________ The Russian Captain (upcoming feature) http://trc-movie.blogspot.com/ My movies http://www.larssonfilm.com/

September 25th, 2005, 10:56 AM	#2
Alexander Karol Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 198	The manual has information on TELE MACRO. Without TELE MACRO set to ON, the minimum distance is 2.5 ft. With TELE MACRO set to ON, then you can focus on something as close as 48cm (19in.) Pg. 25 of the Manual

September 26th, 2005, 10:47 AM	#4
Maheel Perera Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 128	Thanks. I made a mistake in formating my question. What I really wanted to know was the magnification at the minimum distanse. It is not in the manual.

September 26th, 2005, 02:16 PM	#5
Alexander Karol Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 198	Maginification at the smallest distance? Now I'm confused. =/

September 26th, 2005, 08:25 PM	#7
Maheel Perera Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 128	Stu, You are refering to the zoom factor compared to a standard lens in the 35 mm format. In the macro/close up photography magnification refers to the size of the actual object and the image on the CCD/Film. For example if the object size is 4" and the image on the film frame is 1/2" the magnification is 1/8.

September 26th, 2005, 11:39 PM	#8
Stu Holmes Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Europe Posts: 844	Maheel well why don't you do a simple test. Take an image at max. telephoto of a known object, maybe a coin, which you can measure the diameter of. The sensor on A1 is 1/3rd in. and aspect ratio of 4:3 so you can look up on variou sites the x/y size of the sensor. (dpreview.com has some good sensor size info). Then measure what proportion of the width (or diameter) of a full-frame image the coin has taken up and you can easily calculate the answer to your question.

September 27th, 2005, 09:23 AM	#9
Maheel Perera Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 128	Yes Stu, The problem is I do not own an A1. I own an FX1. In fact I thought of buying the A1 because of the advertised macro facility. But looking at the samples shaon in the manual it seems the so called macro does not go beyond 1/10 magnification,which is not macro but close up photograhy.

October 7th, 2005, 07:42 PM	#11
Maheel Perera Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 128	Thanks Frederik, I only had time to visit the site today. apologies for the late response. Does the A1 has better macro.