How to reduce depth of field on HC1 at DVinfo.net

Pedro Paiva · September 8th, 2006, 08:39 AM

Hey guys.

Would anybody have any tips on how to reduce depth of field using a Sony HC1 camera?
I've been trying in on the maximum "tele" zoom with "2 to 5 metres" distance to the subject and it works good specially for macro shoots.
I was wondering then if anybody would have any idea on how to do an interview (close-up shot) with a blurred background....
Where to position the talent, distance from the camera and from the background....

Thanks, guys.

PP

Joe Winchester · September 13th, 2006, 04:14 PM

Shallower depth of field is controlled in a few ways.

1. Zoom in on subject. Telephoto lenses have a shallower DOF than wide-angle. Move back from the subject and zoom in.

2. Open aperture all the way.

3. Move subject further away from background.

Of course you'd need a big room to use all of these techniques, but they're guaranteed to work.

If the room is too tight, the easiest way is to fake the DOF. Make a garbage matte in FCP or Premiere with a blur on it to simulate the depth, or in After Effects duplicate the layer and create a mask with a blur to achieve the look. I've done this before with satisfactory results.

Justin Tomchuk · September 13th, 2006, 07:05 PM

I believe a Neutral Density Filter will make the depth of field more shallow as well.

Jon Fairhurst · September 14th, 2006, 11:07 AM

Another solution is to shoot the foreground in front of a green screen, and composite in front of a blurred background.

Richard Zlamany · September 14th, 2006, 02:35 PM

A letus35a will work if it can be used with HC1. I am not sure.

http://www.letus35.com/letus35.html

Don Donatello · September 14th, 2006, 05:32 PM

use a foldable green screen behind the person then when you add the background blur it !!

Carl Jakobsson · September 27th, 2006, 06:57 PM

Do like Joe writes. That's the common procedure.

I've done som masking too in After Effects, also with nice results. There are some plugins out there that simulates the blur of camera lenses, better than any of the built in blurs in AE.

I you plan to mask, make sure that the scene is as static as possible, masking a scene with motion is a pain.

This is done in AE, and it is NOT very static. Had to do some serious stabilizing before... By the way, it hasn't had any cc or noise reduction.. :)
http://www.nattvard.com/upload/aedof.mpg

September 8th, 2006, 08:39 AM	#1
Pedro Paiva Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Phuket, Thailand Posts: 30	How to reduce depth of field on HC1 Hey guys. Would anybody have any tips on how to reduce depth of field using a Sony HC1 camera? I've been trying in on the maximum "tele" zoom with "2 to 5 metres" distance to the subject and it works good specially for macro shoots. I was wondering then if anybody would have any idea on how to do an interview (close-up shot) with a blurred background.... Where to position the talent, distance from the camera and from the background.... Thanks, guys. PP

September 14th, 2006, 11:07 AM	#4
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Another solution is to shoot the foreground in front of a green screen, and composite in front of a blurred background. __________________ Jon Fairhurst

September 27th, 2006, 06:57 PM	#7
Carl Jakobsson Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Lund, Sweden Posts: 122	Do like Joe writes. That's the common procedure. I've done som masking too in After Effects, also with nice results. There are some plugins out there that simulates the blur of camera lenses, better than any of the built in blurs in AE. I you plan to mask, make sure that the scene is as static as possible, masking a scene with motion is a pain. This is done in AE, and it is NOT very static. Had to do some serious stabilizing before... By the way, it hasn't had any cc or noise reduction.. :) http://www.nattvard.com/upload/aedof.mpg __________________ http://www.nattvard.com

September 13th, 2006, 04:14 PM	#2
Joe Winchester Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 125	Shallower depth of field is controlled in a few ways. 1. Zoom in on subject. Telephoto lenses have a shallower DOF than wide-angle. Move back from the subject and zoom in. 2. Open aperture all the way. 3. Move subject further away from background. Of course you'd need a big room to use all of these techniques, but they're guaranteed to work. If the room is too tight, the easiest way is to fake the DOF. Make a garbage matte in FCP or Premiere with a blur on it to simulate the depth, or in After Effects duplicate the layer and create a mask with a blur to achieve the look. I've done this before with satisfactory results.

September 13th, 2006, 07:05 PM	#3
Justin Tomchuk Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Montreal Posts: 164	I believe a Neutral Density Filter will make the depth of field more shallow as well.

September 14th, 2006, 02:35 PM	#5
Richard Zlamany Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hamden CT Posts: 470	A letus35a will work if it can be used with HC1. I am not sure. http://www.letus35.com/letus35.html

September 14th, 2006, 05:32 PM	#6
Don Donatello Hawaiian Shirt Mogul Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: northern cailfornia Posts: 1,261	use a foldable green screen behind the person then when you add the background blur it !!