Daniel Trout
May 16th, 2011, 09:01 PM
I have a question about the possibilities of focus control on a Steadicam.
I've got an HM700 that purchased about 9 months ago, and am considering investing in a Steadicam Flyer LE in the next couple years or so, (or a used Zephyr, or whatever new toy Tiffin has come out with that happens to be in my price range by then.)
Now, I openly admit. I've NEVER worn a vest/arm stabilizer rig, but I think I could pick up the flow and feel to it pretty rapidly with the proper training.
Now, I'm well aware of the wireless focus controllers that most folks who NEED them use with their rigs, (and the price tag attached to them.) I've also read the common work-arounds for not having a follow focus on their stabilizer rigs, (keeping the telephoto wide and the aperture stopped down for deeper focus, setting your focus at your end point in the move, and trying to maintain the same distance from your subject, etc. etc.)
Honestly, I can really think of VERY few situations in which I would NEED a shallow DOF on a shot that required a Steadicam, (I personally think deeper focuses on Steadicam shots work better aesthetically, as the camera movement should be DOING something to transport the audience TO the next location, and for that, they REALLY have to see the surroundings.) But STILL, there is a this little niggling desire to come up with another way of handling this.
So, here's my thought:
If you've got a camera with an broadcast-style lens, could you perhaps attach a standard studio focus block to the lens, then run the controller cable down the sled through the center post, (where all of the other cabling runs,) and drill a hole in the post for it to pass through right below the gimble so you can mount the focus controller around where you're holding the rig anyway?
There are some positioning issues working around where to mount the focus controller so it would be out of the way of the arm and not interfere with the gimble itself, or the connection to the arm, but I think that maybe it could be done.
Now, I don't think that I'm the first Sub-Genius to come up with this solution, so what I really want to know is why it doesn't work? Is it a balance issue? Those focus control cables can be a little wonky in terms of weight, and I'd imagine that it would seriously throw off the weight, and would cause some problems in dynamic balance, but as I've never actually FLOWN a rig, I don't know.
Thoughts? Anyone else had this hair-brained idea who's actually TRIED something like it?
All the best.
-D
I've got an HM700 that purchased about 9 months ago, and am considering investing in a Steadicam Flyer LE in the next couple years or so, (or a used Zephyr, or whatever new toy Tiffin has come out with that happens to be in my price range by then.)
Now, I openly admit. I've NEVER worn a vest/arm stabilizer rig, but I think I could pick up the flow and feel to it pretty rapidly with the proper training.
Now, I'm well aware of the wireless focus controllers that most folks who NEED them use with their rigs, (and the price tag attached to them.) I've also read the common work-arounds for not having a follow focus on their stabilizer rigs, (keeping the telephoto wide and the aperture stopped down for deeper focus, setting your focus at your end point in the move, and trying to maintain the same distance from your subject, etc. etc.)
Honestly, I can really think of VERY few situations in which I would NEED a shallow DOF on a shot that required a Steadicam, (I personally think deeper focuses on Steadicam shots work better aesthetically, as the camera movement should be DOING something to transport the audience TO the next location, and for that, they REALLY have to see the surroundings.) But STILL, there is a this little niggling desire to come up with another way of handling this.
So, here's my thought:
If you've got a camera with an broadcast-style lens, could you perhaps attach a standard studio focus block to the lens, then run the controller cable down the sled through the center post, (where all of the other cabling runs,) and drill a hole in the post for it to pass through right below the gimble so you can mount the focus controller around where you're holding the rig anyway?
There are some positioning issues working around where to mount the focus controller so it would be out of the way of the arm and not interfere with the gimble itself, or the connection to the arm, but I think that maybe it could be done.
Now, I don't think that I'm the first Sub-Genius to come up with this solution, so what I really want to know is why it doesn't work? Is it a balance issue? Those focus control cables can be a little wonky in terms of weight, and I'd imagine that it would seriously throw off the weight, and would cause some problems in dynamic balance, but as I've never actually FLOWN a rig, I don't know.
Thoughts? Anyone else had this hair-brained idea who's actually TRIED something like it?
All the best.
-D