Focusing Canon 7D at DVinfo.net

Rafael Arguello · June 11th, 2010, 12:39 AM

Hi guys!

In two weeks I will be shooting a relatives wedding with three 7d's. I am a little concern in regards to getting critical focus with these cameras since you have to do it manually on the go. I really shouldn't have a problem during the ceremony since everyone will be kinda still, but I am worried about the reception(people moving around, dancing).

Any tips on how to achieve good focus?

What are you guys using to achieve good focus?

Thanks.

Robert Turchick · June 11th, 2010, 01:22 AM

If you want the extreme DOF, Z-Finder with follow focus is how my best results happen.
If the shot doesn't require it, expand your DOF a bit by increasing the f-stop to somewhere around 10-16.
I've used that when I have too many other things going on to deal with manually focusing.
Since you have a 7D, you could also use an external monitor.

Norman Pogson · June 11th, 2010, 08:13 AM

All shots do not have to be shallow depth of field, for the shots where you want great focus choose a wide angle lens and stop it down to f8 - f16, you will have most of the scene in focus allowing you to move. Just remember to keep a minimum distance away from you nearest subject.

On a 24mm lens to give an example, if I focus at 5 feet using f16, the depth of field ranges from 2.5 feet to infinity.

Javier Salinas · June 11th, 2010, 01:51 PM

A good point is to know how much light you will have on the wedding. I shot one a few weeks ago in a church using a 17-50 2.8, a 11-16 2.8 and a 70-200 2.8 and I had to shoot everything on 2.8 and 800 - 1000 iso. Sometimes is very difficult to control the DOF. I was afraid to get a noisy picture by using a higher number. A good advice is a follow focus and lots of practice, of course, and if you're under the sun an LCD viewfinder is a must. But mainly I think is practice pulling the focus. Lately I'm trying to film for some company a horse galloping towards me with the 7D and is really difficult!! I'd need some advice too! :)

June 11th, 2010, 12:39 AM	#1
Rafael Arguello New Boot Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 9	Focusing Canon 7D Hi guys! In two weeks I will be shooting a relatives wedding with three 7d's. I am a little concern in regards to getting critical focus with these cameras since you have to do it manually on the go. I really shouldn't have a problem during the ceremony since everyone will be kinda still, but I am worried about the reception(people moving around, dancing). Any tips on how to achieve good focus? What are you guys using to achieve good focus? Thanks.

June 11th, 2010, 01:22 AM	#2
Robert Turchick Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 1,389	If you want the extreme DOF, Z-Finder with follow focus is how my best results happen. If the shot doesn't require it, expand your DOF a bit by increasing the f-stop to somewhere around 10-16. I've used that when I have too many other things going on to deal with manually focusing. Since you have a 7D, you could also use an external monitor. __________________ The older I get, the better I was!

June 11th, 2010, 08:13 AM	#3
Norman Pogson Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 140	All shots do not have to be shallow depth of field, for the shots where you want great focus choose a wide angle lens and stop it down to f8 - f16, you will have most of the scene in focus allowing you to move. Just remember to keep a minimum distance away from you nearest subject. On a 24mm lens to give an example, if I focus at 5 feet using f16, the depth of field ranges from 2.5 feet to infinity. __________________ My Stock Video Blog Linkedin

June 11th, 2010, 01:51 PM	#4
Javier Salinas Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Valencia (Spain) Posts: 52	A good point is to know how much light you will have on the wedding. I shot one a few weeks ago in a church using a 17-50 2.8, a 11-16 2.8 and a 70-200 2.8 and I had to shoot everything on 2.8 and 800 - 1000 iso. Sometimes is very difficult to control the DOF. I was afraid to get a noisy picture by using a higher number. A good advice is a follow focus and lots of practice, of course, and if you're under the sun an LCD viewfinder is a must. But mainly I think is practice pulling the focus. Lately I'm trying to film for some company a horse galloping towards me with the 7D and is really difficult!! I'd need some advice too! :)