I don't seem to be able to focus at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Sony XAVC / XDCAM / NXCAM / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Sony XDCAM EX Pro Handhelds

Sony XDCAM EX Pro Handhelds
Sony PXW-Z280, Z190, X180 etc. (going back to EX3 & EX1) recording to SxS flash memory.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old November 1st, 2009, 04:59 PM   #1
Trustee
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Rhinelander, WI
Posts: 1,258
I don't seem to be able to focus

I have shot this test footage with my EX3. I seem to be getting the hang of proper exposure etc, but I still cannot focus properly.

I shot it with the default 1080-60i, using manual iris and focus. When I was looking into the viewfinder, I thought I was focusing at the leaves closest to me, but they do not seem sharp at all. And when I moved the camera to look at the road, I could not tell by looking in the viewfinder what was sharp and what was not at all.

I even turned the peeking dial up a bit, but that makes it even more confusing. I wear glasses for distance viewing, but since the viewfinder is not looking at the actual screen but at a nearby monitor, I should not need any glasses theoretically.

Then again, I have diabetes, so my vision is always blurred a bit no matter what I do.

Any suggestions?
Adam Stanislav is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 1st, 2009, 05:15 PM   #2
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 121
Have you tried to adjust the diopter adjustment? It's on the viewfinder near the rubber eye cup thingy.
__________________
EX3, Z1U, FX1, D1X / NeXTstation Turbo Color / FCS3
Brooks Graham is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 1st, 2009, 05:26 PM   #3
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,609
if you wear glasses for reading then you probably want to wear them to operate the camera. As stated, adjust the eyepiece diopter on the VF but then make sure the lens is backfocused correctly.
__________________
What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer.
Don
Don Bloom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 1st, 2009, 06:05 PM   #4
Trustee
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Rhinelander, WI
Posts: 1,258
Thanks, everyone. I do not wear glasses for reading.

I tried the diopter control when I first got the camera and could not see a difference. But now that you mentioned it, I have tried it again. This time I turned on the color bars. Of course, color bars are of little help with focusing, but my zebras were on in one of the color bars. And the zebras were really blurred. So, I played with the diopter control again, and found a position where the zebras were sharp.

I hope that solved it then. It is too dark now but I will test it tomorrow during the day again.

Thanks for your help, and I may just have found a good technique for finding the right position of the diopter ring. :)
Adam Stanislav is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 2nd, 2009, 03:37 AM   #5
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK
Posts: 4,957
Try changing the peaking from the default white to a color. I use blue and it's much easier to see. It's in the VF settings section of the menu.
__________________
Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com
Alister Chapman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 2nd, 2009, 08:03 AM   #6
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Overland Park, KS
Posts: 233
Make sure you are using MANUAL focus ... auto focus will only cause you focus problems.
Brian Barkley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 2nd, 2009, 02:09 PM   #7
Trustee
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Rhinelander, WI
Posts: 1,258
Thanks again, everyone. Yes, I was using manual focus. The problem was not with the focusing per se but with me not seeing it clearly in the VF.

As I said, I adjusted the VF by making sure the zebras looked sharp. I have shot some test footage today and it looks just like what I saw in the VF. So, if anybody else needs to adjust the diopter of their viewfinder in the future, do what I did: Turn on the zebras and the color bars and adjust the diopter to the point where the zebras look the sharpest to your eye.

Now I need to learn how to hold the camera steady with one hand while trying to find and turn the focus ring with the other. :) I guess that will come with practice when I come to the point when I can just do it without having to think about it.
Adam Stanislav is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Sony XAVC / XDCAM / NXCAM / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Sony XDCAM EX Pro Handhelds

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:14 AM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network