T1i video focus/DOF issues

So I was taking some videos indoors yesterday with my 18-55 kit lens.

I would pan, zoom in on subjects, etc.. and I guess it's just completely different from my point+shoots in the past.

My main problem was I had focusing issues. It seemed like there was a relatively shallow DOF and therefore I had to adjust the focus ring whenever I panned, and I didn't always know which way to turn it

Is there anything I can do to have a larger DOFon my videos? MOST videos I take on my T1i will not be of an artistic nature where the DOF plays a nice role...

Video on the T1i is fully automatic exposure by design. Since you were shooting indoors (and likely in somewhat reduced light levels) the automatic exposure was probably trying to use wider apertures and zooming to the telephoto end on your kit lens it was more than likely using F5.6 (max aperture in the 55mm position).

To get a little more DOF (deeper zone of acceptable focus) you need a smaller lens opening and there is a "workaround" method to get this with the T1i. First go to AV mode and select F8 (F11 if your interior is pretty brightly lit), then holding the DOF button in depress the lens lock button and turn the lens barrel ever so slightly in the direction you would if removing the lens. The amount of turn needed is very little and when the aperture on the LCD changes from F8 (or F11) to F00 that is far enough.

What you have just done is disconnect the electrical contacts between lens and body so the lens cannot "communicate" with the body nor can the body "control" the lens. If you held the DOF button in as you did the "unlock and turn" the aperture remains at the value you had selected in AV mode. If you don't hold the DOF button in the aperture is "locked" at wide open.

It will stay this way even if you turn the camera off and back on, it remains at that "locked" setting until you either lock the lens back in place or remove it.

Now turn the dial on top to movie mode, point the camera at the "scene" and lightly depress the shutter button half way, the shutter speed the camera will use appears on the lower left of the LCD and the ISO the camera sets appears on the lower right. I believe 1600 is the max ISO value usable in video mode.

Here is a video tutorial I did on this (I didn't know about depressing the DOF button when I did this but all else is correct). http://www.vimeo.com/6​266026

You are best off not trying to autofocus while actually recording video, manual focus is much smoother and more accurate. And manual focus is the only focus you can do with the lens "unlocked" (remembering to slide the focus switch on the lens to the MF position). Zooming while recording is possible but difficult to hold the camera still.

Good luck. The T1i is a fine camera.

Bruce Foreman

Has anyone tried using an FD lens, with an adapter, on a T1i to shoot video?

Lycomech96 wrote in post #9280205
Has anyone tried using an FD lens, with an adapter, on a T1i to shoot video?

Why though? I mean I have FD lenses that go with my AE-1 Program but I'd prefer newer glass with better (more advanced) optics. Or is it you have a good bit of FD glass lying around and trying to find use for it aside from 35mm?

Wow super tip Bruce! thanks

Yes this guy put a FD lens on his for this very purpose

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=qk5rgcArHy4

http://www.youtube.com …ulk2009#p/u/0/M​mXIAyLRtHE