5D2 video - focusing

Hi guys,

Im really having a hard time with the focusing of the camera (5D2) when using the video function of it. Im suspecting that the LCD is too small especially when Im trying to manually focus.

How do you guys keep subjects in focus? Im familiar with dof however, i feel that when i try to follow focus a subject, that is when all hell breaks loose. Is there a way (cheaper) to get something similar to hoodman loupe or a cheap bigger lcd monitor?

Thanks guys for your help!

do you use a follow focus?

That makes a HUGE difference IMO

Nope. I wanted to but it is expensive. I don't take videos and earn from it. Would you recommend some diy or cheap stuff?

Indisystems has some good, cheap stuff. Their costumer service is a little slow (pretty sure it is just one person running it) but I have a set of rails and a follow focus and they both have paid for themselves many times over.

http://indisystem.com/

I'm running and gunning only with the LCDVF. Works for me. If you get a follow focus you'll probably need a shoulder rig or a tripod and those will bring the price up.

A follow focus is not a necessity but an external LCD or viewfinder is. Even with a FF, the LCD on the camera is just too small to do any sort of critical focusing. So I would recommend looking at getting a decent viewfinder like Zacuto Z-finder -- there are cheaper alternatives too.

The best to correct that problem is to use a lens that has a longer rotation. EF lens have something-like 45-90deg turn while MF lens and cinema lens have ~180deg and ~300deg, respectively.

EF lens focus so quick that youll be bouncing around trying to follow the subject, making things very frustrating.

I'm also doing it for fun and just learning, but want to get a follow focus. My Gini shoulder rig is supposedly sitting at my house. I have a LCDVF, Rode VideoMic, and Zoom H1. Trying to find a follow focus that will work with the height of my 1DIV on a quick release plate.

Pratice as well. The LCDVF really helps you see what you are focusing on. An external monitor would do the same.

I guess I should invest on practice time.

Thanks all for your comments. They all helped.

Jamesb, you mentioned zoom h1. what is that?

It is a digital audio recorder that I am plugging the Rode Videomic into for my audio. This is allowing me a seperate track of audio. I use the audio on camera as a reference and to sync it up to the video.

Zoom H1
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …rtable_Digital_​Audio.html

Rode Videomic
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …eoMic_Camera_Mo​unted.html

I might upgrade to this if I keep making videos. It will give me four seperate tracks of audio. So I can use the shotgun mic and lav mics on people to get clear audio from them as well.

Trust me, i'm still learning and this is a much different animal than photography. Trying to wrap my head around all my editing software as well.

Zoom H4n
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Handy_Mobile_4_​Track.html

The rode mic is cheaper there than here in Canada. It is still selling at more than $200 (cdn).

I should agree that the video is really a different field. I should practice more!

See my thread w/ photos here.

https://photography-on-the.net …p?p=11226414#po​st11226414