What if I told you pulling focus was certainly no cakewalk? It’s hard….really hard! But don’t you worry? There are some skills that you ought to have being a focus puller that will help you keep your eyes on your talent. A quick focus pulling tip would work it out for you. Many people out there may be living with a perception that pulling focus is tough. I agree that it’s tough but to a certain extent. Unless you come equipped with the needed skills, pulling focus would take you on a ride you’d find it hard to get off from.
Anyway! When it comes to pulling focus, clear and quick visual access to your marks plays a very crucial role. If the marks don’t seem right, or they’re off even by a little bit, you’ll find yourself with a take loaded with soft footage before you even know it. And believe when I say that’s the last thing you’d ever wish for.
Well, marks are an imperative entity every camera assistant talks about, and why won’t they? Marking closeups. Marking on dollys. But where to put those marks is seldom discussed.
Let’s talk about Marking on the Lens…
How to make marks directly on the lens itself? Use a grease pencil. As simple as that! Or, you can choose to make marks using a thin strip of tape which is placed around the barrel.
You can opt for either way, but the main idea is to have your marks placed next to the etched distance markings.
So, what are the benefits and drawbacks of this method?
Benefits:
1.Consistency in Marks
Irrespective of the number of times you unmount or re-mount a lens, the mark will be there. Truth be told, it’s great when you’re measuring distance and add your own irregular markings.
2.Less Confusing
It may be possible for a long focus pull to include one, two, or even three successive rotations of the follow focus wheel which cause the marks you make on it having no context.
3.Perfect Accuracy
Beyond question the most accurate, unless the lens housing doesnt work as expected, in which case you have several various issues to take care of. A more definite mark makes pulling focus a smooth job to carry out. This is because when you marks on the lens at 8ft 5”, you’d know every time you pull to that distance it’ll be precisely right.
Drawbacks:
1. Tough to See
Small lenses, for example, Zeiss Superspeeds, are driven by their tendency of getting overwhelmed by gear around them. All these accessories lined up in front of the DSLR can make it tough for one to see the marks on the lenses.
2.Lack of Color Variation
Well, another objection I seem to have when it comes to using grease pencils is the comparative lack of color variation. With colors you can have these pencils allocated to relate with diverse conditions, subjects, or characters. When you practice, yellow and white are the only colors that have proven advantageous. Well, red is the one that’s faded in low light scenarios.
3.Accuracy is a Problem on Short Throw
There’s another major complaint that I have to admit i.e., grease pencils get dull and they get tough for the precision. With a focus pull where the pull does not cover a lot of rooms on the lens, two marks placed next to each other can give the appearance of big mark as a whole.
I’d say that marking on the lens is fantastic if you’re able to see it. In fact, it’s the most precise way to mark and.
Now moving to “Marking on the Follow Focus”
A white dry-erase disc can be found the around the wheel of a follow focus which can be written on with special pens. This disc can certainly be removed from the follow focus. If you want, you could have them pre-marked and go on swapping right ones.
Benefits:
1. Great Visibility
It’s a lot more easier to see than the lens, because the follow focus sticks out from the camera.
2. Effortless and Minor Clutter
While some people will involve themselves in an argument with regard to having the etched distance markings on the lens seems more like an advantage, it results in mess now and then and prevents you from seeing your true mark. It keeps you distracted.
Well, that split second distraction seems enough to miss your mark, but with a clean focus disc, you’ll want to have is one mark.
3.More Colors
Since the color of the disc is white, you can use a number of colors than on the lens. This works to your advantage if there are 3 characters in a scene which hit numerous marks and you want to use a color for each character.
Drawbacks:
1. Enhanced Play and Low Precision
“Play” occurs when the follow focus will turn without having to move the focus ring on the lens. It determines how the follow focus is built and how it’s attached to the lens.
2.Slow Reaction Times
It surely takes extra time when it comes to taking a glance over the follow focus, while staring down the camera side. This extra time is what it takes for the subject to move off the mark you’ve compensated for.
3.Changes
Every time you change a lens, you have no other option but to remark the follow focus. This really gets annoying if you seem to swap lenses continuously at the last minute.
Which One Will You Settle For?
There were times when I had to choose marking on the lens, and others where I’ve preferred to mark only on the follow focus.
Do you favor the precision and speed of marking on the lens? Or, do you prefer the simplicity and visibility of the follow focus disc? When you reach for a mark, do you grab a grease pencil or dry-erase pen?
