As a Nikon shouter, I've been using MF all the time in video. With the D7200 I was pleased with the video IQ but it was a slow process preparing the shots and I began to feel I'm losing much because of not being able to rely on AF. So now, I'm buying a good priced Canon m50 kit for my video purposes hoping that it'll solve all my focus problems... Can't wait to experience the dual pixel touch AF as well. I'll also keep my Nikon system for photos, though.
I have a Nikon D3400. I shoot manual. At 24fps my shutter speed will be 1/60 sec. if 60fps I shoot at 1/125 sec. This gives me a good cinematic effect. My aperture and ISO are based on the metering for the exposure with ISO and aperture. It also depends on the subject. If the subject is going to be stationary or moving left to right, I’ll use back button focus because the focal plane won’t change too much, and my other settings are centred weighted metering, and single servo. If the subject is constantly changing, then I’ll use continuous servo. AF-C. I had the camera on full auto the very first video I tried which was a huge mistake. I had the camera for less than a few months and adjusting to RAW and manual settings. I had bagpipers moving left to right but the camera was set to auto focus. So if a subject that was closer walked in front of me, the camera readjusted focus for the closer object and then again for those far away. Because the frame rate wasn’t half the shutter speed, the video was frames were jumping. That was the one day I learned that lesson fast and found a way not to let that happen again.
I cannot stand seeing YT (or other) videos in which the subject being filmed is out of focus, or in which the camera is 'hunting' for focus. So, in part-preparation for launching my YT channel later this year, I bought the Canon M50, which, despite about 13 (I'm serious) other limitations (from my perspective) has fantastic 1080p autofocus. So, I will be using the autofocus when shooting 1080p, but did some tests the other day as a prep for using manual focus, when I shoot in 4K (because Canon has disabled the wonderful Dual Pixel Autofocus when in 4K mode). I suppose that rather than manually focusing on a subject before I start shooting video (in 4K mode), I could try to adapt Matt's idea of letting the camera hunt for focus, and then switch to manual (obviously, for this, I would need to be shooting a static subject - me, most of the time - and would have to set up some kind of prop to represent my head and face, let the terrible 4K autofocus hunt that, and then try to go into manual mode in order to lock the focus down, but I am not sure that is possible with the M50).
Just like you Matt, I use AF to set up the focus while in manual focus single point Back Button style. From there I pull focus while rolling for that smooth pull without that AF hunt. However, lately I've been using AF with single point while one handing the video camera to shift focus (mostly for drive lapse one hand held). With the DfD on the Lumix G9, there is not much hunt, and with good lenses no focus breathing.
I use my Canon cameras when doing vlogging and music videos with auto focus and I use my Panasonic's when doing readers theater (which is sort of a set up like yours as the reader is staying in the same spot talking to the camera.) and use manual and focus peaking. 😊
I use auto focus in 4k with a7riii with gmaster lens on a gimbal. I shoot professionally for a client weekly social media content. Auto focus is awesome, since before this job I never filmed a video before and could not manual focus a video. I'm learning now but without that auto focus, I'd be out a lot of money.
Love the i pad screen for photos and vid viewing ideal size for me the pan app and sony ok for control use af if selfie moving for any camera but especially contrast based avoid long to short visa versa focusing sudden movements learn how to squeeze your cameras quirks slow movements so many tests are EXTREME!!
What happened to matt?? why no uploads for the past 1 year i love his compact straight to the point interview style video all other youtuber have like a 3 min b roll intro
I think a person filming a movie is doing a very different job from someone who is , for example, a wedding or event photographer who needs to switch to recording video of an opening speech or a first dance. A movie is scripted. the actors stand in one place, facing a specific direction, under exact lighting conditions. The person recording it knows where the actors will be standing and when and where they will move to. A photographer who is recording video is pretty unlikely to have a totally scripted set like that. You don;t get to dictate where people stand or where and when they can move. You've got to be able to capture video under the conditions you've got. Sure you can bring some LED lights and choose the best place you can stand, but for the most part , you 've got to be able to work with what you've got. A good video autofocus system is a must have
God no! I bought the crane 2 with the FF servo just so I could keep control. Auto focus is great but is extremely overused thanks to vlogers ignorantly claiming that it's perfect for everything. I use cine lenses anyhow.
