focusing

[PatrickvanWeeren]

Dear Job and other ops,

 

considering Film and video : --> always a focus puller

considering Broadcast live television:

 

I'd use the J-7 and or a focus puller. Whenever I've had the luxurious pleasure of a focus puller I'd still do my own zooming. (Which ends up in not really zooming at all)

 

All directors that I've worked with using a focus puller are convinced that they can use the steadicam twice as good compared to working without a focus puller.

 

The one-man band has the restriction of simple wide-angle shots.

 

It happened before that during rehearsal the director overruled the producer and got me a focus puller... Great feeling !

 

I'm not capable of working long lenses and pulling focus at the same time, I'm a human being not a three handed, double brain Mac dual processor with emotions.

 

Well ... I've got a split personality , I'm not shure... I should try to stop my medication and figure it out .... He might be able to help me out...

 

By the way Job what kind of wireless remote zoom do you use?

 

Kind regards,

 

 

Patrick van Weeren

[JobScholtze]

By the way Job what kind of wireless remote zoom do you use?

 

Kind regards,

 

 

Patrick van Weeren

Hi Patrick,

 

After renting different remotes i am now the happy owner of the new Benz4000 system. Link to Benz4000

 

It's easy to use for film and video . For film you need a extra motor of course.

 

If you want, try it out. Just lett me know.

 

Greetings

[Peter Abraham]

I'd use the J-7 and or a focus puller. Whenever I've had the luxurious pleasure of a focus puller I'd still do my own zooming. (Which ends up in not really zooming at all)

Patrick van Weeren

Patrick, your comments here bring up a more insidious element. I've gone out on quite a few jobs where "the last guy/gal" made the director insane by saying just this:

I don't zoom. Steadicams don't zoom. You want to move closer? I'll walk closer to the talent, that's what a Steadicam is for !!

 

My god. I was told this on the show I was working when the September 11th attack happened. They'd used an op in another city in the USA which will remain nameless. This op said just the above quote. They grimaced, watched this Op's shadow waltzing up the talent's chest as he/she walked in closer. Cause Steadicams don't zoom.

 

Puh-leeeeze. In addition to being obnoxious diva talk, it's a sin not to make use of a J-7 or similar smooth device to massage a frame. Few Steadicam shots require a snap zoom during a tracking shot, but my goodness, there are tons of moments when I rely on the zoom control to ease in and out of a frame size.

 

It's a tool that can only make you look better, and never look worse. If yours is twitchy like Alec's was, then yeah- set it aside till it's tended to or replaced. If you do broadcast video work, I would urge you to have this item in your kit.

[David Campbell]

Hi Peter,

 

If I recall correctly the J-7 is a slender hand control about 6" long with a slider for zoom (does it also have a run switch as does preston?). Does it come with a rosette that you then use to attach to a gimbal clamp of your own design or does it come with a gimbal clamp out of the box as does the Stanten? Do you then operate with your hand on the control which is attached to the gimbal hand grip or position so that you still hold the handle and move your thumb to the J-7? Does it require a power feed from the rig? Can you post pix? Look forward to whatever info you care to pass on.

 

David Campbell

dscmove@yahoo.com