One of the things I love about your cameras is lack of auto focus - no, seriously. I come from a long history of film and broadcast cameras and pulling focus is my preferred over hoping a machine algorithm reads my mind and intentions.
There are times when running as a solo shooter with no crew and wanting to pull focus or do a nice reveal that I would like to be able to control lenses with auto focus a bit more than the camera can internally. The Android app allows this wonderfully, but it is cumbersome to have to operate both camera and cell phone at the same time.
I would like to see an additional focus icon right over the histogram that would bring up a live side menu with four buttons:
Bottom right would end the focus contro and return the camera to normal operating menu.
On the left, the three buttons would control a set near focal point, a set far focal point and a duration.
Long pressing either the near or far button would set a focus point while a short tap would tell the camera to go to that focal point.
Tapping the middle button would bring up a menu with duration of the focus pull, say half second, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 up to maybe 10.
The Android app already allows this, so it is something obviously possible inside the camera, but using a cell phone AND handling the camera, especially handheld is a PITA. The two biggest complaints I hear about BMPCC cameras are no IBIS and no auto focus - giving us a ""focus puller" inside the camera without needing any additional cages or rigging (does anyone even make a cage that will take the 6k Pro with battery grip?) would be fantastic.
The "focus off" button bottom right would turn off the function. For those using cine lenses, no harm, no foul, just a small unused icon bottom left.
For me, when I want the cine camera experience, I reach for my Ursa and rig it out. My BMPCC's may not actually fit in my pocket, but the concept of a small, versatile handheld camera that gives me this kind of quality in a tiny package is simply amazing. The only downfall for such a small light camera is the ergonomics of focusing. Yes, I know how to pull focus, been doing it for thirty years, but this would add another layer of usefulness and ease of operation to these wonderful cameras. Everything we have as filmmakers is a tool, to be used at the right time and in the right circumstance.
I have thought a lot lately about the Sony A7s iii and I realize the ONLY reason is because of the focus... if BMD gave me the option to control the focus pull without having to attach my cell phone to the cage, I doubt I would even be looking at the Sony. I love BRAW, the menu, everything except this... BMD, give us a focus puller inside the camera that does what the external app already does!
There are times when running as a solo shooter with no crew and wanting to pull focus or do a nice reveal that I would like to be able to control lenses with auto focus a bit more than the camera can internally. The Android app allows this wonderfully, but it is cumbersome to have to operate both camera and cell phone at the same time.
- Focus Icon.jpg (90.07 KiB) Viewed 1948 times
- Focus Control.jpg (91.8 KiB) Viewed 1948 times
I would like to see an additional focus icon right over the histogram that would bring up a live side menu with four buttons:
Bottom right would end the focus contro and return the camera to normal operating menu.
On the left, the three buttons would control a set near focal point, a set far focal point and a duration.
Long pressing either the near or far button would set a focus point while a short tap would tell the camera to go to that focal point.
Tapping the middle button would bring up a menu with duration of the focus pull, say half second, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 up to maybe 10.
The Android app already allows this, so it is something obviously possible inside the camera, but using a cell phone AND handling the camera, especially handheld is a PITA. The two biggest complaints I hear about BMPCC cameras are no IBIS and no auto focus - giving us a ""focus puller" inside the camera without needing any additional cages or rigging (does anyone even make a cage that will take the 6k Pro with battery grip?) would be fantastic.
The "focus off" button bottom right would turn off the function. For those using cine lenses, no harm, no foul, just a small unused icon bottom left.
For me, when I want the cine camera experience, I reach for my Ursa and rig it out. My BMPCC's may not actually fit in my pocket, but the concept of a small, versatile handheld camera that gives me this kind of quality in a tiny package is simply amazing. The only downfall for such a small light camera is the ergonomics of focusing. Yes, I know how to pull focus, been doing it for thirty years, but this would add another layer of usefulness and ease of operation to these wonderful cameras. Everything we have as filmmakers is a tool, to be used at the right time and in the right circumstance.
I have thought a lot lately about the Sony A7s iii and I realize the ONLY reason is because of the focus... if BMD gave me the option to control the focus pull without having to attach my cell phone to the cage, I doubt I would even be looking at the Sony. I love BRAW, the menu, everything except this... BMD, give us a focus puller inside the camera that does what the external app already does!
H. Robert Petersen, BriteFire Films - videoguy16x9@gmail.com