I have been using the Focus Pro with DZOFilm 10-24mm & 20-70mm and am extremely happy when focusing in range. When you do go further distance, Focus Pro will hunt for a focus.
DJI lidar is a tool for bloggers and low budget. Where there are 50-170 people on location and time is money, this thing is not suitable. It takes a long time to set up, fails, takes a long time to calibrate. Toy yes. But for adults, there is the Teradek TOF / cinebug/ cinetape. Tested by personal experience
Disagree. Does it have bugs, yes. Can it lose its calibration, yes, but I’ve had very few issues with it. Can it work on larger commercial projects? It does all the time. BL - it’s reliable enough to be a viable option, at a fraction of the cost. Edit - DJI just gave us the Yusuf Dikec of camera tools. A toy it is not ;)
@@MrMoviePhoneExNah, it’s too big a gamble on serious sets based on the stupid proprietary USB-C. Should have been Lemo connectors. Also, their transmission is required to get tools like focus waveform, but nobody on a professional set is going to sign off on using that high latency crap over Teradek. The “whole ecosystem” approach really shoots DJI in the foot.
The focus pro is great however not perfect. You need to get the lidar as close to the lens a possible for closeup subjects and it’s a bit tricky to mount. Nitze have a cheap solution for rod mounting that allows you to get tighter into the lens. I wish Dji would update this with an offset from the centre of the lens to allow for parallax and that way centre of the handle image would be closer to the centre of the lens. The little rod bracket is available on Amazon and improves the position of the lidar.
I think you have to be careful when tilting the LiDAR down with that mount because it will cause a mismatch in the distance between the LiDAR and the sensor.
One of the more interesting pieces of equipment off late. One thing i would like to know is If the LIDAR use case is more specific to people AF or will it work with product work more into macro cinematic stuff. ?
I would basically call this "first-impression" of a pro. I don't think an initial impression by an AC is enough to base any conclusions off of. I'm an AC who's used the Focus Pro a couple of times. If you have an AC... let them use any other manual wireless unit. The Tilta Nucleus-M, Teradek RT MK3.1 or CTRL.3, ARRI Hi-5 or WCU-4, Preston FI+Z, etc. (The DJI FIZ unit without the autofocus is passable so long that you can be confident that the usb-c won't be budged. Also, the hand grip can often be a nuisance if it isn't actually being used as a handle.) If you are a one-man-band, and for some reason can't use a normal on-camera manual follow focus, and have ample time to set up, calibrate, and trial on your own... then go for it. Even then, the autofocus likes to focus on ears or shoulders, or abruptly jump around. Basically, it cannot be fully trusted--you have to closely monitor it always on a larger monitor to ensure it keeps focus where you want. And if it doesn't, you need to be able to work with that. If you work in a low stakes environment, and can easily re-take shots or edit around the focus mishaps, then maybe it's a great solution. In narrative or crew commercial work, where there is a shot schedule with several departments working in sync, problems with the focus bone everybody else. Neat idea, but imperfect execution. The usb-c connectors are a large negative for professional environments--it really isn't difficult to keep from losing LEMO cables in a kit (which you should always have extra anyway), just as you shouldn't be losing the FIZ unit itself. I think the practical market for this is one-man-band users who can expect a predictable work environment, with parameters that they think the unit will work comfortably in. Controlled interviews would be prime scenarios. Sincerely, a 7-year professional focus puller in Los Angeles whos used this unit as well as all the others mentioned (and owns 2 of them).
Looks amazing, what im pissed about is that the ronin 4d lidar seems ancient compared to this. I put in thousands of dollars into the 4d ecosystem, but dji cant even continue support for this product. Its a amazing camera thats gaining allot of traction, but they just are fucking us over like they always do :(
@@AfoteyAnnum Ofcourse! First I want to say that this camera has possibly the most potential of all camera's ever made, but it has very big drawbacks: -Extremely heavy, can be fixed with a Easyrig. -Pretty bad battery life, get yourself some extra tb50 batteries. -Huge file-sizes, you have a H264 coded thats decent, but it feels like wasted potential since you got way better codecs with better post production options to choose from. -E-mount lenses work, but do not expect reliable autofocus out of them. -Using manual lenses works fine, but its a complete headache setting them up. -The 4D axis is a great feature, but has a very big learning curve. Its hard to control and hold, you will get it when you use it for the first time. -I miss the auto lock feature on this camera like the rs3/4 pro, it feels kind of outdated to not have this. -Lidar AF only works for a limited range, dont expect to use this with a 85mm or above lens. I traded in my FX6 for it, do I regret it? I dont know, I love things like the huge monitor, the all in one package and the potential it has. I just have not learned to use it perfectly. Please rent it for a shoot first, see how you like it. Don't buy it without using it first.
Nice to see you had a good experience with it. Doesn't work as good (not at all for me) when using photo lenses or older lenses that have a thread instead of a bayonet... Guess I need new glass. :-/
@@tecno8335 which the ring do you mean? I've used the one in the box, and also a 3D printed one. Also added blocks so it would only be able to move from A to B and not further. Thing is, when it skips one tooth, it's mis-aligned, which happens surprisingly fast...
I've had it since it came out and I love using it for auto face detection or even manual. But the DJI Focus Pro is very bad for object detection and you can forget about using a smoke machine, because it can't focus in that case. It's too bad.
Do you image the future equipment with AI that might idemtify everything being recorded visually and then tou would click a button and change focus to the next objet or subject or you could say "focus flower" and then the AI changes the focus to the flower. Ir you could even program those changes in focusing based on a storyboard or simply programmingnthrough photos like the new Canon focusing systesm that focuses based on registered faces.
It’s a good system. I’m convinced it’s worth a cost of it but you unfortunately can’t find it anywhere for sale. DGI doesn’t have it for sale. They don’t know when they’re gonna have it for sale every everybody’s got it on order but nobody actually has any but the hell DJI doing?
Just got one handle and lidar only and struggling w finding cables to extend to shoulder rig extention arm for handle.also prayin for an update for using w gh6 10-25 pana/leica 1.7 lens w/o focus motor and yet to see how to calibrate if i move lidar to matbox unless it just knows🤷.also yet to find AMF mode for this lens. Af and Manual works good w internal focus motor on the 10-25. RedFrameTech covers a great deal and warned me of quirks. Thanks fir the coverage !🎉Thanks Again
Use usb-c extension cables, that's a working solution as of now. I've messaged DJI numerous times asking to release longer cables with better fitting (braided, angled etc), but they do not seem to hear.
@@DroseMr that's weird, I use the Ugreen USB-C extension cable (50cm and 1m), the ones that are the fastest/latest protocols, and everything is fine. Make sure to plug the DJI cable into the Pro Grip side, and the extension into the LiDAR. I didn't use extension cables for the motors though.
@@alexlubenskyI clarified this at NAB, yeah. They’re USB connectors but not wired to the standard USB spec. You HAVE to use a DJI cable to get the correct wiring. You can then *extend* that wire with a normal extension USB cable, but you can’t use longer 3rd party cables on their own, it won’t work. The cables are THE worst part of this entire design, and as a working AC, they’re the thing that kept me from buying it. It really should be Lemo connectors as is standard in the industry, and if they were smart, there’d be an on camera SDI passthrough box that overlays all the fancy tools like focus waveform etc. Nobody wants to use their high latency transmission for wireless video. If I could overlay the DJI’s fancy focus stuff, and then send it over my Teradek, I’d be all in.
I've been looking into getting one, but it's ridiculous that a brand like DJI releases a product and immediately after the release (not even a day) it's sold out. I check it every single day, since its release, we're talking March or April I believe.
@@chrisbrockhurst that's probably it. But at the same time I doubt that the demand is as big as a new drone for example. What I think the problem is at the raw materials used for the LIDAR system are in short stock., but who knows. It's a shame because I would really love to integrate this into my system.
I looked at all these high end cinematic cameras, and bought an Insta360 x4 instead. I don't have a camera crew, and if I shoot anything, it's going to be guerilla style on the down low... alone. I'm not lugging a concrete block around in public on my shoulder.
the only downside of the system is the cable management...once connected, it's all over the place....DJi have thought everything but cable management 😆
It shouldn’t need a hub. Everything should be in line: Power to a “brain” to the “sensor” to “motor” to “motor” and so on…. If they were smart, they’d put all the computers power “brain” in with the sensors. Seems like lens profiles and stuff are stored on the motors which is straight idiotic. It’s a hellscape of proprietary cables using USB connectors, but NOT USB wiring or protocol. The cables don’t lock, you can’t buy longer ones… it’s objectively unprofessional in design.
Since this video was filmed I've shot alot more with the DJI Focus Pro and it continues to impress me how well it works and holds up.
Testing this was a lot of fun, thanks Chris! I hope we can do some more tests on a project in the near future!
Can’t believe the fly from 7:02 came to 7:11
I’m all about keeping continuity
I have been using the Focus Pro with DZOFilm 10-24mm & 20-70mm and am extremely happy when focusing in range. When you do go further distance, Focus Pro will hunt for a focus.
Looking at this setup myself. Either the dzo or mk zooms. How far away does the focus start hunting?
@@simondebrun Anytime past 20 meters to infinity.
The LiDAR system is one of those things that you just have to try to believe.
Literally this
Very impressive for v1.0 too
So true
PAV ! Good to see you online buddy!
An natural on camera too
Thanks man!
Watching you carrying that camera on that bag broke my back 😂
Nice video! I’m planning to get one unit as soon as it becomes available again.
DJI lidar is a tool for bloggers and low budget. Where there are 50-170 people on location and time is money, this thing is not suitable. It takes a long time to set up, fails, takes a long time to calibrate. Toy yes. But for adults, there is the Teradek TOF / cinebug/ cinetape.
Tested by personal experience
For Adults? Them fighting words
Disagree. Does it have bugs, yes. Can it lose its calibration, yes, but I’ve had very few issues with it. Can it work on larger commercial projects? It does all the time. BL - it’s reliable enough to be a viable option, at a fraction of the cost.
Edit - DJI just gave us the Yusuf Dikec of camera tools. A toy it is not ;)
@@MrMoviePhoneExNah, it’s too big a gamble on serious sets based on the stupid proprietary USB-C. Should have been Lemo connectors.
Also, their transmission is required to get tools like focus waveform, but nobody on a professional set is going to sign off on using that high latency crap over Teradek. The “whole ecosystem” approach really shoots DJI in the foot.
By the way. You can't use other USB c cables to connect your lidar. You have to use the ones that are from dji.
The focus pro is great however not perfect. You need to get the lidar as close to the lens a possible for closeup subjects and it’s a bit tricky to mount. Nitze have a cheap solution for rod mounting that allows you to get tighter into the lens. I wish Dji would update this with an offset from the centre of the lens to allow for parallax and that way centre of the handle image would be closer to the centre of the lens. The little rod bracket is available on Amazon and improves the position of the lidar.
Kondor Blue just came out with a cage for it
How do you use it with a Sigma art zoom lens? Like, what do you enter for focal length?
I think you have to be careful when tilting the LiDAR down with that mount because it will cause a mismatch in the distance between the LiDAR and the sensor.
One of the more interesting pieces of equipment off late. One thing i would like to know is If the LIDAR use case is more specific to people AF or will it work with product work more into macro cinematic stuff. ?
It’s one of those things that you really have to try to get an idea of if it will work for you or not
great video! would love to see if it works with speedboosters?
I have had one on order from BH for a while. It is STILL on backorder. 8-(
BTW....The RatPack's are GREAT.
Yeh! I have one coming soon from them to try
I would basically call this "first-impression" of a pro. I don't think an initial impression by an AC is enough to base any conclusions off of. I'm an AC who's used the Focus Pro a couple of times. If you have an AC... let them use any other manual wireless unit. The Tilta Nucleus-M, Teradek RT MK3.1 or CTRL.3, ARRI Hi-5 or WCU-4, Preston FI+Z, etc. (The DJI FIZ unit without the autofocus is passable so long that you can be confident that the usb-c won't be budged. Also, the hand grip can often be a nuisance if it isn't actually being used as a handle.) If you are a one-man-band, and for some reason can't use a normal on-camera manual follow focus, and have ample time to set up, calibrate, and trial on your own... then go for it. Even then, the autofocus likes to focus on ears or shoulders, or abruptly jump around. Basically, it cannot be fully trusted--you have to closely monitor it always on a larger monitor to ensure it keeps focus where you want. And if it doesn't, you need to be able to work with that. If you work in a low stakes environment, and can easily re-take shots or edit around the focus mishaps, then maybe it's a great solution. In narrative or crew commercial work, where there is a shot schedule with several departments working in sync, problems with the focus bone everybody else. Neat idea, but imperfect execution. The usb-c connectors are a large negative for professional environments--it really isn't difficult to keep from losing LEMO cables in a kit (which you should always have extra anyway), just as you shouldn't be losing the FIZ unit itself. I think the practical market for this is one-man-band users who can expect a predictable work environment, with parameters that they think the unit will work comfortably in. Controlled interviews would be prime scenarios. Sincerely, a 7-year professional focus puller in Los Angeles whos used this unit as well as all the others mentioned (and owns 2 of them).
I’m Jenish’s #1 fan
perfect edition-;))
Sik.. looks like it's basically an adv. Raven eye.. 👌
Sort of!
Looks amazing, what im pissed about is that the ronin 4d lidar seems ancient compared to this. I put in thousands of dollars into the 4d ecosystem, but dji cant even continue support for this product. Its a amazing camera thats gaining allot of traction, but they just are fucking us over like they always do :(
What kinds of issues are you facing with this camera? I'm interested in getting one and would love to read what issues you're having...
@@AfoteyAnnum Ofcourse!
First I want to say that this camera has possibly the most potential of all camera's ever made, but it has very big drawbacks:
-Extremely heavy, can be fixed with a Easyrig.
-Pretty bad battery life, get yourself some extra tb50 batteries.
-Huge file-sizes, you have a H264 coded thats decent, but it feels like wasted potential since you got way better codecs with better post production options to choose from.
-E-mount lenses work, but do not expect reliable autofocus out of them.
-Using manual lenses works fine, but its a complete headache setting them up.
-The 4D axis is a great feature, but has a very big learning curve. Its hard to control and hold, you will get it when you use it for the first time.
-I miss the auto lock feature on this camera like the rs3/4 pro, it feels kind of outdated to not have this.
-Lidar AF only works for a limited range, dont expect to use this with a 85mm or above lens.
I traded in my FX6 for it, do I regret it? I dont know, I love things like the huge monitor, the all in one package and the potential it has. I just have not learned to use it perfectly.
Please rent it for a shoot first, see how you like it. Don't buy it without using it first.
that Ratbag is just a knock off of the CineSaddle
Nice to see you had a good experience with it. Doesn't work as good (not at all for me) when using photo lenses or older lenses that have a thread instead of a bayonet... Guess I need new glass. :-/
It works great with photo lenses if you use the grip ring.
@@tecno8335 which the ring do you mean? I've used the one in the box, and also a 3D printed one. Also added blocks so it would only be able to move from A to B and not further. Thing is, when it skips one tooth, it's mis-aligned, which happens surprisingly fast...
I've had it since it came out and I love using it for auto face detection or even manual. But the DJI Focus Pro is very bad for object detection and you can forget about using a smoke machine, because it can't focus in that case. It's too bad.
Trying this with stills lenses and it’s near impossible to get it to work unfortunately
Do you image the future equipment with AI that might idemtify everything being recorded visually and then tou would click a button and change focus to the next objet or subject or you could say "focus flower" and then the AI changes the focus to the flower. Ir you could even program those changes in focusing based on a storyboard or simply programmingnthrough photos like the new Canon focusing systesm that focuses based on registered faces.
The only people that hate the DJI Focus Pro are focus paler. DP's actually see how great it it.
@rich.nix with the BTS 🔥
The best
It’s a good system. I’m convinced it’s worth a cost of it but you unfortunately can’t find it anywhere for sale. DGI doesn’t have it for sale. They don’t know when they’re gonna have it for sale every everybody’s got it on order but nobody actually has any but the hell DJI doing?
I hear this from a lot of people, fingers crossed they get it sorted soon
Try checking on their website daily, if you get lucky like me, you get them before they went sold out again.
More Pawel content
Haha wel try!
Just got one handle and lidar only and struggling w finding cables to extend to shoulder rig extention arm for handle.also prayin for an update for using w gh6 10-25 pana/leica 1.7 lens w/o focus motor and yet to see how to calibrate if i move lidar to matbox unless it just knows🤷.also yet to find AMF mode for this lens. Af and Manual works good w internal focus motor on the 10-25. RedFrameTech covers a great deal and warned me of quirks. Thanks fir the coverage !🎉Thanks Again
Use usb-c extension cables, that's a working solution as of now. I've messaged DJI numerous times asking to release longer cables with better fitting (braided, angled etc), but they do not seem to hear.
@@alexlubensky im using 2 dji cables w usbc female to female 240w 40gb and it works but monitor on hand controller is black.
@@DroseMr that's weird, I use the Ugreen USB-C extension cable (50cm and 1m), the ones that are the fastest/latest protocols, and everything is fine. Make sure to plug the DJI cable into the Pro Grip side, and the extension into the LiDAR. I didn't use extension cables for the motors though.
@@alexlubensky Thanks for the advice.
@@alexlubenskyI clarified this at NAB, yeah. They’re USB connectors but not wired to the standard USB spec. You HAVE to use a DJI cable to get the correct wiring. You can then *extend* that wire with a normal extension USB cable, but you can’t use longer 3rd party cables on their own, it won’t work.
The cables are THE worst part of this entire design, and as a working AC, they’re the thing that kept me from buying it. It really should be Lemo connectors as is standard in the industry, and if they were smart, there’d be an on camera SDI passthrough box that overlays all the fancy tools like focus waveform etc.
Nobody wants to use their high latency transmission for wireless video. If I could overlay the DJI’s fancy focus stuff, and then send it over my Teradek, I’d be all in.
🎉
I've been looking into getting one, but it's ridiculous that a brand like DJI releases a product and immediately after the release (not even a day) it's sold out. I check it every single day, since its release, we're talking March or April I believe.
I think the demand is just so high, it’s like the Fuji x100vi
@@chrisbrockhurst that's probably it. But at the same time I doubt that the demand is as big as a new drone for example. What I think the problem is at the raw materials used for the LIDAR system are in short stock., but who knows. It's a shame because I would really love to integrate this into my system.
I ordered one in April, still waiting...
Nice! But there is no way since release to get it in Germany. Sold out everywhere :(
Fingers crossed it’s back in stock soon
I looked at all these high end cinematic cameras, and bought an Insta360 x4 instead.
I don't have a camera crew, and if I shoot anything, it's going to be guerilla style on the down low... alone.
I'm not lugging a concrete block around in public on my shoulder.
I wish they'd hurry and restock lol
Fingers crossed soon
the only downside of the system is the cable management...once connected, it's all over the place....DJi have thought everything but cable management 😆
Yeh you gotta do some manual tidying
yeah, looks wild and certainly not so pro
It shouldn’t need a hub. Everything should be in line: Power to a “brain” to the “sensor” to “motor” to “motor” and so on….
If they were smart, they’d put all the computers power “brain” in with the sensors. Seems like lens profiles and stuff are stored on the motors which is straight idiotic.
It’s a hellscape of proprietary cables using USB connectors, but NOT USB wiring or protocol. The cables don’t lock, you can’t buy longer ones… it’s objectively unprofessional in design.
Bro has fake blinds on his face in the introduction
Yep
Puts the tape measure out of business.
to have USBC port on this beauty is totaly stupid !! we want LEMO !! USB is the weakest port ever