Why I DON'T care about auto focus and image stabilization
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- SIGN UP FOR MY FILMMAKING COURSE and learn how to capture stunning images: www.butteryaca.... Use code BUTTERY10 at checkout and get 10% OFF!
GET THE BUTTERY LUTs COLLECTION here: www.butterylut... - GET 15% OFF storewide when you use the code BUTTERY15 at checkout!
SUBSCRIBE to my MAILING LIST and get access to a FREE cinematography training: www.butteryaca...
Incredible music for your videos. Sign up for your free account: share.mscbd.fm/...
GEAR I'M USING: www.amazon.com...
- DandO Batteries Bundle USE: MATTEO15 AT CHECKOUT FOR A 15%OFF: www.dandolight...
- Smallrig BMPCC4K Cage: www.smallrig.c...
- Smallrig Cage for SmallHD Focus: www.smallrig.c...
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. When you use these links you are supporting my work and my channel. Thank you!
Thanks to my members:
Erica Jacobs-Ware
Noah’s Nostalgia
Queeny Morel
White Prophecy
Flatland Films
Gabriel Broderick
Krm Parysee
Robert Senese
La vision studio
D’ez
Kubitechmultimedia
Samuel Harris
Roosevelt Henry
Bryan Keith
Vidji Studio
The Lion Elite
Caleb Clowe
True Fiction
Golden Hour
Adams Film
P wyld Films
GZ
Shafeeq Nickels
Giuseppe Califano
joemusic931
Fergus Lowrey
Adrien Levy
Damir Samerkhanov
Jeremy Justice
Francesco Theak
Chris Anderson
Blurred Vision Ent
Just Krak
DadidsoStyle
Don Setzer
Adrian Maciejewski
M85 Studios
Carlinhos Franco
True Essence
Steve Chang
Follow me:
www.matteoberto...
/ matteobertolifilmmaker
/ matteobertoli
/ matteobertoli
![[Live] ศึกมหึมันส์มวยไทยสังเวียนเดือด เวทีมวยชั่วคราวสวนสยาม | จันทร์ 30 กันยายน 2567](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/pM1k6f7JXUc/mqdefault.jpg)
Get the BUTTERY LUTs collection here: www.butteryluts.com. Get 30% OFF storewide with code SUMMER30 at checkout! Get the BUTTERY ACADEMY here: www.butteryacademy.com. Get 30% OFF storewide with code SUMMER30 at checkout!
the whole TH-cam camera influencer community needs to watch this video again and again until they get it!
thank you so much for this video! Such an eye-opener and great insight into the serious video industry!
Yeah, i always find weird when those influencers praise the AF when the only thing they do is sit in front of the camera without moving
@@alutzlft agreed - got to say tho I do appreciate good touch screen AF. I dont need continuous AF - but Im very often shooting hybrid at a very fast pace.
IBIS I definitely don't need or want tho.
They are too busy getting paid to review auto focus gear to learn or preach the arts.
You forget that there are different kinds of TH-camrs. For just sitting around, af and ibis etc. are definitely not needed. But if you do run and gun vlog style and publish multiple videos per week, you want to have a small and lightweight setup and not having to think about focus all the time. So it really depends on the style.
However, I also think that everyone that gets serious about video production should at least be able to get decent shots with manual af when being behind the camera. It just gives more control in certain situations.
The point is becoming a better cinematographer. Not a wedding videographer.
I'm an old guy who started out shooting on film with no autofocus or stabilization. You really learn to be one with your camera and lens. I have done dolly in, zoom out moves by myself, pulling the zoom, racking the focus, and pushing the dolly. It takes practice and being zen.
But even in the 80s didn’t every Hollywood cameraman switch to the steadicam?
@@joeltunnah Steadicam is a very specialized piece of gear and even then they had a separate focus puller when needed.
How long did it take you to be able to do it?
@@Yodd I'd guess I was 10 years into my career as a DP when I felt confident to do things like that.
Great vid. Haven't reached for a gimbal in about a year after switching to a heavier rig, definitely helps. Your comment about when AF misses focus it looks worse than manual focus missing focus - 100% SPOT ON. Appreciate these videos. Keep em coming!
ya I am starting to think a gimbal is when you want that look or clean following kind of shot
@@A1Bokeh only time I ever use one is for smooth real estate shots of interiors of homes. But that’s rare for me
Gimbal doesnt replace handholding they are 2 different types of shots. So if you were using a gimbal and now are handholding because your rig is heavier, it doesnt make any sense. There is a reason why some shots are done on a steady cam and some are done on a shoulderrig or hand held. So you probably used the gimbal for the wrong reasons. If autofocus misses the shot is unusable but same can be said for manual focus. However autofocus will miss less often than a human. Not to mention that most photo lenses are horrible for manual focussing.
@@Yodd you missed the point. A slight error from manual focus can look artistic and human as long as you don’t completely botch it. And if you do that’s your own fault and you can work to get better at correcting focus errors more quickly and smoothly. If autofocus misses, it takes ages to correct that error and it looks obviously digital and non-human when it does.
@@seanamullen missed focus is missed focus, there is nothing artistic about that unless you have a good reason for it like a dream sequence or drunk pov or something. But it remains a fact that autofocus on something like a7s or a1 will not be missing focus as much as a human will. Especially when using photography lenses like most people do. Autofocus opens up a lot of possibillties. Shooting and interview wide open if people are moving towards or away from the camera. Try pulling focus like that without a focus puller, blocking and some crazy followfocus system. Dont forget that autofocus is an extra, you can always switch to manual focus when need to or combine both of them. In 2022 you are very limited if you dont have good autofocus on your camera. Movies can get away with it because they pay a full time salary to a dude whos job is to only make sure focus is right. If you are a solo filmmaker autofocus is a dream.
Hello Mattel, Can you please make a video about how to Pull Focus in various scenarios? Like in fast moving movements what f stop best to use etc. it will be really appreciated 🙏🏻🙏🏻 I’ve been practicing every week slowly getting better but still no where l want to be
Focus peaking configuration and a good monitor are definitely tools that will help you. But as they say, practice makes perfect!
@@juanguevaradp thank you. I’m amazed by the skill level of old school focus pullers who don’t have focus peaking and monitors back in the days
Yeah bro its all about practice, rhe lower the f/t stop the harder it is to nail focus. But after time you can focus without totally from muscle memory
I've read somewhere they used to practise focus pulls using a car tyre swinging on a tree branch. Maybe try that?
People on TH-cam and social media needs the latest and the gratest:
To make cat pictures🤷🏻♂️🐱
That's no way to talk about Philip Bloom 😤
Having recently purchased an EasyRig Minimax myself, I would love to see Matteo make a video about how he uses his. On the subject of focusing, I think that it's useful to learn how street photographers use zone focusing.
Great idea!
That truly would be fantastic!
It’s not complicated, Cartier-Bresson explained it in one sentence, he set the camera to f/11, 1/125s, and then adjusted the aperture up or down if the light changed.
@@joeltunnah In theory, zone focusing works for all apertures. As a practical matter, it is used at wider apertures to get more apparent depth of field. It is frequently used at an aperture wider than f/11. Cartier-Bresson also normally used a 50mm lens, whereas many street photographers use 35mm, sometimes wider.
well said. This is the reason we have 1st AC's. Sure there are Lidar tools to have with focusing but it's still not a standard. IBIS doesn't have an organic look. The gap is still wide for AF to be a standard, it's great in some cases but not reliable for critical focus.
Josh, You know I respect you and your work but have to disagree on the ibis comment. It’s just so good on my s1h. Looks totally organic imo
@@joshkiddfilms1295 JOSH haha I hear ya. it's all about how we define organic. keep making great work.
I'm not sure about your opinion. I have tried the a7sIII autofocus system in dark lit scenario and DAMN! That's a next level experience. It was accurate and spot on even on the eye! I also used AF/MF toggle and never missed my focus. I'm shocked how good it performed. I was always shooting with AF and I have my own techniques to maximise the performance and accuracy.
It’s not my opinion, I am just saying that if you wanna be a DP, AF and IBIS won’t exist in your workflow and if you show up on a professional shoot asking for those things you’ll get fired. As simple as that :)
@@matteobertoli Even being a focus puller, and having AF panic button would save time and money rather than doing double take. I think that future cameras and focus pulling gear will have this option. Even today WCU-4 has ultrasonic autofocus system but your hand is still pulling focus. These are just things that make live easier.
Are you seriously comparing your professional camera systems with the latest enthusiast level hybrid (mirror-less) systems? Dude, they are intended at different audience and they fit a different purpose. It's like an F1 driver saying they don't need a windshield on their race cars so why is anyone else buying cars with windshields? Because they may someday become F1 drivers and don't need windshields anymore. Feels like your video is just click bait.
I think he has a fair point. A lot of people get into filmmaking today via their favorit vloggers and youtubers who tend to use cameras like the Sony A7. A lot of the cameratalk i see online are about specs like 4k+ resolution, ibis etc and camera makers today like to max out those kind of specs. Which is funny because the most used hollywoodcamera Alexa mini only shoots 2k and has no fancy gimmicks. A well kited Black magic pocket 4k is cheaper than most high end Vlog-style cameras which most youtubers tend to talk about and is a much better start if you actually want to get into filmmaking. Learning the craft the manual way makes you also learn when to use the fancy gimmicks.
Your completely right on this...I started out with A7SII using auto focus. The issue was I was doing a lot of night events (clubs, artist performances etc.) and I simply couldn't trust autofocus so I forced myself to learn focus pulling and I haven't looked back since. That's why in my opinion the BMPCC cameras will forever be the best option for anybody looking to get real camera power without having to spend too much. Develop your skill as mentioned in the video and you will thank yourself later.
Funny this was the exact reason I opted for the 6k pro rather than another branded mirrorless camera. Ok, I am intentionally shooting a wide fast lens, to minimise the effects of my hands, on an old 28mm Pk lens from the 1980s. But everyday I feel my skill inching forwards a fraction.
Hi Matteo, great explanation! Would you please tell me in your opinion what would be a good aperture in the lens, I mean the F, to control a good focus when you have a moving subject?
That really depends on what focal length you are shooting with and also what kind of look you want in your shot, remember smaller aperture = more range in focus (dof)
Well, if there's a LOT of movement in your shot, I'd say the deeper the depth of field (higher F number), the easier it would be to pull focus, but the look is less "cinematic", and you don´t have that extra tool to direct the audience's attention... Does that make sense?
Finally A Real Expert Talking About Real Life Experience In The World Of Videography.
Those "Other Guys" Call Themselves Experts Should Watch It.
Including Gerald Undone. I love Him. But He Is Also Biased On Autofocus And IBIS.
Can you talk about how you pull focus manually in a dynamic situation like shooting weddings?
Many small adjustments plus peaking (thats how i do it on a gimbal)
Almost impossible...almost
@@b.i.g_hulk8802 Then how do you do it?
@@HornbillStudios i don't....i use auto focus.
@@b.i.g_hulk8802 on Lumix?
- 00:00 📸 Mateo introduces the topic of autofocus and in-camera image stabilization (IBIS).
- 00:14 🗣 He mentions a post on TH-cam that sparked many comments, prompting this video.
- 00:27 🎥 Mateo is a cinematographer who often works alone or with minimal crew.
- 00:46 🚫 Despite working solo, he never uses autofocus or IBIS.
- 01:00 📷 He started with cameras like the Canon T2i and 5D Mark II, which lacked these features.
- 01:18 🛠 Learning without these tools improved his skills and understanding of cinematography.
- 01:35 🎬 Professional cinema cameras like ARRI Alexa and RED do not have autofocus or IBIS.
- 02:08 📏 Professional lenses often lack autofocus and stabilization.
- 02:43 ⚖ Adding weight to a camera can help stabilize it without needing IBIS.
- 03:09 🏋 Mateo recommends tools like the Easy Rig for additional stability.
- 03:54 🕵♂ He prefers manual focus over autofocus for its natural and unique results.
- 04:48 🔧 Using workarounds and learning manual techniques has made him a better cinematographer.
- 05:33 🎯 He believes autofocus can never fully replace a skilled focus puller in professional settings.
- 06:01 🚀 Learning to operate without autofocus or IBIS prepares one for higher-level cinematography roles.
Totally! ~YEAH!! Imperfections is what gives your work authenticity. This is where the magic happens.
I don’t know, my wife says my unstabilized footage makes her nauseous.
@@joeltunnah I believe we should use both stabilised and unstabilised footage. Perfectly balanced.
Ok bur cameras with af also have the option to turn it off or lock it
Steadicams are usually wayy better than using a tripod if you dont wanna go handheld if a story requires. They just deliver so smooth flow of footage which looks so natural and filmic:)
My blackmagic 6k pro just came in the mail today and this video fired me up. So many people were telling me to get the A7siii for the auto focus and image stabilization and how it'll be really difficult to have to deal with it all being a one man band the majority of shoots. I never even thought about the fact on bigger sets you dont even have the option with fancier cinema cameras. Awesome vid, excited for the growing pains of the manual world!
yo, blackmagic color science > Sony alpha shitty magenta tint. Bmpcc is there best option for it's price if you want to grow as a cinematographer. Rig your shit up, get some good monitor, a focusing ring... it'll make your experience way better.
I like your insight and I agree on alot of points but I think you are completely wrong believing everyone who operates a mirrorless camera with autofocus is going to work or want to work on a set with an ARRI, RED or other cinema cameras with manuel spherical or anamorphic lenses and will be therfore fired if he can't operate them. And of course you don't need gimbals for a camera that weighs north of 6 KG to give it the hand-held feeling.
don't be nostalgic with the technology development, for one man band especially not a professional filmmaker , camera built-in stabilization /lens stabilization ＆ autofocus they do matter , especially put the gear on a gimbal. Even Red developing the autofocus and DJI came out with the 3D tracking system. that's the reason why sony released the FX6 /FX9 for those small filmmaking teams. Surely you can still not use those features , but they did help a lot when need it
It’s helpful, but it isn’t necessary.
Dude you are absolutely right. Its not nostalgia. Its ego. Camera’s are just tools, like screwdrivers. Its like saying” nah i dont care for elctronic screwdrivers i am gonna do it by hand”. In the future focus will probably be adjustable in post, like iso when shoting raw. No1 cares how you shot it, if your camera work is noticed by the viewer you done a bad job.
Yes, Matteo-- preach it! 🙌 Using auto-focus and stabilized sensors/lenses is subjective, BUT knowing how to pull focus and stabilize shots yourself are definitely critical skills in being a camera operator. I'm usually a one-man band on music video gigs, so I pull focus when doing handheld shots and switch to auto-focus on a gimbal. Thank you for sharing wisdom with the filmmaking community!
It’s useful if you don’t have an AC and your shooting scenario does not easily allow you to free up a hand to pull focus. Even if you can pull your own focus, it’s distracting. If you are shooting a soccer player running and dribbling a shot, I want to focus on the framing and movement and lighting, not whether it’s in focus or not. Not everything is slow mo on an easy rig.
If your shoot can afford an AC, that’s the best solution. But I am also glad companies like DJI and others are innovating in the autofocus space. Not everyone shoots narrative stuff, so most of the time catching focus is not artistic. It’s just technical, so it’s the last thing you want to worry about.
Yeah, excellent points. This is especially true when you're on a decent / high paying corporate type gig and just need to get the shots done and move on. The art doesn't need to be there, but the focus and efficiency does.
If you do weddings, autofocus is invaluable though. I highly prefer manual and the organic look for sure, but the a7siii autofocus is great for things that you can’t afford to miss or know is coming in the way that it does
Shot plenty of weddings, always on manual focus. Much better than AF imo. At least I know what I can do while pulling, but I have no clue what a computer might do while searching for focus!
@@matteobertoli I feel you! I’m just saying the a7siii autofocus is on another level with how well it tracks subjects, so far I haven’t had any complaint about it botching important focus moments and searching in my experience. I love to whip out the vintage lenses for beauty shots and the like though :)
I couldn't agree more with this. I'd much sooner make my own mistakes than let my camera make them.
when they make an autofocus system that can read my mind and knows what I want to focus on before I do I'll take autofocus seriously---but not until then.
@@avarmadillo spot on!
@@avarmadillo oh how complicated your mind must be. If there is a human in the shot 90% of the time you are focused on them(their eyes). The camera knows this before you do. So unless you want to rack focus in every shot, todays tech got your mind covered.
Great stuff as always. I'm a firm believer in manual focus. You may start off grabbing up soft images but with practice and consistency you will get better. Stay with your craft and you will get better.
Sorry but don't agree. It depends on the style you are trying to achieve. Some camera movements are just impossible to do with out a gimbal . You obviously like hand held shaking kinda natural movmet . But that just one way to shot.
Easyrig = "faux handheld"
Autofocus is a trap created by camera manufacturers to let you stick with that brand
I disagree. AF is a great tool for those who can't nail manual focus and wanna shoot wide open. I don't understand the AF hate from the manual focus community. Both are great.
@@BoyBlessing yes I know...it's important that everyone can enjoy photography & filmmaking, in a way or in another 😉
Autofocus is a tool, same as any other, that has totally valid applications and can also be improperly utilized.
Honestly the only reason I need to not use the auto-focus is I want to be in control... I want the video to look as I imagined it to be... If its a "fast-focusing" style, okay no problem. If its a dramatic "slow-focus" style, okay! I want to be in control.
sony a7siii has that built into their af you can choose from 1-5 for the af speed
@@BoyBlessing You can change that while you are filming? I think the point being made here: Lets say I am focusing between 2 people in the same scene and going back and forth. With auto focus you could use a touch screen to go back and forth but the focus speed will be identical each time. With manual I could slowly focus in at the beginning and suddenly snap to the other head if desired.
@@jweatherly26 100%
@@jweatherly26 that’s very particular. I just set the AF setting based on the focus pull I want in the scene. If I want to do something particular like that I would just use MF. but otherwise I’m almost always using AF bc it works amazing. I feel like ppl who love MF tend to hate on AF. as if their way is the right way and the professional way to film. but that’s all ego to me. bc in reality they’re both tools to be used in different situations. I can name a situation where it would be better to have AF. a situation where my AF would outperform you manually focusing by yourself. but that doesn’t mean I think AF is better. for me in my line of work AF is a huge help, and there’s nothing wrong w that. only ppl that have a problem w it are dudes who look down on other filmmakers for using AF. but dudes like that are the worst to me
@@BoyBlessing For sure! I am not looking down on anyone for filming anything and its great that auto focus is working for you. I have seen some fantastic autofocus coming from modern DSLR's. I do not have access to a camera with useable autofocus and having follow focus with a proper screen is quite amazing.
One nice thing with AF is that it allows you to use a zoom lens and not worry that the photography lens focus will drift away as you change the focal length, since the AF will compensate.
indeed, though playing devil's advocate I should note that there are constant focus distance lenses as well
Are you saying that if I used, say, Sigma contemporary zoom lenses with autofocus and zoom function together, the result of focus would be similar to parfocal cinema lenses?
For 80% of Narrative Shots the Autofocus is going to do a better job than a focus-puller. It won't be long, maybe 6-10yrs, until major motion pictures are using some form of Autofocus, no doubt.
NO.
@@matteobertoli "No the automobile will not replace the horse and carriage." "No digital will ever replace film on studio film sets." "No, me caveman, safe in cave, scary big world outside cave."
The autofocus might not be for your taste or style of shooting but it will no doubt be a legitimate tool for big studio (in the future) to indie filmmakers (right now).
NO
@@matteobertoli YES, AutoFocus has been used for speciality cinematography shooting on 35mm Film with standard PL Mount Cinema Lens for extremely long lens tracking shots and for incredibly fast car cinematography. Again, YES, Autofocus tools have been around for speciality cinematography for over 10-years, maybe even longer. It might not be for your style of shooting but the current Autofocus is undeniably incredible and surprisingly versatile. Only going to get better and a great tool for alot of setups.
well, how much do you need to film yourself, while moving?
I think that is the question to ask... if you act and move in front of your own camera and there is no one around, how much will you need continuous focus then... if you are always hiding behind the camera filming others, is locally no reason to have a continuous autofocus.. professional is what you make it, not if you you use it... you make your own films, is up to you you if you observe things or talk to us in the camera about what you experience.. be logic! anything can be professional, it depends if you use logic in what you aim to film or not, not if you have or not have AF on....
You are confusing TH-cam with cinema. You don’t film yourself in a movie. And no, vlogging has nothing to do with professional cinematography
I finally received my 4k I will be trying a monopod for stabilized shoots when shooting music videos and events.
Nice! I own a 4K as well! he is right adding weight makes it way better in making it stable, sure gives your hands a work out though holding it for long periods, that why having a handle is useful
You are right now, but I'll ask you in ten/fifteen years can you see focusing on small monitor, or how well your back is... can not stay young forever...
You can already ask Roger Deakins and other thousands of DP’s ;)
Great video, great work, great charisma.
Please tell are you using a Windows PC or Mac? And second question was your Mercedes commercial shot in the BRAW codec?
Next video:
Why i dont care if im *UNDEREXPOSED*
Already did that
@@matteobertoli YOU MY FRIEND, ARE MY HERO
Have you tried the latest gen autofocus systems on set? They can actually save time with tricky focus pulls, very useful tool to have in arsenal. Try to pull your own focus on let's say 300mm stills lens when talent is running towards camera, good luck! I totally agree that you should definitely practise pulling focus yourself on manual lenses, good thing about mirrorless mounts is that you can pretty much adapt to any old stills lens you'd ever want. And ibis, it's a difficult tool. It can save a shot but should used if nothing else is available, like a tripod and a decent fluid head :) It's a bit simple to assume that everyone uses JUST the autofocus if they have it though :D
Hello mate, thank you so much for this video. I am using bmpc4k and was thinking about gimbal with otofocus setup.
What is your suggestion for no ringed bm4k? What should i buy you think is must? Thanks again
So don't use af and ibis just because big "pro" boys don't, right?
The technology evolves, and some day focus pullers won't be needed anymore - and that will be a good thing. I also never used those features, but would highly appreciate if Blackmagic implemented them.
Never said that. Rewatch the video. You missed a lot of points ;)
This is so subjective tho. Based on what you film.
If youre an adventure videographer you physically cant carry with you a heavy rig, easy rig etc.
good ibis will make your footage a lot smoother when holding a small camera 🤷♂️
I film while backpacking, my camera, 1 lens, a mic and extra battery is already over my weight limit. Cant bring a rig, shoulder mount, gimbal etc.
panasonics ibis has def improved the quality of my footage. Its hard to hold a tiny camera steady after hiking miles uphill and out of breath
In facts, if you watch the video, you can notice that I am talking to aspiring DP/cinematographers. Not to travel filmmakers or youtubers. Even tho, IBIS looks bad no matter what you do and same goes for AF. But yes, this video is for DPs.
I respectfully disagree. I do agree you are missing out on certain experience which will help you in specific situations, but other than that, to say that cameras won't move eventually to autofocus is not true. Sure, there will be situations for manual focus, but they will be less and less as AF gets better and better and eventually moves up the chain to top cameras. I mean, even RED knows they have to invest in AF, and they are now doing so :))
I respectfully disagree ;)
I agree with autofocus, but a stabilizator is needed. Maybe not an IBIS as the Gh5 has, but at least a simple one. When the cam picks up all the shake from your hand, your postpro will be all about stabilizing the footage.
Not if you know how operate a camera. I shoot handheld 99.9% of the times And I never use image stabilization in post. But isn’t this why people pay us cinematographers and camera operators? To have actual usable and beautiful footage? Otherwise they’ll just hire their brother in law to film their commercial if it was that easy. This jobs require skills and if you don’t have them, IBIS and AF won’t make you a good shooter.
image stabilization and auto focus are more useful in a more unpredictable environment, such as news gathering and wedding where you might only have one chance to capture the footage and short setup time, for cinematography that has more control and time to setup, those things are easy to workaround.
I'm pretty sure he literally says this in the video. 😊 He's also just saying, if you ever plan to level up, (and not everyone is); but if you do you plant to go higher, you have no choice but to learn those skills.
Yeah maybe true, but I had only one chance to get it right I bet on my eye and hand everyday of the week over auto focus. Cheers!
Finally someone on TH-cam that has some sense, I don’t know why all the weirdos that’s doing work love autofocus. Only place for autofocus should be for photos not video.
I can turn off IBIS And autofocus In my camera. Dont really get your point. When filming run’n gun someone climbing or hiking a mountain is really useful autofocus and IBIS, then I just turn it on.
Mad respect for posting this. I pushed myself from cameras with IBIS to the BMPCC6K Pro so that I can continue teaching myself to think outside the box regarding my shots and to not rely on IBIS.
Should I get Lumix G7 or G85. Please help everyone 🙏
My coworker and I have this debate. Autofocus vs manual. I'm on the manual side. I tried using autofocus on the fx3 for an event and while it was fun, I found my self sooo many times wishing I had manual control. I need to practice my manual focus again, I've gotten lazy. This video has inspired me again.
Let’s be real though, in body stabilization is nice.
No
@@matteobertoli but when you are trying to shoot handled walking with a small light mirrorless, ibis is a must.
This is not what I am talking about in this video. Also The wobble effect of IBIS is terrible. The issue is that you should not walk around with a camera and pretend the footage will look stable. That is not how it works.
The biggest directors today in Hollywood still shoot on film
Grandissimo Matteo.
Sei avantissimo nella resa dei tuoi lavori grazie anche a come ragioni. Traspare tutto, la tua visione è ciò che davvero arriva a noi attraverso il girato.
Ti apprezzo tanto sotto ogni punto di vista. 😊
Ciao Matteo, il tuo video mi è piaciuto tantissimo!!! Great info, thank you this. Very motivating!
For sure with the new generation of technicians that grew up with AF it will bottom up. It's just that there is a lot of inertia
It’s crazy how a small few TH-camrs with MASSIVE followings have distorted the minds of so many young film makers into needing auto focus, stabilization, fps etc. I honestly feel their “wants” have distorted the camera market.
Love this video, let em know.
100% agree with you.
Same
I would add to this beautiful video the fact that The use of an EVF is also one of the most under appreciated skills in some young people and the best way to analyze your work as a cinematographer on set. I also have never used auto focus or gimbal and even more, I once in one shooting started using a wireless follow focus and in 10 seconds changed it for my trusty good old manual follow focus. I am a cinematographer to be part of my job, to be able to make the decisions that make it my own and to savor the joy of getting the right focus to tell the story I want, not the one a computer chip thinks I want. Cheers!
I agree with the autofocus argument - learn manual focusing and you will thank yourself later. But the IBIS - I don't think you understand, that some people cannot afford heavy duty gear and some people, like me, have shaky hands. I simply cannot use camera without stabilisation. Small cameras need stabilization, large cameras don't. One are affordable, one are not.
Oh, so the BMPCC6K is an heavy and expensive camera? 🤯 come on... if you have shaky hands and cannot use a camera without stabilization, it means that you are probably aware of the fact that you can’t be a camera operator/cinematographer. Which is fine, this video is not for you tho...
@@matteobertoli So. I bought BMPCC6K, rigged it up and learned, how to have stable shots without IBIS! And now I'm earning with shooting commercial work. Thanks for the video! I was salty at the start, but then I learned and here I am!
*subbed* much love from Vancouver Canada 🇨🇦 interesting 🧐
Totally agree. I'm a Sony user and trying to wean myself off using af. My friend is a Red User. He filmed a spoken word video for me with my Sony A7III. He used manual focus for all the different takes.
I used the GH4 with Nikon lenses and use a GH5 now and im so greatful for not having autofocus (sounds ridiculous) but thanks to this combo i leaned to use manual and do it just like its muscle memory.
What you say makes perfect sense, but you are forgetting about all the different types of jobs people use these cameras for. What you say is good advice for those who want to do exactly what you do, but AF and IBIS or Lens IS are tools that you have to use in professional situations as well. You just have to know when.
He literally said that. 🤦🏿♂️🤦🏿♂️ Maybe u didn't watch the whole video. He does say for weddings and other situations it's helpful. TWICE!!! Lol! How do people do that? Lol! All he's saying is that if you ever plan to level up you need to learn certain skills; which, GRANTED, maybe shortsighted of him. Im sure there is people that only shoot weddings, parties etc... And are making way more money than most Cinematographers. But I'd say in general he is right. 100% of the videographers I know want to be high level cinematographers. In those cases AF an IBS is a no go, 100%...
@@belizaire28 and even if you worked without ibis or autofocus you will still need to learn just as much. Is manual focusing with a photo lens same as a cinema lens? No. Is a dslr same as an alexa? No. If you go from one job to another you will need to learn new skills. Just because you manually focused on canon 5d means absolutely nothing when switching to a red or an alexa. Totally different job.
@@Yodd 💯
I could not disagree more. Autofocus driven by AI is undoubtedly the future. Wait until you see what is coming in 2022. It will blow your mind.
Agreed. Technology always wins
Great video. Like many others have commented you really need to know your camera until it becomes a part of you. Years ago I earned my way as a photographer with a Canon F1, a beautiful f1.4, 50mm lens and a winning smile. The advice I was given then remains true, the way to improve is burn more film. I think auto-whatever simply gets in the way of that as a learning experience. I really think there is nothing better than intentionally producing great images knowing that you made all the decisions and dealt with all the challenges yourself.
All this talk, he still does not understand difference between pre planned shots like cinema, commercial etc vs unpredictable videography. Autofocus is life saving if you shooting unpredictable scene.
50% of my shoots are unpredictable. That’s where you see real skills. You missed the point ;)
But the original BMPCC does have one-shot AF and it supports optical IS at least with EF lenses using Metabones or Viltrox adapters 🤨
I shoot with metabones on ef and fd canon lenses. I admit that the stabilization I get with the ef lenses on my bm4ks when rigged light is much nicer to view later. Doesn't look unnatural.
@@blainecovert8374 Yes, think the same. I haven't used it so much but in my opinion the handheld footage looks a bit nicer with IS. The micro jitter is often just too disturbing and it can't be removed in post.
You ask for autofocus - jail, you ask for IBIS - jail, you ask for a gimbal - believe it or not - jail. Just joking :) Really love you content!
Hands down, this is the spirit. i allways say: For every automatic, every automatic function, the human being loses the feeling, the sensitivity for the creative process, this is not only true for filming, this is true for every area in which one is creative (and even in areas of daily life, such as driving a car, etc.).
That is a filmmakers ego talking. Its not about your feeling. Its about the feeling of the viewer. If a filmmaker does his job well, a viewer will not be aware of the camera work, just the story. Only other filmmakers maybe notice the lighting and cinematography, regular viewers shouldnt.
If you are driving a car, you might enjoy it. But the person sitting next to you just wants to get from a to b safely.
@@Yodd Its only my point of view, i am doing this for me, not the audience. if the audience is fine with the thing i am doing: thats good, of course but if not then its not for them = ego, thats accurate. (the comparison with driving a car is for me not accurate, because watching a bad film ist not danger for life (i hop, haha)
don't get me wrong, this is not on you and i appreciate your thoughts on that, what i've written therefore i would give you an intenser view from my angle.
Af doesn't exist in cinematorgaphy only because there were no technical ability to perform it. I think people said same about af in still cameras .
No, in stills camera you need AF because there is no motion and you need to have your subject in focus. In moving images is completely different
@@matteobertoli I dont see any difference. Its 24+ still pictures a/sek + add some modern ai stuff, teach it to pull focus and i believe we are gonna see soon reaaallly good performance in around 5 years
Movie cameras brands are going to deal with it soon , caurse if they wouldn't it will move them out of market more. Why not to shoot red epic with autofocus of sony a7s3 ? Would you ever use this ability if such existed?
Been shooting for a year now and i'm so glad i never relied on autofocus or ibis! Like you said it prepares you so much more to eventually shoot on bigger professional rigs and the feel of the image is so much smoother imo 👌
what would be your best brand of lense for the pocket 6k? with cine lens are you having difficulty focusing by yourself since they have around 270 degree focus ring
thx for sharing this... sometimes i whish i had autofocus, but when i m listening to you, i m shure, i dont need autofocus.. :) keep going manual focus!
I started shooting manual focus with shoulder rigs and glidecam (600d/t3i). but autofocus and in camera stabilization is very helpful on smaller shoots. if I'm shooting with an alexa or red, than chances are we have the money to hire a dedicated focus puller, and time to set actor and camera marks (also things like easy rigs, movi pro with dedicated controller). when buying a personnel all purpose camera for small documentary or very low budget short films I do think auto-focus is a consideration. I do a lot of glidecam and gimbal work.
I will say when it comes to manual focus, you need manual focus lenses. trying to manually focus on a fly by wire lens is like pulling teeth (probably why most people prefer auto-focus these days). bang for buck I use the rokinon cine ds when I need manual focus (or higher end rent nicer lenses)
hey Matteo! Great video. From which of your videos are the skateboarding shots from? Thank you, cheers, Flo
For me at least at weddings ,when the couple is steady always manual,when it moves,specially with 50 mm lens and narrow depth of field ,with or without stabilizer i use autofocus .I think a reliable autofocus is a great tool to have
There is definitely a difference between moments that need to be captured and moments that can be re-captured. If I had a capable camera I would probably rely on it for those must have moments.
@@jweatherly26 true
All depends if you are looking to be a DP or not..
Thank you! This video changed my mind about new camera. 😉
hehehe
Shooting manual is the way to go for sure. I think IS and AF are just more tools you should learn, but don't rely on them. It's nice to know you have them as an option in some situations.
Great video...i agree I'm so glad my first camera was and have been blackmagic cameras that have no auto focus...I learned a lot...i recently got sony vlogging camera with autofocus and i like it not gonna lie but still feels weird without not being able to control focus.
Amen to all of this. Believe it or not, I just shot a feature-length film on my LG v40 smartphone, using manual everything. And it felt like I was in school, because now I'm using a Sony a 6400, and I'm still using manual focus, and I don't have image stabilization, and I am in love with this camera, simply because I can choose any lens that I want to use, and I feel like I've walked into the land of flexibility, and possibilities. But I don't trust autofocus, it just never seems to work properly to me. I also come from the music business, and autofocus to me, it's kind of like Auto-Tune. You can tell immediately, and manual focus is beautifully imperfect. Just like real life. Great video, thanks so much for sharing.
Will there be a future where auto focus and image stabilisation enters the arri and red world? Just curious.
I highly doubt it unless they are gonna be able to put a chip in your brain that is connected with the AF system of the camera and so when you see the image and you want the focus on the right eye instead of the left eye, it will read your mind and focus exactly there.
@@matteobertoli That sounds funny for now but it’ll be weird if it becomes a reality 😆 And you’ll get to sue arri for intellectual property rights.
Using Auto Focus is like gaming on a console.
Peasants!
I studied film so I agree. When you're shooting on Kodak there's no IBIS or AF 😂😂😂. But then again, TH-cam is dived into 2 parts: filmmakers and "TH-camrs". We are filmmakers who happen to be on TH-cam but the others are civilian TH-camrs. It is what it is.
Civilian youtubers !!!! Love the definition!! Hahaha
Very nice...good advice I needed today...and y r correct...by using yourself you can make movies more originally you...rather than having things automatically do it for y...I get it...perfect video...thank you...
I've never used autofocus when filming. Started using IBIS but its caused headaches where there were none before. Also, manual focus solo or with a focus puller has more character. The more digital automation you add in the mix the less character the end result. That's my thoughts at least.
Excellent points - though I do think IBIS can help above and beyond all of the 'manual' stabilization techniques (and a weightier rig...) - it adds to your skills so it is nice to have. Autofocus is definitely a negative at times- but with my aging eyes in fast moving unpredictable situations I do find modern (SONY!) autofocus a lifesaver for me- in a more deliberate scripted environment manual focus allows you the fine creative control over exactly where focus is, the speed of change, and the ability to smoothly rack from point to point.
Here is my sound effects channel for content creators !!! its free to use...!!!
Long shot, but have you ever shot a fuji xh2s/would you consider shooting a fuji film for cinematography/video work? I'm looking to get started and I'm a fuji photographer at the moment. I'm stupidly comfortable with manual focus and I am getting used to shooting stable handheld.
mmm....yes and no. Honestly these kinds of videos remind me of how everyone told me that real filmmakers would never go digital. The time for only manual focus operation and no image stabilization is coming to an end. Bank on it. ARRI will eventually make a sensor with image stabilization and autofocus and Cooke and all the other lens manufacturers will follow suit. Why?
BUDGETS. If you can save money because the gear is more user friendly, producers will do that every. single. time. Also, AI is going to take over so much of the operations that autofocus will be spot on, racking just like a human, and you can add movement in post if you want it.
I appreciate the whole "if you level up to ARRI" pitch, but the producers who hire us are also realizing the cost savings and image similarities between ARRIs and something like the Ronin 4d.
It's just a matter of time. Big cinema manufacturers, ARRI, RED and others will have to up their technology game. Running around with 40 pound rigs and 4-5 person camera teams is going the way of the Dodo bird.
Straight up facts. Reasons why I chose the XT3 over the XT4. No matter how advance a camera is the IBIS always sucks, not just Fujifilm but Sony and Canon which are considered as flagship brands. I hate the wobble affect it causes and the autofocus is never accurate no matter what camera is used. The XT3 has definitely improved my handheld shooting. Hoping to get a Red cinema or a blackmagic 6K pocket soon.
makes me glad I bought a gh5s. no IBIS and no reliable autofocus
I recently started with movies. Photos all my life till now. I perfectly understand your view, but out of inexperience my doubt is how to approach that stuff. I have a project involving walking in the mountain, and judging from the tries I am doing I am not able, still, to walk uphill or downhill with my camera, without shakes. Disturbing frenetics shakes due, I guess, to cranking up the shutter to be able to stabilize in post.
So I'm thinking about geting a gimbal. that's crazy what you are capable of in your footage. I guess why you started with thar Rhino that I guess is a Steady, and if help you learn better than a gimbal in this fantastic approach you have. Thanks.
Great video Matteo, but you mentioned people need autofocus for gimbal work, why? I guess for fast tracking shots I understand, but most of the time when I shoot with a gimbal I turn autofocus off. Autofocus has failed too often and I get better results without it. I’m saying that as an FX3 owner that uses sony lenses. I’m seriously thinking about selling my fx3 for a blackmagic, but still on the fence. For most of my shooting I control the lighting, but it’s nice to have that low light capability when needed. I think the sony cameras are hard to beat for event coverage and stuff like that, but for e everything else, I like the blackmagic for the flexibility of BRAW.
Thanks your insights are very helpful. I'm leaning to use Manuel focus with my camera. Bm4kcc I have a cage a Handel follow focus and whip a v mount battery to balance things out. So I'm rearing to get into it. Thank you again.
ok, great video, but I'm a wedding filmmaker, I can't carry easy rig, I need to run. Can you tell me how can I make great footage with a miroless camera without stabilization?.....thanks
Inspired!
I have a personal question. I'm planning to buy bmpcc camera, but which is best choice?
A. bmpcc 4k with speed booster
B. bmpcc 6k
C.bmpcc 6k pro
Auto or manual focusing, focusing is must or most your videos will be useless. What comes to manual focusing and imperfections its about art and feeling, but autofocus is about getting more commerical content, especially in action.
Hi, thanks for you're video i'm just starting to make video with a panasonic GX9, the autofocus is so bad, that i didn't try to used it, Now i understand that i just need to pratice much more and more, to make some incredible footage like yours, loving it so... (sorry for my english)
noticed this is a 2 year old video but I think this will still be relevant for maaaaany more. I can just imagine someone on set saying, wait where's the AF button... I use AF a lot but I do notice that focus breathing difference and sometimes miss the focus, or it detects another face that's not the character I need so I'm pushing myself to go manual.
Agree with your points , I very really shoot with AF or Stabilizing in camera , TH-camrs and untrained content creators are lazy and want the eazy way out . Manual focus and non stablized footage plus some other parts of shoot is liken to a true artist painting on a canvas every-part is original where as the most of the rest is mass production with no sole and lacks creativity and be original work .