How to Get The Correct Focus WITHOUT AF - Job Shadow

Youtube needs this video. The biggest issue I see on here is people using AF for everything. Its almost like they don't know they CAN MF. Its becoming a lost art for upcoming videographers.

Manual focus is essential. When I first started I relied on it extensively. It was only until I had to shoot on blackmagic cameras exclusively that I learned how to pull focus manually. Keeping the same distance, using focus peaking, magnification and understanding f stop to get the depth of field I needed. It’s just like riding a bike now. I use the Sony FX3. So I’m back to using autofocus again but I will occasionally use manual focus when I really need a subject highlighted, or I’m doing shots that result in unreliable focus such as reveal shots or crucial moments where the camera can not shift focus under any circumstance. Autofocus in modern cameras is incredible but it’s just a tool. And people need to learn the limitations.

This video came at the perfect time. I actually started with manual focus lenses so I've been learning how to auto-focus recently. I made the mistake of trusting the auto-focus a little too much on a recent project which resulted in an out of focus interview subject. Won't be making that mistake again!

One of the hardest things to do in cinematography is focus pulling and of course the best examples can be seen in long takes and sequence plans

this guy gives me big-time youth pastor energy

One thing that distinguishes me from other shooters is I always use manual focus. The tiny imperfections is the secret seasoning my composition needs.

I meet people and sometimes even work with people who use autofocus majority of the time. It makes me sad, especially when I hear their career is somehow doing better. Remember: it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.

Another video to watch a million times, the best channel by far

Focus is a primary concern, so glad you are doing a video about it. Good points all! The way I do it is that sometimes auto focus works and sometimes it doesn't and I know when to use it and we're not. I have my camera set up so I can turn it on and off quickly. I see peeking on my 5 inch monitor and always know when auto focus is working. But peaking is hard to see a lot of the time.

Great information. I'll definitely add the EVF method to my manual focusing process 👍

I love the peaking method it's really helps a lot whenever you're shooting out door under sunlight but I didn't understand the evf method but now I do and I'm gonna take that to consideration 👍

This is brilliant , thank you 🙏 I actually recently brought a follow focus for my gimbal

Great tips...thanks man 🙌

Awesome tutorial - especially using the eyepiece with gimbal. Will try this out right away.

And a better opción for the second method, the follow focus, is the “Focus Transition” option, available for Lumix cameras. I also use this method very often.

Thanks for this!

Right as I was thinking about this, this video pops up. Good timing 😅

thank you so much.. really helpful skill and tips

Very good video and well explained but my method that I always use with my Lumix GH5 MII is much faster and simpler. First have the manual focus activated (obvious 😁), and also have the "Touch Focus" option activated and of course the "Peaking Focus" option. And what I do once I have my subject is press the "Touch Focus" on the camera screen (I don't even look at the viewfinder), and I already have my subject focused and ready to continue with any movement, always keeping the same distance from the subject, as you have explained in the video.

I like focus on the subject