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how to do a rack focus on camcorders like handy cam?

is there anyway to do a rack focus on non-professional camcorders like
Panasonic SDR-H80? it has manual focus controls. i heard that only pro camcorders can do it, i only have a handycam, but i really wanted to do it. so i wish to find a way to do it.

also, i am wondering if non- professional camcorders is able to make a shallow depth of field? if yes, how do i do it?

thanks alot
also, i d like to ask, which consumer cam is the best for beginner film making? i have a tight budget so i dont think i can afford a pro camcorder.

Public Comments

1. for consumer cameras, it can't be done. because of the small size of the CCD, very short focal length lenses are used. This makes "everything in focus" unless you go to the extreme telephoto range of the lens.

It not a matter of being a "pro camera" or even manual focus. For a reasonable rack focus, you need at least 50mm of focal length and iris of 1.4 or less. Since the SDR-H80 uses only 1/8th inch CCD, you would have to be at the full 70x zoom to get any effect. Besides manual focus, you will need to use the high speed shutter to allow opening the aperature the max 5.7 at 70x. You cannot compose a reasonable shot, unless you consider a close up of an eyeball at 50 feet reasonable. good luck adjusting focus manually with the camera at 70x zoom and not bouncing the picture.

Rack focus is not really a video effect. For movies it is a natural. They need lenses that expose 35mm film, so a 50mm lens is normal (non-zoom) and the slow ISO of color movie film makes focus critical on any shot, its not a special "feature". The focus puller is a normal crew member on a film camera, check the credits.