Focus peaking and Video

[danielp11]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hello,

 

i do not own an M yet (only a M9-P) but i am thinking about getting one. For me as a family father video is important. Is focus peaking also possible with video and is it visible in the EVF 2?

 

I looked at the PDF manual but did not find a solution..

 

Thanks very much for an answer

 

Daniel

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[lct]

I'm afraid not but my video skills are very limited.

[danielp11]

I'm afraid not but my video skills are very limited.

 

Thank you very much for your answer. Are you really sure that focus peaking (thin red lines) is not possible in video mode? This would minimize the M advantages over the M9 for me.

 

Daniel

[Frank aus B]

Focus peaking doesn´t work in video mode.

[jaques]

definately no focus peaking- and I think even if there was it wouldn't be a very good way to focus a video anyway- you would not be able to track the lines on moving objects... Basically video focusing is always going to be pretty hard on the M handheld... It is more of a tripod vid cam... You would be better off buying a cheap video camera.

[Overgaard]

I think one would use the flash shoe for sound recording most of the time, and that makes the use of the EVF-2 impossible at the same time.

 

When using the EVF-2 during video recording, there are no focus peak or focus assistance. But the EVF-2 offers a very large image as your whole view if filled by the image, whereas the screen on the back is a rather small image compared to. And if one (should) use reading glasses one will need those to see the screen on the back of the camera.

 

So to answer your question short, No focus aid and no focus peak during video, not on any of the screens.

 

This leads to the question, then how does it work?

 

I use the M240 for video interviews on a tripod with wireless microphone so that the subject can be far enough from the camera.

 

I have also handheld the camera for music type of videos where I use narrow focus and the EVF-2 with the knowledge that focus will go in and out - but I use that as an effect.

 

And then I have used the M240 with 21mm at f/3.4 to ensure the focus is not critical when using it handheld and/or having more than one center of attention in the image (groups of people or a room of things happening)

 

One possibility for focusing (aid) is a viewer that can be attached to the M240 screen, likewise the ones you use on Canon 5D.

 

Then again, one of the points of traveling light with the M240 is not to have lots of tripods and other gear with you.

 

I have a real hard time telling what to think. Some videographers criticize the camera for rolling shutter (things moving uneven in the image when you pan the camera or something move in the image, others say even the largest and best video cameras does not have image stabilization and focus aid, and others again love the narrow depth of field and the possibilities to make atmosphere with that.

 

I find that I use it more and more to do interviews, stories and make fun things with. I am not any close to 'upgrade' to larger or more video equipment, but I do welcome the possibilities in the M240 for doing video that does not look like everything else.

 

So it is one of those things where it depends on who you are and what you want to make out of it. Only small and semi-pro video cameras have autofocus and image stabilization. From semi-pro and up to cinema, none of those things exist in the camera but rely on the skills of the videographer.

[danielp11]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I think one would use the flash shoe for sound recording most of the time, and that makes the use of the EVF-2 impossible at the same time.

 

When using the EVF-2 during video recording, there are no focus peak or focus assistance. But the EVF-2 offers a very large image as your whole view if filled by the image, whereas the screen on the back is a rather small image compared to. And if one (should) use reading glasses one will need those to see the screen on the back of the camera.

 

So to answer your question short, No focus aid and no focus peak during video, not on any of the screens.

 

This leads to the question, then how does it work?

 

I use the M240 for video interviews on a tripod with wireless microphone so that the subject can be far enough from the camera.

 

I have also handheld the camera for music type of videos where I use narrow focus and the EVF-2 with the knowledge that focus will go in and out - but I use that as an effect.

 

And then I have used the M240 with 21mm at f/3.4 to ensure the focus is not critical when using it handheld and/or having more than one center of attention in the image (groups of people or a room of things happening)

 

One possibility for focusing (aid) is a viewer that can be attached to the M240 screen, likewise the ones you use on Canon 5D.

 

Then again, one of the points of traveling light with the M240 is not to have lots of tripods and other gear with you.

 

I have a real hard time telling what to think. Some videographers criticize the camera for rolling shutter (things moving uneven in the image when you pan the camera or something move in the image, others say even the largest and best video cameras does not have image stabilization and focus aid, and others again love the narrow depth of field and the possibilities to make atmosphere with that.

 

I find that I use it more and more to do interviews, stories and make fun things with. I am not any close to 'upgrade' to larger or more video equipment, but I do welcome the possibilities in the M240 for doing video that does not look like everything else.

 

So it is one of those things where it depends on who you are and what you want to make out of it. Only small and semi-pro video cameras have autofocus and image stabilization. From semi-pro and up to cinema, none of those things exist in the camera but rely on the skills of the videographer.

 

Thanks you very much for your answer.

 

Until now, i use my 5D Mark III for video , which has (since the newest Firmware) also a clean HDMI out. I then attach a high-resolution 7 Inch Screen to the hotshoe, which is able to do focus peaking. I don´t have a problem to focus manually, and I love the Videos with the 85 mm 1.2 . I have made the experience that without such a big high resolution screen, focussing only with the built in screen on the 5D III and without focus peaking it is really hard with fast lenses to really nail the focus.

 

Disadvantage: This Equipment is really heavy. Therefore (and not only brecause of that ) for my photographs I prefer my M9-P over the 5D III. I was hoping a could do this with the M240 for video also, but it does not seem so...

 

Thanks again

Daniel