Leica SL Best way to focus when shooting video

[Danny McIvor]

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 As a Cinematographer used to using manual focus PL lenses I find manual focus on the Leica SL to be very challenging. I am using the Vario-Elmarit 24-90 zoom. When shooting a video of an object moving toward the camera it is easy to miss the continuous focus when using the manual focus mode.. Has anyone shooting video ever used any of the autofocus modes like dynamic tracking when shooting video? I understand the autofocus doesn’t work very well in low light but in a well lit situation is there a way to keep a moving subject in focus using a method other than manual focus?

Edited November 9, 2017 by Danny McIvor

[scott kirkpatrick]

C-AF with face tracking is one way to do it.

[Irakly Shanidze]

The only real best way is MF with a follow focus and peaking on a recorder screen. 
AF is good when you shooting an interview or something, but for anything moving you have to stop down to at least 5.6 to compensate for AF errors and self-corrections.

[Irakly Shanidze]

Manual focus is easy, once you put the camera on a rig with a follow-focus. You can certainly go overboard with "proven" brands, but something like PNC GB-2 with 15-mm rods is absolutely sufficient and does an excellent job stabilizing handheld shooting (if you have questions, ask for instructions). Combined with a FOTGA follow-focus mechanism, the whole thing will shake you down for a whooping $300 (or less).

This is an example of something that I routinely do as a part of ballet dancer training. Manual focus works just fine. Any attempts to shoot this in any of the available AF modes sooner or later lose it and start hunting.

 

https://youtu.be/e-sixdkAoxQ

 

P.S. this video is for internal use, so never mind a couple of f*ck-ups

Edited November 12, 2017 by Irakly Shanidze

[stephan_w]

interesting thread, I posted a similar question some time ago. Actually I use manually R-lenses to get focus for video, and sometimes afc on the zoom when I film horses. but it is not very reliable