How do you focus with 5D Mark ii??

[Phanee]

I recently got 5D Mark ii and struggling with focusing.

I set my AF mode to Live mode and trying to manually focus.

Curious on how everyone else focusing?

[Some Idiot]

manual, make sure you give yourself enough DOF to work with

[joedanger11]

manual focus

[soobumim]

You will need hoodman loupe or Z finder

[haring]

Originally Posted by soobumim

You will need hoodman loupe or Z finder

Do these really help?
How do you practice focusing? I guess you shoot as much as possible but how do the cinematographers do this who work in Hollywood?

[haring]

Is this what you meant?
HoodLoupe 3.0-Hoodman Corporation

[haring]

and this one?
Z-Finder Pro 3x

Which one do you use? There is a huge price difference! :)

[soobumim]

I am using ebay LCDVF now (paid $60)
it's got 2X magnification and will definitely help you with focusing.
Also helps with stabilize video

[haring]

Cool! thanks man!

[swanny338]

Are you talking about for photos or video?

[swanny338]

Just noticed that this is in the video section... Annnnyways

Practice practice practice. Then some more practice. Eventually you will get the hang of it. I have been using the 5d and 7d for video so long with my set of lenses that I can quickly pull focuses by feel because I know how the lens will react. Each lens has a bit of a different feel.

[ldelacruz]

I use auto focus to get close then use manual as my subjects move. Moving subjects take a lot of practice.

[Anthony Martinez]

Originally Posted by haring

Do these really help?
How do you practice focusing? I guess you shoot as much as possible but how do the cinematographers do this who work in Hollywood?

They do it by rehearsing everything to the point where actors move to specific spots and the operator in charge of pulling focus adjusts his follow-focus to a preset (and measured) marker for the specific distance at which focus ought to be spot on. This is of course also previewed on a screen to allow minute adjustments to be made as needed.

On a Hollywood set there's an entire crew working on every camera. Everyone has a specific job. Focusing is one of them.

[haring]

Originally Posted by anthony martinez

they do it by rehearsing everything to the point where actors move to specific spots and the operator in charge of pulling focus adjusts his follow-focus to a preset (and measured) marker for the specific distance at which focus ought to be spot on. This is of course also previewed on a screen to allow minute adjustments to be made as needed.

On a hollywood set there's an entire crew working on every camera. Everyone has a specific job. Focusing is one of them.

wow!!! :):):)

[swanny338]

There are guys who spend their lives just pulling focus for films. It is a craft all by itself.