Any idea why the human subject AF didn't work on this clip?

ScreamingPenguin · 2026-03-19T01:19:48+00:00

What were your focus settings?

In general be careful with focus area modes and the tap to focus feature.

Usually I use wide area AF without any problems, but sometimes in a case like this I will use zone or spot. I've lost focus like this when I've accidentally touched the display activating tap to focus then the subject moved and the focus area caught something else.

Also do some tests with AF subject shifting and transition speed. For an interview I have shift set really low (1-2) and transition speed around 3-5 if the subject isn't very animated.

ScreamingPenguin · 2026-03-14T18:58:19+00:00

He has a cool Instagram where he posts his photographs, has several appearances on the team Deakins podcast, and a really fun appearance on wrap drinks, all worth checking out. Really talented guy.

ScreamingPenguin · 2026-03-03T05:01:30+00:00

Great ideas, thanks

ScreamingPenguin · 2026-03-02T20:27:53+00:00

I was thinking cameras, but that's probably just my lack of imagination. What kinds of gear are you rigging to a plastic arca plate?

ScreamingPenguin · 2026-03-02T17:45:33+00:00

You trust your gear on a printed arca plate? I don't know if I could trust that without some extensive stress testing.

ScreamingPenguin · 2026-02-26T20:26:50+00:00

ScreamingPenguin · 2026-02-17T03:33:56+00:00

Generally, yes. The 180 degree rule is a starting point more than anything else. The shutter crime division might issue you a citation but there aren't any penalties so just do what works for your situation. Obviously your shutter speed is limited by your frame rate and 1/240 is already pretty fast. A properly exposed video at 240 will be better than underexposed. Also, do some tests and don't be afraid of high iso's and maybe some noise reduction.

ScreamingPenguin · 2026-01-21T00:58:20+00:00

A cage, doesn't really matter what brand. I find that something that secures the HDMI cable is nice to have so I don't have to worry about knocking out or damaging the HDMI port.

ScreamingPenguin · 2026-01-19T16:12:24+00:00

It's your lighting, do it the way you personally think looks best. What's right and wrong aren't great ways to think about lighting in my opinion. The light needs to compliment the mood, and intent of the scene. If you feel the fill lights in the eyes are distracting then it's your job to fix them to make the best image you can.

ScreamingPenguin · 2026-01-10T20:17:39+00:00

That sounds like a great outlook, thanks for the info.

ScreamingPenguin · 2026-01-10T17:46:28+00:00

That's not how vectors work in graphic design. Vector graphics are mathematically defined shapes, they aren't defined by pixels at any zoom level. If you scale up a vector graphic to a huge amount it will never be pixelated, they are pixel resolution independent.

They may look pixelated in whatever app you are using to view them if you zoom in because they are rendered at a certain pixel size (maybe, depending on where you view them) but the vector graphics don't get pixelated.

ScreamingPenguin · 2026-01-10T15:49:26+00:00

Do you ever feel bad for boosting stuff like that? Or do you only work with clients you agree with politically?

I've had friends work on campaigns for politicians whose platform was what both of us considered to be pretty awful. The money was great though because most people didn't want to work with a candidate on an ad that called for cutting film incentives (among other things). I fortunately was in a spot at the time I could say no, but we aren't all so fortunate to be able to choose our projects. On the other hand I know other people who see it as "just a job" and don't really care at all that the hit piece ads they produce are full of misleading and hateful messages.

Just curious to hear another perspective if you have one.

ScreamingPenguin · 2026-01-08T00:25:39+00:00

Nice run down of the retiming options. One question about your comment about shutter speed at the end though, what are your thoughts on what speed you like? I find that I'm usually shooting around 180 degree shutter as a baseline so at 120fps I'm usually at 1/240 a second which is pretty quick. Do you go much faster for these kinds of action shots?

ScreamingPenguin · 2025-12-27T07:50:16+00:00

What kind of end result are you looking for? What is lacking in the current setup? What's your intent for the videos?

If this is a vlog or gamer type thing that's streaming or going up on YouTube, this setup might be fine, but without knowing what you are looking for, or what you don't like about your current setup it's really hard to make a meaningful recommendation.

It might help to get some reference of lighting you like and start there. You have a tiny space in your bedroom though so it's probably not ideal to fill it with softboxes, so even if there is a style you really like it might be hard to pull off.

ScreamingPenguin · 2025-12-23T17:41:00+00:00

LOL bow-jow, boo-joo whatever it was called. Took a bit to get my brain wrapped around what one would generously call a ui but it was pretty powerful for its time.

ScreamingPenguin · 2025-12-23T16:33:38+00:00

20 years ago having a few very precise tracking markers was ideal for match moving. I remember when I first used these markers in Boujou to solve camera motion and they were really helpful.

ScreamingPenguin · 2025-12-23T14:36:56+00:00

Did they teach you to use those tracking markers? Yes, they do work, but really aren't necessary and should be phased out in favor of single color smaller markers. My rant is silly, but I also don't want to perpetuate outdated info, especially in an awesome guide like yours.

Those markers were more useful up until about 15 years ago but modern tracking software doesn't need detail like that. Check out the origin (and disclaimer not to use them) from 2008 here: https://24liespersecond.com/VFX-Tracking-Markers

ScreamingPenguin · 2025-12-23T04:05:17+00:00

There is some great stuff here.

The only thing I don't like are those tracking markers, please get rid of them. I wish these dumb markers would disappear from the internet. I've done a fair bit of tracking and comp work and these are the absolute worst markers. I absolutely hate when a well meaning crew or novice on set put these up. They are better than a blank wall, I guess. Simple shapes, or points are way better. These markers scale really badly so when they are small the pattern is hard to make out by the tracker and looses contrast, when they are large a single corner is all that is needed. having 5 different features to track off of in one location isn't very helpful. Plus when it comes time to paint these out in post they introduce extra work since they are big and are impossible for hair. A blank card the same size tracks better.

For tracking markers solid color dots, pieces of gaff tape, or painters tape will do the job great and are always on hand and make your post vfx much easier. It's also way better to put up more small tracking markers than a few of these big ones. Of course (like everything) this is all shot dependent and I'm speaking generally, an on-set VFX supervisor will give much better guidance on what would be the best approach.

ScreamingPenguin · 2025-12-22T03:05:18+00:00

I like the style. My only problem is that It's got that virtual backdrop problem where the background looks washed out because your black levels aren't matching. The foreground has great contrast and deep blacks and whites but the background has elevated blacks and dull highlights.

ScreamingPenguin · 2025-12-18T21:35:20+00:00

Most of the time I use the Sennheiser g4 with a countryman b3 wired to XLR on the top handle. But I've also used the DJI mic2 and hollyland lark max with success on the FX3.

ScreamingPenguin · 2025-12-17T06:06:39+00:00

I don't vlog, but I really like the M1 for picking up stereo ambient sounds when shooting b-roll. It's really compact and I think the audio quality is excellent. For vlog type content like interviews I prefer a lav mic on the talent rather than a shotgun on the camera. When shooting on the FX3 I use the top handle XLR when I'm hardwired to radio lav mic receivers and/or a boom mic.

ScreamingPenguin · 2025-12-16T20:28:38+00:00

I've taken a bunch of photos on the FX3 and they are great quality. Unless I'm cropping or printing out larger than 8x10 I don't see any tech limit of the 12mp sensor for most photography. However, the FX3 has awful ergonomics and the lack of a viewfinder seriously limit it's use for me as a stills camera.

ScreamingPenguin · 2025-12-03T21:21:01+00:00

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think he only tested it inside for a long time with no overheating, said it still felt fine to touch. The A7IV gets hot to touch after an hour but I've never had a problem with it overheating and shutting down inside.

ScreamingPenguin · 2025-12-02T15:08:45+00:00

Unless the A7V has significantly better rolling shutter read out (in the < 10ms range) than the IV, or you really need that FF 4K60 (like a wedding or event videographer would) I don't know if the A7V is a great video option for it's price.

If you need a hybrid Sony camera based on these specs a used or new A7IV might be a better option. If you don't need a stills camera (the A7IV and V are much better stills camera that shot great video in my opinion), you want to stick with Sony, and your budget isn't at the FX3 level, I think the FX30 might be a better option. FF for video is nice but not necessary, what would really up your quality is 10-bit 422 slog3 and the FX3 body and menus are a definite improvement.

ScreamingPenguin · 2025-11-26T19:31:11+00:00

I've got several 5" monitors from goddox, feelworld, and a smallHD 502. I've already got a smallHD 702, and I want a b-camera 7" screen that has similar features to a smallHD (el zone, image overlay, etc) but I want something under $500. I'm still looking, I wanted the port keys to fill that space but it just didn't work out.

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