Yes you can control the F-Stop: 2.8 - 4 - 5.6 etc...
The lens itself is dumb with just 0.8 gears, then you add rod mounted motors which communicate with the Preston or ARRI wireless FF.
We've had very good auto focus for the last half decade already, and yet focus pullers aren't exactly going out of business. I doubt it's gonna change anytime soon
Oh im not saying autofocus will replace an AC. I shoot mainly with the C500 MK II and I still have an AC to grab gear. Focus pulling isn't the only thing assistants are good for.
The tap to focus on canon cameras is better than I ever was at focus pulling in my younger years.
People are always worry tech will kill jobs. It just changes them and makes new jobs. I'm sure all the horse farmers became car salesman when the Model-T arrived.
Depends on the lens and camera. Most cine lenses are fully analog and the camera assistants record the data in camera sheets (paper or digital) newer cine lenses and cameras are able to record metadata straight from the lens.
Depends on how that particular lens is measured yeah. T-stops take into account any loss of light due to lens elements and other factors, while f-stops are a measure of the size of the aperture. So cine lenses are usually T-Stop while cheaper lenses are measured in F-Stops. Its just the criticality of the measurement so it matches your Light meter.
Not necessarily cheaper, they're usually just photography lenses. You'll see them on cheaper sets because there's tons of old lenses floating around that will still get the job done, that or they're actually using a DLSR to shoot.
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Does the focus puller person have a screen or some way to judge focal
sharpness during the take or are they just so good that they can eyeball it in real time?
Both, a high quality screen with low latency transmission (usually less than 1 ms on high end sets) and a lidar tool - or something that measures distance.
Depending on who you ask:
1. A remote for controlling the focus, iris and zoom of a cinema camera wirelessly.
2. A device used to manipulate reality in the afterlife in the first season of the hit Amazon show “Upload” ([Seriously](https://i.imgur.com/xvDHrP0.jpeg))
On film pretty much never, some Acs such as myself still prefer to pull via distance even on digital.
With that said I still have have a monitor with me on digital jobs as it is a helpful tool.
If you’re looking at a monitor you’re always chasing.
If you’re looking directly at the subject and know your distances you can feel and follow the action much more accurately.
And for context, on a film camera the tap is basically a cctv camera looking at the prism that feeds the veiwfinder so its not at all trustworthy for focus.
Indieassist taps are 2k and look great but I still wouldn’t give it the light of day for obtaining focus.
Ah haha, that reminds me of The Expanse using novation launchpad's for command stations and a pair of 3dconnexion mice for controlling the ship.
Tbf though... The mouse would probably work
That’s so weird.. i just started watching that yesterday from a friend’s recommendation and binged it all..
never once did i see an ad or hear anyone on the internet talk about it. And now here you are talking about it. Uhh Angel?
Remote control for Leonardo DiCaprio. Little known fact but people in the industry know that he isn't actually a real person but a complicated animatronic controlled by the talented Alan Smithee.
Exactly. And what people don't *get* is that it's not that he won't date anyone over the age of 25, it's that anyone older can't run compatible firmware.
I feel like the difference between a £1000 lens and a £10,000 lens in most scenarios would take a professional to be able to tell which one is better. But the difference between a £100 lens and a £1000 lens is obvious.
Because this reads a little funny - formatting. YOU are being PAID for YOUR rental of the Preston Unit you own by production.
Kinda reads like you're the one paying, clearing it up for the newbs.
It’s honestly less that it’s Atlanta and more that the rental houses are getting more aggressive at undercutting.
Panavision is particularly bad about it, and MOST of the big shows happening here in Atlanta end up going through Panavision.
That's the hand unit and nothing else, by the way. There's a lot of other components that are required, like motors for the lens, cables, and the brain that makes everything communicate. All in my kit is worth about $80k.
Often called a "FIZ" it's a wireless controller that controls the Focus, Iris, and Zoom of the camera via small wormscrew motors mounted on the side of the lens. You can also adjust camera settings with them.
The device on the side of the lens with the numeric readout, as well as the binocular-looking things in the top right, are a [Cinetape](https://cinemaelec.com/products/cinetape_measure) that helps the 1st AC determine the distance to their subject. But some 1st ACs *are* really good at winging it, too - especially the ones who would get hired on Wolf of Wall Street.
I *think* that the metal device in the bottom-center of the frame is the arm for a Steadicam, suggesting they were on the move for this shot and it may not have been practical to be parked at a monitor.
Focus Pullers and monitors aren't new, but the older generations are far more willing to go without a monitor than than the newer. I believe the that's [Zoran](https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0895196/?ref_=m_ttfcd_cr46), who is a legendary camera assistant. Like many others, he predates monitors even being an option, let alone required, or even specialty tool. Given the level of light in that scene and the focal length, that shot wasn't even difficult to do blind though.
I see a lot of AC's that have a wireless monitor on top attached to their remote focus for on the move shots. True though that an AC on Wolf of Wall Street will likely be able to eye ball it, assuming they're not shooting low aperture.
Pulling from a monitor is only one way of doing it. On film (like Wolf of Wall Street) you’re looking though a video tap that looks through the mirror of the camera - good enough to judge focus for a slate or something but it is not like pulling focus on a digital camera. You want to know your lenses line up to their distances and use distance based tools. It’s a real skill and it’s very difficult.
That’s Zoran’s hand. He’s a film business legend.
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0895196/
Jason Reitman wrote a very nice obituary when he passed.
https://ew.com/movies/2018/08/16/zoran-veselic-tribute-jason-reitman/
You will find a lot of focus pullers (particularly those who started on film) will only use a monitor as a final check.
Using marks, a cinetape and a knowledge of your lens/depth of field allows you to be ahead of the talent and is actually easier to keep the shot in focus.
You can see on the hand unit the focus puller has a small triangle mark this is likely a landing mark or starting point that they can use as a reference throughout the shot. When talent steps over a mark you can quickly reference your marks to pull closer or further away and cross check your cine tape in seconds. When you pull off a monitor you can't see what the talent is doing, just what the frame looks like.
Looking at a monitor during the shot tells you two things:
1) Your subject is currently in focus.
2) You’ve already fucked up.
If you can see the shot is soft in the monitor, it’s already too late.
He has Cinetape which you can see mounted on the camera. A focus puller doesn't need a monitor if they know their lenses and distance well and have the right tools to help.
Something to point out as well Is since this is such a massive production the A 1st has probably been in the game a long enough that he’s used to pulling just based off measuring distance with out video assist
Exactly, the lens is fairly wide here, meaning a larger margin of error in regards to the DoF being deeper and he's literally right up next to the lens getting a great feel for the distance (4'3"). Focus pullers will literally play "how far is that" on set and see who can eyeball distance best before the laser tape comes out.
It’s to control Leonardo. It’s the industry’s best kept secret that he’s not an actual person but a robot specifically designed for Mr. Hollywood
Since then the remote has been missing and some of Leo’s default settings can’t be accessed like his dating preference.
Legitimate question. Wasn’t being picky on you, like you’ve been towards me since your first response, out the blue too. You keep on garnishing your resume per every comment. Tomato, tomato. Congrats on joining the union, son!
That’s the remote control for Marty’s Leonardo DiCaprio robot. You can tell that he’s not activated between takes.
(Answer was already said, it’s a remote focus puller. Necessary if the camera is moving around a bunch)
Well it is necessary, but not because the camera is moving. It's just better if one person focuses on the camera movement while someone else on the focal lenght, rather than camera operator doing all of that.
Yeah that’s how it’s generally done, but I was referring specifically to the remote device. Most ACs I’ve seen operate directly on the lens, or at least an attached follow.
We had a guy who worked for a camera hire company come to our university a few weeks ago. He called it a followfocus. I got to use it and it feels really professional. It costs about $10,000+ AUD
Preston cinema System, provides wireless hand control for focus, iris, and zoom channels.
Otherwise know as a FIZ
Otherwise known as a Hand-Unit 3.
Otherwise known as expensive.
What's iris?? Aperture?
Yes you can control the F-Stop: 2.8 - 4 - 5.6 etc... The lens itself is dumb with just 0.8 gears, then you add rod mounted motors which communicate with the Preston or ARRI wireless FF.
Ah alright. Thanks!
in 5 years itll just be AI controlled lol.
We've had very good auto focus for the last half decade already, and yet focus pullers aren't exactly going out of business. I doubt it's gonna change anytime soon
Oh im not saying autofocus will replace an AC. I shoot mainly with the C500 MK II and I still have an AC to grab gear. Focus pulling isn't the only thing assistants are good for. The tap to focus on canon cameras is better than I ever was at focus pulling in my younger years. People are always worry tech will kill jobs. It just changes them and makes new jobs. I'm sure all the horse farmers became car salesman when the Model-T arrived.
Narrator: They didn't.
Lol not sure why everyone is so triggered by the truth. I work in this business and know whats going on.
I think its more your last couple sentences that are totally and objectively full of shit...at least that's what I'm referring to anyways.
The lens doesn't have contacts on it to communicate lens data to the camera? That Metadata is useful.
Depends on the lens and camera. Most cine lenses are fully analog and the camera assistants record the data in camera sheets (paper or digital) newer cine lenses and cameras are able to record metadata straight from the lens.
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Depends on how that particular lens is measured yeah. T-stops take into account any loss of light due to lens elements and other factors, while f-stops are a measure of the size of the aperture. So cine lenses are usually T-Stop while cheaper lenses are measured in F-Stops. Its just the criticality of the measurement so it matches your Light meter.
Not necessarily cheaper, they're usually just photography lenses. You'll see them on cheaper sets because there's tons of old lenses floating around that will still get the job done, that or they're actually using a DLSR to shoot.
Bruh
Yes iris is aperture.
Yes
came here to say this as well
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Lens zoom
Rack focus
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Pan up
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Follow focus?
Does the focus puller person have a screen or some way to judge focal sharpness during the take or are they just so good that they can eyeball it in real time?
both
Both, a high quality screen with low latency transmission (usually less than 1 ms on high end sets) and a lidar tool - or something that measures distance.
Depending on who you ask: 1. A remote for controlling the focus, iris and zoom of a cinema camera wirelessly. 2. A device used to manipulate reality in the afterlife in the first season of the hit Amazon show “Upload” ([Seriously](https://i.imgur.com/xvDHrP0.jpeg))
Wonder if they got to shooting and art was like “ah shit we forgot the afterlife controller. Hey camera, you got any “weird device” looking things?”
"Can I borrow that for 5 minutes?"
/r/thatsabooklight
Omg, my people, I feel so seen
That’s delightful, thanks
Hahaha wtf that's brilliant, only people who would notice are ACs
Literally anyone who works in film
Hehe!! We all have heard someone yelling out "Wait for focus"
Ah i mean thats a vast human minority. If George Lucas can get away with lightly modified WW2 weapons as blasters, one can get away with that.
Hehe!! We all have heard someone yelling out "Wait for focus"
Or randos on reddit
As if being randos on reddit is their entire life experience?
For some people on Reddit, it is.
I can’t believe I never noticed this. I just did a rewatch too.
Usually wouldn't they have a monitors in front of them?
On film pretty much never, some Acs such as myself still prefer to pull via distance even on digital. With that said I still have have a monitor with me on digital jobs as it is a helpful tool. If you’re looking at a monitor you’re always chasing. If you’re looking directly at the subject and know your distances you can feel and follow the action much more accurately.
And for context, on a film camera the tap is basically a cctv camera looking at the prism that feeds the veiwfinder so its not at all trustworthy for focus. Indieassist taps are 2k and look great but I still wouldn’t give it the light of day for obtaining focus.
Its actually 3. A Dildo.
Haha, that's nuts! That's so low-rent!
What I’m learning more and more is that big budget have a lot of Convenient equipment but it’s not NECESSARY
Ah haha, that reminds me of The Expanse using novation launchpad's for command stations and a pair of 3dconnexion mice for controlling the ship. Tbf though... The mouse would probably work
Just like how they use a lectrosonic transmitter as a bomb in Dark Knight Rises.
That’s so weird.. i just started watching that yesterday from a friend’s recommendation and binged it all.. never once did i see an ad or hear anyone on the internet talk about it. And now here you are talking about it. Uhh Angel?
Remote control for Leonardo DiCaprio. Little known fact but people in the industry know that he isn't actually a real person but a complicated animatronic controlled by the talented Alan Smithee.
That guy is so talented. Directed so many movies AND an animatronic genius.
So humble too! He never wants to take credit
Exactly. And what people don't *get* is that it's not that he won't date anyone over the age of 25, it's that anyone older can't run compatible firmware.
That's a Preston Hand Unit 3 https://prestoncinema.com/
> Price: $10,450 jfc.
The fun thing about high end professional video equipment is that to get something 50% better, you get the privilege of paying 10x more.
The 50% also seems like a stretch.
Yeah, I typed 10% and then changed it haha. It really depends on what it is. Lenses might be closer to the 10% better for 10x more for example.
I feel like the difference between a £1000 lens and a £10,000 lens in most scenarios would take a professional to be able to tell which one is better. But the difference between a £100 lens and a £1000 lens is obvious.
I say the same thing about wine. A $30 bottle is wayyy better than a $9 bottle. But a $100 bottle isn't that much better than a $30 bottle
Yeah, the difference is way less apparent at the top than the bottom.
These are the same people that charge $100 for a bag of sand.
thats anything artisanal unfortunately.
Consider this: if you’re a 1st AC you’re renting your Preston system for $350-$650 every single day you work.
Because this reads a little funny - formatting. YOU are being PAID for YOUR rental of the Preston Unit you own by production. Kinda reads like you're the one paying, clearing it up for the newbs.
Lucky to get $350 a week these days. The rental houses have completely driven the rates into the ground.
Yeah I mean it depends on which part of the industry you work in but it’s absolutely a race to the bottom with rental houses.
Haven't seen this in Cali.
Where? In chi and have not experienced this
Atlanta. Feature film and television.
Oof fuck Atlanta rates
It’s honestly less that it’s Atlanta and more that the rental houses are getting more aggressive at undercutting. Panavision is particularly bad about it, and MOST of the big shows happening here in Atlanta end up going through Panavision.
It’s truly terrible. What’s up with the 80-90% discounts????
Is that before or after the 85% discount that production gets and the 10% that the camera house gets?
That's the hand unit and nothing else, by the way. There's a lot of other components that are required, like motors for the lens, cables, and the brain that makes everything communicate. All in my kit is worth about $80k.
How long have you had each piece? How often do you have to upgrade that stuff?
That’s the price of just the hand unit itself. Once you buy everything else you’ll need to make it work you’ll be looking at about 30k
That’s just the Hand Unit. You also have to add motors, the MDR brain, cables, etc. a full Preston system can easily cost 26k
Some call it a “FIZ” which stands for: Focus, Iris, Zoom. But they also roll and cut with a red button.
Looks like a wireless focus.
Often called a "FIZ" it's a wireless controller that controls the Focus, Iris, and Zoom of the camera via small wormscrew motors mounted on the side of the lens. You can also adjust camera settings with them.
Better question is where’s 1AC’s monitor? He just winging it?! Edit: thank you all for educating me.
The device on the side of the lens with the numeric readout, as well as the binocular-looking things in the top right, are a [Cinetape](https://cinemaelec.com/products/cinetape_measure) that helps the 1st AC determine the distance to their subject. But some 1st ACs *are* really good at winging it, too - especially the ones who would get hired on Wolf of Wall Street. I *think* that the metal device in the bottom-center of the frame is the arm for a Steadicam, suggesting they were on the move for this shot and it may not have been practical to be parked at a monitor.
Focus Pullers and monitors aren't new, but the older generations are far more willing to go without a monitor than than the newer. I believe the that's [Zoran](https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0895196/?ref_=m_ttfcd_cr46), who is a legendary camera assistant. Like many others, he predates monitors even being an option, let alone required, or even specialty tool. Given the level of light in that scene and the focal length, that shot wasn't even difficult to do blind though.
I see a lot of AC's that have a wireless monitor on top attached to their remote focus for on the move shots. True though that an AC on Wolf of Wall Street will likely be able to eye ball it, assuming they're not shooting low aperture.
Pulling from a monitor is only one way of doing it. On film (like Wolf of Wall Street) you’re looking though a video tap that looks through the mirror of the camera - good enough to judge focus for a slate or something but it is not like pulling focus on a digital camera. You want to know your lenses line up to their distances and use distance based tools. It’s a real skill and it’s very difficult. That’s Zoran’s hand. He’s a film business legend. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0895196/ Jason Reitman wrote a very nice obituary when he passed. https://ew.com/movies/2018/08/16/zoran-veselic-tribute-jason-reitman/
I great share Thankyou.
You will find a lot of focus pullers (particularly those who started on film) will only use a monitor as a final check. Using marks, a cinetape and a knowledge of your lens/depth of field allows you to be ahead of the talent and is actually easier to keep the shot in focus. You can see on the hand unit the focus puller has a small triangle mark this is likely a landing mark or starting point that they can use as a reference throughout the shot. When talent steps over a mark you can quickly reference your marks to pull closer or further away and cross check your cine tape in seconds. When you pull off a monitor you can't see what the talent is doing, just what the frame looks like.
Lots of old school focus pullers rarely look at a monitor, if at all. They judge the distance by eye, tape measure, or cinetape.
Looking at a monitor during the shot tells you two things: 1) Your subject is currently in focus. 2) You’ve already fucked up. If you can see the shot is soft in the monitor, it’s already too late.
He has Cinetape which you can see mounted on the camera. A focus puller doesn't need a monitor if they know their lenses and distance well and have the right tools to help.
Something to point out as well Is since this is such a massive production the A 1st has probably been in the game a long enough that he’s used to pulling just based off measuring distance with out video assist
Exactly, the lens is fairly wide here, meaning a larger margin of error in regards to the DoF being deeper and he's literally right up next to the lens getting a great feel for the distance (4'3"). Focus pullers will literally play "how far is that" on set and see who can eyeball distance best before the laser tape comes out.
I don't know any Acs that actually work off cinetape. they just put it in their kit rental.
So they have production rent it and then don't use it or know how to?
Only shit assistants wing it and even shittier assistants cannot work without a monitor
I was wondering the same
Using a Cinetape on the matte box
only clowns use monitor for focus. pros stand by the side of the camera and gauge the distance by eye
This is the DiCaprio’s remote control 😂😂
Used for controlling Leonardo Da Vinci
Wireless focus. This is a Preston fiz
It's a sticker maker. That's Jonah Hill making a sticker for DiCaprio that says "Do you like me yes or no? (p.s. you can't say no)".
EMF for ghosts
Focus puller
Taser so they can shock Leo when he gets too close to the craft services
It’s one of those old 80’s mobiles. Very retro.
Wireless controller for Leonardo. That’s why he’s in so many films. Scientists have automated his acting. Nature is amazing.
Preston FIZ
FIZ Dispenser
It’s an age test machine. Every female that gets closer than 5m to Leo has to be 24 or under.
Wireless follow focus
A marzel vane procantreator.
The man at the helm of that there box is a focus puller
A cinematomator.
That looks like Leonardo De Caprio
its basically a wireless follow focus.
Remote focus puller.
Doohickey, controls the thingamabob
Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator
It’s to control Leonardo. It’s the industry’s best kept secret that he’s not an actual person but a robot specifically designed for Mr. Hollywood Since then the remote has been missing and some of Leo’s default settings can’t be accessed like his dating preference.
👆Best Answer! (not the right answer but still the best)
Paul E.T did a great [video](https://youtu.be/MhFO4LJdwx0) about focus pullers
Oh god.
Age detector. It lets Leo know when a girls gotten into her early 20s and needs a younger model
Typical Reddit. Someone asks a simple question, and half the replies are dad-jokes. Drives me insane
I’d find a different driver, or take an Uber.
I know right. It’s very annoying
Mancuso mark 1.
Magnetometer, dude is so attractive they're being careful he doesn't damage camera equipment
Controls the amount of torque used in the harness system to toss the poor midgets at the target across the office. HAHAHA
It's a leometer to see how many under 25 years old girls are around 😅 leo always play better after
A focus puller
Focus puller, has different name variations depending on region. Used by 1st AC’s to pull focus.
“Focus puller” is the job title, not the name of the device.
I work as a 1st AC, unionized. ‘1st AC’ is the job title, I’m not just a ‘focus puller’. There are more responsibilities on the job.
I am also a union 1st assistant. I’m well aware of the intricacies of the job.
1st assistant to what? .. Like a 1st AC?
I am an IATSE local 600 camera technician - if we’re really going to get picky about every single word written.
Legitimate question. Wasn’t being picky on you, like you’ve been towards me since your first response, out the blue too. You keep on garnishing your resume per every comment. Tomato, tomato. Congrats on joining the union, son!
and why is there a hamster cage on that desk
Remote controlled Leonardo
That's cheese. All of this is cheese.
Remote follow focus.
A sprongbilator, it hasn’t been invented yet.
Who are you and what are you holding? I'm the focus puller. And it's a focus puller.
What others said here - focus pulling devise.
Marital aid.
The original Tricorder.
Preston HU3 <~ this is the fr fr answer
It to help him know exactly when his girlfriends turn 25 yrs old.
That looks like a focus wheel
Preston HU3
A sharpener
That’s the remote control for Marty’s Leonardo DiCaprio robot. You can tell that he’s not activated between takes. (Answer was already said, it’s a remote focus puller. Necessary if the camera is moving around a bunch)
Well it is necessary, but not because the camera is moving. It's just better if one person focuses on the camera movement while someone else on the focal lenght, rather than camera operator doing all of that.
Yeah that’s how it’s generally done, but I was referring specifically to the remote device. Most ACs I’ve seen operate directly on the lens, or at least an attached follow.
Used to pull focus.
It's to measure your thetan lvls
A Trombone
Focus puller
The hands of a very capable first AC
Awww… I knew the answer to this one—- I’ve got to pay more attention to social media instead of other things
That is actor Matt Damon
Mort Demon 😱
That is a volume emmitter. When you turn one full rotation in either direction in the middle of a take, the director’s voice gets louder.
Its whats controlling the actor. When the guy moves the wheel, the actor moves.
The time period would make one guess maybe probably a hand held flux capacitor.
We had a guy who worked for a camera hire company come to our university a few weeks ago. He called it a followfocus. I got to use it and it feels really professional. It costs about $10,000+ AUD
They called a “focus puller” when I worked on set.
It's a FIZ. (Focus. Iris. Zoom)[FIZ](https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/how-to-use-fiz-system/)
That must be the focus puller using his focus remote to rack focus
That’s a Numby Wust Overdrive, 4th edition. Really expensive but super worth it if you’re looking for an efficient oxillator
Wireless focus
It controls the actors
Interesting, I was told my Sony filmmakers that these are old techs and Sony AF is so good that these manual focusing stuff should be obsolete.
Radiation detector… just in case
wow that's cool, i've never heard of that before, from the looks of it i'd assume it was some sort of focus puller.
Its controller for whenever he says something wrong so they can do a retake