Panasonic GH2 touch screen rack focus - dSLR workflow

Jason Chan of BananaMana demonstrates the touch screen rack focus system on the Panasonic GH2.

Many dSLR's are problematic for videography because the lenses are manual focus only. Panasonic GH1 and GH2 have auto focus lenses. The GH2 autofocus is quite a bit faster than the GH1 but the GH2 also has touch to focus which allows one to use the touch screen to rack focus from one subject to another.

Watch GH2 low light test:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAXdT1znjhg&feature=fvw

http://bananamana.com/bananamana-com-video-productions-singapore-o496-en.html

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Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• panasonic gh2
• panasonic gh1
• gh2 touch screen
• gh2 rack focus
• dslr rack focus
• dslr follow focus
• gh2 auto focus
• gh2 focus

[ricland]

That's the second or third time you did an instructional video where you don't explain your terms.

Do you do that to frustrate people?

What does "rack focus" mean?

[BananaManaTV]

@ricland Sorry - we don't do it on purpose to frustrate people - sometimes we're doing these videos so quickly we forget what people do and don't know. Please be patient with us. Rack focus simply means pulling focus from one subject to another. It's a term used in film making.

[capskie]

good demo! I've notice when you using rack focus, the auto focus is not directly stop on the destination object. It looks like it still searching for the the right focus then it stopped. do you see what I mean. It happen also with my GH2 with 14-140 lens. But I've seen other demo using 14-45 lens, the rack focus is like directly focused on the destination object. Is it always like that or maybe distance of each object really matter? thanks

[BananaManaTV]

@capskie To be honest it's a little inaccurate sometimes but the more we use the GH2 the less we use these auto functions. We only ever do manual focussing nowadays. Once you get used to it you'll never go back to rely on the camera to focus for you. On our professional jobs we never use auto anything. Manual all the way.

[SpacedCowboyFromHell]

Great! Thanks!!

[BananaManaTV]

@SpacedCowboyFromHell You're welcome!

[bearwithgun14]

@BananaManaTV Does the GH2 have variable frame ratess?

[BananaManaTV]

@bearwithgun14 You'll be very happy with the GH2. It will give you a lot more freedom and will grow with your film making. HMC150 will require more light and cannot change lenses. If you want a more filmic look - the GH2 is your best bet.

[bearwithgun14]

I want to make an indie film. Should I buy this camera or the Panasonic HMC150?

[BananaManaTV]

@capskie The distance does matter. Although it's the speed that we like. If all else fails you can always go to manual focus which is what we are tending to do more and more.