2009Operating forum
Practical experience using long focal length lenses with Steadicam equipment
17 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
DisputedParticipants disagreed and reached no conclusion. Read the findings as positions, not as an answer.
What the thread found
- The longest focal lengths typically used with Steadicam range from 100mm to 150mm, with some operators occasionally reaching 180mm or 200mm.
- Focal lengths longer than 75mm generally create more challenges for the focus puller than the operator, particularly depending on the shot type.
- Longer lenses offer an advantage in keeping the horizon level since they show level errors less obviously than wide lenses do.
- Focus pulling without a proper monitor becomes more reactive rather than predictive, requiring the image to go soft before returning to sharpness.
- Shooting with HD cameras and 2/3-inch sensors differs from full-frame formats in terms of focus pulling difficulty.
- A 75mm lens without focus assist equipment on a 2/3-inch HD camera presented significant operational difficulty.
Depends on
- The experience comes from shooting practices around 2009 and may not reflect current camera technology.
- Observations about HD focus pulling were mixed and appeared dependent on individual operator skill and equipment setup.
- Some claims about camera sensor size advantages for focus pulling were contested without resolution.
- The single example of a 150mm-plus shot involved a complex push through a scene that could have been achieved differently.