2013Video Assist and Video Accessories forum
Using Paralinx Arrow wireless video transmission for critical focus pulling
13 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 Arrow transmits uncompressed HD video with latency below 1 millisecond, which is negligible compared to the inherent delay of LCD monitors.
- HD image quality from the Arrow is sufficient to determine focus through a wireless monitor feed.
- Wireless video transmission systems introduce a small but measurable loss of sharpness due to increased noise floor, visible on waveforms and manifesting as slightly softer images.
- First Assistant Cameras have successfully used the Arrow to judge critical focus without complaints.
- Wireless transmission should be used as an aid to focus pulling rather than relied upon as the sole focus method.
Depends on
- The claim about First AC usage comes from one person's experience and may not be comprehensive.
- The sharpness loss from transmission is described as subtle and may not affect all situations equally.
- The discussion does not include direct experience reports from commercial shoots using the Arrow specifically for focus pulling.
- Information is from 2013 and may not reflect current hardware capabilities.