Using a SPLIT DIOPTER and Shooting DEEP FOCUS (Show Short)

When you're shooting with deep focus, how do you tell the audience who to pay attention to? PREACHER and COBRA KAI cinematographer Cameron Duncan explains how he achieves this, including using split diopters.
Full interview ➡️ • Cobra Kai and 13 Reaso...
#Filmmaking #Cinematography #BehindTheScenes

[@ANProductionsOfficialChannel]

Split focus diopters are my favorite shots in cinema. My work is full of them to cheat a deep focus to avhieve tension or let the audience look back and forth without needing to cut the camera.

[@GoCreativeShow]

I love that look and want to incorporate it more into my own work. Are you a Cinematographer? Would love to know which one you are using.
Ben

[@ANProductionsOfficialChannel]

@@GoCreativeShow I saw some cheap ones on B&H and purchased the +2 versions since those get decent medium ones. The higher the + the more close up the subject needs to be to the lens.
Good practice: frame your subject in the BKG first, then place your foreground. Once you have your BKG focus, then place your foreground subject. Because if you change the focus of the BKG, your will also need to change the foreground. Same goes for zooming in and out.
You WILL need to cheat some.
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Here are some of the movies we made utilizing the split focus diopter. I will be making a video on the lens soon.

[@lukavidovic1782]

These podcasts are great! You have amazing guests. Keep going!
I've just recently found out about the split diopters and I think it's quite an amazing tool to have. There is a really good article about it on Studio Binder. I didn't mind in Jaws the blurred line between the guy and the sea, but I think it looks better when you hide it. It looks extraordinary when at the same time subject in front of the lens and the back is in focus.

[@GoCreativeShow]

Thanks for your support! - Connor, producer

[@GoCreativeShow]

Thanks for listening! I agree. The line doesn’t ruin the shot but I prefer if it’s hidden. I haven’t played with a split diopter before and excited to try it on a future project.
-Ben