Video: Nokia 808 Tap Focus example

On Symbian with the N8 we’ve had to rely on waiting for the continuous autofocus feature to arrive in either an app for firmware update. Continuous AF was great as you could automatically let the phone focus on far objects or close up objects, and with that close up objects of varying levels without ever having to do anything yourself. You know how much my 60D annoys me in that such an expensive camera would miss such a useful feature (which only now Canon is bringing to their newer camera line up).

Choosing your own focus point is useful too. Another feature we wanted to see was tap to focus. This meant overriding CAF and setting the video focus where you want it. CAF and TF have their own uses. I love that both are included in the 808 and more so that you can switch to either mode DURING video recording. You don’t need to be stuck on CAF and then realise you actually need to tap focus and lock it at that focus but can’t – because you can do that on the 808.

Anyway, here’s a video showing how that tap focus works. It would be nice to have the manual focus options, that way you can make some nice effects, e.g. ‘Pull Focus’ where you move focus from far/close objects as if you had the manual control of pulling the focus one way or another. You can sort of see that here but more the focus hunting. This is at least quicker to use than manual focus as you just pick WHERE you want to be in focus and not fiddling about with getting it to that focus level.

by domphua

Category: Nokia, Symbian, Video