Which term describes the practice of changing the focus of the lens during a shot?

Which term describes the practice of changing the focus of the lens during a shot?

• A. Focus breathing
• B. Focus pull
• C. Depth of field
• D. Rack focus

Answer: (D)

Rack focus is the cinematography technique of shifting the point of sharpness from one subject to another within a single shot. This is done smoothly by adjusting the lens focusing ring while the camera stays in place, guiding the viewer’s attention to a different plane of the scene without cutting. It’s the best fit here because the emphasis is on changing what’s in focus during the shot to reveal or prioritize elements in the image. Depth of field describes how much of the frame is sharp at a given focus and aperture, not the act of changing focus itself. Focus breathing is a lens artifact where the image magnification changes as you focus, which isn’t the technique described. Focus pull refers to the action of turning the focus ring to achieve a focus change, which is closely related, but rack focus is the established term for the intended visual effect achieved within a single take.

Rack focus is the cinematography technique of shifting the point of sharpness from one subject to another within a single shot. This is done smoothly by adjusting the lens focusing ring while the camera stays in place, guiding the viewer’s attention to a different plane of the scene without cutting. It’s the best fit here because the emphasis is on changing what’s in focus during the shot to reveal or prioritize elements in the image.

Depth of field describes how much of the frame is sharp at a given focus and aperture, not the act of changing focus itself. Focus breathing is a lens artifact where the image magnification changes as you focus, which isn’t the technique described. Focus pull refers to the action of turning the focus ring to achieve a focus change, which is closely related, but rack focus is the established term for the intended visual effect achieved within a single take.