ELi5 How a cameraman at a sports event able to track a fast moving ball with such a great focus on it?
In: 2760
Lots of practice and many cameras. With enough skilled camera operators, someone is bound to get a good shot.
They have insane autofocus system. Any modern pro dslr or mirrorless camera can lock onto the subject and follow it, no matter the speed and or movement. It is called continuous auto focus. With the right settings. Exposure settings, the photographer can easily capture, “freeze” the action whenever it is needed
The viewfinder shows a different image than the camera is sending to the audience. The camera operator sees a wider field, with lines showing where the broadcast image is in the field of view. If someone misses a change in direction, the director cuts to a different camera, so you only see the times they do the right thing.
These days there’s all sorts of electronic gadgets to help with that, but in the end it comes down to practice and experience.
SOURCE: in another life I used to work with video production, and although not my main role, I was camera operator for a few years.
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