Focus breathing is a phenomenon that often goes unnoticed by many photographers and videographers, yet it can significantly impact the outcome of your work. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a beginner, understanding focus breathing and how it affects your shots is crucial. While it might sound like a term out of a yoga class, focus breathing refers to a shift in the angle of view when focusing, and it can have noticeable effects on your images and videos.
In this detailed guide, we will explain what focus breathing is, why it happens, how it affects your work, and, most importantly, how you can minimize or avoid its impact. By the end of this article, you'll have a clearer understanding of this optical phenomenon and be better equipped to handle it in your photography and videography.
What Is Focus Breathing?
Focus breathing, sometimes referred to as lens breathing, is the optical effect that occurs when the angle of view changes as you adjust the focus. As you focus your lens from the minimum focusing distance to infinity, or vice versa, the image may appear to zoom in or out. This happens because the internal lens elements shift as you change the focus.
Focus breathing can be noticed in both directions: when you shift focus from the minimum distance towards infinity, you may observe the lens appear to zoom out. On the other hand, adjusting from infinity to the minimum focus distance causes the lens to appear to zoom in. This effect, while subtle, can be significant depending on the type of lens you're using. It is called "focus breathing" because the lens seems to "breathe" in and out as the focus changes.
The key takeaway here is that focus breathing doesn’t change the focal length of the lens itself, but it changes the angle of view, altering the composition of the shot. This can be particularly problematic in specific contexts, especially for videographers or photographers using focus stacking techniques.
Understanding Focus Breathing: What It Is and Why It Happens
Focus breathing is an optical phenomenon that occurs in both zoom and prime lenses, and it can significantly affect the composition and quality of your shots. This issue arises due to the internal movements of the lens elements when adjusting the focus. While it may not always be immediately noticeable, understanding how focus breathing occurs and why it happens can help you manage or even minimize its impact on your photography and videography.
In this article, we will explore in greater detail what focus breathing is, why it occurs, and how it affects your work. Whether you’re a still photographer looking for sharper images or a cinematographer trying to maintain consistent framing, it’s important to know how to address this issue.
What Is Focus Breathing?
Focus breathing is the term used to describe the subtle change in the angle of view or framing of an image as you adjust the focus on your lens. It occurs when the internal elements of the lens move during focusing, leading to a shift in the field of view. This effect can be noticed when you shift the focus from one extreme to another—moving from the minimum focusing distance to infinity or vice versa.
When you adjust the focus on your lens, the lens elements within the barrel shift closer or farther from the sensor. This creates an apparent zoom effect as the field of view changes. As a result, when you focus on a subject closer to the lens, the angle of view widens, capturing more of the surrounding area. Conversely, focusing on a distant subject causes the angle of view to narrow, which results in a more cropped image. While this change may seem subtle, it can have a significant effect on your composition, especially in videos or when using techniques like focus stacking.
Focus breathing is sometimes confused with zooming, but it’s important to understand that focus breathing doesn’t change the focal length of the lens. The focal length remains fixed throughout the focusing process. Instead, the angle of view shifts, leading to the apparent zoom effect. This subtle change can be problematic, especially in video work, where maintaining a consistent framing throughout the shot is crucial.
Why Focus Breathing Occurs: The Role of Internal Lens Elements
To fully understand why focus breathing happens, it’s important to dive deeper into the mechanics of modern lenses, both prime and zoom. The majority of modern lenses, including those used in digital photography and cinematography, utilize an internal focusing system. This system allows the lens elements inside the lens barrel to shift when focusing, rather than the entire lens barrel moving. This design makes the lens more compact, helps with faster autofocus, and allows for the use of filters and other lens accessories without interference from the moving parts.
The internal focusing system is advantageous in many ways. It allows for faster and more accurate autofocus, making it an essential feature for both still and video photographers. It also reduces the overall size of the lens, making it easier to handle and use, especially for handheld shooting or when space is limited. However, while the internal focus system provides several advantages, it is also the primary cause of focus breathing.
When focusing on a subject, the internal elements of the lens shift along the optical axis. This movement causes a change in the position of the focal plane—the point where the lens converges the light to form a sharp image on the camera’s sensor. When the focal plane is close to the camera, the lens captures a wider field of view. As the focal plane moves farther away from the camera’s sensor, the angle of view narrows, creating the appearance of a zoom effect. The result is the subtle "breathing" effect that many photographers and videographers encounter when adjusting focus.
The Impact of Focus Breathing on Photography and Videography
While focus breathing is a relatively minor issue for still photographers in most cases, it can have a larger impact on videographers and cinematographers. The shift in the angle of view can cause changes in the framing of a shot, making the subject appear to zoom in or out. This effect is more noticeable when the focus changes from a close subject to a distant one or vice versa, and it can be particularly distracting in moving footage.
For still photographers, focus breathing may not always be noticeable unless you’re shooting with a lens that exhibits a significant amount of this phenomenon. However, when you need precise focus control, such as in macro photography or focus stacking, the change in magnification caused by focus breathing can make it difficult to align multiple exposures seamlessly. In focus stacking, you take several shots with different focal planes and combine them to increase the depth of field in a single image. Since focus breathing causes magnification to change slightly, each shot may have a slightly different framing, making it challenging to align them perfectly in post-production.
For cinematographers, focus breathing is a much more significant concern. In video work, maintaining a consistent framing throughout the shot is critical for creating smooth, immersive footage. When focus breathing occurs, the angle of view shifts during a scene, which can create a zoom effect that is clearly visible to the viewer. This can break the visual continuity of the shot and distract from the storytelling. In high-end video productions, focus breathing is generally undesirable, as it can undermine the quality of the footage and make the video appear unprofessional.
How to Minimize the Effects of Focus Breathing
While it’s impossible to completely eliminate focus breathing with all lenses, there are several ways to minimize its impact, especially in video work where consistency is key. By understanding the mechanics behind focus breathing and using the right tools, you can significantly reduce its effect on your work.
1. Use Prime Lenses
Prime lenses generally exhibit less focus breathing compared to zoom lenses. This is because prime lenses have a fixed focal length, and their optical design is typically optimized to minimize any changes in the angle of view when focusing. When using a prime lens, you are less likely to experience noticeable focus breathing because the lens elements are designed to move in a way that does not significantly alter the angle of view. For example, lenses like the Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L are known for their sharpness and minimal focus breathing, making them ideal choices for achieving clean, distortion-free results.
2. Choose Lenses Designed to Minimize Focus Breathing
Not all lenses exhibit the same degree of focus breathing. Some modern lenses are specifically designed to reduce the effects of focus breathing, thanks to improved optical engineering. Before purchasing a lens, research its performance and check reviews or sample footage to see if it exhibits noticeable breathing. Manufacturers are aware of this issue and often release updated versions of lenses with improvements that minimize breathing. When looking for a new lens, make sure to read technical specifications and find out whether focus breathing is a significant concern with that model.
3. Invest in Cine Lenses for Video
For cinematographers and videographers, cine lenses are the best solution for eliminating focus breathing. These lenses are purpose-built for video production and are designed to maintain a consistent angle of view when adjusting focus. Cine lenses are typically more expensive than standard still photography lenses, but they provide superior control over focus and zoom, ensuring that the framing remains consistent throughout the shot. When shooting high-quality video, cine lenses are the ideal choice to ensure smooth, uninterrupted footage.
4. Consider Using Extension Tubes
In some cases, extension tubes can help reduce the effects of focus breathing by extending the distance between the camera’s sensor and the focal plane. This can help reduce the magnification effect when focusing on subjects at close distances. However, extension tubes come with limitations. For one, they reduce the amount of light reaching the sensor, which may require you to adjust your exposure settings. Additionally, they often disable autofocus, making manual focus essential. While extension tubes can provide a workaround in certain situations, they are not a perfect solution and should be used with caution.
Internal Focusing Systems and Focus Breathing: A Deeper Look
In the world of modern lens design, the introduction of internal focusing systems has been a game-changer for both photographers and videographers. These systems have allowed for more efficient, faster, and more precise focusing, making them the standard in many types of lenses today. However, while internal focusing systems offer various benefits, they also introduce an optical phenomenon known as focus breathing. In this article, we will dive into how internal focusing systems work, how they contribute to focus breathing, and how different lenses exhibit varying levels of this effect.
The Mechanics of Internal Focusing Systems
Internal focusing systems have revolutionized the way lenses function, particularly when it comes to fast and accurate autofocus. Unlike older lens designs, where the entire barrel would physically shift during focusing, internal focusing involves only the movement of specific internal lens elements. The lens elements responsible for adjusting the focal point shift within the lens barrel, rather than the entire lens assembly moving forward or backward. This results in several benefits that have made this system incredibly popular among both professional and amateur photographers.
One of the primary advantages of internal focusing is that it enables faster autofocus performance. Since the lens elements inside the lens barrel are smaller and lighter, the movement required to adjust focus is quicker. This is particularly advantageous in fast-paced photography situations, such as sports or wildlife photography, where capturing split-second moments is essential. Internal focusing also helps with video work, as it allows for smoother focus transitions without the distraction of the lens barrel extending or retracting, which could otherwise disrupt the shot.
Another key advantage of internal focusing is the ability to use filters and other lens accessories more easily. With older lenses, the entire lens barrel would shift as focus was adjusted, which could lead to the movement of filter threads or other attachments. However, with internal focusing, the front of the lens remains stationary, making it easier to attach filters, such as polarizers or ND filters, without worrying about them moving during focus adjustments. This benefit is especially useful in video work, where maintaining a stable shot is crucial, and where lens accessories can be used to control light and reflections more effectively.
How Internal Focusing Systems Cause Focus Breathing
While internal focusing systems provide many advantages, they also contribute to an optical effect called focus breathing. Focus breathing occurs when the angle of view of a lens changes as the focus is adjusted. In simple terms, it makes the lens appear to zoom in or zoom out as you change focus from a close subject to a distant one, or vice versa.
Focus breathing is a result of the internal movement of the lens elements when focusing. As you adjust the focus, the internal lens elements move either closer or farther away from the camera’s sensor, which leads to a change in the focal plane. When the focal plane is closer to the sensor, the lens captures a wider field of view. As the focal plane moves farther from the sensor, the angle of view narrows, which leads to the appearance of zooming in.
While the focal length of the lens remains constant throughout the focusing process, the shift in the angle of view can cause significant changes in the framing of your shot. For still photographers, this subtle shift in composition may not always be noticeable, but it can be disruptive when working with techniques like focus stacking, which requires consistent framing across multiple images. For videographers, focus breathing can be much more of a problem, as it can disrupt the continuity of a shot, especially when focus is pulled during a video take.
The degree of focus breathing depends largely on the lens design. Lenses with longer focal lengths are typically more prone to focus breathing, as their internal elements are larger and more sensitive to minor adjustments. In these cases, focus breathing can be more noticeable, especially when filming video or capturing highly detailed close-ups. On the other hand, lenses with shorter focal lengths or prime lenses may exhibit less focus breathing, although it can still be present to some extent.
The Impact of Focus Breathing on Your Work
The main consequence of focus breathing is the shift in framing that occurs when adjusting focus. This can be especially problematic in scenarios where consistency is crucial, such as in focus stacking or video work. Focus stacking involves taking multiple images with different focal planes and combining them to create a single image with an extended depth of field. Since focus breathing causes changes in magnification, the images captured at different focal points may not align perfectly, making it difficult to combine them seamlessly.
For photographers, the impact of focus breathing is often less noticeable unless you are working with extreme close-up shots or using techniques that require precise framing, such as macro photography. In these cases, even small shifts in angle of view can cause distortions, making it more difficult to achieve sharp, consistent images.
For cinematographers and videographers, focus breathing is a more serious concern. Maintaining a consistent angle of view is crucial when filming a scene. If the field of view shifts while focusing during a video take, the effect can be jarring to the viewer. This is especially true for dramatic focus pulls, where the focus is deliberately shifted between subjects to draw the viewer’s attention. If the framing changes too much during this transition, it can break the visual continuity and disrupt the flow of the scene.
The effect of focus breathing can be particularly noticeable during slow, controlled focus shifts, such as when you’re filming a close-up of a subject and then pulling focus to a distant background. As the focus is adjusted, the angle of view may change significantly, causing the subject to appear to zoom in or out, which can be distracting and detract from the intended mood of the scene.
Managing Focus Breathing in Your Lenses
Although focus breathing is an inherent characteristic of many internal focusing lenses, there are ways to minimize its impact on your work. Here are several strategies that can help reduce or control the effects of focus breathing:
1. Use Prime Lenses with Less Focus Breathing
Prime lenses, which have a fixed focal length, are often less prone to focus breathing than zoom lenses. This is because the internal lens elements in prime lenses are typically more stable and less sensitive to the shifts that cause breathing. Prime lenses such as the Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L or the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 offer great optical performance with minimal breathing, making them ideal for both photography and video.
2. Opt for Lenses with Optimized Internal Designs
Some newer lenses are designed with features that minimize focus breathing. Manufacturers have developed improved optical systems and mechanisms that help reduce the shifting of the angle of view when focusing. When shopping for a lens, especially for video work, look for lenses that specifically mention reduced focus breathing in their technical specifications. Research reviews or ask other professionals in your field for recommendations on lenses that exhibit minimal focus breathing.
3. Invest in Cine Lenses for Video Work
For videographers, cine lenses are often the best solution for eliminating focus breathing. Cine lenses are purpose-built for film and video production, designed to maintain a constant angle of view throughout the focusing process. While cine lenses are more expensive than standard still photography lenses, they offer superior control over focus and zoom, ensuring consistent framing during video shoots. For filmmakers who need to eliminate focus breathing completely, investing in high-quality cine lenses can be a game-changer.
4. Use External Accessories
In some cases, external accessories such as follow-focus systems can help mitigate the effects of focus breathing. These tools give you more precise control over the focusing process, allowing for smoother and more consistent focus pulls during video work. While they won’t eliminate focus breathing entirely, they can help you manage focus transitions more effectively and reduce the noticeable shift in the frame.
How Focus Breathing Affects Your Work
Focus breathing is a subtle but impactful phenomenon that can affect the composition and quality of your images and videos. When shooting with certain lenses, particularly those with internal focusing systems, the angle of view shifts as the focus changes. This optical change can result in noticeable changes in how your subject appears framed within the shot. While it may seem like a minor issue, focus breathing can create challenges, especially in situations where precision and consistency are crucial. Whether you’re a still photographer or a cinematographer, understanding how focus breathing works and how to manage its impact on your work can improve the quality and flow of your visual storytelling.
The Impact of Focus Breathing on Framing
Focus breathing occurs when the angle of view changes as you adjust focus on your lens. For example, when you focus on a subject that is closer to you, the lens will typically have a wider field of view, capturing more of the surrounding environment. As you focus on a more distant subject, the lens narrows its field of view, causing the subject to appear more tightly cropped. This shift in framing can be subtle but noticeable, especially when working with longer focal length lenses or when adjusting the focus dramatically.
For still photographers, this change in framing may not always be a major issue, particularly when the composition is fixed and you're capturing one shot at a time. However, when you’re capturing a sequence of photos or working on a technique like focus stacking, focus breathing can become more problematic. Focus stacking involves taking multiple photos at different focus points and combining them to create a single image with greater depth of field. Since the angle of view changes as the focus is adjusted, the resulting images may differ slightly in framing and magnification, making it difficult to seamlessly merge them in post-processing. This can introduce inconsistencies in the final stacked image, and if not accounted for, it can undermine the effectiveness of focus stacking.
Even when shooting a single frame, focus breathing can slightly alter the overall composition of the shot. If you’re working with a fixed composition where your subject’s placement within the frame is critical, any change in the angle of view can disrupt the intended balance of the image. This effect is particularly noticeable when you focus on a subject in the foreground and then adjust to a distant background, where the field of view narrows, potentially altering the proportions of your composition.
Focus Breathing and Its Effect on Cinematic Work
For cinematographers and videographers, focus breathing is an even more significant issue. In video production, maintaining a consistent and steady angle of view is essential for ensuring smooth, professional-looking footage. Focus breathing can be particularly problematic during focus pulls, where the focus is shifted from one subject to another, often in a smooth, deliberate manner.
When focusing during a video shot, focus breathing can cause the subject to appear to "zoom in" or "zoom out" unintentionally. This effect is visually jarring and can disrupt the continuity of the shot, especially in scenes that require precise focus transitions. During a long take, where the focus gradually shifts between foreground and background elements, focus breathing can result in a noticeable zoom effect that detracts from the smoothness of the shot. This disruption can break the immersion of the viewer, drawing attention away from the subject or action being filmed.
In cinematic video, focus pulls are commonly used as a storytelling device, drawing attention to a particular subject or object by shifting focus. If focus breathing is present, this intended effect can be ruined by the subtle zooming that happens as you adjust the focus. For example, during a dialogue scene, when the camera shifts focus between the two actors, the field of view might tighten or widen, making it look like the lens is zooming in or out. This "zooming" can draw the viewer’s eye away from the subject and interrupt the flow of the scene. In high-end film and video productions, this is considered an undesirable effect because it undermines the fluidity and natural progression of the story.
For cinematographers who shoot with lenses that exhibit significant focus breathing, careful planning and workarounds may be necessary to prevent the unwanted zooming effect. In many cases, special techniques or equipment can be used to help mitigate the impact of focus breathing. For example, using lens accessories like follow-focus systems can provide more control over the focus, allowing for smoother transitions. However, these solutions can be cumbersome and may not fully eliminate the issue, especially if the lens is prone to heavy focus breathing.
How to Minimize the Impact of Focus Breathing in Your Work
While focus breathing is an inherent characteristic of many lenses, there are steps you can take to minimize its effect and improve the quality of your shots. Whether you’re a still photographer or a videographer, using the right lenses and focusing techniques can help reduce the impact of focus breathing.
1. Opt for Prime Lenses
Prime lenses are less prone to focus breathing compared to zoom lenses. Since prime lenses have a fixed focal length, they typically don’t experience the same degree of shift in angle of view when focusing. A prime lens with a focal length suited to your needs can offer cleaner, more consistent results. For instance, a lens like the Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L provides sharpness with minimal focus breathing, making it ideal for both portraiture and video work where maintaining framing consistency is important.
2. Use Lenses with Reduced Focus Breathing
Not all lenses exhibit the same degree of focus breathing. Some lenses are designed to minimize this effect through improved optical systems. When purchasing lenses, especially for video work, look for lenses with reduced focus breathing. Many newer lenses are specifically engineered to control focus breathing, so reading product reviews or technical specifications can help you find lenses that perform well in this regard.
3. Invest in Cine Lenses for Video
For cinematographers and videographers, investing in cine lenses can be a game-changer. Cine lenses are specifically designed for film production and are built to maintain a constant angle of view while focusing. These lenses often have more precise manual focus control, making them ideal for focus pulls without the distraction of zooming effects caused by focus breathing. Although cine lenses can be significantly more expensive than regular still-photo lenses, their ability to provide smooth, uninterrupted focus transitions makes them worth the investment for high-quality video production.
4. Utilize Follow-Focus Systems
Using a follow-focus system can also help mitigate the effects of focus breathing. These systems provide more precise control over the focus, allowing for smoother transitions and more predictable results. A follow-focus system can be especially useful for videographers who need to perform consistent focus pulls during shooting. By using a follow-focus rig, you can make gradual adjustments to the focus with greater accuracy, reducing the risk of abrupt changes in framing caused by focus breathing.
5. Avoid Heavy Focus Shifts
One simple solution to minimize the impact of focus breathing is to avoid making large, abrupt focus shifts during video shots. If you need to shift focus from one subject to another, try to make smaller adjustments or perform the focus pull in stages to reduce the noticeable zoom effect. In some cases, keeping the subject relatively at the same distance from the camera throughout the shot can help you avoid drastic changes in framing.
Should You Be Concerned About Focus Breathing?
For many still photographers, focus breathing may not be an urgent concern. In most situations, the effect is subtle and won’t significantly impact the final result. However, there are certain scenarios where focus breathing can become problematic. One such scenario is focus stacking, where multiple images are captured at different focal planes and merged to create an image with a greater depth of field. Since focus breathing causes changes in magnification, this makes the images incompatible for stacking, requiring additional editing or adjustments.
For videographers and cinematographers, focus breathing is a much more pressing issue. Maintaining the same angle of view throughout a shot is crucial for video work. Even a slight change in framing or composition can break the visual continuity of a scene, especially during dynamic shots where the focus is adjusted while the camera is running. Focus breathing, when noticeable, can interrupt the visual flow, making it appear as though the camera zooms in or out unintentionally. This is particularly undesirable when working on high-quality film or video productions.
How to Minimize the Effects of Focus Breathing
While it’s impossible to completely eliminate focus breathing with all lenses, there are strategies to minimize its impact, especially for cinematographers and videographers who rely on precise focus control.
Use Prime Lenses
Prime lenses generally exhibit less focus breathing compared to zoom lenses. Because prime lenses have a fixed focal length, they are less susceptible to the changes in angle of view that lead to breathing. For instance, a high-quality 85mm prime lens like the Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L is known for minimal focus breathing and superior sharpness, making it a good option for those seeking consistent results.
Choose Lenses with Minimal Focus Breathing
Not all lenses are equally affected by focus breathing. Many newer lens designs have been optimized to reduce the effect. Researching specific lenses and their performance can help you find ones that are less prone to focus breathing. Manufacturers are aware of this issue, and some modern lenses are designed to minimize this phenomenon. Checking user reviews and technical specifications will give you a better idea of how a particular lens behaves.
Use Specialist Cine Lenses for Video
For video work, cine lenses are the ideal solution. These lenses are purpose-built for film and video production and are designed to maintain a consistent angle of view throughout the focusing process. Unlike regular still-photo lenses, cine lenses are constructed to prevent any focus breathing. While cine lenses are typically more expensive, they are the best choice for videographers who need to eliminate focus breathing entirely.
Consider Extension Tubes
Extension tubes can be used to reduce the effects of focus breathing. These tubes increase the distance between the camera’s sensor and the lens, reducing the magnification effect when focusing at closer distances. However, using extension tubes comes with certain downsides, such as the loss of autofocus and reduced light transmission. It’s also not a universal solution, as it works best when using a zoom lens at its longest focal length and focusing at its minimum range.
Conclusion
Focus breathing is a common phenomenon that many photographers and videographers encounter, but its impact can vary depending on your type of work. While still photographers may find it manageable or hardly noticeable, focus breathing becomes a more significant issue for cinematographers and videographers. The subtle zoom effect caused by focus breathing can disrupt the visual continuity of video shots, making it a concern for anyone shooting moving images.
To minimize the impact of focus breathing, photographers and videographers can opt for prime lenses, research lenses that exhibit minimal breathing, and invest in high-quality cine lenses designed to handle the issue. By understanding the nature of focus breathing and taking proactive steps, you can ensure that your shots remain sharp, consistent, and free of unwanted zooming effects, no matter the medium you work in.
