ABSTRACT
Portable external HD monitors with excellent contrast ratios and video resolutions, capable of overlaying digital waveform information, zebras, focus peaking, and 1:1 pixel mapping are cheaper than ever to own or rent, virtually guaranteeing that shots are properly exposed and focused. Unfortunately, these preview tools have also introduced a new habit in some filmmakers: becoming obsessed with checking and re-checking focus during production, unwittingly sacrificing other important aspects of a shot in their quest to get tack-sharp images. While it is expected that at a professional level images should be consistently in focus, sometimes working on a tight schedule can mean getting stuck with a slightly soft focus shot here and there. If an audience is fully engaged with the plight of the characters in the story, not only they will not mind minor flaws: they will not even notice them.
