This thread was supposed to be about pull focus, not the overly repeated specs and accolades in regards to the XL1. I have a low budget DV cam, and I too worried about trying to do a pull focus. The fact of the matter is that you simply can't do it like you can with an expensive camera setup.(posted 7569 days ago)For me, it's all about planning the shot. It's not like there's going to be a pull focus every minute of your footage, otherwise it's going to be boring and over used. One ugly feature of a typical consumer model is the depth of field of the standard lens. Zoom up on the object in the distance, make sure it's focused correctly on the object. Turn the auto zoom off and pull back. Record your scene. Do the opposite now, not moving the camera, and focus on the near object...record. When editing, create the necessary transition between the two. You can increase the effect by using a blur mask on each one.
Now, this way sounds WAY TOO much to have to deal with, but hey, when you're working on a budget, you have to do what you gotta do. Also, this method won't work very well if you have motion in the scene since you won't be able to exactly duplicate the motion in the scene. My opinion is to start off with the last method...zoom up on your subject, focus, turn auto focus off, then zoom out. Record the scene and remember that that paricular take was meant to be a pull focus. Duplicate the clip in your editor and apply a mask blur to both of them and create a transition while both clips are exactly aligned.