Rack Focus
Shifting focus from one subject to another during a shot, moving the viewer's attention deliberately.
Measured in
seconds
In depth
A rack focus is a narrative device: it tells the audience where to look and when, and the speed of the shift carries meaning — a fast rack is a shock, a slow one a realisation. It requires shallow depth of field to register, marked focus positions on the lens, and a lens with minimal focus breathing.
Examples in practice
Focus shifts from a ringing phone in the foreground to the character's face behind it over half a second.