The term for changing the focus of the lens during a shot is called?

• A. Rack focus
• B. Focus pull
• C. Depth of field
• D. Focus breathing

Answer: (A)

Rack focus is the technique of changing the lens’s focal plane within a single shot to shift what’s sharp in the frame. By smoothly turning the focus ring, the viewer’s attention moves from one subject to another, helping to reveal relationships or guide interpretation without cutting. In practice, this is usually done by a camera operator or focus puller, timed with the action or dialogue for maximum impact. This differs from focus pull in emphasis on the effect itself versus the act of changing focus; depth of field is about how much of the scene is in focus at once and doesn’t describe the act of shifting focus, and focus breathing refers to a visual change in framing that can occur as focus is adjusted. So the term that describes changing focus during a shot is rack focus.