Does the sharpness setting effect auto focus speed?

[ChipG]

Does anyone know if the the sharpness setting effects the speed of the autofocus (on a hvx200)? Sharper = faster autofocus, softer = slower autofocus?

I'd like to be able to turn it all the way down for a fast paced run n' gun shoot but do not want to sacrifice any autofocus speed.

Will the autofocus "hunt" more if the image is really soft in camera?

Thanks!

[Barry_Green]

Don't know for sure, but I would think it shouldn't affect it at all. Frame rate affects it a LOT (60i/60p = best autofocus performance, 24p = worst).

[ChipG]

Would you have any recomendations on how to test this?

Shaking the camera at a res chart? The shakes would have to be the same for each test?

I dunno what to do but am at a point where I need better results.

[Jim Carswell]

Keep in mind the HVX isn't meant to be an auto focus camera. This is especially true when shooting HD. While that function does exist on the camera it is really just a fall back, safe guard function for dire circumstances. Get more familiar with manually focusing the camera and you will out perform any auto focus function. Just a suggestion.
Jim

[ChipG]

Hey Jim & Barry.

Thanks for the info, I'll be shooting a very fast paced run n' gun project and will miss 90% of the shots if I try to manual focus.

Sometimes my hvx will "hang" on auto focus, I'll be shooting an object 5 feet away, the camera will hunt for focus and stick on a reading of something like 93 feet and the only way I can get it off that is to cycle the switch to manual focus then back to auto.

Same thing with the white balance in atw, some times it hangs and I have to cycle the swith to get it to work right. It has done this since day 1. I have the latest firmware installed.

I do not have any problems when there is a large source of light like the sun.

Anyone else have this problem?

[otari_99]

Hey Jim & Barry.


...Anyone else have this problem?

Tried auto-focus a couple of times on 24p timebase...kinda' sucky.

[ChipG]

Yep,

Auto focus sucks in 24p, I'll be shooting 60i where it is better but any way I can tweak the camera for a little more improvement will help.

I guess I'll do some tests in the next week or two to see if auto focus responds faster with a sharp image (detail +) than a soft image (detail -). I'm prorbably wasting my time but I'll give it a shot.

[TedRR]

I know there are times you can't carefully check focus on these types of shoots. I've had to do several over the years.
I'm not saying you can pull this off everytime, and HD is really harder, but you should practice manually focusing quickly at various distances.

I can usually do a decent job by holding the focus ring with my left wrist positioned properly. Check focus at the likely farthest distance, check focus at the likely closest distance, and then just "feel" the camera.
If it's really that fast paced, and you practice this method, you might start getting better results than the "Auto Focus" constantly racking back and forth and back and forth.
That's often more annoying than slight softness that isn't always chasing.

Don't beat me up guys. :) I know some will not like this.
I admitted this isn't ideal and I'm not claiming I can hit perfect HD focus all the time. But there are times when I do this over auto focus and I've gotten to be fairly decent at hitting it.

Best of luck with the shoot Chip.

[ChipG]

Ted,

How the heck are ya? This is for my tornado production again this spring. I remember you saying something 8 months ago about wanting to come out this year with us. Your always welcome just bring a couple camera's :) he he he, although we should have 10 + hand helds this year.

[TedRR]

I'm packing my bags. :)
Isn't the best time about March? I've got 2 HVX's and insurance! :beer:

[ChipG]

We will be chasing from March through July maybe a few local chases in August or later. May is usually the month that has the most action with "end of the world type weather patterns / tornadoes" and is also the month that Discovery Channel & Nat Geo have thier crews out.

I'd recomend you come out in May.

PM me with your cell number, I'll give you a shout.

[berkanoztrak]

My i suggest to invest in a "Foxy" or the like. It is light, it locks the focus ring in repeatable positions and you can graduate it.
I pluged it, i graduated it by focusing on a chart at measured distances ( not from the numbers given by the camera) and never unplug it. When i turn the camera on, focus,
automaticaly, is in place; i still do test that "infinite" on the ring reads 95 in the viewfinder and run. If you have to screw your eye to the viewfinder it is of small help, it is great for a focuspuller, but most of the time it helps a lot.

[rpmnava]

Just to jump in... we shoot with shutter cranked up from 500 to 1000. to get the auto focus to work well with our run and gun stuff

[ChipG]

Just to jump in... we shoot with shutter cranked up from 500 to 1000. to get the auto focus to work well with our run and gun stuff

Interesting, I would have thought the faster the speed the less light would make poorer auto focus performance.

I'm going to do some test's in the next week or two and will try them with different shutter speeds.

Thanks for the info.