Problem when focusing with HMC150

[Luciano]

I recently purchased the HMC150 and love it so far. However, I have noticed a problem, and would like to know if this is something that others have noticed as well, or may be just my camera that may need to be serviced.

When focusing manually, the focus does not stop at infinite, but goes a bit beyond, causing a sudden drop out of focus, which is very annoying and potentially critical if moving focus manually toward the infinite.

I have searched this forum for this but could not find anything. Did anyone experience the same problem? Thanks.

[Barry_Green]

It's the way the unit is designed. Same mechanism has been used since at least the DVX in 2002. If you look at the "number" mode of reckoning focus position, it shows that infinity arrives at MF95, but the ring can still be turned all the way to MF99, meaning that yes, you can focus past infinity (and can do so on a DVX, HVX, or HPX170 as well). Apparently this additional travel is to accomodate thermal expansion/contraction issues that might happen in extreme temperatures, although I haven't ever had that confirmed by any official source.

[ESTEBEVERDE]

It's the way the unit is designed. Same mechanism has been used since at least the DVX in 2002. If you look at the "number" mode of reckoning focus position, it shows that infinity arrives at MF95, but the ring can still be turned all the way to MF99, meaning that yes, you can focus past infinity (and can do so on a DVX, HVX, or HPX170 as well). Apparently this additional travel is to accomodate thermal expansion/contraction issues that might happen in extreme temperatures, although I haven't ever had that confirmed by any official source.

Yep! :beer:

[Evro]

All explained in the DVX book which has been an invaluable resource for me since my very first DVX :)

[Luciano]

It's the way the unit is designed. Same mechanism has been used since at least the DVX in 2002. If you look at the "number" mode of reckoning focus position, it shows that infinity arrives at MF95, but the ring can still be turned all the way to MF99, meaning that yes, you can focus past infinity (and can do so on a DVX, HVX, or HPX170 as well). Apparently this additional travel is to accomodate thermal expansion/contraction issues that might happen in extreme temperatures, although I haven't ever had that confirmed by any official source.

Thank you very much for your response, Barry.
I also have two DVX 100B cameras, and although I had noticed that you could reach the infinite at around 94 or 95, they would just keep turning, but not suddenly drop out of focus as the HMC150 is doing. It's that sudden drop of of focus that is of concern to me. Can you confirm that the sudden drop out of focus after the 95 mark is also experienced? If so, there is no point in me sending the camera in for repairs and waste a lot of time for nothing.
Thanks again.

[Barry_Green]

I'm on the road without a camera, so I can't confirm for a wihle. I'm sure someone else here could though.

[jscheib]

For me, on my HMC150, both Macro and Infinity have a range of focus within them, which corroborates what you're saying, Luciano. Despite reaching Macro or Infinity, the focus can still be changed by continuing to turn the ring. In this sense, there is no actual "infinity" or "macro", at least not for me, and Panasonic should have simply continued to give a "reckoning focus position", as Barry called it.

[Luciano]

Just to update: I contacted Panasonic with the description of the problem, and they stated that the camera needed service. I ended up having the camera replaced, but only to see the new camera behave in exactly the same way.

[ESTEBEVERDE]

So that means that it is either endemic or endemic and benign.

Does it seem to be a problem?

[Luciano]

So that means that it is either endemic or endemic and benign.

Does it seem to be a problem?

I come from still photography, and one of the habits I developed for quick manual focus (not sure if it is all that good or bad) was to quickly go to infinite and then back to the focus position. I guess if I do this with this camera, there is only the annoyance of seeing it drop out of focus suddenly, but then back into focus as I turn the gear back.

A more serious problem could be in the case where I do manual focusing from something close by to something far, as there is the real danger of going past the infinity point and capture the sudden drop in focus in the shot. A solution could be to use external gear and mark the point of actual infinite, or use the Manfrotto remote focus, where you can set an upper limit, preventing the drop.

Of course, no problem if you just use auto-focus.

In any case, I think it is very unfortunate that a camera like this, with so much to offer, would have such a nuisance. None of the other models I have, including the DVX, which also has the gear going past infinite at 99, has the problem of dropping out of focus in the final range. I guess now it's a matter of getting used to it, but I hope Panasonic will address this issue in a future update of the camera (may be 150A)?

[Attic6]

You will probably find this function very usefull when you purchase a wide range of 2x adaptors from different companies and struggle to get focus...