HMC150 Autofocus - As Bad As I Keep Reading?

[larrys]

I keep seeing posts about very slow and poor autofocus on hmc150. I would love to hear feedback from all users. Thanks.

[lakotawolf]

I have no problems with it.

[MadHMC150]

"Slow" depends on the shutter speed/frame rate... 60p gives you faster focus then 24p... 1/60 vs 1/24

IMO the autofocus is not that good under low light, but manual focus is what should be used anyways.

[DNathan]

My Sony FX1 was faster.

[rpcx]

I keep seeing posts about very slow and poor autofocus on hmc150. I would love to hear feedback from all users. Thanks.

Yes, it is very slow. Just try it. But if you really want to be discouraged, turn on the LCD display of focus setting. Then watch how the focus setting drifts even with a stationary subject and camera. Alternatively, set the camera to manual focus. With a stationary subject, use the "push auto" button to set the focus. Wait a few seconds and press "push auto" again. Compare the two readings.

Of course, none of this should bother you if your idea of state-of-the-art focus assist is a tape measure. The real disappointment is that there is plenty of technology available to do better. Consider Canon's XH-A1s (in roughly the same price class). It uses a separate optical system that they call instant auto focus. Fast and much more accurate.

Hopefully, Panasonic will do better in future generations.

[Barry_Green]

FX1 is 60i-only. Compare the HMC150 in 60i against the FX1 in 60i, they should be quite competitive.

If you go to 30p, it's going to be much slower. If you go to 24p, it'll be slower still. But then again, so will *any* camera shooting 24p.

[OldCorpse]

That's depressing. I was almost gonna pull the trigger on the HMC. I need a camera that performs well in low light - and unfortunately I can't spend much... the HMC is about what I can pull off. I need 24p. And I need it to go as wide as possible (I'll be shooting small spaces). I just don't particularly like the footage of AH1 (especially the colors) - now what? Should I reconsider? Is there a comparison of AH1 and HMC when it comes to low light performance? Other options without breaking the bank?

[matt s.]

That's depressing. I was almost gonna pull the trigger on the HMC. I need a camera that performs well in low light - and unfortunately I can't spend much... the HMC is about what I can pull off. I need 24p. And I need it to go as wide as possible (I'll be shooting small spaces). I just don't particularly like the footage of AH1 (especially the colors) - now what? Should I reconsider? Is there a comparison of AH1 and HMC when it comes to low light performance? Other options without breaking the bank?

Whats depressing? That the auto focus is slow in 24p? It so much faster to learn to focus manually plus it makes you an all around better camera operator. AFAIK the 150 is better in low light the the A1 and wider lens.

[MadHMC150]

That's depressing. I was almost gonna pull the trigger on the HMC. I need a camera that performs well in low light - and unfortunately I can't spend much... the HMC is about what I can pull off. I need 24p. And I need it to go as wide as possible (I'll be shooting small spaces). I just don't particularly like the footage of AH1 (especially the colors) - now what? Should I reconsider? Is there a comparison of AH1 and HMC when it comes to low light performance? Other options without breaking the bank?

What? I am thankful the hmc made me practice manual... This cam is great in low light and an all around very good value for the price...

[Mike Harvey]

Whats depressing? That the auto focus is slow in 24p? It so much faster to learn to focus manually plus it makes you an all around better camera operator.

Ding ding ding ding... we have a winner.

I could understand using auto focus on cheaper consumer and "prosumer" cameras where the servo controlled manual focus stinks... but the HMC150 is not one of those cameras.

For what it's worth, no ENG camera (i.e HPX300/500/2700 type cameras) even has auto focus. Neither do any studio cameras, or the cameras used for pro and college sports (which are really just studio cameras with *really* long lenses). If cameras costing 5-15x as much as the HMC150 don't even have auto-focus, why is it so horrible that the HMC's auto-focus is slow?

I used to shoot PAC-10 sports on some older DVCPro cameras until last year. I know plenty of sports shooters. No one I know would ever dream of using an auto-focus even if it were available (and that's where it would be the most useful). Folks working on commercial stuff would just look at you funny .

Pros don't use auto. I don't say that in some sort of condescending, better-than-you way... but to both state a fact and to challenge those of you hung up on the camera's slow auto focus. Pros don't leave the decision as to what in your shot is and isn't in focus up to a computer algorithm. So if you want to shoot like a pro, you need to learn to use manual focus. As matt said, get the hang of that, and you'll become an *much* better and more creative shooter.

And really, it's not that hard... it just takes practice.

[/soapbox]