Get Focus Assist to stay on???

S

shortnstout

Well-known member
Hi everyone,
I really like the focus assist feature, but I was wondering if there is a way to get it to stay on for longer and not auto-off so quickly.
Thanks.
NS
 
There is no way to do that right now. I'd love to see Panasonic add a feature in a future firmware upgrade that allow the FOCUS ASSSIT button to be turned into a toggle (ON/OFF), and maybe allow the FOCUS ASSIST view to occupy the whole LCD area and not just the center.
 
YEa i think if anything, that will most likely be things included in a firmware update.
 
Also to be able to select to have it on either the LCD or EVF would be good to. That way the operator could be looking into the EVF for framing and tracking during a shot without the focus assist and the 1st AC could have the LCD flipped open and set back on the camera to view it from the side, with the focus assist on to pull focus when needed.
 
There is a link to the firmware download page in a Sticky at the top of this forum. The latest firmware for both the NTSC and PAL cameras is V2.03-00.0.00, released October 30, 2007. If I interpret the page correctly, there will be another upgrade in May when the 16GB P2 cards become available.
 
ozduc said:
Also to be able to select to have it on either the LCD or EVF would be good to. That way the operator could be looking into the EVF for framing and tracking during a shot without the focus assist and the 1st AC could have the LCD flipped open and set back on the camera to view it from the side, with the focus assist on to pull focus when needed.
Click to expand...
That is exactly what I have been wanting, independent output control of Focus Assist and independently selectable EVF DTL (peaking), each with the choice of LCD and/or EVF/monitor output display. This would also be good for use with a Marshall, especially when using a 35mm adapter.

Firmware treat pleeeease.:)
 
hey i wonder if, the firmware could make the switch on the LCD screen read "inverted" when in the normal position, so that it will be useable for 35 adpters.... tht oculd be cool. it wouldnr facilitate redesigning the display sequence, just inversing the flip commmand.
 
And while they are at it. Lets make it available to all shooting formats. The resolution on that screen isn't even good enough to focus DV effectively. Hard to believe that the little focus assist button isnt available for DV and particularly DV50.
 
i wanted the focus assist option to stay on from day one. since I use a two handed hand held rig I built a device that mounts on the cam that keeps the assist function on or off as as i wish without having to remove my hand to get to the button.
 
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mico said:
i wanted the focus assist option to stay on from day one. since I use a two handed hand held rig I built a device that mounts on the cam that keeps the assist function on or off as as i wish without having to remove my hand to get to the button.
Click to expand...
mico, can you explain the device you made to keep Focus Assist active? If you hold the Focus Assist button down continuously, it still turns off after a certain number of seconds.

My brain got thinking and the best I could come up with was having a dippy bird somehow mounted on the HVX, triggering the Focus Assist button at various intervals. :D
 
Sorry Christopher. yes the assist does go off and there is no way to keep it on but my rig has a cable that you can put anywhere. In my case right near my right hand fingers and with a slight touch it activates the button. When the assist turns off a quick touch brings it right back so its practicaly on all the time and the down time is almost nil. And also can quickly turn it off with the same slight touch.

i can send you a pic if you want. the dippy bird is almost close to it.
 
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mico, a photo would be great to see, thanks. I am now thinking of how you rigged it up. My old K-3 16mm camera cable release (typical 35mm SLR cable) for single frame animation comes to mind, though I am sure you have done all the hard work to figure out how to mount it, etc.

Now a firmware update with some of these features discussed would be just grand (insert 'Wallace and Gromit' cheesy grin here).

Timur, I think Jan has confirmed with the Pana engineers that a firmware flip of the LCD is impossible.
 
Chris send me a PM with your email as I can't seem to send you one through this site and I will send pic.
 
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