Ben_B
Veteran
Yes.
Does anyone use autofocus on GH1?
- Thread starter zm15
- Start date
Yes.
So in the GH1 you can't turn the autofocus off? Or just the face autofocus off?
There is no such menu option on GH1, but three focus options (face tracking, area AF, and spot AF (with selectable area) are available as per Ben's description below.
Thanks, Ben -- I never new those functions worked in video mode! I just checked these on my GH13. In spot AF mode it is unfortunately not possible to reposition the spot while recording, but this should still prove useful for the times when subject is off center and does not move for the duration of the take. Face-tracking should also be an interesting feature to check out. I had at least one situation where that would be useful -- instead I had focus hunting with pancake. Learned something new today, I love it...
That's great to hear. How does that work? When focus mode dial is on AFS it acts as AFS or there is another menu option?
You are right that option is only available on the GF1. The GH1 manual actually says that even if you select AFS the GH1 will use AFC for video. That is very disappointing as my GF1 can do either AFS or AFC with any lens. I love being able to refocus when I want with a single half button press. It is like shooting in MF with all the benefits of the cameras AF. I sure hope the GH2 can do AFS while doing video.
Martti Ekstrand
Veteran
Can't say I use the autofocus much but I have done a short 'Sthlm Rim Shots' that's using the 14-140mm kit lens on autofocus all the way. It's in my sig link. The autofocus can't replace a good focus puller for controlled situations but for sports shots like in my film it's kinda having a really really smart kangaroo keeping things sharp.
Blackout, can you step me through the face tracking in video? I'm "blacking out" over it. Menu haze.
Ben_B
Veteran
Yeah it's pretty great...like if I know I am gonna be framing something frame left I don't have to wreck my composition to reaccquire focus.
Emanuel
Cross-Examiner
Right. I am not sure if it was with you to whom I did mention of this before. But that is what will completely be the game changer as far as this matter concerns.
Michael, that's exactly the point to retain. E.
GH1 do have a Focus Tracking mode that allows you to set a particular object on focus lock and then as the subject or camera moves, the object is maintained in focus. I had briefly fiddled with this feature and thought it was cool. However I forgot about it later and seldom used it. Not sure if it was only for stills and right now I do not have the camera in hand to check.
However the youtube video from the Imaging Resource shows how this works in video.
http://www.youtube.com/v/JoY2PlWdG7k&hl
Ben_B
Veteran
AFAIK track point auto focus doesn't work on the GH1 in video.
And on the GH2 in video?
No, I would never use autofocus for anything. How the hell would a camera know what I want to focus on in a shot. One of the first things you are taught when using cameras is how to manual white balance, manual focus and manual iris.
Camera Expert
Well-known member
This is how I was thought and it's why I want to see as many manual features as possible. Because of that I'm very good at manually focusing a regular camcorder but if I'm holding the GH1 like it's a camcorder at an event while zooming form 14mm to 140mm, it would be a bit difficult to manually focus at the same time. I mean it's hard enough trying to hold it like a camcorder. A lot of the GH1 videos that I have in which the auto focus was enabled aren't that bad at all.
This is coming from probably the most vocal person against Panasonic's decision to release the HMC70 without a traditional focusing ring because I do believe that it's an extremely important feature and I'm extremely glad they decided to put it into the HMC80. I do think it's wrong to ague against manual or auto features. Having the ability to choose either in the right condition is a wonderful thing.
This is coming from probably the most vocal person against Panasonic's decision to release the HMC70 without a traditional focusing ring because I do believe that it's an extremely important feature and I'm extremely glad they decided to put it into the HMC80. I do think it's wrong to ague against manual or auto features. Having the ability to choose either in the right condition is a wonderful thing.
I've been in it for three years now. I only used autofocus once, on the first cam i picked up, it was a sony hdr uxe something camcorder. At that time I shot interlaced without knowing, didn't know what focal length meant, no clue what aperture was, thought iris was something different too, and this was all not even in the back of my head. I was pointing, and shooting.
I got frustrated with these 'lines' that kept appearing, and started to read. I never shot interlaced again, and picked up a super8mm camera.
Since then, I've never used autofocus ever.
Still, I have a very hard time making a picture that 'felt' the way that first piece of work felt. Despite several technical errors, people loved it, and it did major damage for a while. It was a mindset of 'just go'. Cause I had no clue.
Now my stuff is lit, progressive, scaled down from the capture res on finish, balanced for color, graded, but still, it seems inhibited. There's a 'held back' happening.
Anyway, sorry to drift, it's a pleasant sunday reading mr. t civan's blog, and working on mine.
But yeah, I have never ever consciously used auto focus.
I got frustrated with these 'lines' that kept appearing, and started to read. I never shot interlaced again, and picked up a super8mm camera.
Since then, I've never used autofocus ever.
Still, I have a very hard time making a picture that 'felt' the way that first piece of work felt. Despite several technical errors, people loved it, and it did major damage for a while. It was a mindset of 'just go'. Cause I had no clue.
Now my stuff is lit, progressive, scaled down from the capture res on finish, balanced for color, graded, but still, it seems inhibited. There's a 'held back' happening.
Anyway, sorry to drift, it's a pleasant sunday reading mr. t civan's blog, and working on mine.
But yeah, I have never ever consciously used auto focus.
what would be wicked, is indeed IF the camera had a way of knowing. Not gimmicky face tracky stuff which never appealed to me, allow me to daydream a bit, but if I had to get my actors assembled against gray and program them in, and have the thing know each one on separate buttons, and just hit them, i dunno ...
... actually, every time i think about this i end up with some really complicated thought that makes me realize that I'm manually focusing with buttons. Yeah, screw it. Manual focus.
... actually, every time i think about this i end up with some really complicated thought that makes me realize that I'm manually focusing with buttons. Yeah, screw it. Manual focus.
I stand corrected.
I just tried. In the video mode Focus Track option gets disabled. I misinterpreted the youtube video thinking it was recorded while shooting a movie, which is not the case. Sorry for the confusion.