ALL: Does this look like an Autofocus Bug to You?? -- Video Clip

my HMC80 has the same problem. If I use auto focus it will go out of focus on it's own and will take a longggggg time to get back into focus. (I'll have to post an example some day) If these lenses are just a tad out of focus- EVERYTHING is out. Typically pulling out/zooming out will help it snap into place. It seems based on the example above the lens fails to understand the basic concept of when you pull out your depth of field increases and everything should be in focus. This is why I love ENG lenses-- you'll NEVER have this issue. It will always follow the depth of field rules of a zoom lens.

Comparison: On both examples above my DVC30 and DVX100 would of had a focus 100% of the time in those lighting conditions.
 
Hi, I was reading other forums here, and it looks like Barry did a little testing, and it is confirmed that Jan is looking into this. I hope Barry it was ok I put your comments here, it was good to see that people are looking into this. I was surprised this auto focus issue was not just for the AC130/160 but also for the HPX250 as well. Go over to that forum and read the same problems we are having.

My own comments, You mentioned people are having problem in low light and low contrast areas. I had the autofocus problem happen in a well lit area too.

I hope once they have a fix for this, they let us know, I am at least going to buy one of these cameras on that day. I have the money waiting for the ac130. Hurry up before my wife finds other uses for it. :)

Thank you and

here is the forum link of Barry Green
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?270474-Focusing-compared-to-Ex1r/page3
I'm not much of an AF user, so I didn't spend much time with it until folks started complaining; it seemed to work to me. After some testing, I can report that what I'm finding is that in low light/low contrast situations, the HPX250 (and AC160 and AC130) do hunt more than my HMC150 does. The HMC150 locks on, in scenarios where the 250 continues to hunt. In bright light/high contrast situations the autofocus seems excellent and easily a match for the 150. So it's really only in low light situations where it's an issue, but hey, if the 150 can do it, I would want the 250 to be able to do it as well.

I am encouraged that Jan said they're looking into it, and look forward to what they report.
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Bruce196 said:
why not in this case zoom in, focus and pull out - job done.
Click to expand...

Very good point to bring up. If your subject is static and not moving around, there really is no need at all for autofocus.

I watched a concert video shot with the new Sony A77 recently, and the autofocus system kept going out and coming back in. If the videographer had simply manually focused on the stage, he could have just left the focus there and had the entire performance all in perfect focus.
 
the similarity between the concert video and the church video, is that both videos had tiny tiny little lights shining to the focus area. From what I see, I won't say the camera has faulty focusing issue but I do think it is too sensitive. Resulting in constant hunting of focal area especially when there are slight changes of light, especially when you're shooting straight at a well decorated Christmas tree, or splashing water droplets with sunshine reflecting on each drip, and cases like the shown videos. Had a nightmare when a couple had fairy lights decorated all over the stage.
 
I am out trying to find a replacement for my dvx 100, have at last succumbed to the idea of going hd. The 160 seemed very nice, especially with all the framerate possibilities, but searching forums i began to see a lot of problems with the autofocus.
I use the camera to document our theatre companys performances, and the auto focus is very necessary to us.

Because of the comments I went out to a showroom where they had the Ac-160 up for testing, and... It was completely ridiculous how bad the auto focus works.

I think the only reason why this has not become a major scandal, is because so many of the users of the 160 prefer manual focus.

It had all the problems written about in this thread, but furthermore, when it had to change focus it did so EXTREMELY slow. Sometimes using 2-5 seconds to change focus.
Completely absurd for a camera in this pricerange.

We also did a test of shooting a furniture 10 m. away, and panning into a hand holding a phone 1 m. away. Most of the time the auto focus just gave up, and never focused!!! The few times it could handle it, it took 5 seconds! (The zoom was not at x22, so it was not because of the macro mode)

The guys at the shop were pretty shocked, and we tested the Hpx250 as well... Same thing! Incredible.

Panasonic ought to give a statement whether this is hardware or software issues.

I would love this camera if it only worked well, but I have to find another option if they dont come out soon with an explanation...
Sorry for the long rant, but I still am pretty shocked at how this can happen in a camera that expensive.
 
Lars,
You are spot on. I guess Panasonic is looking into this. Hopefully Jan will post soon on their findings and possibly their fix. I am sure hoping that this is the case. I was one of the first buyers and should have waited on others to be the testers, but Panny seems to want to correct the issues with these camera's. If this auto focus issue was fixed, I think this camera would see a huge jump in sales. It is a great camera with tons of features. Seems to be perfect for most users, except for the auto focus.

Make the auto focus comparable to the Hpx170-Hmc150 and we will be fine.
 
I wonder if the Image Gain is done after the the circuitry for focusing. ??? not sure. It might explain it's inability to focus.
but not for the ones taped outside.
I have more sample problems with my HMC80 I need to upload some time. sorta funny how the camera goes out of it way to make the image out of focus.
 
I hope they get it resolved. I'm planning on replacing DVC100s with some of these if they get them fixed. After the ac130/160 and hpx250 I don't even know what would be my next choice. There just doesn't seem to be an HD camera yet that is what the DVX100b was in the SD world. Just all sorts of compromises or a lot more money.
 
Jan:

Any word from Panasonic regarding the out of focus issues with the ac130/160/250 camcorders? I attached two video clips of my ac160 losing focus at two concerts...see post 34 this thread dated 12-25-2011 05:49 PM. I can not afford to lose any more business due to the camcorder not keeping auto focus. Tracking performers on stage as they move about calls for a camcorder with a good auto focus. Should I sent the camaorder back to Panasonic. My ac40 and 150 have never failed me on the job, nor my earlier Sony. Any ideas?

John Czere
 
There just doesn't seem to be an HD camera yet that is what the DVX100b was in the SD world.
Click to expand...
it seems like that.
What about the hmc-151?
Isnt that supposed to be the succesor of dvx-100?

The people I know having this camera are quite happy, and now with the problems of the ac-160, the hmc-151 is my next for choice...
 
yeah................I love what the Ac160 could be. If they can fix the Auto features of this camera, I think it would be a Great camera. It is still new and am hoping that we will hear from Panasonic about some resolutions. If that is the case and they can resolve those issues, I would wait on getting the Hmc151.

But, right now, if you need Auto features I would not buy the Ac160. I use the Auto features a lot for sports and run and gun situations. I wish I would have waited on my purchase. For those situations, I definitely would not have purchased the Ac160.

I am not bashing the Panasonic cameras. This is what the forums are for, so others can make an informed purchases. In my case I am thinking about returning the camera. Since I can't rely on the Auto features, I might as well purchased the Af100.

I was in a toss up about the two cameras (Af100 & Ac160), but the reason I went for the Ac160 was for the auto features. I wanted the larger chip for camera to produce a shallower depth of field. But, I really needed Auto features run and gun sports type of shooting camera. Since, I can't rely on the Auto features and manually focus everything. I might as well have a larger chip censored camera.

This also goes along side the auto iris. This feature is almost as unusable as the auto focus. You can clearly see the changes when this function is set. Small pans around a scene and the auto iris changes the exposure so drastically that the footage I shot can't be used. Looks totally unprofessional.

Again, for those that want to post you should never use Auto features during a paid job, or that it is not what a professional camera man would ever do. Clearly, by reading this forum, there is a lot of people that use these features during specific situations. If they worked as advertised or like other lower end cameras, this thread would be dead!

I hope Panny resolves these issues soon, so we can get on with filming. Or, let us know that this is the way it is, so we can proceed with other choices.

Happy New year everybody! & hope 2012 brings us good news!
 
I'm also interested in the 160 (or 250, $$$ permitting). While much has been said about the auto focus shortcomings, little has been said that I'm aware of, about the push auto focus function. I did read the post from Jan Crittenden that this works as it should, but then a subsequent post from a user, saying that it did not.

This would be my first Panasonic camera having used both Sony and Canon up until now, where at least with the cameras I've used, that was the way to go. A reliable, although not infallible, push auto focus function without the potential problems that any auto focus can encounter when left on all the time. This is not said as an implied criticism of those who of you that leave it on all the time, just what works for me.

So more comments from those using the push auto function would be appreciated. Thanks
 
Push auto is good only if the subject are not what can fool the auto focus. Like a xmas tree bulb will fool the auto focus so if you push auto function it will go out of focus when you point at the xmas tree light.

Here a video i did back a month ago.

 
Thanks dhardjono for putting that up. Scary, I have to say. It will be interesting to see what, if anything Panasonic will do about this. Reminds me of the Sony PD 150 and its abysmal sound. After much outcry, Sony did do a half baked fix but it was never what it should have been. Let's hope Panasonic does better.
 
dhardjono, that is certainly funny & sad all wrapped together. Seem like the camera will be worthless for indoor event productions like a wedding or communions.
 
Well i use my ac 160 but manual if there is no xmas lite or lite like that just the dj light auto focus does a good job i have about 17 wedding with that ac 160 and 3 other type of event like funeral , volly ball.
Slowly getting use to manual focus again. But my favorite camera is my GH2 i love that camera so much it give me great video the wow factor in a small cheaP little camera and i hack it.
 
Maybe some of the autofocus bugs have been drinking.... have you opened the camera to talk to them? Biotech has benefits and downsides...
 
I thought the Japanese don't celebrate christmas and new year!, but the silence in this section (130-160) from the reps is really scary, at least the US ones gave some feedbacks, but the european, asia, oceania have sold us the camera and closed their eyes amen. It is as if the cameras were launched, sold chapter closed:shocked:.
 
130/160 and 250 AF issues

130/160 and 250 AF issues

Has anyone heard any news yet on the fix for any of the 130/160 and 250 Auto Focus issues? Jan, please help us... I am so close to buying one of these until discovering the AF problems.
 
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