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

Hi Jan..

It's being a month since than.. Any news?


Today I had a chat with one of your reps. on the website, he told me:

Agent Vern W. says: It's not really a problem. It just works slightly differently.


I guess Sony NX5 is my decision... :-(
 
Eran Vered said:
Hi Jan..

It's being a month since than.. Any news?


Today I had a chat with one of your reps. on the website, he told me:

Agent Vern W. says: It's not really a problem. It just works slightly differently.


I guess Sony NX5 is my decision... :-(
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Eran, I think there are a lot of people just like you. They are just going to go with the NX5U. Knowing what I know now, I would probably go with the NX5U.
 
Silence

Silence

I believe that this "silence" from Panasonic side means that they are working on the issue and the fix will come together with promised firmware update progressive 1080/59.94p or 1080/50p. The issue can be fixed from my point of view, but it needs time for tests and implementation. I do not like Sony ! I'll wait for Panasonic response.

Best regards.
 
I really want to wait for a fix too. I don't have test footage, but I believe the Ac130/160 is better in low light then the Sony NX5U. Does anyone agree with this and have tested this. For me, I do a lot of filming in low light situations.
 
Almost any autofocus will perform badly in low light... if you do a lot of lowlight shooting, I wouldn't consider the autofocus the deciding issue...!
 
Low light is not the only place the autofocus issue has shown up. One sample showed good light and a blue banner in about 1/3 of the frame. The autofocus went haywire. Ceiling lights in a decently lit church threw off the auto focus. Pure whites also seem to fool this camera. I don't want to be bashing this camera, but it clearly does have an issue with auto focus.

It seems that a high percentage of people looking for 1/3 sensored camera's are also looking for a auto feature that works most of the time. I sure don't or wouldn't use such a feature in my Apc sized sensor camera. You don't see people complaining about autofocus in their 5d's -(if it was even available) or the likes of Af100, Fs100, or so on. You would be nuts to even have an autofocus with the shallower depth of field cameras. They are not intended for that type of shooting. So not a point with those cameras.

But if you are still looking at 1/3 camera's with a larger depth of field, there is a purpose. A lot of people want to set up their camera in auto and go for the ride-(shoot away). That is what this camera was market toward. A usable camcorder with auto features and then more professional features if you so choose. Lots more!

Not that you should use auto in every situation, but consumers can buy a $800 1080p camcorder and don't experience the problems that this camera displays in its auto modes.

So, my point is, if you shoot professionally and never use the autofocus and still want a 1/3 inch sensored camera, this is the camera for you. It's great!!!!

If you still want to use this camera with autofocus and stand up and grab you child's graduation or film a loved one's wedding, capturing that once in a life time moment. I wouldn't!!! Chances are you may experience a blur of a picture. Or, it will look like you had one too many cocktails before the ceremony.

My point is, again, you have to ask yourself what are your needs. You are not going to get the best of both worlds with this camera. Not in the state it is Now!


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I think these forums are great if used wisely. It pushes camera companies to fix issues on products and push them to achieve better products in the future. It also aids in making wise buying decisions for future purchases based on one's needs.

If you clearly know how a product performs before you purchase, you will be a happy customer for those companies. It is great that all these people participating in this forum share their knowledge for future purchasers and others that are learning.

I love this forum!
 
Dstar said:
So, my point is, if you shoot professionally and never use the autofocus and still want a 1/3 inch censored camera, this is the camera for you. It's great!!!!
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Now I AM worried... focus problems are one thing, but censorship is another!
 
Lol !! Now that's funny! Now that I changed the above post, only you and I will get it Ullanta...........
 
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ullanta said:
I wouldn't consider the autofocus the deciding issue...!
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Of course competent auto-focus is always a plus. But I have to wonder about those that buy a camera of this magnitude and then run it primarily with auto focus and/or auto iris always on. Don't folks know that the truly pro cams out there don't even have any auto-focus built-in?
 
D.R. Gates said:
Of course competent auto-focus is always a plus. But I have to wonder about those that buy a camera of this magnitude and then run it primarily with auto focus and/or auto iris always on. Don't folks know that the truly pro cams out there don't even have any auto-focus built-in?
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Could this be a reason why folks don't buy those truly pro cams?
 
D.R. Gates said:
Of course competent auto-focus is always a plus. But I have to wonder about those that buy a camera of this magnitude and then run it primarily with auto focus and/or auto iris always on. Don't folks know that the truly pro cams out there don't even have any auto-focus built-in?
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What "magnitude" are you talking about...it's a prosumer camera.

"Truly pro" guys don't buy this camera and pretty much every camera on the market with a built-in lens will have AF...even the $500 models. The "pro" cams are usually interchangeable; therefore no AF.
 
I've been using DVX100B from 2006 till now. I just purchased the AC130.. Love this camera. But it does have an AF problem. I had no problem with the 100B very good AF. I hope Panasonic can resolve this. And yes this is a Prosumer camera. AC130 AF should be up to par or surpass even the Good Ole Faithful DVX100B. Aloha Everyone. Thank you for making this forum.
 
Well, this may be a long post.....Update on the Auto Bug Issue...........There may be no fix in sight. I have been dealing with this issue, because I primarily purchased this camera with using the auto features for some of my shooting. Crane high up need auto focus. I have been told by Panasonic there is not an issue, that this is the way the camera is designed. Maybe I need to change my stile of shooting or don't use this camera for those certain situations. Yes, that is what I have been told. Or, maybe sell it, I shouldn't take that much of a loss. There you go!!! Does that sound like they are working on a issue with this camera or that is just the way it is.

So, if you buy a brand new 2013 car. It is pulling to the right. You finally bring it in and the manufacturer knows nothing about it. After some time they come back to you and say, "this is how the car is designed". 65 percent of roadways in america have a slight right bend to them. So, we made the car pull slightly to the right. Just adjust your driving stile and you will be fine. Will that fly?

If the car manufacturer clearly disclosed this before you purchased this car. You then went out and purchased it based on that information. Buyer was forewarned. But, if you purchased this car and had to find out about this issue on your own, totally different scenario.

That is how I am feeling about this. 90 percent seam to not use the auto features on this camera and that is great. This camera is a dream in that department. Way better then the Hmc150 in features and picture quality. But, for those that need the features of auto focus, the Hmc150 can pull through and many others in that department. If I was told before, do to the design of this camera that in some situations the auto focus would not be able to do the job like others. I would have been forewarned. I would not have been one of the first purchasers and waited to test the camera for my own needs.

I have been told that this was the decision of the higher ups-(won't mention any names here). I am unfortunately one of those small percentage of users that required a stable auto featured camera. I was not forewarned.

I love Panasonic camera's and working with some of the customer service reps has been a dream. Made me feel like they did all they can and keep me informed the whole way through. But, I refuse to go away!

I kind of know what I must do now and it will be time consuming, but I refuse to be put in this position of having to sell my camera and then go purchase something else. This camera should work like it is advertised. Or disclosed that it works differently. Clearly like Phil1076 stated above. This is aimed at prosumers and has the auto features as such. They should work as such or disclosed as such!

If someone from Panasonic wants to PM me to resolve my issues, it would save both of use some time in the long run and be better business practice.

Hopefully, I don't sound to harsh. This is just business and good business practices should be followed on both sides. Manufacturer and consumer alike.

Again, I just wanted to say for most shooters this camera is a dream. For me, I just really needed something different that this camera claimed to offer, but clearly does not deliver. Just what I needed it for.
 
Dstar, I agree with you 100%. If a camera is advertised as having auto-focus and your decision to buy it is based on past experience with the brand as well as reputation of the manufacturer, then I think it is misleading for Panasonic to say/imply that the camera has a fully functional auto-focus feature. I am a long time Panasonic camera user and I am really having a hard time understanding their "no response just accept it" position on this. I have my sights set on buying the HPX250 (have actually tried one out) but am seriously reconsidering. I only use auto-focus about 10% of the time but when your reputation is on the line you have got to have equipment that will do the job. By all accounts these are good cameras with some great features at this price point. But I just wonder in their rush to get the AC-130, AC-160 and HPX250 on the market if Panasonic took some design shortcuts to sell them at a more attractive price. If so, I hope they understand the ramifications of pissing-off part of their customer base. This whole AF situation sounds so untypical of the Panasonic I know. But hey things change in the corporate world every day and maybe a good reputation is now not worth so much.
 
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Spot on Mark. I would have chosen the Hmc150 even though it lacks in features and picture quality for my needs at this time. Used my Dslr for the other needs. I can get away with not as high of resolutions, but can't get away from focus hunting issues in my particular shooting requirements. If I was forewarned!
 
I bought it cause I love my old DVX100B and this would be an Awesome update. I mean.. I do manual focus too for the creative shoots. When I tried to film a small fashion show at a gym with pretty good lighting environment. I had AF on and all I did was trying to shoot the subject while they are coming towards me. Zoomed out to keep them in frame. Then the AF keeps going out of focus. :/ I never thought it would be that bad. But yeah, overal I this camera is great.
 
My point wasn't that it doesn't matter if the auto-focus works or not, just that many of us don't use it extensively. Irregardless, it should work as advertised, because as others have said, it's a necessity for some situations.
 
D.R. Gates said:
My point wasn't that it doesn't matter if the auto-focus works or not, just that many of us don't use it extensively. Irregardless, it should work as advertised, because as others have said, it's a necessity for some situations.
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Well I agree with you. I bought cause it's a Panasonic. And I use other brands too. I find that Panasonics are best for my needs. Just never expected that the AF is that bad.
 
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