Focus button does not autofocus camera?

[thabo]

I was on of my first real shoot on Sunday with my little HMC40 and came across a problem when trying to autofocus. I had the camera in manual focus mode after doing a Focus Assist & EVF Detail check and wanted to check how well I'd focused so pressed the FOCUS button. I would of expected the camera to switch to AF mode immediately but nothing happened, I pressed the button numerous time but still nothing. I'm wondering what mode or setting I was in that would not allow me to change the camera to autofocus? I think it did eventually allow me to autofocus.

(It was just me shooting so I was dealing with a few little things like; noise from a big on-roof air conditioning unit, focusing the camera, tooling around with the iris setting, tying to get the talent to pronounce her lines correctly and keeping a dog / my dog from straying into the frame why we were shooting so needless to say I perhaps overlooked something simple but I'm happy to report the video I shot looked excellent)

 

[ATL Media Group]

Not owning the camera.... Doesn't the button just focus while pressed while in manual mode? I think you must put it in auto mode to have it auto focus continuously.

 

[rich_r]

I am guessing that you were pressing for too long. The focus button performs two functions - a short press toggles between manual (MF) and auto (AF) - but a long press puts you in MF95. Of course, if you are in Auto mode then the focus button does nothing (but you would be in AF then anyway).

You can always assign push AF to one of the user buttons so that while in manual mode you can use push AF to quickly perform an Auto focus while still leaving you in manual focus.

Another technique is to use the touch screen to auto focus while in manual focus. This works pretty much like push AF, but has the advantage of allowing you to specify what to focus on. I find this technique quite useful when tripod mounted, but I have not mastered holding the camera, keeping it steady and touching the screen.

 

[thabo]

I recall pressing the Focus button numerous times and nothing happening. I don't think I was in Auto mode. I was zoomed in I think. It seemed like the button was locked up. RichR, I'll try assigning Autofocus to one of the user buttons, thanks.

I've also noticed that sometimes the AF / MF letters on the LCD display will change from being solid white to being transparent and outlined in white, I assume this is when the focusing system is having trouble focusing because of low light?

 

[rich_r]

I've also noticed that sometimes the AF / MF letters on the LCD display will change from being solid white to being transparent and outlined in white, I assume this is when the focusing system is having trouble focusing because of low light?

I think that when the AF or MF is on a white background it means the lens is in Macro Focus range -- although the camera has a really weak macro focus!