GH4 Gh4 focus lock question

M

mintakax

Member
In motion picture mode, I am set on MOV,4K/30, Manual exposure,ASF, Continuous AF Off, AF/AE lock set to AF,AF/AE lock hold ON,Shutter AF off, hardware dial set to AFS/AFF.

If I set the AF mode to 1-Area and push the AF/AE lock, the camera focuses and AF lock is on. When I push the shutter to record, recording begins and AF lock remains on during recording ,as expected.

If I change the AF mode to pinpoint, push the AF/AE lock, the camera focuses and AF lock is on, but when I push the shutter button to record, I loose the AF lock.

Why cant I use pinpoint and keep a focus lock when recording ? This happens with all lenses and I am on V2.0 body firmware.

thanks if you can help !
 
Which begs the question, should you use the Record Button for video instead of Shutter? I thought it didn't make a difference and always use the Shutter Button.
 
Pegasus said:
Which begs the question, should you use the Record Button for video instead of Shutter? I thought it didn't make a difference and always use the Shutter Button.
Click to expand...

The record button does not activate autofocus. If you have set MF (or configured for "back button" autofocus) then it doesn't matter which you use, but if autofocus is the default shutter half press you get an autofocus operation when using the shutter button.
 
Can someone confirm my original issue ? Is it a bug ? Or is there a reason why focus lock doesn't hold during recording if pinpoint is set ?
 
mintakax said:
Can someone confirm my original issue ? Is it a bug ? Or is there a reason why focus lock doesn't hold during recording if pinpoint is set ?
Click to expand...

My guess is that the pinpoint doesn't always see enough area of contrast to achieve focus lock. Use the single area AF since that works for you.
 
It seems to be more of an oversight than anything else. *sigh* UI inconsistencies are what drive me up the wall the most.
 
mintakax said:
Can someone confirm my original issue ? Is it a bug ? Or is there a reason why focus lock doesn't hold during recording if pinpoint is set ?
Click to expand...

I just double checked on my GH4 using a 12-35mm and I can get focus lock on pinpoint and 1-area modes, using the shutter release button (which is the only safe way to record with the GH4) and reframing doesn't affect focus, and nor does pressing the shutter button. I have to stop recording to cancel AF lock.

The only setting that is different on my camera is Shutter AF set to on.
 
DotKomrade said:
I just double checked on my GH4 using a 12-35mm and I can get focus lock on pinpoint and 1-area modes, using the shutter release button (which is the only safe way to record with the GH4) and reframing doesn't affect focus, and nor does pressing the shutter button. I have to stop recording to cancel AF lock.

The only setting that is different on my camera is Shutter AF set to on.
Click to expand...

Thanks.
Weird. Does the AFL symbol (at upper right) stay at AFL after you start recording ? Mine immediately switches from AFL to AFS as soon as I start recording when focus is at pinpoint. This is what I am basing this on, not necessarily the actual behavior, just what the symbol says.
This is true for me even when Shutter AF is set to ON. I just tested this with the Panny 14-140mm, maybe it is a lens issue ? Are you on FW V2.0 ?

Anyways, I'll just use single area, probably no point wasting more time on the issue.
 
mintakax said:
Thanks.
Weird. Does the AFL symbol (at upper right) stay at AFL after you start recording ? Mine immediately switches from AFL to AFS as soon as I start recording when focus is at pinpoint. This is what I am basing this on, not necessarily the actual behavior, just what the symbol says.
This is true for me even when Shutter AF is set to ON. I just tested this with the Panny 14-140mm, maybe it is a lens issue ? Are you on FW V2.0 ?

Anyways, I'll just use single area, probably no point wasting more time on the issue.
Click to expand...

I just rechecked this and the behaviour is slightly different to what I mentioned before. So I get focus lock with both AF modes. Once I start recording the green focus lock indicator disappears (it's swapped for the red recording indicator), and the focus type at upper right reads AFS which is what it reads the whole time ie it doesn't change. Not sure what AFL is?

It looks like once you've achieved focus lock with the pinpoint AF mode, the AF mode changes to 1-Area as soon as you start recording. Reframing doesn't affect focus, but (this is where I got it wrong) half-pressing the shutter release button while recording refocuses using 1-Area and then locks focus again. This is actually quite nifty and not a function I knew about before..
 
DotKomrade said:
I just rechecked this and the behaviour is slightly different to what I mentioned before. So I get focus lock with both AF modes. Once I start recording the green focus lock indicator disappears (it's swapped for the red recording indicator), and the focus type at upper right reads AFS which is what it reads the whole time ie it doesn't change. Not sure what AFL is?

It looks like once you've achieved focus lock with the pinpoint AF mode, the AF mode changes to 1-Area as soon as you start recording. Reframing doesn't affect focus, but (this is where I got it wrong) half-pressing the shutter release button while recording refocuses using 1-Area and then locks focus again. This is actually quite nifty and not a function I knew about before..
Click to expand...

Thanks for checking again! I think I've figured it out, but have to disagree with you about AF mode changing from pinpoint to 1-area.
For me, once set in pinpoint, it remains in pinpoint until it is reset.
What does happen in pinpoint is that focus lock turns off as soon as recording starts.

In pinpoint, the AF lock is only valid for one recording session, then it turns itself off , regardless of the the fact that AE/AF hold is ON. In 1-area, the AF lock stays on during multiple recording on/offs. I'm not sure if this is a bug, or as intended. I'd say it's a bug.

I'm taking my GH4 scuba diving for the first time this weekend. I'm going to use an 8mm fisheye and will be filming almost everything at 3-6 ft distances using only ambient light. It was recommended to me that I set focus on my fin and lock it there ( f/8, 180 degree shutter, adjust ISO for exposure). I thought pinpoint would be best for the initial focus, but I see now that I need to use 1-area if I want focus to remain locked. At this point I do not have the means to manually focus.
 
After shooting quite a bit topside and underwater, I now like it that , when in pinpoint mode, the focus lock turns off after a shutter press.
Focus and lock, compose, shoot. Next shot, the procedure is the same. In 1-area, the procedure would be focus and lock, compose , shoot. But for the next shot, if the subject distance has changed, you would have to toggle the focus lock off, then on again, then compose and shoot. I guess the idea must be that if you're on pinpoint and using focus lock that you might be shooting a wide variety of subject distances ??
Anyways, I love the GH4 underwater ! i do have an underwater tripod, but I need a 3D brushless gimbal :):)
 
Pegasus said:
Which begs the question, should you use the Record Button for video instead of Shutter? I thought it didn't make a difference and always use the Shutter Button.
Click to expand...

When filming documentary, or similar, I often use the Shutter Button to grab a quick focus & trigger recording. In more controlled environments I use the Shutter Button to grab a quick focus, but wait for the Director/AD to cue the camera(s), then trigger recording with the rear Record Button so the GH4 doesn't attempt to re-autofocus.

In either scenario I rarely touch the shutter button again & (as long as Constant Autofocus is set to Off in the menus) the autofocus is effectively locked, so revert to manual focus.
 
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