Losing Focus when zooming

GaryMM

GaryMM

Member
I would be interested to know if anyone else has come across a problem I've had recently. Essentially my HPX171 loses focus when zooming out.

I zoom in to get good focus on the subject and then do a slow crawl out to full wide. The image goes soft soon after starting the zoom out, stays soft and then sharpens up for the final part of the zoom. I'm using the slowest speed on the top handle. I've done this kind of shot many times with my DVX100 - nice and dramatic and a great way to reveal the wider scene or to isolate the subject. Shooting on the HPX171 in the cold weather (-3 C) at 720p produced disappointing results.

Has anybody elese had this problem. I have a feeling that I will be contacting the service centre soon.

Look forwrad to hearing any thoughts you may have.

Gary
 
Thanks Arrow,

Have read the thread and found nothing about the zoom/focus issue. Lots about the sticking focus ring, which I too experienced and am slightly dismayed about as P2 IS built for more challenging environments. However, my big concern is that my camera doesn't appear to hold focus when zooming. Admittedly I am yet to test this in a warmer environment and if all is fine this would pull another concern into the frame - having to refocus when zooming in or out on a subject, not necessarily on the move but for reframing??

Has anyone else experienced this zoom/focus issue - cold or otherwise?

Thanks.

Gary
 
I had that problem once... I had the camera serviced and they had to either replace or realign the lens assembly or something. I think it was because I had been using a lens adapter for around 2 years straight without taking it off. The poor lens was in Macro focus for the entire time. When I finally used straight up HVX, I'd zoom in for critical focus, and then zoom out to desired focal length... but when I did, the focus would go soft; like really soft.

I assume it's simply the optical elements shifting inside the housing since they were kept in macro focus for a long time without being changed.
 
I'd definitely contact panny...I use the zoom in+focus assist method quite often to get pinpoint focus...both on the HVX and DVX(of course without assist).
 
Thanks Ryan and Nick. That's very helpful and pretty much as I thought. Panasonic will be hearing from me very soon! I've had this camera about 6 months, no adaptor and been using it fairly regularly with no problems. I just thought a spell shooting in -3C might have had some effect, but clearly it shouldn't be happening in hot or cold weather.

Good to know that someone else has seen this. Thanks for the reply.
 
Did another test today with a warm camera to see if I could repeat the losing focus on zooming. Guess what...it didn't happen. I did it several times and there was no perceivable drift. The sensible thing would be to try the low temerature test again, but then we know that the focus ring has a problem with sub-zero temperature. What about holding focus? Still worth Panasonic taking a look? What does Barry or anyone else think?

I'm honestly not expecting any response over the Christmas period, but feel free if you would like to comment. Thanks.
 
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