No Autofocus on HD100?

I think some of you so-called "purest" need to get a life. Sorry. This crap about "auto-focus" not being professional is just plain stupid. I've probably been shooting longer than some of you have been alive. To say that because something has auto focus that it isn't professional is like saying that unless your audio system has tubes, it's just not pure or real. Get over it.

I started shooting photography back in the 50's. We didn't have auto focus and I can tell you there were many times when I wish it had it. Now, how many PROFESSIONAL digital cameras today don't have or use "auto focus" with pin point accuracy????

Like Barry said, it's a handy thing to have. Of course if you have a set-up shot, you're much safer taking a measurement to be completly accurate, but that's your choice.

If you don't like auto focus like the gentleman said, well, turn it off. Just don't go saying crap like anyone who uses autofocus isn't professional.
 
I hope this came across right: none of them has autofocus (just to be clear.....)

(Dutch <-> English translation, huh)
 
Loads of pro stills cameras have autofocus!

My Canon Eos and USM lenses do. I think it is pretty rare in video though. Still that doesn't mean that it isn't a useful option.
 
Indeed, no pro video-cams have it. Anyhow, it would be a usefull option if the lens would be a true manual one, when the AF is turned off. I guess some things need to change to do so. (And I also guess that somehow I would never get to use it anyway...)

But remember. AF would addf more weight (servo-motor) to the front of the lens, so at the very least, it would be a bad thing for balance.....
 
mmm said:
Loads of pro stills cameras have autofocus!

My Canon Eos and USM lenses do. I think it is pretty rare in video though. Still that doesn't mean that it isn't a useful option.
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The new Nikon D2X $5,000 has auto focus. All my Nikon's are auto focus. My XL1's was auto focus. My next video camera, whatever it will be will be auto focus. So it won't be the HD100.

It's good to be able to do both.
 
As Barry agreed with me: The AF/MF-function on the XL1(s)/XL2 is horrible. AF would only be handy if it could overcome just those shortcomings. And I have to admit... I'll only believe that when I saw/used it.

For now, I stay suspicious about camcorder with AF. For now, it is okay for consumers, just not up to snuff for professionals...
 
They don't always work the way you would like them to but it's still nice to have. Still camera's auto focus is all I use really. They are so good.

My Canon XL1s wasn't to bad in auto focus. I would still rather have the choice to use it if I wanted too.
 
mezelf27 said:
As Barry agreed with me: The AF/MF-function on the XL1(s)/XL2 is horrible. AF would only be handy if it could overcome just those shortcomings. And I have to admit... I'll only believe that when I saw/used it.

For now, I stay suspicious about camcorder with AF. For now, it is okay for consumers, just not up to snuff for professionals...
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I guess you rule out the DVX, the HVX, and a lot of other camcorders just because they have AF! Did you know you can switch to manual focus?
 
ericcosh said:
If you don't like auto focus like the gentleman said, well, turn it off. Just don't go saying crap like anyone who uses autofocus isn't professional.
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Professionals do use consumer cams sometimes and so they use AF and all the other automatic tools. In the high end, the film- and the broadcast industry, they don't . And I can understand why, sure for newsshoots photographer it is handy to have 'Auto everything, they need speed more than quality.

Professional shooters who care about the image don't use the AF, or the auto white, or the need for an IS. Sure, if your eyes are gone the AF is a handy tool to have.
 
Well, Zim, that's my point. If you turn it off, it isn't a REAL MF system.... It'll only be a "servo"-"simulated"-manual focus.... that's why
 
If you're talking about Sony or Canon or JVC, I'd agree. They have yet to deliver an AF/MF system in the same class (or on the same planet) as the DVX.

Try the Panasonic before declaring it inadequate. The original DVX had the best, most responsive manual focus ring (servo or not) of any prosumer camera. The DVX100A feels twice as good. They may well improve it again for the HVX. They've already improved the feedback, giving distance markings that are far more accurate than any you'd get off of a marked lens barrel.
 
Nothing beats a real lens in terms of resposive manual focus. And in accurate information. JVC takes the lead in prosumer camera´s here for the SD and HDV shootings. In terms of manual focus it is playing a different ballgame in another world.
 
I have to agree to xray.

Barry, I really intend no pun, but you're obviously a big fan. However I used the DVX100A lots of times and in comparison with the manual lens on (say) a JVC DV500, it's nothing alike.

Besides, I really don't get this. No-one in the professional video and broadcast world ever complained there's no AF available... There's a point to saying technology evolves and there's no reason to stay old-school-ed, but and I can't see it any other way then AF is still ultimately an consumer/prosumer feature.

Just the lens on the JVC makes it obvious: it's no "pro-sumer"-camcorder. It's a camcorder sold in the professional line (just ask around in a regular AV-store: they don't know this one. The sony and the DVX are known amongst consumer-stuff.)

I have to admit I don't see the upcoming HVX sold amongst consumers (because of the DVCPro-HD codec), but on some counts you can't miss it has the legacy and heritage of some consumer-camcorders (even if it might be just the form-factor... I always felt the DVX was to heavy and too bulky to hold in 1 hand, and therefor: there is no way you can (say) switch white-balance or something DURING a stable shot)
 
mezelf27 said:
I have to agree to xray.

Besides, I really don't get this. No-one in the professional video and broadcast world ever complained there's no AF available... There's a point to saying technology evolves and there's no reason to stay old-school-ed, but and I can't see it any other way then AF is still ultimately an consumer/prosumer feature.
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Hi folks,

Been absent from participating a long time but felt compelled to comment on this post from mezelf[27].

I think the reason for the lack of clamour for autofocus from the pro world is that few have used auto focus video cameras and especially a decent one. At least this is true for those in my circle who have shot film professionally.

Though there could be many improvements to auto focus in what's currently available in the prosumer models, at times I have found it to be very helpful. I would definitely prefer having the option of a good auto focus system to switch on or off in any camera I buy. It's evolved successfully from consumer to pro still cameras and only a matter of time before it does in the pro video world too. No reason for the HVX not to have it, especially if it's improved over what's available now.

I gather that Barry - who after all is a pro shooter - and certainly myself would miss it if the HVX didn't have it. There you are: 2 pros who probably *would* complain.
 
mezelf27 said:
I have to admit I don't see the upcoming HVX sold amongst consumers (because of the DVCPro-HD codec), but on some counts you can't miss it has the legacy and heritage of some consumer-camcorders (even if it might be just the form-factor... I always felt the DVX was to heavy and too bulky to hold in 1 hand, and therefor: there is no way you can (say) switch white-balance or something DURING a stable shot)
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I very much agree with you mezelf[27]. I've compared the panny to the upcoming JVC 100 and can only wish Panasonic would still make a switch to the shoulder mount form. People talk about braces of all kinds to make up for the prosumer form but there is nothing like the versatility and working ease of a shoulder mount camera when you're doing hand held. It's the reverse of what I was talking about above. In this case most amateurs haven't experienced it and so aren't clamouring for it. Pity.
 
Say, what would be interesting is some kind of automatick rack-focus system as on the XL2 (not for the zoom, but only for the focus....)
 
I too wish Panny would launch a shoulder-mounted model. They are so much more stable than the hand-held models ! I keep dreaming about a super-HVX, shoulder-mounted, 1/2" CCDs, full mechanical lens (*with* AF option), for about 10,000 dollars. I'd buy one right away.

Otherwise, it is true that there is an immense amount of snobism among the so-called "professionals" regarding autofocus. It's exactly the way it was with still cameras, 20 years ago, and it will probably end up the same way, i.e. some day, most broadcast lenses will have the AF option, while retaining all their mechanical qualities. You'd think that, by looking at history and how it repeats itself, some people would learn a lesson... but some never will. :)

My cousin is an award-winning ENG camera operator. He loves his job and has been doing it for the past 10 or 12 years, for the two largest TV networks in France, successively. I asked him what he thought and he looked at me pensively for a moment and said "Yes, that could come in handy sometimes." I could see in his eyes that he was probably recalling some situations when he was sent into war zones and the like (he actually is kind of addicted to dangerous ENG work). So, that's all I need to know.
 
I too wish Panny would launch a shoulder-mounted model. They are so much more stable than the hand-held models ! I keep dreaming about a super-HVX, shoulder-mounted, 1/2" CCDs, full mechanical lens (*with* AF option), for about 10,000 dollars. I'd buy one right away.
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Hey Monglane that is my dream camera you are talking about lolz :laugh: but have no idea if it will ever be true in my life time & no i am not too old - nah seriously mate when do you see it happening? 5 to 10 years time? HVX200 proves that times have indeed changed so nothing is impossible and the future is bright so lets keep our hopes up.
 
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