Manual focus with push auto?

[Jim Snow]

Originally Posted by Jeff Harper

Jim, I am going to play with methods for focusing during a processional,

I would love to hear your feedback.

[Jeff Harper]

Well, I was one of those that sold off my cameras, but I sold my FX1 with reluctance. At the time it was necessary, but I would kill to have it back right now.

It doesn't shoot 720p, however and that would be an issue.

The next best choice in my price range would be an HMC 150, which I've owned, but I disliked.

[Jim Snow]

Originally Posted by Brian Luce

Yes, you can use manual and auto focus at the same time, but you won't get the focus assisting zoom. And yes, this works during recording, not just standbye mode.
Try this:
-Go to manual movie mode (dunno if it works in other modes, I don't use them.)
-Turn the dial on the top left of camera to "AFS"
-In the menus, go to CUSTOM>AF+MF and turn it ON.
-In the menus, make sure SHUTTER AF is ON.

That should do it. Make sure you turn the focus ring with the shutter button half depressed.

Btw, I like the SHUTTER AF mode in the menu. If it's ON, and with the camera recording, you can auto focus on a target and it will hold that focus if the target is stationary. if the target moves, or you do, half depress the shutter button and it will refocus. It will only focus if you tell it to, it won't hunt. So if you have a relatively static scene, you don't have to worry about the camera getting all possessed by the demon of bad focus and have the camera hunting all around in and out of focus. Just make sure you're not in manual focus mode on the top left hand dial.

Another thing, not quite sure what good "MF ASSIST GUIDE" in the CUSTOM menu is. That the feature that turns on a close up to infinity bar in the VF. You can see a cursor roll back and forth as you focus. Now, if only, if ONLY! Panasonic had thought to mark that line bar with numbers, we'd have perhaps a usable follow focus scale. But unmarked, not sure how I'd use it, you can goof around with the VF grids, but that's sketchy.

Brian, I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong but when I set the settings as you describe, I still get focus hunting. Could there be other setting that also affect this?

[Dan Carter]

Originally Posted by Jim Snow

Brian, I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong but when I set the settings as you describe, I still get focus hunting. Could there be other setting that also affect this?

Jim,

Here is another option for you:

Option 1) Set Custom Menu [AF/AE Lock] to either AF, AE or AF/AE. Now press and hold the AF/AE Lock button while turning focus ring.

Option 2) Also set Custom Menu [AF/AE Lock Hold] to On. Now a single press of the AF/AE Lock button will lock AF and/or AE (depending on your setting in Option 1) until the AF/AE Lock button is pressed again. Now turn focus ring.

This [AF/AE Lock Hold] can also eliminate ALL focus hunt issues. One press of the AF/AE Lock button will lock AF and/or AE until pressed again. If you're doing any type of pan or tilt, this feature is your friend.

[Brian Luce]

Originally Posted by Jim Snow

Brian, I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong but when I set the settings as you describe, I still get focus hunting. Could there be other setting that also affect this?

Jim, that procedure I outlined is for operating MF and AF at the same time. I just double checked and it works on mine. I even reset the camera to default settings and it worked. I couldn't get Dan's settings though to operate MF and AF at the same time. It did work however for preventing hunting.

[Brian Luce]

Originally Posted by Jim Snow

Brian, I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong but when I set the settings as you describe, I still get focus hunting. Could there be other setting that also affect this?

Also be sure you're in 1 area focus mode (mechanical dial on top left of camera).