Just Curious

Shawn Alyasiri · January 31st, 2006, 10:53 PM

Not sure why this popped into my head - but how does everyone like the autofocus on the H1 (assuming it has both auto/manual)?

I had an XL1 (first vers) back in the day, and thought the autofocus had quite the tendency to 'roam'.

I prefer manual, but it's nice to click on the autofocus in a pinch, depending on what you're doing (ie: the PD150 - which is pretty reliable on auto in my opinion).

Just wondering - and thanks,
Shawn

Barlow Elton · February 1st, 2006, 12:46 AM

Much improved over the XL1 (XL2...not sure), but 24F auto focus is a bit sluggish compared to 60i. It's still great in a pinch though.

I've found the focus assist works pretty dang good too. I always have peaking on (it causes slight ghosting in the image, but it saves your ***), even in SD, and occasionaly jump into magnification mode when tape isn't rolling. I actually haven't found the need to use the B&W mode, but I'm sure it can't hurt.

Rob Lohman · February 1st, 2006, 05:52 AM

Auto focus will always be slower on lower framerate (24F compared to 60i in
this example), since it can do less samplings per second.

Vincent Rozenberg · February 1st, 2006, 07:02 AM

The auto focus on the XL-H1 is not as good as the one on the Sony Z1, is my experience. But I never use it anyways.

Chris Hurd · February 1st, 2006, 07:55 AM

For anybody who has seen the "Watchmaker" demo material from Canon USA, about 70% of that was shot in autofocus.

Vincent Rozenberg · February 1st, 2006, 08:54 AM

And how did that worked out ( I didn't see it)?

Barlow Elton · February 1st, 2006, 11:24 AM

It looked beautiful. Lot's of moving action, moving crane shots, etc. It was hard to believe that it was mostly auto focus, but it's true.

Vincent Rozenberg · February 1st, 2006, 11:34 AM

hmm, that's interesting. I'm gonna shoot a simple commercial tomorrow with the H1, I think I'm gonna try the auto focus out on some takes. Thanks for the info.

Alister Chapman · February 1st, 2006, 12:21 PM

I find the H1 auto focus slower than my Z1, BUT it rarely roams or hunts instead tending to stay locked on solid. The focus assist works well too. I doo miss having a proper momentary auto push button though.

Vincent Rozenberg · February 1st, 2006, 12:53 PM

Yep, me too. I think that the Z1 is unbeatable with that.

Kristian Indrehus · February 1st, 2006, 01:27 PM

AF is slow and VF too low rez. to do serious focusing manually. If your used to manual lens and high rez B/W VF then it´s a pain in you know where.

I can´t figure why the B/W mode. No more rez. No point at all. Peaking works fine though.

Still, I do LOVE the camera.

Peter Ferling · February 1st, 2006, 07:35 PM

My guess is that a slow focus seems more natural, and the lack of wandering or busy focus is less distracting.

Alister Chapman · February 2nd, 2006, 03:19 AM

I agree that the VF is PANTS. Peaking helps but they really should have put a higher resolution VF on the camera considering the price. Even though the AF is slow I do like the way it works, and I too love this camera, I'm selling my Z1 and DSR570.

Kristian Indrehus · February 2nd, 2006, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Ferling

My guess is that a slow focus seems more natural, and the lack of wandering or busy focus is less distracting.

I agree on that, but the problem is it takes me about 1 second to focus a manual lens. AF sometimes use 4, and in the meantime your object is gone unless it was dead in the first place. You can´t really do it manually either because you have no real reference looking at the LCD. For shoot and run it´s a very REAL problem. So for this kind of work I´d say the optional B/W high rez is the ting.

Paul Doherty · February 2nd, 2006, 04:21 AM

I agree the AF is slow. I could live with that if the VF was better, but can only second Alister's comment that for the price the VF is poor.

Look at the price of the FX1 and for that you get a better VF, plus a nice LCD panel.

January 31st, 2006, 10:53 PM	#1
Shawn Alyasiri Major Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bloomington, IL Posts: 256	Just Curious - How's the Autofocus? Not sure why this popped into my head - but how does everyone like the autofocus on the H1 (assuming it has both auto/manual)? I had an XL1 (first vers) back in the day, and thought the autofocus had quite the tendency to 'roam'. I prefer manual, but it's nice to click on the autofocus in a pinch, depending on what you're doing (ie: the PD150 - which is pretty reliable on auto in my opinion). Just wondering - and thanks, Shawn

February 1st, 2006, 05:52 AM	#3
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Auto focus will always be slower on lower framerate (24F compared to 60i in this example), since it can do less samplings per second. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

February 1st, 2006, 07:55 AM	#5
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	For anybody who has seen the "Watchmaker" demo material from Canon USA, about 70% of that was shot in autofocus. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 1st, 2006, 12:21 PM	#9
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	I find the H1 auto focus slower than my Z1, BUT it rarely roams or hunts instead tending to stay locked on solid. The focus assist works well too. I doo miss having a proper momentary auto push button though. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

February 2nd, 2006, 03:19 AM	#13
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	I agree that the VF is PANTS. Peaking helps but they really should have put a higher resolution VF on the camera considering the price. Even though the AF is slow I do like the way it works, and I too love this camera, I'm selling my Z1 and DSR570. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

February 1st, 2006, 12:46 AM	#2
Barlow Elton Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UT Posts: 945	Much improved over the XL1 (XL2...not sure), but 24F auto focus is a bit sluggish compared to 60i. It's still great in a pinch though. I've found the focus assist works pretty dang good too. I always have peaking on (it causes slight ghosting in the image, but it saves your ***), even in SD, and occasionaly jump into magnification mode when tape isn't rolling. I actually haven't found the need to use the B&W mode, but I'm sure it can't hurt.

February 1st, 2006, 07:02 AM	#4
Vincent Rozenberg Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands Posts: 475	The auto focus on the XL-H1 is not as good as the one on the Sony Z1, is my experience. But I never use it anyways.

February 1st, 2006, 08:54 AM	#6
Vincent Rozenberg Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands Posts: 475	And how did that worked out ( I didn't see it)?

February 1st, 2006, 11:24 AM	#7
Barlow Elton Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UT Posts: 945	It looked beautiful. Lot's of moving action, moving crane shots, etc. It was hard to believe that it was mostly auto focus, but it's true.

February 1st, 2006, 11:34 AM	#8
Vincent Rozenberg Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands Posts: 475	hmm, that's interesting. I'm gonna shoot a simple commercial tomorrow with the H1, I think I'm gonna try the auto focus out on some takes. Thanks for the info.

February 1st, 2006, 12:53 PM	#10
Vincent Rozenberg Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands Posts: 475	Yep, me too. I think that the Z1 is unbeatable with that.

February 1st, 2006, 01:27 PM	#11
Kristian Indrehus Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Norway Posts: 123	AF is slow and VF too low rez. to do serious focusing manually. If your used to manual lens and high rez B/W VF then it´s a pain in you know where. I can´t figure why the B/W mode. No more rez. No point at all. Peaking works fine though. Still, I do LOVE the camera.

February 1st, 2006, 07:35 PM	#12
Peter Ferling Trustee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wyomissing, PA Posts: 1,141 Images: 57	My guess is that a slow focus seems more natural, and the lack of wandering or busy focus is less distracting.

February 2nd, 2006, 04:21 AM	#15
Paul Doherty Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sherburn, England Posts: 136	I agree the AF is slow. I could live with that if the VF was better, but can only second Alister's comment that for the price the VF is poor. Look at the price of the FX1 and for that you get a better VF, plus a nice LCD panel.