Can someone please explain autofocus modes on GH3
 

Hi, this is very odd. The two autofocus modes seem to do exactly the same, i.e. they focus when shutter release is pressed. I thought one of the modes was ment to be continual AF? There are also some AF related settings in menues.

Can someone please explain the relative options/modes or point me at an article that does.

Ben

PS be good if this did not turn into a 'dont use AF' thread, I generally use manual but AF is sometimes usefull.

Re: Can someone please explain autofocus modes on GH3
 

AFS (Auto Focus Single) is one autofocus operation per shutter button "half press".

AFC (Auto Focus Continuous) is supposed to give you some semblance of continous/follow focus. There are two ways of using it, one is to hold the shutter release at "half press" while recording and keep the focus target on the subject. The second is to do one half press for initial focus and see if the camera will maintain focus. Sometimes it does and sometimes it can "hunt" for focus between subject and background.

And AFC will not work with the Lumix 20mm f2.5 lens.

I don't try to use AFC much because I don't find it reliable enough although if I had to I would try to "ride" the "half press". But what I do try to use sometimes is "face detect" mode with autofocus. As long as the camera thinks it is seeing a face it will try to keep that face in focus. That worked on the GH2 and I think it works the same on the GH3.

I often do use autofocus, I have the camera configured for AF+FOCUS ASSIST so I can autofocus with a "half press" on the shutter and if I hold that "half press" starting to turn the focusing ring makes the magnified "focus assist" kick in.

I don't fully understand the difference between AFS and AFF in the menus. "Sorry 'bout that".

Re: Can someone please explain autofocus modes on GH3
 

Interesting, I thought AFS was just suposed to autofocus if camera thought focus had been lost (i.e. you repoint camera or zoom). This is generally how camcorders work. Kind of add GH£ does not have this feature.

Ben

Re: Can someone please explain autofocus modes on GH3
 

In AFC during video mode, the camera will automatically autofocus without the need to touch anything. You do not need to keep pressing the shutter button while filming to maintain focus on a moving subject (so it is just like using a camcorder).

If you leave the camera set on continuous autofocus in video mode the shutter button is still active, so if there is a difficult subject causing the auto-focus to hunt or is too slow, simply press the shutter once to quickly bring the object into sharp focus, then leave the camera to autofocus for the rest of the filming.

It also helps to change the AF framing areas (in Menus),depending on your video subject.