DV Info Net - auto focus

DV Info Net (https://www.dvinfo.net/forum/)

- Panasonic LUMIX S / G / GF / GH / GX Series (https://www.dvinfo.net/forum/panasonic-lumix-s-g-gf-gh-gx-series/)

- - auto focus (https://www.dvinfo.net/forum/panasonic-lumix-s-g-gf-gh-gx-series/521028-auto-focus.html)

Anyone care to share their experiences and setup with auto focus shooting video on the GH3?
In playing around with it, it seems quite limited. Perhaps I'm not using the best settings? Would be nice to know the limits of this for those times when it might be useful. (Spare me the lecture of how one should NEVER use AF.)

Thanks

You should never ever use autofocus.

Just kidding :) My panasonics (gh3/g6) are always on manual focus and I have it set to point the camera to whatever I want in focus, press the shutter button, and the camera focuses very quickly, it does depend on the type of lens I use but most of them are very fast, if I need to change the focus during recording I just press the shutterbutton again and let the camera refocus. Autofocus ability (when I press the shutter button) of the gh3 can get fooled sometimes when it's too dark and then it can start pumping wildly but eventually it snaps on quickly enough for my needs, I still can switch quickly to manual with the switch on the back of the camera and take over if needed, especially when it's too dark I"m very cautious in letting the camera refocus, then I prefer handling focus all manually .

I only have not let the camera run in autofocus mode all the time and to be honest, I don't trust it enough, especially when paired with a fast prime, most important is to use a lcd loupe that mangifies the screen so you can verify the camera gets it right but when using my method the screen magnifies a lot giving me a visual confirmation if the focus is spot on.

Hi Noa
I'd love to know what loupe you use with the GH3 and if you have any photos of your setup.

I like to use the viewfinder rather than the rear LCD screen because I can't see the screen well enough to be confident of accurate focus ... especially in full sun.

I am looking at the VF4 loupe though at the moment and would be interested in any comments on using this or any other loupe.