Auto or Manual Focus?

[Glen Elliott]

Originally Posted by Richard Zlam

What focus settings does everyone use at weddings when using small camcorders like the pd170 and vx2100?

I use autofocus but my boss wants me to stop because I had soft focus on the bride and groom during the recessional.

I've been forced to give up my set it and forget it "auto" focus beings the 170 and 2100 can end up focus hunting in dark environments. It's even worse if you actually follow the rule of 1/3rds because I believe that Sony uses a center-weighted method for achieving autofocus. If your subject is on the 1/3 line and you have a contrasty background (a leafy plant for example) beings the center is filled with botht he subject and contrasty background it'll have trouble distinguishing which to focus on.

Processionals are a particular challenge beings: 1) I'm usually at a very wide aperature shooting indoors...and 2) Subjects are moving through space TOWARDS the camera. Both auto and manual prove to be challenges. I usually put it in manual and ride the "push auto" button as the subjects near the cam. That way the camera can incrimentally lock focus on the subject as it nears, being sure to repeat it many times as the subject passes through the fairly low depth of field (via wide aperature).

[Graham Bernard]

Originally Posted by Glen Elliott

Both auto and manual prove to be challenges. I usually put it in manual and ride the "push auto" button as the subjects near the cam. That way the camera can incrimentally lock focus on the subject as it nears, being sure to repeat it many times as the subject passes through the fairly low depth of field (via wide aperature).

ReSPECKT! ReSPECKT! From the London posse . .Glenn? I'm in awe of you . . WOW!

When you do a tutorial of how you "deal" with this post it my way - HUH?!?!

Grazie

[Richard Zlamany]

Thanks for the replies and advice. I am still studying this issue and trying everything and asking everyone.