GL2's focus going in and out? at DVinfo.net

David Ho · March 8th, 2004, 10:38 PM

I was messing around with the GL2 today and I noticed something weird. When I tilted the camera at a certain angle and pointed at a certain image, the focus would just keep hunting going in and out and will do this forever until I reposition the shot or shoot another angle/spot. I tried turning to manual and using the manual focus, but it does this either... Is this normal or a defect?

Adrian Douglas · March 8th, 2004, 11:11 PM

Check in your manual as ther are certain things that are difficult for the AF system to lock on. I doubt your camera has a defect it's just that the AF is not infallable and has trouuble in some situations. Also, when in Green Box mode you cannot disable the AF. You must be in either A, TV, AV or M to be able to use manual focus.

David Ho · March 8th, 2004, 11:19 PM

I didn't think my camera had a defect too, but it's weird. I am just posting to see if any others have had the same experience (hopefully).

Frank Granovski · March 8th, 2004, 11:22 PM

David, this is pretty normal for miniDV cams when in auto.

David Ho · March 8th, 2004, 11:38 PM

Actually, when I changed it to manual, it did the same thing too. The focus just kept going in and out for some reason. Maybe I didn't fully disable manual.... or it has to do with the AF, perhaps? It's just weird that the focus goes in and out on certain objects or spots... Never knew it was possible.

I mean, I would acknowledge that the focus would be slow on some parts, but this focus just searching and going out and in of focus forever.

Ken Tanaka · March 9th, 2004, 12:19 AM

Remember that there is manual focus and manual exposure. They are not linked.

David Ho · March 9th, 2004, 12:34 AM

Huh?

Ken Tanaka · March 9th, 2004, 12:50 AM

Read pages 76-79 of your manual carefully.

David Ho · March 9th, 2004, 04:46 AM

Oh, okay.

I was just wondering if anyone actually had the same experience as I did. I mean, I haven't seen this before where the autofocus just goes on forever in and out searching, ever.... :/

Kris Verstappen · March 9th, 2004, 05:00 AM

I think all AF systems have problems with certain subjects and situations. If I were you I'd test the AF on some easy targets and see how it behaves there. If that goes fine, then I doubt you're having any "problem" that we don't all have.

Jeff Klein · March 9th, 2004, 08:39 AM

Yeah, I have this problem sometimes on my GL-1, especially when we're filming a wide shot of our church stage and the house lights dim. Even though our orchestra has stand lights the Canon can't lock onto the players.

Also if we're filming a large are with lots of near and far objects, like kids playing basketball on full court; sometimes it'll lose the lock on the near kids and try to focus on the far kids. Nothing wrong with the camera, just a good reason to use manual focus in those types of situations <G>.

Jeff K

David Ho · March 9th, 2004, 12:09 PM

It was strange at first when this occured. I thought the autofocus would either not focus or just not do anything, but it kept searching in and out and I waited a few seconds thinking "Oh, maybe the focus is slow." But it just kept searching, going in and out of focus -- thats when I panic'ed, thinking something was wrong with the camera cause I have never seen this before.

At that time, I tried doing it from different angles and spots, that seem to resolve the autofocus. But, I don't really understand how the autofocus really works and why certain spots are impossible to lock onto, thus resulting an endless in & out autofocus!

March 8th, 2004, 10:38 PM	#1
David Ho Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 354	GL2's focus going in and out? I was messing around with the GL2 today and I noticed something weird. When I tilted the camera at a certain angle and pointed at a certain image, the focus would just keep hunting going in and out and will do this forever until I reposition the shot or shoot another angle/spot. I tried turning to manual and using the manual focus, but it does this either... Is this normal or a defect? __________________ "Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film."

March 8th, 2004, 11:11 PM	#2
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	Check in your manual as ther are certain things that are difficult for the AF system to lock on. I doubt your camera has a defect it's just that the AF is not infallable and has trouuble in some situations. Also, when in Green Box mode you cannot disable the AF. You must be in either A, TV, AV or M to be able to use manual focus. __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors

March 8th, 2004, 11:19 PM	#3
David Ho Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 354	I didn't think my camera had a defect too, but it's weird. I am just posting to see if any others have had the same experience (hopefully). __________________ "Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film."

March 8th, 2004, 11:38 PM	#5
David Ho Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 354	Actually, when I changed it to manual, it did the same thing too. The focus just kept going in and out for some reason. Maybe I didn't fully disable manual.... or it has to do with the AF, perhaps? It's just weird that the focus goes in and out on certain objects or spots... Never knew it was possible. I mean, I would acknowledge that the focus would be slow on some parts, but this focus just searching and going out and in of focus forever. __________________ "Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film."

March 9th, 2004, 12:19 AM	#6
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Remember that there is manual focus and manual exposure. They are not linked. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

March 8th, 2004, 11:22 PM	#4
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	David, this is pretty normal for miniDV cams when in auto.

March 9th, 2004, 12:34 AM	#7
David Ho Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 354	Huh? __________________ "Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film."

March 9th, 2004, 12:50 AM	#8
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Read pages 76-79 of your manual carefully. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

March 9th, 2004, 04:46 AM	#9
David Ho Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 354	Oh, okay. I was just wondering if anyone actually had the same experience as I did. I mean, I haven't seen this before where the autofocus just goes on forever in and out searching, ever.... :/ __________________ "Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film."

March 9th, 2004, 05:00 AM	#10
Kris Verstappen New Boot Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Belgium Posts: 22	I think all AF systems have problems with certain subjects and situations. If I were you I'd test the AF on some easy targets and see how it behaves there. If that goes fine, then I doubt you're having any "problem" that we don't all have.

March 9th, 2004, 08:39 AM	#11
Jeff Klein Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Brooklyn Park, Maryland Posts: 60	Yeah, I have this problem sometimes on my GL-1, especially when we're filming a wide shot of our church stage and the house lights dim. Even though our orchestra has stand lights the Canon can't lock onto the players. Also if we're filming a large are with lots of near and far objects, like kids playing basketball on full court; sometimes it'll lose the lock on the near kids and try to focus on the far kids. Nothing wrong with the camera, just a good reason to use manual focus in those types of situations <G>. Jeff K __________________ Jeff K (If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.)

March 9th, 2004, 12:09 PM	#12
David Ho Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 354	It was strange at first when this occured. I thought the autofocus would either not focus or just not do anything, but it kept searching in and out and I waited a few seconds thinking "Oh, maybe the focus is slow." But it just kept searching, going in and out of focus -- thats when I panic'ed, thinking something was wrong with the camera cause I have never seen this before. At that time, I tried doing it from different angles and spots, that seem to resolve the autofocus. But, I don't really understand how the autofocus really works and why certain spots are impossible to lock onto, thus resulting an endless in & out autofocus! __________________ "Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film."