I can only assume this camera has no auto focus? at DVinfo.net

James Darren · March 27th, 2005, 09:47 PM

Hi all,
probably 80% of the time I use manual focus but when I use my cameras in water housing I have them on auto focus...

can I only assume the JVC has no AF due to it being a shoulder camera?

Nate Weaver · March 27th, 2005, 09:53 PM

I'd assume no AF because I've never seen a removable video lens that had it.

BUT...since you'd have to get a water housing for this camera custom made anyway, I doubt a custom made housing that size would be THAT more expensive with a focus link.

Like the difference between 5K and 6K?

Barry Green · March 27th, 2005, 11:30 PM

Some of the XL series interchangeable lenses include autofocus... but no indication yet as to whether the JVC camera will include similar features.

Chris Hurd · March 28th, 2005, 05:03 AM

Barry is right about the Canon white XL-series automatic lenses having autofocus, but I think Nate was referring to the traditional broadcast video lens category -- the standard ENG / EFP style lenses for professional shoulder-mount cameras, which is what the HD100 is using. There are some lenses of this type which include autofocus, but they're pretty expensive. There's also an add-on optical image stabilizer but it's fairly pricey too.

See Fujinon broadcast video lenses.

See also Canon U.S.A’s Broadcast and Communications website, although to my knowledge Canon does not currently offer a 1/3rd-inch HD lens.

Barry Green · March 28th, 2005, 11:45 AM

Agreed. All I was saying was that just because a lens is removable, doesn't necessarily mean that you can't have autofocus. The lens and the camera would both need to be designed to support such a feature, but it can be done (and obviously, autofocus would never be possible using standard ENG lenses that don't have autofocus circuitry in them). But if JVC is having new lenses built (and with a 1/3" mount, it'd almost be mandatory to have new lenses built) then the possibility exists that they *could* design autofocus. Whether they will or not, or whether some other technilogical limitation prevents them from being able to do so, remains to be seen.

Michael Maier · April 7th, 2005, 05:01 PM

I don't think it will have auto focus, but again, who needs it?

Aaron Koolen · April 7th, 2005, 05:16 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Michael Maier : I don't think it will have auto focus, but again, who needs it? -->>>

Well run and gun is one area. When you need a quick setup, hit a button and wham, focussed.

Aaron

Barry Green · April 7th, 2005, 06:28 PM

Yes, autofocus can be very handy. Relying on it in a dramatic/narrative production is foolish, but there are times when it can be useful. And, as always, better to have the option and not use it, than to need it and not have it. And focusing with HD cameras is a lot more crucial than it is on an SD camera, so it'd be nice to have the option of autofocus.

Ben Buie · April 10th, 2005, 10:27 AM

Unless I'm going crazy, nearly every preview/review of the camera that I've read mentions autofocus, at least with the default lens.

Ben

Nate Weaver · April 10th, 2005, 10:41 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Ben Buie : Unless I'm going crazy, nearly every preview/review of the camera that I've read mentions autofocus, at least with the default lens.

Ben -->>>

You might have to back that up with a quote...I've been following things very closely and can't remember ever seeing the word.

Ben Buie · April 10th, 2005, 03:37 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Nate Weaver : <<<-- Originally posted by Ben Buie : Unless I'm going crazy, nearly every preview/review of the camera that I've read mentions autofocus, at least with the default lens.

Ben -->>>

You might have to back that up with a quote...I've been following things very closely and can't remember ever seeing the word. -->>>

Maybe you are right, I just re-read a preview in DV Mag, and here is their quote:

"You probably noticed the lens first -- that's a custom-designed 16x Fujinon lens, and it's removable. The lens has automatic and manual iris control, servo zoom, mechanical focus, and backfocus adjustment."

Maybe I was thinking of automatic iris control . . . excuse my ignorance, but couldn't you have automatic focus if you have automatic iris control? I might be showing my lack of knowledge about professional lenses here :)

Ben

Nate Weaver · April 10th, 2005, 10:03 PM

Maybe I was thinking of automatic iris control . . . excuse my ignorance, but couldn't you have automatic focus if you have automatic iris control? I might be showing my lack of knowledge about professional lenses here :)

Ben -->>>

It's just more an issue of what's been done in the past. Very few pro lenses in that style have ever had AF...I know I've never seen a single one, and I've been shooting for a while.

David Gomez · April 20th, 2005, 09:27 AM

I read somewhere that interchangeable lenses sometimes do not have auto focus.

Glen Vandermolen · April 20th, 2005, 10:14 AM

Why would you want it?

Jiri Bakala · April 20th, 2005, 10:16 AM

Exactly! The same, BTW, goes for the rocker zoom on the handle. You are getting REAL lens here!

March 27th, 2005, 09:47 PM	#1
James Darren Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New York, NY Posts: 235	I can only assume this camera has no auto focus? Hi all, probably 80% of the time I use manual focus but when I use my cameras in water housing I have them on auto focus... can I only assume the JVC has no AF due to it being a shoulder camera?

March 28th, 2005, 05:03 AM	#4
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Barry is right about the Canon white XL-series automatic lenses having autofocus, but I think Nate was referring to the traditional broadcast video lens category -- the standard ENG / EFP style lenses for professional shoulder-mount cameras, which is what the HD100 is using. There are some lenses of this type which include autofocus, but they're pretty expensive. There's also an add-on optical image stabilizer but it's fairly pricey too. See Fujinon broadcast video lenses. See also Canon U.S.A’s Broadcast and Communications website, although to my knowledge Canon does not currently offer a 1/3rd-inch HD lens. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

April 7th, 2005, 05:16 PM	#7
Aaron Koolen Trustee Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,727	<<<-- Originally posted by Michael Maier : I don't think it will have auto focus, but again, who needs it? -->>> Well run and gun is one area. When you need a quick setup, hit a button and wham, focussed. Aaron __________________ My Website Meat Free Media

April 10th, 2005, 10:27 AM	#9
Ben Buie Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 184	Unless I'm going crazy, nearly every preview/review of the camera that I've read mentions autofocus, at least with the default lens. Ben __________________ Ben Buie, Producer "On Our Way Up" - Shot Completely in HDV http://www.onourwayup.com HD Articles and Reviews at HDSource! http://hdsource.highlydef.com

April 10th, 2005, 03:37 PM	#11
Ben Buie Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 184	<<<-- Originally posted by Nate Weaver : <<<-- Originally posted by Ben Buie : Unless I'm going crazy, nearly every preview/review of the camera that I've read mentions autofocus, at least with the default lens. Ben -->>> You might have to back that up with a quote...I've been following things very closely and can't remember ever seeing the word. -->>> Maybe you are right, I just re-read a preview in DV Mag, and here is their quote: "You probably noticed the lens first -- that's a custom-designed 16x Fujinon lens, and it's removable. The lens has automatic and manual iris control, servo zoom, mechanical focus, and backfocus adjustment." Maybe I was thinking of automatic iris control . . . excuse my ignorance, but couldn't you have automatic focus if you have automatic iris control? I might be showing my lack of knowledge about professional lenses here :) Ben __________________ Ben Buie, Producer "On Our Way Up" - Shot Completely in HDV http://www.onourwayup.com HD Articles and Reviews at HDSource! http://hdsource.highlydef.com

March 27th, 2005, 09:53 PM	#2
Nate Weaver Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2,100	I'd assume no AF because I've never seen a removable video lens that had it. BUT...since you'd have to get a water housing for this camera custom made anyway, I doubt a custom made housing that size would be THAT more expensive with a focus link. Like the difference between 5K and 6K?

March 27th, 2005, 11:30 PM	#3
Barry Green Barry Wan Kenobi Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,863	Some of the XL series interchangeable lenses include autofocus... but no indication yet as to whether the JVC camera will include similar features.

March 28th, 2005, 11:45 AM	#5
Barry Green Barry Wan Kenobi Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,863	Agreed. All I was saying was that just because a lens is removable, doesn't necessarily mean that you can't have autofocus. The lens and the camera would both need to be designed to support such a feature, but it can be done (and obviously, autofocus would never be possible using standard ENG lenses that don't have autofocus circuitry in them). But if JVC is having new lenses built (and with a 1/3" mount, it'd almost be mandatory to have new lenses built) then the possibility exists that they could design autofocus. Whether they will or not, or whether some other technilogical limitation prevents them from being able to do so, remains to be seen.

April 7th, 2005, 05:01 PM	#6
Michael Maier Trustee Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,269	I don't think it will have auto focus, but again, who needs it?

April 7th, 2005, 06:28 PM	#8
Barry Green Barry Wan Kenobi Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,863	Yes, autofocus can be very handy. Relying on it in a dramatic/narrative production is foolish, but there are times when it can be useful. And, as always, better to have the option and not use it, than to need it and not have it. And focusing with HD cameras is a lot more crucial than it is on an SD camera, so it'd be nice to have the option of autofocus.

April 10th, 2005, 10:41 AM	#10
Nate Weaver Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2,100	<<<-- Originally posted by Ben Buie : Unless I'm going crazy, nearly every preview/review of the camera that I've read mentions autofocus, at least with the default lens. Ben -->>> You might have to back that up with a quote...I've been following things very closely and can't remember ever seeing the word.

April 10th, 2005, 10:03 PM	#12
Nate Weaver Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2,100	Maybe I was thinking of automatic iris control . . . excuse my ignorance, but couldn't you have automatic focus if you have automatic iris control? I might be showing my lack of knowledge about professional lenses here :) Ben -->>> It's just more an issue of what's been done in the past. Very few pro lenses in that style have ever had AF...I know I've never seen a single one, and I've been shooting for a while.

April 20th, 2005, 09:27 AM	#13
David Gomez Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 50	Does the HD100 have auto focus? I read somewhere that interchangeable lenses sometimes do not have auto focus.

April 20th, 2005, 10:14 AM	#14
Glen Vandermolen Space Hipster Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 1,596	Why would you want it?

April 20th, 2005, 10:16 AM	#15
Jiri Bakala Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kelowna BC Canada Posts: 706	Exactly! The same, BTW, goes for the rocker zoom on the handle. You are getting REAL lens here! __________________ www.ascentfilms.com