How good is the FX7 auto-focus?

Sergio Barbosa · July 24th, 2007, 02:40 AM

Especially in low light situations, turn off the macro function. In case the camera is having a hard time focusing, at least it won't hunt so much.
I keep the macro function on a 'user assignable button', and it reaaaaally helps.

Piotr Wozniacki · July 24th, 2007, 06:01 AM

I also have this assigned to a button. The thing is that - as a byproduct - at longer focal lengths, the focus ring needs much more turning and is more precise (resolute) when MACRO is off (and this is the main reason I assigned a button to it). One thing is still unclear to me however: somebody in another thread stated (basing on the information from Sony), that it is also necessary to switch the FOCUS MACRO off in order to avoid the back-focus problem (when after focussing at tele and reframing to a wider angle, the focus is lost). I personally haven't noticed this neither with MACRO off, nor on - has it been established beyond any doubts?

Chris Leong · July 24th, 2007, 10:58 AM

Piotr and Sergio
Good question - I've just started fooling around with that side of things but left it alone when it changed the response of the focus servo/ring. Personally, I prefer the logarythmic focus scale (shorter moves to focus nearer infinity, as in conventional/manual focus rings), but maybe I'll get around to using it later on.
The back focus thing? Wow, one would have thought that would be better documented, no?
In any event, I'd love more input on this too, from those who have gone before.

Glenn Baren · July 24th, 2007, 11:59 PM

Yep.Somebody wake me as soon as a HD cam as low-light friendly as the VX-2100 is released!!

Chris Leong · July 25th, 2007, 12:06 AM

Glenn
It may well be the XDCam EX CineAlta that we're all betting on, out later on this year.
However, we will see... :)
Cheers
Chris

July 24th, 2007, 06:01 AM	#17
Piotr Wozniacki Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Poland Posts: 4,086	I also have this assigned to a button. The thing is that - as a byproduct - at longer focal lengths, the focus ring needs much more turning and is more precise (resolute) when MACRO is off (and this is the main reason I assigned a button to it). One thing is still unclear to me however: somebody in another thread stated (basing on the information from Sony), that it is also necessary to switch the FOCUS MACRO off in order to avoid the back-focus problem (when after focussing at tele and reframing to a wider angle, the focus is lost). I personally haven't noticed this neither with MACRO off, nor on - has it been established beyond any doubts? __________________ Sony PXW-FS7 \| DaVinci Resolve Studio; Magix Vegas Pro; i7-5960X CPU; 64 GB RAM; 2x GTX 1080 8GB GPU; Decklink 4K Extreme 12G; 4x 3TB WD Black in RAID 0; 1TB M.2 NVMe cache drive

July 24th, 2007, 02:40 AM	#16
Sergio Barbosa Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Portugal Posts: 140	Especially in low light situations, turn off the macro function. In case the camera is having a hard time focusing, at least it won't hunt so much. I keep the macro function on a 'user assignable button', and it reaaaaally helps.

July 24th, 2007, 10:58 AM	#18
Chris Leong Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Los Angeles CA USA Posts: 507	Piotr and Sergio Good question - I've just started fooling around with that side of things but left it alone when it changed the response of the focus servo/ring. Personally, I prefer the logarythmic focus scale (shorter moves to focus nearer infinity, as in conventional/manual focus rings), but maybe I'll get around to using it later on. The back focus thing? Wow, one would have thought that would be better documented, no? In any event, I'd love more input on this too, from those who have gone before.

July 24th, 2007, 11:59 PM	#19
Glenn Baren New Boot Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Granada Hills,CA Posts: 12	Yep.Somebody wake me as soon as a HD cam as low-light friendly as the VX-2100 is released!!

July 25th, 2007, 12:06 AM	#20
Chris Leong Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Los Angeles CA USA Posts: 507	Glenn It may well be the XDCam EX CineAlta that we're all betting on, out later on this year. However, we will see... :) Cheers Chris