Auto Focus on Z1 at DVinfo.net

Dennis Cummins · January 7th, 2008, 09:17 AM

Wondering if anyone can help me. Recently my Z1’s auto focus has been acting erratic. Every so often it goes out of focus for a few seconds. I was filming an interview the other day. The camera was locked down on a MCU of a person. About a minute in it started to go out of focus? The person wasn’t moving so im not sure whats wrong. Has anyone else had this problem?? Should I just reset it to the factory settings?? Cheers.

Bill Busby · January 7th, 2008, 10:16 AM

I don't own a Z1 but I was just curious why you would be on auto focus & not manually focused for such a static shot to begin with.

Bill

Vito DeFilippo · January 7th, 2008, 01:35 PM

Hi Dennis,

I would simply do a quick test of your autofocus on something else. I find the autofocus of my Z1 is not as good as a PD150, for example, and sometimes will hunt a bit. It's especially bad on low contrast, low light, or backlit subjects.

That aside, you would be better off using manual focus, anyway. For sure in an interview setting as Bill notes.

Dennis Cummins · January 7th, 2008, 05:49 PM

well it was a short interview at a wedding, we normally leave it on autofocus as your always on the move when shooting weddings...

I did a test on it after the wedding and i think something is wrong as it keeps happening??

Vito DeFilippo · January 7th, 2008, 07:05 PM

Hi Dennis,

If you actually think there is something wrong, I guess you would have to have it looked at. Hopefully it's under warranty...

Good luck.

Gabriel Chiefetz · January 7th, 2008, 11:49 PM

The Z1 (FX1 in my case) autofocus lets me down all the time. As another poster has mentioned, low light can can cause it to hunt like crazy. Bright backgrounds are also often a problem. If your subject has dark skin, and the background is even somewhat bright, you're in big trouble. I only use the autofocus on this camera in a real emergency.

Bob Hart · January 8th, 2008, 06:32 AM

If you are a lazy near-sighted wretch like me whose close-up vision is now also shot due to ageing, camcorder autofocus is a godsend when used sparingly and sensibly.

My personal preference is to compose my shot, then go in close with the zoom to frame only the subject, set autofocus on the nose whiskers or sneering top lip or cute top lip whichever is present, switch back to manual to lock it off, then back off the zoom to the original framing.

Ervin Farkas · January 11th, 2008, 02:03 PM

Unfortunately autofocus can be fooled by many things - some camcorders handle it better than others. I find that autofocus only works for me in the manner described by Bob above, in emergency situations, when filming an event. In all other situations manual focus gives much better results.

January 7th, 2008, 09:17 AM	#1
Dennis Cummins Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 123	Auto Focus on Z1 Wondering if anyone can help me. Recently my Z1’s auto focus has been acting erratic. Every so often it goes out of focus for a few seconds. I was filming an interview the other day. The camera was locked down on a MCU of a person. About a minute in it started to go out of focus? The person wasn’t moving so im not sure whats wrong. Has anyone else had this problem?? Should I just reset it to the factory settings?? Cheers.

January 7th, 2008, 01:35 PM	#3
Vito DeFilippo Trustee Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Montreal, Quebec Posts: 1,585	Hi Dennis, I would simply do a quick test of your autofocus on something else. I find the autofocus of my Z1 is not as good as a PD150, for example, and sometimes will hunt a bit. It's especially bad on low contrast, low light, or backlit subjects. That aside, you would be better off using manual focus, anyway. For sure in an interview setting as Bill notes. __________________ . http://www.nosmallroles.com

January 7th, 2008, 07:05 PM	#5
Vito DeFilippo Trustee Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Montreal, Quebec Posts: 1,585	Hi Dennis, If you actually think there is something wrong, I guess you would have to have it looked at. Hopefully it's under warranty... Good luck. __________________ . http://www.nosmallroles.com

January 11th, 2008, 02:03 PM	#8
Ervin Farkas Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta/USA Posts: 2,515	Unfortunately autofocus can be fooled by many things - some camcorders handle it better than others. I find that autofocus only works for me in the manner described by Bob above, in emergency situations, when filming an event. In all other situations manual focus gives much better results. __________________ Ervin Farkas www.AtlantaLegalVideo.com

January 7th, 2008, 10:16 AM	#2
Bill Busby Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 959	I don't own a Z1 but I was just curious why you would be on auto focus & not manually focused for such a static shot to begin with. Bill

January 7th, 2008, 05:49 PM	#4
Dennis Cummins Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 123	well it was a short interview at a wedding, we normally leave it on autofocus as your always on the move when shooting weddings... I did a test on it after the wedding and i think something is wrong as it keeps happening??

January 7th, 2008, 11:49 PM	#6
Gabriel Chiefetz Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 73	The Z1 (FX1 in my case) autofocus lets me down all the time. As another poster has mentioned, low light can can cause it to hunt like crazy. Bright backgrounds are also often a problem. If your subject has dark skin, and the background is even somewhat bright, you're in big trouble. I only use the autofocus on this camera in a real emergency.

January 8th, 2008, 06:32 AM	#7
Bob Hart Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PERTH. W.A. AUSTRALIA. Posts: 4,477	If you are a lazy near-sighted wretch like me whose close-up vision is now also shot due to ageing, camcorder autofocus is a godsend when used sparingly and sensibly. My personal preference is to compose my shot, then go in close with the zoom to frame only the subject, set autofocus on the nose whiskers or sneering top lip or cute top lip whichever is present, switch back to manual to lock it off, then back off the zoom to the original framing.