Ex1r reliable Auto focus or not? at DVinfo.net

Giannis Pass · March 29th, 2010, 01:14 PM

Hello, i am a wedding videographer using ex1r.
i need your opinion.
What are you most use?
Manual or auto focus?
is auto focus reliable on ex1r?
Thanks

Richard Crowley · March 29th, 2010, 01:47 PM

I would never trust auto-focus for something I was being paid for.

Colin Rowe · March 29th, 2010, 02:10 PM

Spot on, auto focus can realy drop you in the s**t. EX cams are most unforgiving. Manual everything to get it right

Bruce Rawlings · March 29th, 2010, 02:12 PM

The EX1 is not known for its autofocus ability so I would not expect much from the EX1r. I have used an EX1 for over 2 years and never even looked at the auto focus, auto iris or auto anything and the pictures I get are spectacular.

George Strother · March 29th, 2010, 06:21 PM

I have owned an EX1 which I have replaced with an EX1R.

It is my unscientific, subjective opinion that the EX1R auto focus and push to focus button are much faster and more accurate than the EX1 I had.

I am not a fan of switching to auto focus and just pointing the camera at things while the servos whir, but on my EX1R these are usable tools in moments you might want or need them.

John Hedgecoe · March 29th, 2010, 07:15 PM

Don't use Af on my EX1. Manual focus and peaking is the answer.

Perrone Ford · March 29th, 2010, 07:36 PM

While I don't use the Autofocus often, I have used it for limited things. But I wouldn't use it for a paid gig. On the other hand, I've been VERY impressed with the auto-iris and find myself using it a lot more than I thought I might.

Matt Davis · April 2nd, 2010, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giannis Pass

is auto focus reliable on ex1r?

I have to say, with my editor hat on, working with a wide range of footage, that I can spot Autofocus from the rushes. In general, there's usually something that's tack-sharp and accurately tracked - trouble is, it tends to be the background rather than the subject.

With my operator hat on, I drive in Full Manual exclusively. It was one of the prime reasons I went for the EX1. Especially with the bigger sensor and shallower DoF.

All forms of Autofocus seem to hunt, and whilst the 'push-auto' is a lifesaver on difficult to focus cameras like the Z1, it is no good on the EX as it tends to pull things out then nudge them back in.

Try to get good using aids like peaking (in red) and expanded focus, in Full Manual mode before you get involved with Auto Focus. And you specifically want to avoid it at all costs when using certain types of Wide Angle adaptor. HTH.

Marty Welk · April 3rd, 2010, 08:58 PM

and One push auto is ONCE too, from what i can tell.
my old SD cams when you HELD the One Touch they would stay in auto until releace.
my testing here shows that when you push the one touch on the Ex1r it focuses ONE time then stops cold. you have to push it again to get it to start again, making ONE SHOT neer useless, for things like walk twards , and walk aways , and live zoom focus and all.

and it does "rack" or "Rock" a bit to see if that is the closest focus it can get , its like a little camera person instead of a computer is doing the focus :-)
and i thought it was SLOW way slower than the old SD stuff.

reliable? sure it will screw up a live production every time, cant get more reliable than that :-)

Frank Casanova · April 4th, 2010, 10:58 PM

As a pro for the past 30 years, I would never ever use auto focus...UNTIL I got the EX1.
I've had a few great shots ruined because the subject and/or camera was moving and the focus (me) didn't catch up. HD is very unforgiving and the slightest soft focus is glaring. Now I find myself switching to auto-focus if my subject is moving quickly or the camera is moving around in a hand held shot. Fortunately, I've found the EX1 Auto-Focus does a superb job in keep the subject sharp without perceptible hunting. It's a much better alternative than getting back in the edit suite and finding my really cool shot is unuseable because the focus is a bit soft.

Marc Myers · April 5th, 2010, 03:25 PM

I'm always a little amazed when the response to the question "how well does it work?" is "You shouldn't use it." The button is on the camera. It should work whether I use it or not. My take is autofocus does not work all that well, at least on the EX1. I had the occasion to videotape a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge last summer. Bright sun so the screen was not a good option. On foot alone staying constantly ahead of the participants. Interview, run like a bandit. Interview, run like a bandit. All interview shot very close to the camera so the shallow depth of field is really working against me. Rear eyepiece is next to worthless for critical focus. So the auto focus better work.....OK but not as good as I needed.

Marcus Durham · April 6th, 2010, 09:07 AM

The autofocus on the EX1 isn't as good as that of the Z1 for sure. Personally I only use it when forced to in awkward positions where reaching for the focus ring might literally mean falling off a ladder or dropping the camera etc!

It's a handy function but day to day I don't touch it.

Jeff Wallace · April 6th, 2010, 12:18 PM

I just received my Ex1r last week so I haven't tested auto-focus it in a real world situation yet, but so far it seems to work well when pulled medium or wide. It tends to seek more when zoomed in tight or under low light conditions.

I'm shooting a wedding on the 17th so I'll be able to give a full report then. I've been shooting weddings for over 10 years and I can say that auto-focus does come in handy during certain run-and-gun situations when focal length or subjects are changing rapidly.

March 29th, 2010, 01:14 PM	#1
Giannis Pass Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 120	Ex1r reliable Auto focus or not? Hello, i am a wedding videographer using ex1r. i need your opinion. What are you most use? Manual or auto focus? is auto focus reliable on ex1r? Thanks

March 29th, 2010, 02:10 PM	#3
Colin Rowe Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cornwall UK Posts: 793	Spot on, auto focus can realy drop you in the s**t. EX cams are most unforgiving. Manual everything to get it right __________________ Colin

March 29th, 2010, 07:36 PM	#7
Perrone Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 4,100	While I don't use the Autofocus often, I have used it for limited things. But I wouldn't use it for a paid gig. On the other hand, I've been VERY impressed with the auto-iris and find myself using it a lot more than I thought I might. __________________ DVX100, PMW-EX1, Canon 550D, FigRig, Dell Octocore, Avid MC4/5, MB Looks, RedCineX, Matrox MX02 mini, GTech RAID, Edirol R-4, Senn. G2 Evo, Countryman, Moles and Lowels.

April 3rd, 2010, 08:58 PM	#9
Marty Welk Major Player Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: East Bay Cali Posts: 563	and One push auto is ONCE too, from what i can tell. my old SD cams when you HELD the One Touch they would stay in auto until releace. my testing here shows that when you push the one touch on the Ex1r it focuses ONE time then stops cold. you have to push it again to get it to start again, making ONE SHOT neer useless, for things like walk twards , and walk aways , and live zoom focus and all. and it does "rack" or "Rock" a bit to see if that is the closest focus it can get , its like a little camera person instead of a computer is doing the focus :-) and i thought it was SLOW way slower than the old SD stuff. reliable? sure it will screw up a live production every time, cant get more reliable than that :-) __________________ ----------------sig----------------- Re-learning everything all over again, one more time.

April 4th, 2010, 10:58 PM	#10
Frank Casanova Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 29	The Other Side of The Story As a pro for the past 30 years, I would never ever use auto focus...UNTIL I got the EX1. I've had a few great shots ruined because the subject and/or camera was moving and the focus (me) didn't catch up. HD is very unforgiving and the slightest soft focus is glaring. Now I find myself switching to auto-focus if my subject is moving quickly or the camera is moving around in a hand held shot. Fortunately, I've found the EX1 Auto-Focus does a superb job in keep the subject sharp without perceptible hunting. It's a much better alternative than getting back in the edit suite and finding my really cool shot is unuseable because the focus is a bit soft.

March 29th, 2010, 01:47 PM	#2
Richard Crowley Trustee Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 1,238	I would never trust auto-focus for something I was being paid for.

March 29th, 2010, 02:12 PM	#4
Bruce Rawlings Major Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cardiff, Wales, UK Posts: 410	The EX1 is not known for its autofocus ability so I would not expect much from the EX1r. I have used an EX1 for over 2 years and never even looked at the auto focus, auto iris or auto anything and the pictures I get are spectacular.

March 29th, 2010, 06:21 PM	#5
George Strother Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 204	I have owned an EX1 which I have replaced with an EX1R. It is my unscientific, subjective opinion that the EX1R auto focus and push to focus button are much faster and more accurate than the EX1 I had. I am not a fan of switching to auto focus and just pointing the camera at things while the servos whir, but on my EX1R these are usable tools in moments you might want or need them.

March 29th, 2010, 07:15 PM	#6
John Hedgecoe Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangkok, Thailand Posts: 146	Don't use Af on my EX1. Manual focus and peaking is the answer.

April 5th, 2010, 03:25 PM	#11
Marc Myers Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Long Island, NY and Northeast PA Posts: 132	More on the other side I'm always a little amazed when the response to the question "how well does it work?" is "You shouldn't use it." The button is on the camera. It should work whether I use it or not. My take is autofocus does not work all that well, at least on the EX1. I had the occasion to videotape a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge last summer. Bright sun so the screen was not a good option. On foot alone staying constantly ahead of the participants. Interview, run like a bandit. Interview, run like a bandit. All interview shot very close to the camera so the shallow depth of field is really working against me. Rear eyepiece is next to worthless for critical focus. So the auto focus better work.....OK but not as good as I needed.

April 6th, 2010, 09:07 AM	#12
Marcus Durham Major Player Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 693	The autofocus on the EX1 isn't as good as that of the Z1 for sure. Personally I only use it when forced to in awkward positions where reaching for the focus ring might literally mean falling off a ladder or dropping the camera etc! It's a handy function but day to day I don't touch it. __________________ Marcus Durham Media2u, Corporate Video Production For Your Business - http://www.media2u.co.uk

April 6th, 2010, 12:18 PM	#13
Jeff Wallace Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 79	I just received my Ex1r last week so I haven't tested auto-focus it in a real world situation yet, but so far it seems to work well when pulled medium or wide. It tends to seek more when zoomed in tight or under low light conditions. I'm shooting a wedding on the 17th so I'll be able to give a full report then. I've been shooting weddings for over 10 years and I can say that auto-focus does come in handy during certain run-and-gun situations when focal length or subjects are changing rapidly.