PMW-320 focus problems at DVinfo.net

Anthony McErlean · January 2nd, 2014, 01:21 PM

I have my PMW-320 two + years and never had any problem like this before with this camera.
Just noticed it hard to focus at a wedding a few days ago.
When I zoomed in tight and then pulled out the picture was out of focus, I thought it had something to do with back focus. It wasn't like this in the earlier part of the day, it was focusing OK, as far as I am aware.

When I got home from the wedding I record a good few test clips and sure enough there was something wrong with the focus. The lens on the camera is a Fujinon XS17x5.5BRM-M38 BTW
I adjusted the back focus as best I could but nothing seemed to make any difference so I switch off the camera and removed the lens to see if this would help. I fitted the lens back onto the camera, did a black balance and I did think removing the lens made a big improvement. Everything looked good and sharp in the viewfinder, the way its suppose to.

I don't know why or what would have caused this but what I did notice a week or so back but didn't pay enough attention to was, that while viewing the clips on HDTV, playing from a HD timeline the pictures looked sharp in the center of the TV screen but looked that wee bit softer towards the edges of the screen.

I had a wedding the following day and I was hoping that this focus issue was sorted.
Everything did stay in focus for me until we got to the reception and once again I have out of focus clips.
I don't know what is going on, is it the lens or the camera?
The camera didn't get hit against anything to cause this, no knocks or bumps, its well looked after.

Any ideas and thanks in advance.

Paul R Johnson · January 2nd, 2014, 01:28 PM

almost certainly a back focus problem as it goes out as you go wide. I have one idea. Not the same lens, but a similar one I have on an older HD camera - check the back focus ring very carefully where the lock screws in. On mine, I can only assume over zealous tightening had crack the aluminium - as I gave the last bit of turn on it, it was opening up the crack and forcing the ring to move slightly. I tried all sorts to cure it, but in the end decided that it was simplest to simply do the back focus, and then secure the ring from turning with a thin strip of gaffer tape, onto the camera. Ugly, but it works - and has been like that for three years now. Taking the lens off is a real problem, because it goes nasty and sticky, but on this camera, lens removal is rare. If I screw in the locking knob when focus is perfect, the final turn wrecks the focus point.

Hopefully yours won't be like this - but just in case, worth checking as my symptoms were very, very similar.

Anthony McErlean · January 2nd, 2014, 01:44 PM

Thanks Paul for that speedy reply, I'll try and get the back focus adjusted but I wonder why was the earlier part of the recording 100% then at the reception it wasn't?

Thank you Paul.

Shaun Roemich · January 2nd, 2014, 02:14 PM

Does the lens have a Macro ring on it?

Sometimes when adjusting Macro, restoring the ring back to LOCK, you don't QUITE get it locked, which throws out the flange back, ergo the back focus.

Happened to me a couple of times with my JVC HD200's...

Anthony McErlean · January 2nd, 2014, 02:50 PM

[QUOTE=Shaun Roemich;1826359]Does the lens have a Macro ring on it?
QUOTE]

Hello Shaun, yes it has. I'll check that out too.

Thanks.

Don Bloom · January 2nd, 2014, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaun Roemich

Does the lens have a Macro ring on it?

Sometimes when adjusting Macro, restoring the ring back to LOCK, you don't QUITE get it locked, which throws out the flange back, ergo the back focus.

Happened to me a couple of times with my JVC HD200's...

Yep. Just happened to me on my HM700 with the Fuji 17. I was killing time playing with the macro during a break at a seminar and just before the break was over I snapped it back out of macro and I looked thru the VF and I'll be damned. Everything was fuzzy. I thought I had my glasses on (never use them using the VF). Then I remembered the macro ring and sure enough, wasn't "snapped in" like I thought.
I have since decided not to play anymore when I'm on a break and I'm bored.

Anthony McErlean · January 3rd, 2014, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Bloom

Yep. Just happened to me on my HM700 with the Fuji 17. I was killing time playing with the macro during a break at a seminar and just before the break was over I snapped it back out of macro and I looked thru the VF and I'll be damned. Everything was fuzzy. I thought I had my glasses on (never use them using the VF). Then I remembered the macro ring and sure enough, wasn't "snapped in" like I thought.
I have since decided not to play anymore when I'm on a break and I'm bored.

Thanks Don,
In the earlier part of the morning I did use the Marco setting to get a close up of the rings but am almost sure it went back into its off position, because the clips recorded after that we're fine.

What I can't understand is, why did this out of focus kick in when the macro or the back focus wasn't touched after that? that's the odd thing.
If all clips were out of focus I could understand.

Thanks Don.

Paul R Johnson · January 3rd, 2014, 08:10 AM

The macro ring adjusts the internal relationship between the lenses, and maybe it takes a focus in to out, to let the spring loaded pin drop back in?

Anthony McErlean · January 3rd, 2014, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul R Johnson

The macro ring adjusts the internal relationship between the lenses, and maybe it takes a focus in to out, to let the spring loaded pin drop back in?

Hi Paul, looking through the viewfinder and connected to a 42" HDTV all looks 100%. and nothing adjusted since the out of focus recorded clips, so what gives, strange.

Paul R Johnson · January 3rd, 2014, 12:05 PM

I suppose you need to now try combinations - so that if there's an internal fault in the lens, you can prove it to yourself. So maybe zoom in, rotate focus back and forth, up to the stops, then focus on an object and then pull right out and see if the image remains in focus? The do the same at different focal lengths, and see if you can force the fault to re-appear. If it does, you can then see what you need to do to make it go away. I guess you have to eliminate the back focus and macro features. I do think they are still the area to look at, but remotely, it's very difficult. Best of luck.

If it has only just started doing this - practically, something must have happened?

Just a thought, but check the f stop setting - is there any chance that there's a dirty contact somewhere that is forcing the iris to be wide open all the time which would make the back focus adjustment more critical - but perhaps hide it when the iris closes down. Are you having any exposure issues too?

Anthony McErlean · January 3rd, 2014, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul R Johnson

If it has only just started doing this - practically, something must have happened?

Just a thought, but check the f stop setting - is there any chance that there's a dirty contact somewhere that is forcing the iris to be wide open all the time which would make the back focus adjustment more critical - but perhaps hide it when the iris closes down. Are you having any exposure issues too?

Hi Paul, yes, its only just started doing this.... exposure issues,in what way Paul?
I was busy today trying to get a computer up and going for a friend but will try all you suggested tomorrow Paul.

Thank you.

Anthony McErlean · January 4th, 2014, 05:55 AM

Looking at a few out of focus clips on the PC timeline, I notice that the foreground is in better focus than the background.
Does this give any of you a better idea what might have happened? :)

Thanks.

Paul R Johnson · January 4th, 2014, 06:32 AM

All I was thinking was that maybe when the lens appeared ok the f stop was fairly high, f16 maybe? So that the possible lens internal problem was hidden by the small iris, then when the shots with the problem were evident was that also an exposure setting where the lens opened right up? If you have bits more in focus than others kind of suggests the lens is misbehaving - but the degree could be hidden by depth of field increases as the lens stops down? It's just a stab in the dark?

Christopher Young · January 4th, 2014, 07:52 AM

The only time I encountered something like this was shooting on a doco in Fiji. Why I mention Fiji is the fact that when I worked out what was wrong I knew had a problem. No service centre.

I only discovered what was happening when I did a slow tilt on the camera. One of the lens internal rear elements had become marginally loose. I could do a back focus and fix the problem but depending on movement of the camera the lens element would move a fraction and of course focus was lost again. I could move the camera a couple of more times and it would come back into focus again. Move it again and it loose it again. Luckily I had a wide angle lens with me and managed to finish a couple of weeks shooting with that. My problem was there was no Canon repair shop in Fiji. It was either Sydney or Hong Kong

It's worth checking out just in case this turns out to be your problem.

Chris Young
CYV Prooductions
Sydney

Daniel Epstein · January 4th, 2014, 02:32 PM

You should always check the back focus on a lens with the iris wide open to see if it is tracking. It could easily look okay at f4 and above but look soft when the lens is wide open.

January 2nd, 2014, 01:21 PM	#1
Anthony McErlean Trustee Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 1,081	PMW-320 focus problems I have my PMW-320 two + years and never had any problem like this before with this camera. Just noticed it hard to focus at a wedding a few days ago. When I zoomed in tight and then pulled out the picture was out of focus, I thought it had something to do with back focus. It wasn't like this in the earlier part of the day, it was focusing OK, as far as I am aware. When I got home from the wedding I record a good few test clips and sure enough there was something wrong with the focus. The lens on the camera is a Fujinon XS17x5.5BRM-M38 BTW I adjusted the back focus as best I could but nothing seemed to make any difference so I switch off the camera and removed the lens to see if this would help. I fitted the lens back onto the camera, did a black balance and I did think removing the lens made a big improvement. Everything looked good and sharp in the viewfinder, the way its suppose to. I don't know why or what would have caused this but what I did notice a week or so back but didn't pay enough attention to was, that while viewing the clips on HDTV, playing from a HD timeline the pictures looked sharp in the center of the TV screen but looked that wee bit softer towards the edges of the screen. I had a wedding the following day and I was hoping that this focus issue was sorted. Everything did stay in focus for me until we got to the reception and once again I have out of focus clips. I don't know what is going on, is it the lens or the camera? The camera didn't get hit against anything to cause this, no knocks or bumps, its well looked after. Any ideas and thanks in advance.

January 2nd, 2014, 01:28 PM	#2
Paul R Johnson Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lowestoft - UK Posts: 4,045	Re: PMW-320 focus problems almost certainly a back focus problem as it goes out as you go wide. I have one idea. Not the same lens, but a similar one I have on an older HD camera - check the back focus ring very carefully where the lock screws in. On mine, I can only assume over zealous tightening had crack the aluminium - as I gave the last bit of turn on it, it was opening up the crack and forcing the ring to move slightly. I tried all sorts to cure it, but in the end decided that it was simplest to simply do the back focus, and then secure the ring from turning with a thin strip of gaffer tape, onto the camera. Ugly, but it works - and has been like that for three years now. Taking the lens off is a real problem, because it goes nasty and sticky, but on this camera, lens removal is rare. If I screw in the locking knob when focus is perfect, the final turn wrecks the focus point. Hopefully yours won't be like this - but just in case, worth checking as my symptoms were very, very similar.

January 2nd, 2014, 01:44 PM	#3
Anthony McErlean Trustee Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 1,081	Re: PMW-320 focus problems Thanks Paul for that speedy reply, I'll try and get the back focus adjusted but I wonder why was the earlier part of the recording 100% then at the reception it wasn't? Thank you Paul.

January 2nd, 2014, 02:14 PM	#4
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Re: PMW-320 focus problems Does the lens have a Macro ring on it? Sometimes when adjusting Macro, restoring the ring back to LOCK, you don't QUITE get it locked, which throws out the flange back, ergo the back focus. Happened to me a couple of times with my JVC HD200's... __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

January 2nd, 2014, 02:50 PM	#5
Anthony McErlean Trustee Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 1,081	Re: PMW-320 focus problems [QUOTE=Shaun Roemich;1826359]Does the lens have a Macro ring on it? QUOTE] Hello Shaun, yes it has. I'll check that out too. Thanks.

January 3rd, 2014, 08:10 AM	#8
Paul R Johnson Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lowestoft - UK Posts: 4,045	Re: PMW-320 focus problems The macro ring adjusts the internal relationship between the lenses, and maybe it takes a focus in to out, to let the spring loaded pin drop back in?

January 3rd, 2014, 12:05 PM	#10
Paul R Johnson Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lowestoft - UK Posts: 4,045	Re: PMW-320 focus problems I suppose you need to now try combinations - so that if there's an internal fault in the lens, you can prove it to yourself. So maybe zoom in, rotate focus back and forth, up to the stops, then focus on an object and then pull right out and see if the image remains in focus? The do the same at different focal lengths, and see if you can force the fault to re-appear. If it does, you can then see what you need to do to make it go away. I guess you have to eliminate the back focus and macro features. I do think they are still the area to look at, but remotely, it's very difficult. Best of luck. If it has only just started doing this - practically, something must have happened? Just a thought, but check the f stop setting - is there any chance that there's a dirty contact somewhere that is forcing the iris to be wide open all the time which would make the back focus adjustment more critical - but perhaps hide it when the iris closes down. Are you having any exposure issues too?

January 4th, 2014, 05:55 AM	#12
Anthony McErlean Trustee Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 1,081	Re: PMW-320 focus problems Looking at a few out of focus clips on the PC timeline, I notice that the foreground is in better focus than the background. Does this give any of you a better idea what might have happened? :) Thanks.

January 4th, 2014, 06:32 AM	#13
Paul R Johnson Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lowestoft - UK Posts: 4,045	Re: PMW-320 focus problems All I was thinking was that maybe when the lens appeared ok the f stop was fairly high, f16 maybe? So that the possible lens internal problem was hidden by the small iris, then when the shots with the problem were evident was that also an exposure setting where the lens opened right up? If you have bits more in focus than others kind of suggests the lens is misbehaving - but the degree could be hidden by depth of field increases as the lens stops down? It's just a stab in the dark?

January 4th, 2014, 07:52 AM	#14
Christopher Young Trustee Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 1,567	Re: PMW-320 focus problems The only time I encountered something like this was shooting on a doco in Fiji. Why I mention Fiji is the fact that when I worked out what was wrong I knew had a problem. No service centre. I only discovered what was happening when I did a slow tilt on the camera. One of the lens internal rear elements had become marginally loose. I could do a back focus and fix the problem but depending on movement of the camera the lens element would move a fraction and of course focus was lost again. I could move the camera a couple of more times and it would come back into focus again. Move it again and it loose it again. Luckily I had a wide angle lens with me and managed to finish a couple of weeks shooting with that. My problem was there was no Canon repair shop in Fiji. It was either Sydney or Hong Kong It's worth checking out just in case this turns out to be your problem. Chris Young CYV Prooductions Sydney

January 4th, 2014, 02:32 PM	#15
Daniel Epstein Trustee Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,267	Re: PMW-320 focus problems You should always check the back focus on a lens with the iris wide open to see if it is tracking. It could easily look okay at f4 and above but look soft when the lens is wide open.