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Autofocus Problems with FZ30

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BradSmith

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I have noticed that when I am using the full optical zoom that the autofocus does not want to work. I need to resort to using the manual focus in order to get a sharp image. This is a mockingbird I believe. I was not able to get the autofocus to work on this shot.

Has anyone else noted this problem?

-- http://www.flickr.com/photos/57402879@N00/114144971/
Equipment - Panasonic FZ30 and Nikon 4500.
 
Thanks, I wondered if that might be the problem however it does not seem to want to focus on anything. It is like it cannot determine what to focus on so it does not focus on anything.
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Equipment - Panasonic FZ30 and Nikon 4500.
 
I have the same problem with the DMC-FZ7. The autofocus at the long end of the zoom is extremely unreliable. I think it's a problem consistent across all ultra-zoom cameras.

The only remedy I have found that putting the camera on macro mode helps significantly.
 
Give this a try and see if it helps any....

Put the focus mode on one area fast focus.....and turn off continuous AF.....I am with Mike on the focus lock, I have never seen a camera any better than the FZ30. But the 9 area or 3 area focus can cause trouble and for some reason I can not use C-AF on the FZ cameras.

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------------------------------------------------------------
Gene
From Western PA.

Panasonic FZ-10 and FZ 20 and FZ30
B300
T Con 17 --two Tcon 14Bs -- Raynox 2020 pro -- DCR 6600

http://imageevent.com/grc6



Just trying to learn and it's slow going!
 
BradSmith said:
I have noticed that when I am using the full optical zoom that the
autofocus does not want to work. I need to resort to using the
manual focus in order to get a sharp image. This is a mockingbird
I believe. I was not able to get the autofocus to work on this
shot.
Click to expand...
What auto-focus mode? Or is it happening in all auto-focus modes??

I imagine that scene with all the surrounding multi-directional branches, could very easilly confuse anything more than single area or Spot focus... The bird is open enough & seemingly big enough in the frame that I'd guess maybe single area & definately Spot shouldn't have a problem... Unless you were too close but that doesn't look to be the case, especially if you also tried Macro AF in either single area or Spot focus...

Those are the only two AF modes I use & if I think there's a problem. I'll turn the cam sideways if there are no vertical contrasting edges @ my chosen focus point which is usually afeather stripe, beak or eye & maybe the branch or claw, halfpress on a horizontal edge that the cam is seeing as vertical due to the portrait aspect I'm holding it in & then after I get the lock & while maintaining the halfpress, return the cam to normal landscape aspect & reframe to taste & complete the capture with the fullpress...

This has always been the case with prosumers & compacts due to most of them relying on Vertical contrasting edge detection focus....

I've never understood why they can't also focus on horizontal contrasting edges.... But evidently it must not be possible or maybe not cost effective, I don't know... But it's common in most non-Dslrs & if what I've just descibed also doesn't work, then I'd guess there might actually be a problem that needs professional repair....

--

'Happy Shootin'



* [email protected] * http://www.pbase.com/rrawzz * EffZeeThreeZero/CeeEightZeroEightZeroDoubleUZee
CeeTwoOneZeroZeroUZee/EOneHuderedAreEss
 
I did not have continuous autofocus on however was able to change the spot focus to a smaller spot. This seems to help. I do not see where I can set it to "fast focus".
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Equipment - Panasonic FZ30 and Nikon 4500.
 
I have not seen this problem but some have reported focus troubles when using the 3/2 aspect ratio.
--
------------------------------------------------------------
Gene
From Western PA.

Panasonic FZ-10 and FZ 20 and FZ30
B300
T Con 17 --two Tcon 14Bs -- Raynox 2020 pro -- DCR 6600

http://imageevent.com/grc6



Just trying to learn and it's slow going!
 
but i find it very difficult to distinguish between one fuzz and another fuzz.

So I look for an object at the same distance as the wanted subject and use that to focus on.
 
Do yourself a favor and get it out of the 9 area focus mode. 9 times out of 10 it doesn't focus on what I want. I can usually still get a got shot, bit I have much better luck and control in the spot focus mode. I also recommend yout switch it to spot metering as well. I don't use anything else any more.

Myself instead of the FZ40 having more resolution I would like to see them add the focusing and metering technology from the DSLR end of things. That alone would make the upgrade worth while.

Robert
 
Thanks for all the advice. I have changed my autofocus settings to spot and High speed along with spot metering. We will see how this works.

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Equipment - Panasonic FZ30 and Nikon 4500.
 
I've noticed that if I use OIS mode 2, the AF will sometimes "hunt" and not find a lock. Switching to mode 1 has often saved my bacon. The reason? The image is shaky in mode 2, and I think the AF is hard put to make any solid decisions; in mode 1, the image gets steadier, the AF gets quicker. Try it?
--
Hey guys, stick around, i'm just getting started!



EffZeeOneVeeTwo, EffZeeThirty
 
good advice.

Nevertheless I would suggest you should personally learn more about how digicams (like the FZ series) focus - and how this differs from the focusing system of dslrs. Your bird/brach shot is an almost impossible shot for a digcam and very, very hard for a dslr. There are a number of times when neither a digicam nor a dslr will be able to autofocus. (A solid-color wall with minimal texture is a good example._

Autofocus is not magic and not infallible. This is why the camera manual has instructions on "what to do when autofocus fails."

I had a similar problem trying to focus with my FZ30 on a large screw protruding from my tire. The problem turned out to be that I was trying to focus too close to the subject (when not in macro mode).

Seriously a little study will make all of this a lot easier and a lot more understandable. It is possible, of course, that you do have a warranty issue, but the FZ30 is not known for problems, and from your description I think the problem may be you are not yet familiar with the camera.

Please be aware the FZ30 is a pretty complex camera, and the very flexiblity and range of options we all enjoy mean it is easier to go wrong.

I am not precisely sure where to suggest you look for information. Both this site and http://www.imaging-resource.com/ have quite good sections on how to do it, and this site has a good deal also - so much, in fact that some persistence in looking is necessary : http://luminous-landscape.com/index.shtml

Best wishes and good luck.
--
Best wishes, rennie12
'Do not wish for things to be as you would like them to be -
Wish to like things as they are'
 
Thats a great explanation ...and I think we all may have had some problem when we first tried a 12X zoom. I did with the FZ10 ..but focus is almost a sure thing anymore.....like most things it takes practice.
Maybe I should practice with the mode 1 thing ..I do not do well with it.
--
------------------------------------------------------------
Gene
From Western PA.

Panasonic FZ-10 and FZ 20 and FZ30
B300
T Con 17 --two Tcon 14Bs -- Raynox 2020 pro -- DCR 6600

http://imageevent.com/grc6



Just trying to learn and it's slow going!
 
Was about to suggest the same. Shooting at 420 mm
takes very steady hands for the AF to get fair chance.

Just my two öre
Erik from Sweden, F Z 5 owner
The only free lunch in photography: O I S

 
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