X-Pro1 missed focus example: how to get better?

Here's an example of the camera missing focus. AFS mode. I intended to focus on my son's face and the camera indicated that focus locked as desired--but the focus was actually on the couch behind him.





This happened five times in a row (refocus, false focus confirmation, take picture, focus turns out the be across the room). Finally I pointed the camera at the ceiling, back down to my son, focused, and the picture turned out fine. Took six tries though.

What am I doing wrong? Thanks for any advice.

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Marc A. Garrett
http://flickr.com/photos/since1968/

go into menu and set corrected autofocus frame. It is not focusing where you think im the optical veiw mode.
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SHOOT TO THRILL: MAC WEST NYC

Hi,

Would you please elaborate further on 'corrected autofocus frame' and its usefulness?
Thanks

mac west said:

go into menu and set corrected autofocus frame. It is not focusing where you think im the optical veiw mode.
--
SHOOT TO THRILL: MAC WEST NYC

Click to expand...

mac west said:

go into menu and set corrected autofocus frame. It is not focusing where you think im the optical veiw mode.

Click to expand...

Thanks mac. I'll try it this weekend.
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Marc A. Garrett
http://flickr.com/photos/since1968/

Yep - that'll fix your issue for you

It's all down to that pesky parallax error between the optical viewfinder and the lens

Also - you can change the size of the AF box - so making it smaller means that you can be more precise with your focus point positioning.

--
http://www.dodkin.com
[email protected]
Mac Pro/MacBook Pro/iPods/iPhones/iPad

Chris Dodkin said:

Yep - that'll fix your issue for you

It's all down to that pesky parallax error between the optical viewfinder and the lens

Also - you can change the size of the AF box - so making it smaller means that you can be more precise with your focus point positioning.

--
http://www.dodkin.com
[email protected]
Mac Pro/MacBook Pro/iPods/iPhones/iPad

Click to expand...

That damn Parallax is making me think the OVF is almost useless. I need to find at what distance that parallax error goes away so I know when to use OVF or EVF. For now I'm sticking with EVF. I'm tired of taking a shot and wondering why my target is not in the middle of the frame or in focus

kevroc said:

Chris Dodkin said:

Yep - that'll fix your issue for you

It's all down to that pesky parallax error between the optical viewfinder and the lens

Also - you can change the size of the AF box - so making it smaller means that you can be more precise with your focus point positioning.

--
http://www.dodkin.com
[email protected]
Mac Pro/MacBook Pro/iPods/iPhones/iPad

Click to expand...

That damn Parallax is making me think the OVF is almost useless. I need to find at what distance that parallax error goes away so I know when to use OVF or EVF. For now I'm sticking with EVF. I'm tired of taking a shot and wondering why my target is not in the middle of the frame or in focus

Click to expand...

There is a simple test to see how much parallex affects the focus area which I was recommending to X100 users a year ago, before there was a Corrected AF frame. At a given distance, say 3 metres, align the top and left hand sides of the OVF focus box with a rectangular subject such as a picture frame on the wall. Hold the camera as steady as possible and switch to the EVF, and see how far down and to the right on the subject the EVF focus box is. Repeat at different distances.

But you don't have to give up on the OVF at distances at which that movement is appreciable. You can just learn how far down and the the right of the displayed focus box the actual focus area is, and adjust accordingly. The Corrected AF frame (which was instroduced to the X100 with FW 1.10 last July) makes that pretty easy.

--
Apteryx

corrected autofocus frame is what you need to switch ON

--
http://www.dodkin.com
[email protected]
Mac Pro/MacBook Pro/iPods/iPhones/iPad

Yep, parallax.

Scroll down to "Basic auto-focus technique."

[ http://primejunta.blogspot.com/2012/03/x-pro-1-tips-and-tricks-basics.html ]

The good news is that once you get the hang of it, focusing off the OVF is just as easy as off the EVF. But you do need to understand what's going on, figure it out, and practice a little.

Petteri
--
http://primejunta.blogspot.com/
http://www.prime-junta.net/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/primejunta/

Petteri Sulonen said:

Yep, parallax.

Scroll down to "Basic auto-focus technique."

[ http://primejunta.blogspot.com/2012/03/x-pro-1-tips-and-tricks-basics.html ]

Click to expand...

This tutorial was a huge help. I'm still not nailing it every time but my percentage of hits has jumped.

The 53mm equivalent invites shooting from 1-2 meters away; I imagine a lot of new shooters will find the advice on parallax helpful.

Thanks,
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Marc A. Garrett
http://flickr.com/photos/since1968/