Focus problem - is this a fault in the G7 camera

JakeJY wrote:

Brisn5757 wrote:

JakeJY wrote:

Brisn5757 wrote:

Brisn5757 wrote:

What I'm trying to find out is if I have a fault on my G7 camera or does this normally happen with the G7 camera.

When video recording the focus will change for a moment and what I'm recording goes out of focus. There doesn't seem a reason why the camera should attempt to refocus after it has correctly focused on a subject. There is nothing that becomes near the camera for the change in focus to happen. It can happen once within a 5 minute video clip and goes out of focus for a few seconds. It's enough ruin an important moment.

The camera is set to AFS/AFF

What I need to know is do owners of the G7 camera also have this problem?

If needed I could upload a video clip example.

Brian

Not happy with the focus problem with my G7 camera I did some tests using 45-150mm lens and found it was not the camera but the 14-140mm lens that was causing the problems.

I was able to create the lens refocusing problem by quickly zooming in or out a short zooming amount using the 14-140mm zoom lens. It looks like the lens starts focusing in the wrong direction and keeps focusing for a near object putting the picture completely out of focus then after a short period it starts to focus for a far object and gets the picture in focus again.

I thought at first it was the speed at which the lens focuses but there are times when this lens is able to quickly focus. I also turned off the lens stabilizer to see if it made any difference but it didn't.

If it was the camera at fault then there would be more reports from owners of this camera.

I wonder if camera lens have a software update?

Brian

You can find all firmware updates here:

http://av.jpn.support.panasonic.com/support/global/cs/dsc/download/

G7 still has focus hunting (just google "G7 Focus Hunting" for lots of videos and forum links). I don't think it's only the lens. Has to do with the focus algorithms. The 45-150mm might have helped because the zoom range is a lot less and it is possible it also is closer to par focal.

There was also an autofocus hack that helped on the GH5 that perhaps would help here (basically involve setting the shutter speed a bit faster for faster focusing in 4K).

Thanks JackJY for the info and the link.

I don't normally record in 4k but might do so later on.

Brian

The advanced manual might be a good resource too.

I presume you tried setting it to AFS to see if it helps and also tried the different AF modes (like face detect, 49 area, single area, described in page 151). If not, it's worth a try. And I presume you are shooting in creative video mode (mode dial switched to it as per page 126). This is the only mode where all the movie settings are actually fully applied and you can setting your shutter speeds manually.

ftp://ftp.panasonic.com/camera/om/dmc-g7_adv_en_om.pdf

I've had the camera for a year and have mainly used it for taking photos.
My camera setting is in the P Code for most things and focusing at the center spot.
I also press the movie button rather than press the shutter button when recording video as the camera can set itself up for the condition of the scene and I can take snap shots while video recording .
I have not considered other settings but it might be worth while experimenting now that I can cause the camera to go out of focus when I want it to (at least most of the time).

Brian