G9 compared to E-M1 continuous focus while zooming

Here 's an example of rack zoom C-AF with the E-M1X and 40-150 that I would consider reasonably average. Unfortunately the exif data gets wiped out but it's pretty easy to see when the zoom starts and stops. The images are pretty much all in focus before zooming starts at 150mm and then at the end after zooming ends when it reaches 40mm. In between, the number of in focus images is quite small; you get a bunch of "sort of close, but not really" shots, a couple that are way out of focus, and a short burst of in focus images in the middle of the sequence. I'd give this one about a 20% hit rate which is pretty typical when racking zoom. To Olympus' credit, they did make a pretty significant improvement with this kind of shooting since the original E-M1ii firmware. I was originally getting 0% in focus with any kind of zoom on the original E-M1ii firmware where the focus would just go nuts any time you touched the zoom ring. Also for reference, the hit rate in that same situation (vehicles coming straight at the camera at around 65mph) is in the 85-95% range.

Xbot wrote:

I know it's been awhile, but I thought I'd give an update since I originally started the thread. Others may find this info useful down the road.

Over the last few weeks I've had opportunity to directly compare the G9 and E-M1 ii (both with updated firmware) using the oly 40-150 2.8 and pany 35-100 2.8 on both cameras.

The use situation: photographing runners coming nearly directly at me.

My observations: Both cameras did just fine continuously focusing on runners while NOT zooming. When continuously focusing AND zooming, the G9 was awful. Essentially useless. This was true of both the 35-100 2.8 and 40-150 2.8. But, the E-M1 ii was ok. Not great. But ok. I got some useable shots. I didn't observe any dramatic difference between using the 35-100 2.8 or 40-150 2.8 on the E-M1 II. Both seemed fine. Yes, several out of focus shots while zooming, but still some keepers. That was better than the G9--not a useable shot when zooming.

I can't compare the performance to a DSLR, but from other comments I'm assuming a DSLR would do much better here. Also, while I did not have the combo to compare side-by-side, from past experience I would say the E-M1 ii did roughly as well continuously focusing while zooming as my X-H1 did with the Fuji 50-140 2.8. Good enough for me.

Again, to be clear--when NOT zooming both the G9 and the E-M1 ii did just fine continuously focusing on runners coming toward me. The difference only shows up when continuously focusing while zooming.

If you haven't already, you might want to try 6K Photo on the G9.

Coming to M43 from a fixed-lens power zoom camera, I tend to shoot approaching subjects in short bursts with a zoom change in between. Thus is because the power zoom simply will not change FL when the shutter button is pressed while shooting stills.

However, the FZ2500 and FZ1000 will change FL while shooting video. Since 4K and 6K Photo are video-based, this might give better results on the G9.

Steve

There are some "parfocal" (I think that's the term) zoom lenses, which means they do not change focus when zooming.  I will guess that such a lens would allow the G9 to change zoom and hold focus.

I don't even remember which lenses are parfocal.  I'd have to check.