Lumix DMC-LX100 auto-focus problems (A firmware update should fix this)

[Ciccio6]

I noticed that, at times, the camera's auto-focus can be not very accurate. It happens that the auto-focus confirms the focus, the green dot is steady on, then the final picture is out of focus. Even in broad day light with a tripod.

Sometimes I noticed also a lack of accuracy from the auto-focus, when taking macro photography with pinpoint auto-focus option. It can happen that the actual precise focus point is one inch or less away from the intended point on the subject.

This issue does not surface every time I take a picture. This is overall still a great camera, but it is at least frustrating from a HI-END device.

I tried, from the menu, to set the "Focus Release Priority" on focus (rather than on release) but did not make a difference. I still get the occasional out of focus shot. I also set the "Quick AF" on ON. This adjusts automatically the auto-focus when the jitter of camera is reduced. This might have helped a little, but definitely did not eliminate the problem.

I think that Panasonic should address the auto-focus issue with a firmware update as, researching on line we can see that some other people complain about this (little?) issue.

 

[ChrisLumix]

Have you tried the AFF setting (instead of of AFS)? The camera focuses when you half press the shutter, but it re-focuses when you actually shoot. I found that some Macro shots could be out of focus a bit, and I put this down to my own slight movement forward or back, between half-press and full-press. Since switching to AFF this problem has gone away.

If I want to lock focus, I now use the AE/AF button (set to 'AF only') rather than half-press.

 

[Ciccio6]

Have you tried the AFF setting (instead of of AFS)? The camera focuses when you half press the shutter, but it re-focuses when you actually shoot. I found that some Macro shots could be out of focus a bit, and I put this down to my own slight movement forward or back, between half-press and full-press. Since switching to AFF this problem has gone away.

If I want to lock focus, I now use the AE/AF button (set to 'AF only') rather than half-press.

 

[sait]

It is quite annoying for me too, especially coming from LX7 which has very fast and accurate focusing. I found that most of the time it happens when the camera is at or slightly outside the limits of its close focusing range (dependent on focal length at use), especially if there are specular highlights - regardless of if one is using the close-up mode or not. A few times it has happened at longer distances as well, usually due to low contrast, but an LX7 would have found focus with no problems in a similar situation. I also found that LX100 lens is although very sharp at the centre, not so hot towards the edges of the frame. Having said that the quality of LX100 RAW files are vastly superior to LX7 ones, and ergonomically it is a joy to use, so I've decided to keep it for my blog work.
Doesn't help with your cause, but thought I should let you know that you're not alone

 

[Ciccio6]

Have you tried the AFF setting (instead of of AFS)? The camera focuses when you half press the shutter, but it re-focuses when you actually shoot. I found that some Macro shots could be out of focus a bit, and I put this down to my own slight movement forward or back, between half-press and full-press. Since switching to AFF this problem has gone away.

If I want to lock focus, I now use the AE/AF button (set to 'AF only') rather than half-press.

--
Panas0n!c Lum!x FZ38, LX100

Here I am... I did set the autofocus on AFF and I went out to shoot test photos. It didn't make a difference. When I checked the pictures on the computer, 6 pictures out of 50 were out of focus. The most upsetting thing is that, those 6 pictures were nothing out of the norm. It all was just 4 landscapes shot on the wide side of the zoom range and 2 pictures inside a big supermarket. Nothing difficult to lock focus on, in those scenes. Just standard average pictures.

Though, I noticed (for the first time) that, when shooting indoor, at work, in a office, after the camera confirmed the focus, the image on the display started to, slightly, vibrating (at least this is the best word I can choose to describe what I saw). When I let go the shutter button the "vibrating" stopped. It was like the autofocus was stuck trying to do something. The picture, though, came out fine (!!). I don't know if anybody experienced something similar.

At this point I am thinking... Should I return the camera a get a replacement?

 

[Ciccio6]

It is quite annoying for me too, especially coming from LX7 which has very fast and accurate focusing. I found that most of the time it happens when the camera is at or slightly outside the limits of its close focusing range (dependent on focal length at use), especially if there are specular highlights - regardless of if one is using the close-up mode or not. A few times it has happened at longer distances as well, usually due to low contrast, but an LX7 would have found focus with no problems in a similar situation. I also found that LX100 lens is although very sharp at the centre, not so hot towards the edges of the frame. Having said that the quality of LX100 RAW files are vastly superior to LX7 ones, and ergonomically it is a joy to use, so I've decided to keep it for my blog work.
Doesn't help with your cause, but thought I should let you know that you're not alone

Yes sait... Sharing the same pain makes it less painful... ...

I wish though, that this camera didn't have this problem. I'll try to get a replacement to see if, possibly, I got a defective one. I am starting to think that there might be some LX-100 with this problem that is worse than other LX-100. I am thinking this because, yes, I see that you experienced the same thing as well, but there are other hundreds of people who own the same camera that do not mention any issue with the autofocus system. The way I see it, this is not a secondary issue, so I would assume that, if this was how actually the camera is, everybody would complain about it, at least, somehow mention it. So maybe only a few LX-100's have this problem?

 

[ChrisLumix]

If this is a problem that could be fixed with a firmware upgrade, then it's a bit irritating we've had to wait so long for one - the camera is getting on for a year old now.

 

[Ciccio6]

If this is a problem that could be fixed with a firmware upgrade, then it's a bit irritating we've had to wait so long for one - the camera is getting on for a year old now.

 

[Ciccio6]

Hello,

Like I had written a few months ago, I got a replacement camera (sorry for the delay in updating the information). After using it a lot I can definitely say that the second camera auto-focus seems to be more accurate and yield a smaller amount of blurry pictures. I noticed that the problem exists only when there is a relatively intense source of light in the frame. It can be a street lighting, or some sun light peeking through some trees or from cracks in the wall, etc. The auto-focus in this kind of scenario, will likely fail, even though, not every time. The auto-focus is also less accurate, not matter how the light is, when shooting by fully pressing the shutter button altogether, so that the camera should, seamlessly, focus and shoot the pictures. There is a function that set the camera to release the shutter ONLY when the focus is correctly locked on the subject, but this does not make a difference, because when and if the problem occurs, the camera really thinks that the focus is correct (even if its not), so it locks it and release the shutter anyway. If I half press to focus first, or if I use the focus lock function, etc. instead, the focus can be very accurate.

By now I learned when a particular scene could give me focus problems so I will deal with it differently even before shooting the picture. Dealing with it differently means that when I think that there might be a focus problem, I focus on a a less contrast portion of the frame while still allow me to keep in focus what I want to be in focus, or switch to manual focus. Switching to manual focus is not required very often.

Now, I fully understand the focus with this camera, I accepted its "weak point" and learned how to approach it, therefore I like a lot using my camera.

I will not write any conclusions. I just wrote my findings.

Cheers.

 

[ChrisLumix]

I too sometimes find there's been a focusing problem when i review images after uploading to my computer. Usually though, it's because - coming from a small sensor superzoom - I forget that fast lens + much larger sensor = much less depth of field. So I'm learning slowly that in general conditions I should be picking f8 if I want a lot of the picture in focus. I reserve large apertures for when I want shallow DOF.

 

[Isotonic]

I have recently purchased the LX100 and I have had a few teething problems. I have read reviews on the net prior to purchase and the LX100 seemed to me to have plenty of features including the ones I wanted (manual controls, eye viewfinder for bright days, and a modest zoom eg Not a fixed prime lens). I have been on a learning curve with this camera. But I have managed to take some great pictures.
I would like to make some general comments. “All cameras have faults” So if you have a Sony RX100, or a Canon G7 people will bang on about the problems with that model etc. Common themes are Dust in sensor, Auto focus issues, blurry pictures etc. So the best you can do is research a bit and then buy the model that suits you best.

LX100 ~ Focus issues, Blurry pictures, Pictures with loss of acceptable sharpness.

Focus issues,
I have had problems with Autofocus, first issue was a Low battery, when I put in a fresh battery all OK. The battery level gauge stayed on 3 bars so no indication of low battery until the camera beeped.
Next Issue there are a number of settings on the camera menus and various metering modes, if you select ones that conflict you will have focus issues.
White balance try AWB setting, I had moved that to a cloud (eg cloudy day) and had focus issues.
Manual focus, when I had focus problems I switched to MF and manually focussed with no problems. So if you are having problems read the manual and check through your settings. Try to keep things as basic as possible. Try AFS and take a still object.
The lens on the LX100 is light hungry and you need to get up to at least 1/60 shutter speed, by opening the aperture or increasing ISO to allow this. I had taken pictures with a slow shutter speed and ended up with a burred image (Camera shake). You could well find yourself needing to use the flash.

Blurry pictures
I have found that on holiday I took a lot of pictures, all looked fine in the LCD screen, but when I got home and viewed on screen 22 inch monitor, some were blurred the photos had good sharpness but this was lost as you looked further into the distance.. This led me to the fact that I was having issues with Depth of field (DOF). I had not changed the aperture to F5.6 / F8 etc for shots with a subject say 6ft away and a landscape background to infinity.
Use a DOF calculator I made a little table up for my own reference this has helped greatly to set an aperture with a DOF suitable for the shot I wanted to compose.
These settings will come intuitively with use of the camera.
Try taking a picture in IA mode and see what settings the camera applied and use them as a base reference.

So in all cases of issues so far it was the way I had the settings in the menu, the way I set up for the shot (incorrect shutter speed or aperture setting) which led to the problems.

 

[gary0319]

I have recently purchased the LX100 and I have had a few teething problems. I have read reviews on the net prior to purchase and the LX100 seemed to me to have plenty of features including the ones I wanted (manual controls, eye viewfinder for bright days, and a modest zoom eg Not a fixed prime lens). I have been on a learning curve with this camera. But I have managed to take some great pictures.
I would like to make some general comments. “All cameras have faults” So if you have a Sony RX100, or a Canon G7 people will bang on about the problems with that model etc. Common themes are Dust in sensor, Auto focus issues, blurry pictures etc. So the best you can do is research a bit and then buy the model that suits you best.

LX100 ~ Focus issues, Blurry pictures, Pictures with loss of acceptable sharpness.

Focus issues,
I have had problems with Autofocus, first issue was a Low battery, when I put in a fresh battery all OK. The battery level gauge stayed on 3 bars so no indication of low battery until the camera beeped.
Next Issue there are a number of settings on the camera menus and various metering modes, if you select ones that conflict you will have focus issues.
White balance try AWB setting, I had moved that to a cloud (eg cloudy day) and had focus issues.
Manual focus, when I had focus problems I switched to MF and manually focussed with no problems. So if you are having problems read the manual and check through your settings. Try to keep things as basic as possible. Try AFS and take a still object.
The lens on the LX100 is light hungry and you need to get up to at least 1/60 shutter speed, by opening the aperture or increasing ISO to allow this. I had taken pictures with a slow shutter speed and ended up with a burred image (Camera shake). You could well find yourself needing to use the flash.

Blurry pictures
I have found that on holiday I took a lot of pictures, all looked fine in the LCD screen, but when I got home and viewed on screen 22 inch monitor, some were blurred the photos had good sharpness but this was lost as you looked further into the distance.. This led me to the fact that I was having issues with Depth of field (DOF). I had not changed the aperture to F5.6 / F8 etc for shots with a subject say 6ft away and a landscape background to infinity.
Use a DOF calculator I made a little table up for my own reference this has helped greatly to set an aperture with a DOF suitable for the shot I wanted to compose.
These settings will come intuitively with use of the camera.
Try taking a picture in IA mode and see what settings the camera applied and use them as a base reference.

So in all cases of issues so far it was the way I had the settings in the menu, the way I set up for the shot (incorrect shutter speed or aperture setting) which led to the problems.

Thanks for your post. I'm also kind of new to the LX100 which I purchased as a sidekick camera to my Olympus E-M1 II when I have a long lens on it for wildlife. I've been more than pleased with the LX100 for this purpose and find myself using it more and more for casual events and getting excellent results. I'm glad to see your well described experience with the LX100 pretty much mirrors my own. I've not tried shooting in iA mode, but just setting both the aperture and shutter speed dials to "A" (Program Mode) seems give great results if I'm uncertain what manual settings to use with this little guy.

 

[don m]

Seems like in today's pushbutton technology and automatic "this and that" we sometimes need to get back to basics. I would add to your suggestions, assuming your camera supports it, is Focus Peaking where the camera shows a colored highlight around the edges of your subject when in focus. This focus method is used when employing AF - MF assist.

Cheers,

Don

 

[theekanne]

Hi

I experienced similar problem on my 14 -140 zoom no autofocus no manual focus

recently nearly gave up on it and bought a new one

just found a way to fix it!!

I carefully pushed the contacts inside lens in about 50 times (spring action)

working again perfectly now !

cheap fix funny ...nobody else must have thought about trying this

good luck !

 

[Jon_T]

Hi

I experienced similar problem on my 14 -140 zoom no autofocus no manual focus

recently nearly gave up on it and bought a new one

just found a way to fix it!!

I carefully pushed the contacts inside lens in about 50 times (spring action)

working again perfectly now ! ...

cheap fix funny ...nobody else must have thought about trying this ...

Welcome to the forum.

Just a FYI, it's not that nobody thought about it, but because the LX100 is a "Fix Lens" compact. ;-)

The "Panasonic Compact Camera Talk" is for the Panasonic Fix Lens Compact cameras.

Panasonic ILC Micro Four Thirds models should be discussed on the
Micro Four Thirds Talk" forum.

Cheers,
Jon

 

[Toronto Photography]

Have you tried the AFF setting (instead of of AFS)? The camera focuses when you half press the shutter, but it re-focuses when you actually shoot. I found that some Macro shots could be out of focus a bit, and I put this down to my own slight movement forward or back, between half-press and full-press. Since switching to AFF this problem has gone away.

If I want to lock focus, I now use the AE/AF button (set to 'AF only') rather than half-press.

Where is the AFF setting ?

 

[ChrisLumix]

It will be under Focus settings in the menus.

 

[Jon_T]

Where is the AFF setting ?

See page 114 in the PDF LX100 Advance Features manual:



If have have not already downloaded the PDF LX100 Advance Features manual you should as the small printed Basics Manual is only just the "Basics".

The printed "Basics" manual notes how/ where to download the PDF LX100 Advance Features manual.

Jon

 

[telefunk]

I noticed that, at times, the camera's auto-focus can be not very accurate. It happens that the auto-focus confirms the focus, the green dot is steady on, then the final picture is out of focus. Even in broad day light with a tripod.

Sometimes I noticed also a lack of accuracy from the auto-focus, when taking macro photography with pinpoint auto-focus option. It can happen that the actual precise focus point is one inch or less away from the intended point on the subject.

This issue does not surface every time I take a picture. This is overall still a great camera, but it is at least frustrating from a HI-END device.

I tried, from the menu, to set the "Focus Release Priority" on focus (rather than on release) but did not make a difference. I still get the occasional out of focus shot. I also set the "Quick AF" on ON. This adjusts automatically the auto-focus when the jitter of camera is reduced. This might have helped a little, but definitely did not eliminate the problem.

I think that Panasonic should address the auto-focus issue with a firmware update as, researching on line we can see that some other people complain about this (little?) issue.

It never got fixed. Had it on a second hand LX100 and so had to sell it. Also on a GX800, same "nearly in focus" issue

 

[Toronto Photography]

Have the same issue. Its fairly rare but annoying.