A great teacher and a greater human being..... Sir I don't proclaim to know you, I just want to extend my sincerest gratitude for your teachings, and just as important your genuinely kind disposition that translates in all your videos ... It's the small things for me that keep me going ... When I purchased the 1000 back in January it was my first standalone camera I ever owned ... The prior decade I developed an insatiable passion for photography starting with my smartphones... This has been by far and away the hardest year of my life, I'm back in January when I finally purchased my first actual camera I was homeless when I made the purchase... Most people probably thought or think I'm crazy, but it is saved my life and slowly everyday I throw myself to the teachings on a micro and macro level with photography.. and I'm constantly tweaking this beautiful machine that you've been so fundamental and inspirational in my progress... I was extremely excited when I waited for the arrival of it and while I couldn't wait to expand and transcend past smartphone technology at him fully appreciate the different niches that you can discover having a camera with the abilities that the Panasonic 1000 has.. Little did I know I would become obsessed with bird photography, and even more passionate about bird in flight photography... For the first three months I had to do without my prescription eyeglasses which lol I guess I said back then to myself that when I finally get my eyeglasses it's going to be even easier which that kind of went without saying... It's truly profound that magnificent beauty and the still unimaginable beautiful diversity of birds.. I'm sure it's like that pretty much most places you go but where I live in New Jersey, it's actually really well known.. anyway I'm rambling sir I just really wanted to genuinely thank you.. you never know how your words can affect someone else, just hearing you on the video saying to everyone, "I hope you're having a good day" mean so much.. I'm looking forward to purchasing your online manual for the, 1000.. please forgive the run-on sentences, it's a challenge with the brain trauma.. thank you again if it wasn't for this magnificent piece of machinery and you're amazing tutelage and guidance, I am absolutely 100% convinced I would have made it this winter.. I would love to share some of my bird and flight photography photos.. I'd be honored to actually if you wouldn't mind in your convenience taking a look at a couple of them..
Well well! Who'd have thought that a single box multimode would be more precise than a pin-point? Thanks a lot for this revelation and demonstration. There's always something new to learn about camera settings, no matter how much we think we know. Fascinating stuff!
I wish there was more information from manufacturers that explained precisely how their systems worked but it is always down to photographers trial and error to develop methods to get the best results for their needs.
Wow!! This would explain a lot of images I've taken that were not exactly what I expected! I like learning how but, you've also just explained why. Very educational and very well produced! I'll not be forgetting this lesson ever. Well Done Graham!!
Thanks very much for that video. I have spent 2 years trying to understand why I get out of focus results with my GX7 and an Olympus 14-150 zoom. I had thought my use of the pinpoint focus option maximised my chance of getting a good result and when I did not, was bemused. In fact I had resorted to manual focus in many cases. Your explanation makes perfect sense and cheers me up no end as I thought I was either going mad or had a faulty camera (the latter not likely as with a macro lens, the range limited auto focus worked perfectly).
Very interesting findings. I always find it a bit frustrating when a device or a piece of software tries to 'help' the user to be smarter than it ought to be, without being very clear about what it does or why. This AF behavior seems to be an example of this. As a software developer myself, I often have the feeling that these camera's are filled with code that was written many years ago, when there might have been a good reason to make it behave the way it does, but given the progress in technology and all the other functionality that was added, the older functionality (focus modes) are in need of a revision. But as long as no one is noticing or complaining, they won't. It is probably also quite hard to sell more camera's with the argument that pin-point focus has been -fixed- improved.
Thanks for this video! It explains exactly what I have experienced with my fz1k. I actually use it almost exclusively in manual focus because of this. I also have the g9 with the 12-60 panaleica which doesn’t exhibit this problem which leads me to think it is a software and or camera body issue rather than a lense issue.
Graham. Great video as usual. I have just tried this test with my FZ300. I simply printed a 1" square QR code on a 8 1/2 x 11" white sheet of paper. I get results similar to yours, at least with single area autofocus. I haven't tried it in other focus modes, but I imagine it should be the same. I don't think I'll be using multi-area autofocus, but just knowing what the camera is doing is very helpful. Thanks.
Would you (or your viewers) have any idea why I can't upgrade the firmware on a Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 to ver. 2.2? It currently has ver. 1.1. I've downloaded the upgrade from Panasonic's website twice and followed the procedure precisely. Fully-charged battery, SD card formatted in camera, etc. I sure could use some help with this. Thanks!
Tested with GX9 utd firmware and 14-140ii lens. I find that Single Area with smallest size works perfectly. No reserve area whatsoever. The Custom Multi mode is fine, BUT I cannot use touch screen focus to move it, a major issue for me...
Graham, do you have a video on the FZ1000/2000 that goes into detail how to use the manual focus lens wheel (with the center image enlarging) peaking etc. vs auto focus. That would further round out your FZ1000 videos... Thanks.
The GX8 was released in mid 2015, so this test relates to a 5 year old implementation of Panasonics DFD mechanism. Hearing and reading all those artificial AF tests I'm really wondering how on earth did I get a single G9 photo properly in focus out in the field??
Excellent video Graham! An FZ300 user in a group in Facebook asked about the Peaking Setting. If turned on, would that help to identify where the focus was actually when we use your apparatus to test? I would be interested in seeing the zebra stripes or peaking highlight appear and disappear. I use both at times and of course it will show but, in a test such as your would be very telling and proof to Panasonic that their Quality Control may have issues. Thank you so much Graham!!
Interesting that using custom multi mode makes the AF point so much more precise. I wish that it was quicker and more convenient to use, i.e. allowing the custom point to be moved around using the touch screen or joystick, rather than needing to go back into the custom multi settings and select/de-select points each time. Panasonic have a lot of room for improvement when it comes to AF, especially on lower end cameras rather than flagships like the G9/GH5.
@@GrahamHoughton12 I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "free mode"? What I'd like to be able to do is set custom multi to a single point for precise focusing, then be able to move it around using the joystick or touch screen as if I was in single AF point mode. Having to go into the custom multi settings to select the placement of the point is much slower.
A very impressive test. Another great tutorial. Would be nice if you told us the focus technique that you have used in the pictures included in the last newsletter, they are perfect. As an example, the white flowers included in the email of the last newsletter. By the way, do you have any idea why Panasonic does not update the firmware of Fz200 and Fz300?
Hi Graham, I've watched you very useful Videos for some year through the FZ200-FZ1000 I bought your FZ200 book when it came out. I don't know if you have a bad copy of the Panasonic Leica 12-60. I've got mine on the G9 both are fairly new, I have replicated your test as best as I can and my PIn Point focus is spot on , I even made a tiny black spot on a plain white back ground and it would not lock focus unless my tiny cross was dead on it, I also have Peaking enabled.which confirms focus. My screen magnifies in Pin Point plus I can move the Focus point around with my joy stick if I need to but I have not done so in my tests. I honestly can't find a problem.
Works perfectly on the Olympus cameras and Olympus lenses, or lenses with no DFD profile work perfectly, It's seems just lenses with DFD can't reliably use AF
Isn’t the reason for not focusing is bcz it’s a blank scene with no contrast to focus? LUMIX are contrast detect autofocus… no? Thx for LK the helpful hints and how to’s.
Hi Graham, first of all thanks a lot for your very well explained tutorials. Secondly, any advice on how to set up zone focusing on Panasonic FZ1000? Thanks in advance.
You can do this using the custom area select mode. You can define the areas of interest in the image. Any subject with sufficient contrast will then trigger the AF to operate. I think that closer objects take priority if more than one area is triggered.
@@GrahamHoughton12 Hi Graham, thanks for your reply. What I meant by zone focusing is the concept mainly used in street photography when you pre-set the focus zone (for example 2-10 meters) and everything within that range will always be in focus and you just point and shoot without worrying about focusing. There are heaps of videos showing how it's done on a lens with a dial but not bridge cameras such as FZ1000 which don't have a dial on the lens. Thanks again.
Graham, I have a G85 and I don't seem to be able to get the custom multi mode to reduce down to a single focus square as you do in this video. - I am always left with it choosing 5 squares in the shape of a cross. - Can you advise how you achieved this single focus point option as you did in this video please? - Thank you for this brilliant video with regards to a VERY frustrating topic that i've struggled with for a while now. Many thanks, Edward
Well at least I am not the only one. With all the types of focus, they would get at least one of them right. You would think, but you have to admit focusing is very fast nowadays.
Many thanks Graham . Not sure it's a "progressive" shift. I purchased a new fz300 a couple of week ago because I was having this problem with my much used old fz300 However the new camera does not seem any better imo I started thinking something was amiss with mine while looking at the wonderful "sharp" photos in the Panasonic FZ200/300 facebook group . Question: is manual focus with peaking affected by this problem ? I feel yes and no, but I don't have your expertise and likely patience . In fact , I'm bloody sick of all my "testing" and am rather Ped off with myself, and Panasonic whom I'm yet to contact . I need to watch the video again to understand your fix better ---- I get a bit lost at end part Many thanks
I have both a FZ80 and a FZ200. So I have max zoom and also can shoot in lower light. Curious, how many FZ200s have you tried and are they all consistently good?
Hi Graham, your video tutorials are simply the best, thank you for your amazing work! I am hoping you can help me, I have the FZ2500 in use for video recording and the camera will not maintain focus while zooming. I have cycled through all settings and the camera will go out of focus everytime when zooming from full wide. I working in broadcast for 35 years and am accustomed to zooming all the way in and checking focus and the camera will not need adjustment unless the camera is moved or the subject moves. This camera lens is different even in manual mode. I feel this is a significant down side to this camera for video event coverage with lots of zooming. Do you have any suggestions? I have tried racking the focus ring while zooming but very hard to maintain focus while zooming. Thanks Graham!
Graham, thanks for the video. I haven't had any focus problems with my Leica 114 (FZ 1000 based)camera but I've heard that while contrast based focus systems may be slower than phase-detection systems, they don't have to be calibrated as individual lenses often need to be with phase detection autofocus systems. Can you confirm whether or not this is true?
Very interesting, I will have to do some experiments in video mode, have you any advice regarding video, would you think it works in the same way? I can see if you use AFC it might explain the hunting and refocus attempts that all Panasonic’s suffer.
Panasonic even have problems with AF on the GH5 GH5/s flagship and so many people have complained about it but Panasonic just won't upgrade to on-chip phase-detection AF and so I think we will still see this problem for a while.
I cant wait for ToF sensors and android integration to go mainstream on mirrorless cams. All that android hardware development is not being taken advantage of on professional instruments.
A great teacher and a greater human being..... Sir I don't proclaim to know you, I just want to extend my sincerest gratitude for your teachings, and just as important your genuinely kind disposition that translates in all your videos ... It's the small things for me that keep me going ... When I purchased the 1000 back in January it was my first standalone camera I ever owned ... The prior decade I developed an insatiable passion for photography starting with my smartphones... This has been by far and away the hardest year of my life, I'm back in January when I finally purchased my first actual camera I was homeless when I made the purchase... Most people probably thought or think I'm crazy, but it is saved my life and slowly everyday I throw myself to the teachings on a micro and macro level with photography.. and I'm constantly tweaking this beautiful machine that you've been so fundamental and inspirational in my progress... I was extremely excited when I waited for the arrival of it and while I couldn't wait to expand and transcend past smartphone technology at him fully appreciate the different niches that you can discover having a camera with the abilities that the Panasonic 1000 has.. Little did I know I would become obsessed with bird photography, and even more passionate about bird in flight photography... For the first three months I had to do without my prescription eyeglasses which lol I guess I said back then to myself that when I finally get my eyeglasses it's going to be even easier which that kind of went without saying... It's truly profound that magnificent beauty and the still unimaginable beautiful diversity of birds.. I'm sure it's like that pretty much most places you go but where I live in New Jersey, it's actually really well known.. anyway I'm rambling sir I just really wanted to genuinely thank you.. you never know how your words can affect someone else, just hearing you on the video saying to everyone, "I hope you're having a good day" mean so much.. I'm looking forward to purchasing your online manual for the, 1000.. please forgive the run-on sentences, it's a challenge with the brain trauma.. thank you again if it wasn't for this magnificent piece of machinery and you're amazing tutelage and guidance, I am absolutely 100% convinced I would have made it this winter.. I would love to share some of my bird and flight photography photos.. I'd be honored to actually if you wouldn't mind in your convenience taking a look at a couple of them..
Well well! Who'd have thought that a single box multimode would be more precise than a pin-point? Thanks a lot for this revelation and demonstration. There's always something new to learn about camera settings, no matter how much we think we know. Fascinating stuff!
I wish there was more information from manufacturers that explained precisely how their systems worked but it is always down to photographers trial and error to develop methods to get the best results for their needs.
Wow!! This would explain a lot of images I've taken that were not exactly what I expected! I like learning how but, you've also just explained why. Very educational and very well produced! I'll not be forgetting this lesson ever. Well Done Graham!!
Thanks very much for that video. I have spent 2 years trying to understand why I get out of focus results with my GX7 and an Olympus 14-150 zoom. I had thought my use of the pinpoint focus option maximised my chance of getting a good result and when I did not, was bemused. In fact I had resorted to manual focus in many cases. Your explanation makes perfect sense and cheers me up no end as I thought I was either going mad or had a faulty camera (the latter not likely as with a macro lens, the range limited auto focus worked perfectly).
Thanks Graham, I'll have to watch that again..... a few times... :)
Great video and commentary as always. Thanks for the tip.
Very interesting findings. I always find it a bit frustrating when a device or a piece of software tries to 'help' the user to be smarter than it ought to be, without being very clear about what it does or why. This AF behavior seems to be an example of this. As a software developer myself, I often have the feeling that these camera's are filled with code that was written many years ago, when there might have been a good reason to make it behave the way it does, but given the progress in technology and all the other functionality that was added, the older functionality (focus modes) are in need of a revision. But as long as no one is noticing or complaining, they won't. It is probably also quite hard to sell more camera's with the argument that pin-point focus has been -fixed- improved.
Leica 12-60 have only 114 focusing lens group steps from nearest to infinity.
Always a Great Mentor - Thanks!
thank you.
Very helpful and informative thank you.
Very useful information. Thank you Graham for investigating this issue and sharing your results and conclusions.
Just my experimentation but I'm sure it will be validated by others in due course. Thanks for your comment.
Hi Graham
Thanks you for an excellent tutorial. Can this also apply to a Lumix LX 100m2 please
Jack
Thanks for this video! It explains exactly what I have experienced with my fz1k. I actually use it almost exclusively in manual focus because of this. I also have the g9 with the 12-60 panaleica which doesn’t exhibit this problem which leads me to think it is a software and or camera body issue rather than a lense issue.
Graham. Great video as usual.
I have just tried this test with my FZ300. I simply printed a 1" square QR code on a 8 1/2 x 11" white sheet of paper. I get results similar to yours, at least with single area autofocus. I haven't tried it in other focus modes, but I imagine it should be the same. I don't think I'll be using multi-area autofocus, but just knowing what the camera is doing is very helpful. Thanks.
That's good confirmation that all these cameras have a basic issue here. Thanks for your feedback.
Well this explains some of the problems I've had with focus on my FZ200.
I can't explain why the gradual shift over the years to being the front focus situation - it doesn't make sense yet but I'll persevere for an answer.
Is there anything that Panasonic can do in the software to correct this?
Thank you Graham
Would you (or your viewers) have any idea why I can't upgrade the firmware on a Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 to ver. 2.2? It currently has ver. 1.1. I've downloaded the upgrade from Panasonic's website twice and followed the procedure precisely. Fully-charged battery, SD card formatted in camera, etc. I sure could use some help with this. Thanks!
??? Put the focus point on the object you want it to focus on, and it works. What am I missing?
Tested with GX9 utd firmware and 14-140ii lens. I find that Single Area with smallest size works perfectly. No reserve area whatsoever. The Custom Multi mode is fine, BUT I cannot use touch screen focus to move it, a major issue for me...
Graham, do you have a video on the FZ1000/2000 that goes into detail how to use the manual focus lens wheel (with the center image enlarging) peaking etc. vs auto focus. That would further round out your FZ1000 videos... Thanks.
Graham - Do you get less noise in low light when using a mechanical shutter vs electronic on |Lumix cameras
The GX8 was released in mid 2015, so this test relates to a 5 year old implementation of Panasonics DFD mechanism. Hearing and reading all those artificial AF tests I'm really wondering how on earth did I get a single G9 photo properly in focus out in the field??
Excellent video Graham! An FZ300 user in a group in Facebook asked about the Peaking Setting. If turned on, would that help to identify where the focus was actually when we use your apparatus to test? I would be interested in seeing the zebra stripes or peaking highlight appear and disappear. I use both at times and of course it will show but, in a test such as your would be very telling and proof to Panasonic that their Quality Control may have issues. Thank you so much Graham!!
Interesting that using custom multi mode makes the AF point so much more precise. I wish that it was quicker and more convenient to use, i.e. allowing the custom point to be moved around using the touch screen or joystick, rather than needing to go back into the custom multi settings and select/de-select points each time.
Panasonic have a lot of room for improvement when it comes to AF, especially on lower end cameras rather than flagships like the G9/GH5.
That's one of the things I really like about my G9, I can shape my custom focus area quickly and move it even quicker anywhere with the joystick.
@@toxophillus72 I own a G9. It doesn't allow me to move around a custom focus area, just the default patterns.
@@davekendall5273 I think you need to use the custom multi "free" mode and then you can set/rest the area by the touch screen.
@@GrahamHoughton12 I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "free mode"?
What I'd like to be able to do is set custom multi to a single point for precise focusing, then be able to move it around using the joystick or touch screen as if I was in single AF point mode.
Having to go into the custom multi settings to select the placement of the point is much slower.
whats the difference between post focus and 6kphoto 4k photo modes
A very impressive test. Another great tutorial. Would be nice if you told us the focus technique that you have used in the pictures included in the last newsletter, they are perfect. As an example, the white flowers included in the email of the last newsletter. By the way, do you have any idea why Panasonic does not update the firmware of Fz200 and Fz300?
Hi Graham, I've watched you very useful Videos for some year through the FZ200-FZ1000 I bought your FZ200 book when it came out. I don't know if you have a bad copy of the Panasonic Leica 12-60. I've got mine on the G9 both are fairly new, I have replicated your test as best as I can and my PIn Point focus is spot on , I even made a tiny black spot on a plain white back ground and it would not lock focus unless my tiny cross was dead on it, I also have Peaking enabled.which confirms focus. My screen magnifies in Pin Point plus I can move the Focus point around with my joy stick if I need to but I have not done so in my tests. I honestly can't find a problem.
Works perfectly on the Olympus cameras and Olympus lenses, or lenses with no DFD profile work perfectly, It's seems just lenses with DFD can't reliably use AF
Oh I wonder how this affects video. This could be a revelation if it prevents some of the pulsing Panasonic is infamous for.
Isn’t the reason for not focusing is bcz it’s a blank scene with no contrast to focus? LUMIX are contrast detect autofocus… no? Thx for LK the helpful hints and how to’s.
Hi Graham, first of all thanks a lot for your very well explained tutorials.
Secondly, any advice on how to set up zone focusing on Panasonic FZ1000?
Thanks in advance.
You can do this using the custom area select mode. You can define the areas of interest in the image. Any subject with sufficient contrast will then trigger the AF to operate. I think that closer objects take priority if more than one area is triggered.
@@GrahamHoughton12 Hi Graham, thanks for your reply. What I meant by zone focusing is the concept mainly used in street photography when you pre-set the focus zone (for example 2-10 meters) and everything within that range will always be in focus and you just point and shoot without worrying about focusing. There are heaps of videos showing how it's done on a lens with a dial but not bridge cameras such as FZ1000 which don't have a dial on the lens. Thanks again.
Graham, I have a G85 and I don't seem to be able to get the custom multi mode to reduce down to a single focus square as you do in this video. - I am always left with it choosing 5 squares in the shape of a cross. - Can you advise how you achieved this single focus point option as you did in this video please? - Thank you for this brilliant video with regards to a VERY frustrating topic that i've struggled with for a while now. Many thanks, Edward
Well at least I am not the only one. With all the types of focus, they would get at least one of them right. You would think, but you have to admit focusing is very fast nowadays.
Yes I agree AF is now very fast but unless it is also accurate, especially at longer focal lengths, then it is no advantage.
Many thanks Graham . Not sure it's a "progressive" shift.
I purchased a new fz300 a couple of week ago because I was having this problem with my much used old fz300
However the new camera does not seem any better imo
I started thinking something was amiss with mine while looking at the wonderful "sharp" photos in the Panasonic FZ200/300 facebook group .
Question: is manual focus with peaking affected by this problem ? I feel yes and no, but I don't have your expertise and likely patience . In fact , I'm bloody sick of all my "testing" and am rather Ped off with myself, and Panasonic whom I'm yet to contact .
I need to watch the video again to understand your fix better ---- I get a bit lost at end part
Many thanks
Have you done a similar test with the camera set on ACF Graham ?
I have both a FZ80 and a FZ200.
So I have max zoom and also can shoot in lower light.
Curious, how many FZ200s have you tried and are they all consistently good?
Hi Graham, your video tutorials are simply the best, thank you for your amazing work! I am hoping you can help me, I have the FZ2500 in use for video recording and the camera will not maintain focus while zooming. I have cycled through all settings and the camera will go out of focus everytime when zooming from full wide. I working in broadcast for 35 years and am accustomed to zooming all the way in and checking focus and the camera will not need adjustment unless the camera is moved or the subject moves. This camera lens is different even in manual mode. I feel this is a significant down side to this camera for video event coverage with lots of zooming. Do you have any suggestions? I have tried racking the focus ring while zooming but very hard to maintain focus while zooming. Thanks Graham!
Search: parfocal vs varifocal
as allways a good explainion thanks Brian
Thank you.
Graham, thanks for the video. I haven't had any focus problems with my Leica 114 (FZ 1000 based)camera but I've heard that while contrast based focus systems may be slower than phase-detection systems, they don't have to be calibrated as individual lenses often need to be with phase detection autofocus systems. Can you confirm whether or not this is true?
Very interesting as usual
Cool ! Thank uou
Very interesting, I will have to do some experiments in video mode, have you any advice regarding video, would you think it works in the same way? I can see if you use AFC it might explain the hunting and refocus attempts that all Panasonic’s suffer.
Panasonic even have problems with AF on the GH5 GH5/s flagship and so many people have complained about it but Panasonic just won't upgrade to on-chip phase-detection AF and so I think we will still see this problem for a while.
I cant wait for ToF sensors and android integration to go mainstream on mirrorless cams. All that android hardware development is not being taken advantage of on professional instruments.