Five Autofocus tips

[@mindseyeproductions8798]

going back and catching up on great videos I missed... Kiitos

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for coming back.

[@noirecle]

ありがとうございます！

[@mattisulanto]

Many thanks to you.

[@thegirlwholeftthefridgeopen]

wow assigning the autofocus on the top left side for hip shooting is such a great idea, first time I ever saw that!

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks and happy to hear my video was helpful.

[@ImageMaven]

Excellent video Matti! I think we get stuck in our "usual" way of doing things and forget the other possibilities. I will have to watch it again the next time I forget half of these. Cheers from Canada.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks! I've seen some of your videos too, they are really good.

[@ImageMaven]

@@mattisulanto Thank you so much. I'm a huge fan of you!

[@mattisulanto]

@@ImageMaven Thank you!

[@jacuswoczega9180]

Thanks for inspiration. GX7 has different position in menu of Touch AF, (8 / Touch settings), but core is the same. Very important for me

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for sharing. Yes, all Lumix cameras are not identical, unfortunately.

[@davidsyw1]

If I may offer my additional usage experience (perhaps it can benefit others) ... With auto focus for video, I like shooting at widest aperture for bokeh effect but will often switch to smaller aperture like f/2.8 to as much as f/8 for a wider DOF which I find helps the G9's auto focus performance. 1:44 I have touch AF disabled on the screen because I shoot mostly using the EVF and my nose and hands unintentionally make contact with the screen to trigger AF which I don't want. 5:11 I primarily use 1-area AF and face/eye detection when shooting human subjects. The multi-area works least effectively for me. I keep forgetting to use it but the horizontal line can be effective for people walking towards or away from me. 6:27 Face/eye detection once failed me on a close-up headshot. G9 intelligence selected the eye further from the camera whereas I would have preferred the front eye to be in focus. I was really close with f/1.2 aperture. Note to self afterwards, manual focus takes more time (and thus I may miss the moment) but ultimately it works best. I still favor human intelligence and intent. 8:15 I've head this tip before and also have seen people do the opposite of the recommendation. I myself do it with my portrait lens and have not noticed any undesirable results, so I keep doing it. Since face/eye auto focus came with one of the G9 firmware updates, I no longer have to go against this tip when shooting human portraits.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for sharing your tips.

[@thomasgunn4146]

This is great! As a new S1 user, any insider tips are greatly appreciated 👌🏽

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks! I going to have some more S1/R tips in the near future.

[@telebruce221]

Thanks for the very helpful video! I am also one who forgets a lot of the settings on my G9. I rediscovered two settings under AF/AE Lock menu - AF-ON Near, and AF-ON Far. I could have used these last week when messing around photographing bees and such in a tangle of flowers. I added this menu to my personal list to try later. Enjoy all three of your coffees!

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for your comment and the coffee, I really do appreciate that.

[@NicDade]

Oh yes, AF-On Near is invaluable to me with macro lenses, when the autofocus guesses wrong about which part of the photo should be in focus. Repeatedly pushing a button assigned to AF-On Near (I use D-pad right b/c it's easy to reach) moves the autofocus to the next closer in focus area. I repeat until the flower I intended is selected.

[@ookiemand]

Instead of focus-recompose I use tracking mode. I've assigned FN1 on my G85 to reset the tracking so I can quickly choose another tracking target when needed.

[@mattisulanto]

That is another good way to focus.

[@zilveruitje]

@@mattisulanto I must say that I don't quite understand how to use tracking. Do you have tips?

[@mattisulanto]

@@zilveruitje Select AF tracking, place the square on your subject, half press the shutter. To cancel press the menu/set button. You can also use the touch screen.

[@JonJac2002]

This is a long shot, Matti, but did you go to the Chattanooga TN as a teenager with CISV student exchange? Thank you for the tutorial, by the way.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks. I did not go to Chattanooga TN😀

[@mfreider]

Every time when some one complains about AF in Panasonic I am little bit puzzled because using G9 , GX9 I never had situations when AF performance and I mean accuracy and speed were not to my expectations. Granted - I don’t shoot sport or animal but I am using face detect on regular basis, children are sometimes can be like fireballs ;) never had a problem. I think decision of Panasonic to stick with contrast based system and enhance it make sense to me. Of course someone else would have different experience but I am totally happy with G9/GX9. Regarding tip #1, I never was big fan of touch screen but GX9 changed that. Having viewfinder on left gives lots of room for finger of right hand to use screen as touch pad and move AF point easily. On G9 I stick with joystick. Anyway - nice tips, very useful!

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for your comment and the coffee too! I agree with you, in my photography I've never had problems with the AF.

[@nathandavis5099]

I used the touchscreen on the GX85 ALL THE TIME. It's the best way to change focus point with the camera to your eye. But you're right about the G9. I use the joystick more than the touch screen. G9 capability in a boxy GX form-factor, even if it were bigger than the current GX line, would be so nice.

[@commo1967]

When using the viewfinder in GX9 with touch AF, I always move the frame to the left with my nose :P

[@mattisulanto]

I don't remember, if the GX9 has the option to use only part of the screen for Touch AF.

[@commo1967]

@@mattisulanto Yes, it has AF or AF + AE ;)

[@sbsphotographer]

I forget 80% or more of the features on my G9! Maybe a video on improving the photographer’s memory... Great video hopefully I will remember at least one, what day is this... where am I....

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks! That is a topic for the future, if I still remember it after a couple of days😀

[@StevensHarold]

good teacher,thank's!!!

[@mattisulanto]

Thank you!

[@AprilClayton]

For vloggin, do you find AFF or AFC works better? Some videos show AFF working well. Wanted to know if you have found a mode that works reliably.

[@mattisulanto]

I'm not a brand ambassador any more and don't use Lumix as my main camera any more. I'd say the AF is never reliable for any kind video excluding the latest S5 models with the new PDAF.

Super useful.

[@mattisulanto]

Glad you think so!

[@josesanabria3819]

Thank you very much for the video, like you said, it's always good to review functions and settings available at hand on our Lumix cameras. Now, I'd like to ask you for some help with a problem I have with the settings on my Lumix g85, which I love. I use backbutton focus, which works wonderfully. But I want the shutter button to lock the exposure so that I lock focus with the back button, and I can change different points of exposure by using the shutter button and recompose if necessary without modifying the focus. However, what I've noticed is that even if I keep the shutter button half pressed, the exposure keeps changing as i recompose, something that doesn't happen on cameras of other brands. How can I set exposure lock on the shutter button?

[@mattisulanto]

I have both the G9 and G90 and on both cameras the shutter locks the exposure. Right now I can't figure out how to set up the G85, because I don't have one. I went through the menus on both my cameras, but I can't find how to make the shutter not to lock the exposure. However, if I find out I'll let you know. I'm really sorry I can't help you right now.

[@josesanabria3819]

@@mattisulanto Thank you so much sir, I'll let you know too if I find a way.

[@jeffslade1892]

Use the AE-Lock (AEL) to lock the exposure. Once the camera goes 'beep' and keeps the green light on the focus is locked. The AEL/AFL can be used to lock or hold AE, AF, or both. I dislike locking the AF but do like locking the AE when I need to. With the focus green light on the AE can change as you re-frame the camera. I quite often focus on the subject and move off to frame, I find it quicker than moving the focus point; a bird can be gone in a nanosecond. I have the 'EyeSensor-AF' turned on because I need to see the scene roughly in focus to frame it. This is a rough-focus function not used for shooting. The shutter, the AF-ON, AF-Near, and AF-FAR, locks the focus but you may need to hold them. Now 'Quick-AF' is a camera movement thing and may confuse MF, it also eats the battery, turned off. And 'Continuous-AF' (not AFC) is a movie thing which should not affect other modes. I dislike moving the focus point on the monitor with a finger or my nose or jacket so I disable that - D-Pad or joystick. On the G9 I have AF-ON on Fn4 and AEL on the AEL/AFL. I cannot reach Fn5 with my right hand but have Peaking on that. I free up a button by moving Q-Menu to the monitor touch functions. Other Lumix don't have quite as many buttons as the G9 but we can usually reassign something sensible that works on all occasions. I always want the shutter button to behave as normal, to AF on half and shoot on full. I like my cameras to be set up pretty much the same so I don't have to re-think every time. Olympus don't have as many focus functions and the AEL/AFL mode is different, but I try to set them up the same too - G5, GX7, GH4, E-PL7, E-M5ii, G7, G9, PEN-F. All of them are set up much the same way for me but ymmv (nb). The G9 does have a hair trigger shutter which is a pain and obliges the use of another AF button at times..

[@jeffslade1892]

@@mattisulanto I have the G7, GH4 and the G9. I guess the G85 will be somewhere between them. I don't think any of the cameras like shooting without being in focus so half-shutter or full-shutter will do a focus, if not already set and held by a button. I think Olympus will allow an AE on half-shutter and AF plus release on full shutter but I find that counter-intuitive. However they will all do an AEL without AFL and that is a function that harks back to film-SLR. With AEL set the shutter button doesn't alter the exposure on release. I do play with the metering mode often, and the +/-EV. And the gain curves, I fiddle with that on the fly to pull blowout down and shadow detail up. Auto-WB (AWB) can make unexpected changes too.

[@BobBeer]

You can lock exposure with half depress of shutter button if you are in AFS/AFF. Exposure will not lock if you are in AFC.

[@davidsyw1]

Nice video on auto focus tips which I reviewed for continuous learning. If I may offer my additional usage experience. I have adopted the use of manual focus on my G9 for video recording whenever I can. Much more reliable. Avoids pulsing background when auto focus change is acquired. I use focus peaking if I need additional assistance when my eyes are not able to discern in-focus through the EVF. Under MF, half press of the shutter button is not in effect, so I assign AF-ON to a back button. During video recording, I can use the assigned AF-ON button to refocus. I believe you said this in your video. In auto focus mode, half press of the shutter button and the AF-ON button can be used to refocus during video recording. I don't typically have to use this but when auto focus is having trouble (e.g. in a dark region, in a low contrast scene), human assistance comes to the rescue.

[@flatspot2050]

Thank you for trying to help out with VIDEO AF as this is something everyone seems to gloss over. I'm really hacked off panasonic didnt include custom AF options in the new firmware! The focus breathing is ruining the G9 for me, its too distracting and always a worry even in good light.

[@PeterVlutters]

Hello Matti I have finally replaced my stolen G9 and Lumix 14-140 … Bought it with better lenses namely the Leica 12-60 and the Leica 100-400 📸🥰 Question The Camera has animal and human detect mode… Very nice. How can I change another person in a scene to focus on… I.e. on a football field the AF recognizes several persons the one it has locked on is marked with the YELLOW box. How can I change focus to another football player ( lock on to another person with the yellow box) Thanks a lot in advance

[@mattisulanto]

I can't verify this right now, but I think you should be able choose between the targets by pressing the joystick and then select which target you want.

[@PeterVlutters]

@@mattisulanto thanks Matti Marlene Hielema could help me out herebut thanks again 👍

[@nichjoht]

Great video! I have the Gx9 and every time I move the focus point using the backscreen when I remove my finger it takes the picture. I would like to be able to move the focus point and take the picture with the shutter button. Do you know if it's possible to remove the function of taking a picture by touching the back screen?

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks! I think it's better you get the manual and go to Taking Pictures Using the Touch Function. It's kind of long to explain here, but in the manual tells it very well with pictures. If you don't have the manual, just google it and you can download it.

[@Luddd78]

Could you make a video for best video autofocus settings for video recording on the g9?

[@mattisulanto]

I think the best AF settings depend on what you are shooting, which lens, what kind of lightning etc. So it's very difficult to say which settings would be best for you. However, let me think about that and see, if I can make something in the future.

[@Luddd78]

I have the 15 mm 1.7 which i saw you also have. Vlogging when moving around.

[@Luddd78]

Rephrase. Best settings for it not to hunt/lose focus on moving object. Know anything about coming updates for g9?

[@mattisulanto]

@@Luddd78 I'm afraid I can't tell you anything about any possible updates for the G9.

[@Luddd78]

Thanks anyway. Could be very happy if you made a video about the question i asked. Moving objects and how to best avoid hunting.

[@nathandavis5099]

Great set of tips! (Re)discovering some of these on my G9. I noticed that in the Touch Pad AF section, you had multiple offset settings (Offset1, Offset2, etc). I only have a single offset setting on the G9. Is that exclusive to the G90/95? Or can I activate those on my camera somehow?

[@mattisulanto]

Yes, it looks like it's only on the G90. The G9 and even the S1R don't have it. I suppose the reason is the joystick.

[@oneeyedphotographer]

@@mattisulanto Oh crap.

[@mattisulanto]

@@oneeyedphotographer Well, it's not so much crap, because the joystick is far better. At least in my opinion.

[@vidlyvonkompost3652]

just curious: what do you use the gx880 for? i mean with all the higher end cameras you have i figured you dont use anything else... and i didnt know you could autofocus when in manual, this will help so much! thanks :)

[@mattisulanto]

It's really compact and sometimes I want something compact. It's also a fun camera to use.

[@ScrattleGG]

Something about manual focus since my g85 sucks noodles auto focusing haha - how do you handle focus when zooming on a moving subject? Let us say something is moving towards me, I was to zoom out to keep the subject in frame but also keep the focus. Is there a great technique when manual focusing or do I need a better auto focusing camera?

[@JoeMaranophotography]

Parfocal lenses in this scenario will be your best friend :)

[@mattisulanto]

I don't know if you can successfully focus and zoom simultaneously. I don't think we did that back in the days. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it's pretty darn difficult.

[@nathandavis5099]

You'd need a single touch zoom lens rather than one with dual rings. Vintage is the way to go if you want manual focus. I own this Tamron from the mid 80s that I could use if I practiced a lot. www.adaptall-2.com/lenses/46A.html

[@sdhute]

Awesome video. Do you prefer the g95 over g9? You seem to show it more. Hoping you have a g100 video too sometime

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks! No preference, I use both cameras.

[@leelindemann7729]

This comment is for your viewers: I had not used my G9 in several months. I went on vacation, lighthouse/dunes dead ahead--no focus. No matter what I aimed it at and at any distance-no focus. End of photos on that trip. Just now I bucked up the courage to try to dig in and figure out what was happening (or rather not happening). I took a couple pics-looked like they were in focus, but camera just recorded total blackness (no cap was not on). Other weird things happening. So I said “enough of this stupidity” and went to RESET in my menu system. I reset everything except the wifi settings. Camera now working fine!! It worked in the Tetons, sat in its bag in my room for 10 months and lost it’s mind. If you can’t make sense of why it’s misbehaving-remember the RESET function.

[@oneeyedphotographer]

I find MF on my G9 particularly annoying. I expect focus to not change. Instead, I have watched my camera changing the focussed part of the scene. Fortunately, if I use Olympus Pro lenses, I can readily switch to MF on the lens and curb this behaviour. You may have pointed me towards a cure for one of my problems. I have turned off touch to focus because when I hold my camera to my face, my nose touches the screen and focus wanders.

[@mattisulanto]

That is interesting. I have never experienced focus wandering by itself.

[@telebruce221]

There is a setting in the Focus menu called Quick AF described as "Continuous advanced focusing enables quick shooting" might that contribute as well? With this turned on, I notice when I move my G9 from an object near to far, the focus will automatically drift toward the far subject before I touch the focus button. As for the screen - I just keep my screen closed so my big honker doesn't mess with it.

[@JoeMaranophotography]

I think the last few tips are the most important from my own experiences. :)

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for you input😀

[@lfcmarkeb7124]

think you'd have to be pretty new to cameras not to know any of these options?, that said I always use focus/re compose or face/eye

[@thatsreallyamoon]

I think I'm kind of a focus freak... I love playing with focus in videos, so naturally I am attracted to full manual lenses. My disappointment is that the focus-by-wire is not directly intuitive. Everyday you could pull the ring faster or slower by a bit, and have your focus-movement be imprecise. Luckily atleast Panasonic cameras nail autofocus for photography, so that's a plus still!

[@mattisulanto]

Focus freak😀 That is the downside of the focus by wire. It's much better on the S series and of course on lenses with the MF clutch.

[@film_insider]

I love how EVERY panny user is craving for phase detect, and panny keeps saying :"no, you don't know, dfd is better overall, no bending, no breathing". Then i hit the street with s5 and s pro 24-70 and I'm always surprised how much breathing the best lens can provide. It breathes like a dragon. Though, during daytime, it locks moving person very well. But as soon it gets dark, no city lights can help it. What afc mode would you recommend for street photos with moving subjects? For video I am using manual option on s pro 24-70 anyway. That combo is 10 out of 10.

[@MyNorthAmetican40]

I was originally have lots of trouble with the focus moving all around the screen until I realized that my nose was inadvertently touching the screen. Either I need to get a ‘nose job’ or turn off the screen. I turned off the screen.

[@mattisulanto]

That is possible, I guess.

[@karlrichards]

Was that hat from Olympus 🤣🤣🤣

[@mattisulanto]

No, it's from Zeiss😀

[@karlrichards]

@@mattisulanto good response 😂

[@mattisulanto]

@@karlrichards Also the only response, because it is a Zeiss cap.

[@anlsahal4147]

As I am watching a sudden urge to shoot has emerged but I am at work and my camera is at home. I hate when this happens😂

[@mattisulanto]

Sorry about that, I have add warning not to watch at work😀

[@anlsahal4147]

@@mattisulanto 😀😀

[@ruuddirks5565]

After 40 years of manual focus cameras where you focus (in the center) and then recompose all those fancy techniques feel unnatural. I'm not forgetting these autofocus trick, but they just don't feel comfortable.

[@mattisulanto]

I know how you feel😀

[@NOTLeavingLV]

LUMIX cameras suck for autofocus. I own a g9 and am going to go Sony because Panasonic can’t fix things with AF.

[@davidbate9264]

Why do you need help buying a coffee for these free videos? Does KZbin charge you for posting these videos as a Panasonic Ambassador? I would think you might be employed by Panasonic Inc.

[@mattisulanto]

These videos don't make themselves. I put a lot of my time into these videos and if you think my tips and advice is useful, you can help me a bit by buying a coffee. However, it's totally up to you, of course. I'm not employed by Panasonic and I make these videos independently. The guys at Panasonic have no idea what my next video will be nor will they tell me what to publish.

[@davidbate9264]

@@mattisulanto Thank you for your response. I truly enjoy your videos. I was unsure when people like yourself state they are Panasonic Ambassadors that they are employed by the company. So I suspect anyone who makes a video regarding a product brand they can claim they are Ambassadors.

[@mattisulanto]

​@@davidbate9264 Sure, I think anyone can claim to be whatever they like. However, I don't think many claim to be a brand ambassador, if they have no contract with the brand.

[@davidbate9264]

@@mattisulanto This was what I was curious about; if ambassadors of Panasonic are on contract or employed or non of the above. You most certainly are knowledgeable, and the way in which you relay the information is appreciated.

[@mattisulanto]

@@davidbate9264 All brand ambassadors, regardless of the brand, have some kind of contract, but they are not employed by the brand. It's a collaboration.

[@mgr5550]

Dont misguide people. The remove tab feature etc is not there in the G7. Then why say this applies to Panasonic cameras, dont generalize.

[@mattisulanto]

I never misguide anyone on purpose, but of course it's always possible, that not all features are available on every older model. But, I try to remember to say that in the future. I'm also sorry, if I have disappointed you, but like I said, I don't do that on purpose. I make my videos, because I want to share what I know and I put a lot of effort into these videos and they are free to watch for everyone.

[@mgr5550]

@@mattisulanto > Sorry if i came across as blunt, i didn't mean you did it on purpose. You seem like a pretty straightforward gentleman and i respect that. Best wishes for your videos. Ill keep watching.

[@mattisulanto]

@@mgr5550 No problem, all is good. Let's enjoy our Lumix cameras and grab some nice pictures😀