Decoding the Panasonic Autofocus! Lumix S5, GH5M2, GH5S, & GH5

This video is a guide to using the autofocus system on Panasonic Lumix cameras. This tutorial video will show you the best settings for the Panasonic GH5M2, GH5, GH5s, and Lumix S5.
While the Panasonic Lumix autofocus is not perfect, I have managed to get it to work for me over the last few years. In this video, I share my best settings for the Panasonic autofocus settings and also teach you which settings work the best in certain situations.
Video Chapters:
0:00 - About
0:49 - Best & Worst Autofocus Modes
1:46 - 1-Area Mode Guide
2:26 - 1-Area+ Human Detection Mode
3:40 - Face Detection Mode
5:01 - Speed & Sensitivity Settings
6:21 - MFT Prime Lenses AF Problems
7:07 - Panasonic GH5M2, GH5S, GH5, S5 Faster AF Tip
7:50 - Where the AF Really Sucks
8:24 - Panasonic S5 Autofocus Tips
9:13 - Touch to Focus (Manual Mode)
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#camera #Lumix #PanasonicGH6 @PanasonicLumixVideo

[@GeekyNerdyTechy]

I hope this autofocus guide is helpful. The AF will never be perfect but it's very usable especially in the modes I mention in this video. I have time stamped the video chapters so you can find the info you need. 0:00 - About 0:49 - Best & Worst Autofocus Modes 1:46 - 1-Area Mode Guide 2:26 - 1-Area+ Human Detection Mode 3:40 - Face Detection Mode 5:01 - Speed & Sensitivity Settings 6:21 - MFT Prime Lenses AF Problems 7:07 - Panasonic GH5M2, GH5S, GH5, S5 Faster AF Tip 7:50 - Where the AF Really Sucks 8:24 - Panasonic S5 Autofocus Tips 9:13 - Touch to Focus (Manual Mode)

[@samuraiavassalador]

Thank you, sir, for a lot of details. I have a question, is it impossible to record video at an airshow with gh5? If yes, what setup do you recommend? I have 100-400mm panasonic leica lens.

[@intheblues]

@@samuraiavassalador I haven't used that lens before or shot in those conditions before. You might be best using one area mode for that sort of thing and possibly turning the speed up so it can adjust a little quicker. I am only making a guess about this though as I don't do that sort of filming sorry. For photos, the DFD should work pretty well.

[@samuraiavassalador]

@@intheblues thanks for information!

[@GeekyNerdyTechy]

Sorry that’s my other account 🤣

[@kenslyder]

Hi I made the tracking autofocus work as good as possible on the GH5 and I have made a video for KZbin showcasing it. you can find the video under the (GH5 Tutorial's PLAYLIST) I've created on my channel, if you are interested in. Thanks for the video, cheers

[@DanBlake3rd]

This is the best video that I've found discussing the Lumix AF system. Nice work man.

[@aybee5908]

Great. Never saw such a clear content, dedicated to Panasonic`s autofocus. Very handy tips. Still own the GH-5 and try out your recommendations.

[@whitnells]

Many thanks. Great information, well presented. I especially like the monitor from the camera in the corner of the video. So many tutorials fail to show what's happening on the camera. Great work.

[@MichaelSchagen]

There are a lot of subtleties in the AF system that can make it hard or un-intuitive to use. What I found on my S5: - Tracking AF needs a distinctive color to latch on to. Without that it easily drifts off from the subject. The Panasonic AF guide book for video hints at this, but doesn't make it very explicit. - 255 area works well if you want to shoot general scenery or a landscape and don't want the AF to get distracted by cars or people moving in front of the scene. Once the AF has found a part of the scene it wants to focus on, it appears to track that part and stay focused on it for as long it can still see (part of) the scene which is in focus. Partly obscuring an in-focus part of the scene will not make the AF switch subject. So e.g. you walking towards the camera will be ignored, as long it can still see part of the background being in focus. - 1 Area works better if you want to focus on something very specific in the scene. The AF system becomes blind to anything outside the box, but will otherwise behave just like 255 area mode. It will track anything inside the box and stay locked on it for as long it can still see part of the subject in focus through the box. Some people make the box too large and then complain that when they hold a new object in front of them the AF doesn't respond, but that then is because a small part of the background which was in focus is still visible through the box and the AF keeps sticking to that. Reducing the size of the box to make sure that the background gets completely covered will help. But, if you make the box quite small such that during a panning motion it briefly covers e.g. a clear patch of sky with no detail, the AF immediately goes hunting for focus. This doesn't typically happen in 255-area mode as there will always be something for the AF to keep tracking. So yeah, it's not exactly a set-and-forget type of thing.

[@pianopotato]

Thank you Shane for your wonderful Panasonic content! I own three Panasonic S5 cameras currently and use to have a G85, the GH5 and GH5S so I totally understand and appreciate the joy, the journey, and the frustrations of Panasonic autofocus, haha! Keep up the great work!

[@_thealexm_]

Do you think s5 is usable for talking heads?

[@_icyhotcoffee]

Just bought an S5 and this video helped tremendously with the AF settings. Thank you!

[@GeekyNerdyTechy]

Great to hear!

[@iamhassan9943]

Great video. While I don’t do video, the S5 auto focus in S-AF is great for photography. One mode that I have found works great is custom mode. Being able to select your own “zone shape” has been great for photography. I created a small square and small vertical zone. This helps immensely for small objects that I want to focus on.

[@randallbrander8157]

Outstanding! Great Video!

[@MEGATestberichte]

This video is awesome. Perfect explanation.

[@acepilot2067]

Another great video. I'll try your suggestions.

[@denhood]

thanks for share.. i'll try it on my GH5

[@1rcbking]

Thank you, very helpful video.

[@ParsclickTV]

this was very useful to be honest I never thought of 1+ area focus now it just works when I hold something in front of lens... thank you!

[@GeekyNerdyTechy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Random-yz8gb]

Wdym

[@55whiplash]

Thank you for another great Panasonic video! I'm going to try them on my G9, I had made the mistake of cranking the sensitivity up to +2 or more, so I think your video will help. I also made the mistake of buying the OLD 25mm 1.4. It doesn't AF for SH%#. and it's no where to be found on the firmware sight. Oh well live and learn, it does MF very well and with Lumix cameras the MF does work well in general especially on the newer high end lenses and the firmware update from late 2021.(2.5 for the G9).

[@ChrisCollinsGuitar]

Thanks Shane! I’m using gh5s for guitar tutorials. The AF can be perplexing!

[@GeekyNerdyTechy]

Nice mate! Agreed, it's confusing because each lens responds differently. GH5S is still my favorite MFT for video quality, great choice.

[@yuritorres10]

Hi Shane, nice video, well explained. Let us know when touch focus is fixed, I am also frustrated with the two steps instead of one, thanks for all the great information !

[@GeekyNerdyTechy]

If you want the best Autofocus, the S5II/S5IIX or G9II are the way to go right now. I think the older generation of cameras are best with these settings shooting around f2.8 aperture.

[@sutv6754]

Thanks this is a good one for sure. Much needed. When I push up on the dial I only get Human Detect. If I push is a 2nd time as you did it goes back to 1 area or 1 area plus. I for some reason don't get the 2 options. Can you tell me why. I have the GH6

[@MillennialDiligence-sx8re]

It kills me that AF on LUMIX has been so cryptic all this time…. People just assume the AF sucks on Panasonic and move on. The teaching AFC on my G9 when I do the crosshair thing works brilliantly!

[@Michail95i2]

Спасибо за video. Bro =) 🙏

[@theXvisions]

Legend 💫

[@jjurii]

You're a saint.

[@JohnnyMotel99]

What would you recommend for say a ballet dancer on a lit stage, using either Leica 17mm or Lumix 25mm f1.7. Most likely on a gimbal.

[@KPGuitarStudios]

Shane, you missed the G9, it's in the same boat as the GH5s and GH5 II as far as processing, menus and options, it has all the exact same AF settings that you showed. Thanks for the details though! Very helpful, I feel like I can much more confidently use the camera now. I just ruined my latest video shot on the ZV-E10, product showcase locked on to the product which I thought I removed from the frame, apparently not, it was locked on and never went back to me once in 30 minutes :P Sony is different, not necessarily better. User knowledge and experience is better than any camera system

[@GeekyNerdyTechy]

I don't have a G9, sorry mate. The Sony AF once you understand it, is awesome - like anything it's about getting as much experience with anything to get the most out of it. Agreed though, the wrong mode on any camera will ruin shots. :)

[@wparo]

He didn't. The man can't talk about every Panasonic camera released in the last 25 years. He mentioned the most recent ones. You might as well type he missed the GH4, the GH3, the S1, S1H, S1R.....

[@acepilot2067]

Hi Shane. Here's an interesting thing for you.... after being massively underwhelmed with the gh5m2 auto focus, your suggestions along with the advanced deep learning technology, the AF has got remarkly good. Almost flawless! Perhaps I hadn't given it enough time to understand my filming style, although I've only recently read about the learning tech bit....I've gone from disappointed to very impressed! Woohoo

[@StanTregubenko]

Thanks!

[@castielvargastv7931]

Hello! I film Boudoir videos with my gh5 this means i follow the model and she does not move very fast. Which af modes and settings you suggest for this scenario? Thank you

[@ruff1draft]

The Panasonic S5 and Panasonic gh5s and Panasonic Gh52 are on my shopping list

[@FallenStarFeatures]

Thanks for the auto-focus tips. On the GH5s, the 1-Area mode has Human and Animal Detect options. Would you recommend against using these as well?

[@GeekyNerdyTechy]

I think that happened in a recent firmware update. I actually just got another GH5S so I'lll check it out once it arrives.

[@filipmichalsaffray441]

Nice...one question if used on a Gimbal in Concert Gig or rehearsaal what type of AF would u use Face or single point plus? Love Your Channel...curious what if you will try the gh6 out...

[@GeekyNerdyTechy]

Plus is pretty good as it will work better if there's people in the shot rather than just going to the background if the box isn't big enough.

[@filipmichalsaffray441]

@@GeekyNerdyTechy TX for Your answer I was using IT with GH5s. Hope Gh6 will be better maybe with New ibis even No need for Gimbal Just rig IT with smallrig and Wood Hand holder.

[@7ekn002]

Weird comment regarding the tracking AF!!! Tracking AF ROCKS! My G9 is setup to tap the touch screen and lock tracking on to the object tapped and follow that object no matter where it is on the screen - it works well too (and yes, I know what "well" is, I can't get the same functionality out of my R6 nor the A7sIII)

[@MacSavage503]

Thank You!!

[@GeekyNerdyTechy]

No problem

[@kristaylor7119]

Do you think for KZbin talking head videos where you don’t move too much, the S5’s AF would be good enough?

[@jeroensport7627]

Thanks for this great tutorial. I cannot find the human and animal detect on my GH5. Which firmware do you use?

[@GeekyNerdyTechy]

Your GH5 won’t have it. Stick to one area mode for the best results 😊👍

[@aerovideos]

I still have the same problem with the autofocus of the GH5M2 or GH6: the focus is perfect when going from the foreground to the background but inverts the camera continues to seek focus towards a 3rd plane? instead of coming back to the foreground instantly... it takes a moment to come back to the foreground. is there a solution ?

[@Pachiscruz2]

Thank you!! Another ting I have found is when I’m using variable aperture is that auto focus doesn’t work, don’t know why?

[@GeekyNerdyTechy]

I need more information sorry I am not sure what you mean.

[@oneeyedphotographer]

I have GH5, G9, S1R. I have not yet tested this with the GH5. I set the camera to M, BBF, single shot stills. The camera is sitting on the table, turned on, idle. I put something in front of the camera, it focusses on it. Not quickly, but without me touching the camera. It means I cannot focus on something and then reframe to have that something to the side. If I put something in front of the camera under these conditions, I expect and want that something to remain out of focus. Do you have any idea of what's going on and how to stop it?

[@autofocuscarsvids719]

Does the "s,c,m" dial on the autofocus modes on the back of the camera relate to video settings? I set it on "s" for single autofocus and the damn camera kept searching for focus during the video even though I'm in one spot just shifting my weight or gesturing. And if you are stationary in front of the camera, why would you use continuous autofocus at all? Wouldn't it be better to turn it off and just let the camera focus once and realize that you probably won't move enough to get out of focus? Thanks

[@Valerossi0]

For video you need to set it on c for continuous autofocus.

[@Kris-nf3fu]

Question 🙏🙏🙏 So I plan on getting the 18-35 lens with my gh5. Do you have autofocus suggestion on settings if I put it in a gimbal while out side bright light shooting a car event??? Cars are parked while doing interviews with people.

[@GeekyNerdyTechy]

I haven't used that lens but start with it at the default settings and experiment around with the one area plus mode and see how it goes. I usually find lenses slower than 2.8 work pretty well with the stock settings. If you want to use face tracking for an interview, turn it to -2 "locked on" on the lower of the two options and it will look to change focus less.

[@Kris-nf3fu]

@@GeekyNerdyTechy will do thank you!! 🙏 And oops I meant 12-35 lens

[@simplysurfing]

So its more like buy special lenses if you want good autofocus. So this is the solution ?

[@user-sh8op2ku3c]

I have a Panasonic ag-90 recorder and I'm thinking of buying a camera from the Lumix series.which one do you recommend to buy ?(Lumix S5, GH5M2, GH5S)

[@joestrahl6980]

Such a difficult question! What are your needs? How much money do you have? You need to factor in the cost of lenses as well. My reply is not an answer to your question or an invitation to ask me! Instead it is questions back to you to think about yourself.

[@user-sh8op2ku3c]

I'm trying to switch to the Panasonic platform,I like not only videos from Lumix,but also photos,I agree with you,is it worth switching from Nikon to Lumix for photos

[@Zmywak]

Because S5's autofocus has ruined my London trip and Boston trip I decided to trade it for A7SIII :) Shane, what colour profile did You set up for talking head part of this video, please?

[@GeekyNerdyTechy]

Sorry to hear about your trip. I just shot a huge amount of footage with it in Hawaii as a B-Camera to the GH5II and it performed well. I think 1-Area Mode is probably your best bet if you are in front of the camera.

[@markshirley01]

Did the two step touch screen autofocus thing get sorted out on the S5

[@GeekyNerdyTechy]

It's been removed from all the new cameras for some reason, sadly.

[@stanislavpokorny2954]

Interestingly enough, touch to focus works in the photo modes, but not for video. After nearly a year since the previous update and with the release of the GH6, I'm losing hope that Panasonic will ever add touch to focus for video. It's a shame, especially when much less videocentric cameras do have it.

[@avibortnick]

Does this mean the touch to focus also doesn't work via the Panasonic Imaging App?

[@GeekyNerdyTechy]

You can do it, but it's done a different way. You use the AF button on the back of the camera to lock focus in manual mode or you can do the same sort of thing with the app by hitting the AF button.

[@largerthanlife.camera9031]

I would prefer the constant f2,8 aperture Panasonic over the Leica Kit-Lens. Sadly there are no offers to pick the Kitlens....

[@GeekyNerdyTechy]

The 20-60mm Kit for the S5 is pretty great for video. It's Parfocal and the results at the wide end are excellent. The 2.8 is also a great lens for MFT. The L-Mount has a 24-105 F4 constant as well which is slightly faster than the 2.8 on MFT and has more reach.

[@borderlands6606]

@@GeekyNerdyTechy Something about the kit lens people overlook, is its close focusing capability. At 26mm it focuses about half true macro, which is great for anything short of bugs. Kit lens doesn't do it justice, it's actually very nice piece of glass.

[@ChrisFlores22]

Which s5 cage is that??

[@GeekyNerdyTechy]

I'll have a video up soon. It's from YC Onion.

[@mamumonkan]

the one mystery I can not seem to solve is how to uncouple AE from the shutter button ?!? For some reason the camera locks AE when pushing the button. On my Sony I can uncouple this so I can lock focus with the shutter button but AE is freely adjusting at all times. Any Idea - I looked at the menue 1001 times -I studied the manual - I asked people - am I stupid ?!?

[@SimplicityForGood]

Talking about doing all things on your own.. One need a fully functional autofocus when in front of the camera as a one man production company... However, the autofocus is said to be horrible on all Panasonic gh cameras and most cinema pocket cameras... -how good is that on a cinema camera in 2023 where you cannot pull the focus , like on either the Black Magic cinema packet 4k or the gh5s really for documentary work where you are the narrator in front of the camera, or vlogging, or acting on your own short films, monologues, or other types of broadcasting live where you cannot see what is going on due to filming yourself and being focused on your content in the moment of acting, interviewing etc? -is the GH5S in 2023 still worth it compared to the BM p4k that seem to not have any autofocus? ,,, of course one set the focus ahead and try to stay in frame , but at the same time as an actor, spokesperson, reporter you also need some freedom to move around within a set blocking to improvise and extend your bodily mimic while creating facial expressions and leaning here and there to show what you are reacting to or who you are addressing outside of what we see in a scene... Then, having no focus-pull person assisting you but still wanting a cinema camera giving you the best cinema image to make it look as if it is film, what camera in 2023 can help you as a one man crew / talent team? - What would you suggest for film-making short-films on your own where you are both the cinematographer, director and the actor in front of the camera? Sigma FP? .. hmm, but is highly expensive format of shooting , and cannot see any reviews on it having an excellent autofocus in video mode, really not much about its' autofocus at all , but yes, it looks like an amazing quality in a small form factor, but what great camera also have the great autofocus ? so what then in 2023 is worth looking into? Regarding rumours, do you believe that Black Magic really will release a L format pocket full frame cinema camera with autofocus and IBIS in 2023 that could solve all these things for the one-man-film-production company? what are your thoughts on the demand on such tech in 2023? What camera should I best choose? thanks for getting back!Thanks for a great summery. and thanks for anyone with a thoughtful advice getting back to suggest me what to look into... Cheers from Sweden!

[@epicsnake21]

Do you have any suggestions for using autofocus to record videos of trains going by? Is it just trial and error?

[@GeekyNerdyTechy]

One area mode would be my choice. Put the box over the area of the train and you should be good to go.

[@BarryMaskell]

I think the AF modes you don’t like are more “focused” on photography

[@castielvargastv7931]

Its really dumb they removed the touch to focus thing. I dont see any logical reason why they did this

[@SIRHOT]

I would try to be okay without glasses for my audience, its not laser or something its just sun it wont kill you. If you dont let your eyes adjust to the sun and wear glasses all the time of course you can't be without them. This whole summer i never used one and i am also a human being. Its so weird you do all this work and video for autofocus and yet you are using sunglasses. Now I cant relay this test video.

[@GeekyNerdyTechy]

lol. This is hilarious.

[@nanogonzalezdj3388]

7:53 Panasonic neither like black cats.