Panasonic Lumix Bridge Camera Autofocus Improvement

[@Rabbitunderground]

I bought this camera because of your videos. No regrets. It's been a top bridge camera! 💯🙏

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Good choice! Thank you.

[@2klmockingbird]

I am a birder or "twitcher" and this was very helpful. I've created a single point Custom mode for photos of perched birds. But I tried taking it a step further than the 49 point mode and created a 2nd Custom option by setting a focus field of all the boxes in the entire field of view. Sometimes I try to get documentary photos of large birds in flight that are rare for the date and location and it's been extremely frustrating with 49 points. But with the setting I made of the entire field of view being a single focus point, I've been very happy with results I've gotten of getting clear photos of these large birds in flight (Black Vulture, Sandhill Crane). Thank you!

[@freygallery]

Thanks so much for such great advice. You are doing a wonderful service for us Panasonic bridge users. It only took me five or six tries to get it right.

[@ThomasLorenz]

Just tried this with the FZ2000 - works as promised. :) Thanks for your great and exhaustive tutorials on the FZ cameras. When I accidentally dropped and damaged my FZ1000 (focus plane is tilted :( ) I looked for a successor. You made me realize how much there is to fiddle and explore with these cameras making them a good match for my skill level while giving ample room to improve myself.

[@kronisknatur]

Thank you very much, it has made it very easier to photograph birds in the trees. I had trouble catching the little birds, it caught the branch instead. I have an FZ-82 and with your tips with eyepiece have made it a good beginner camera. thanks from Denmark

[@GrahamHoughton12]

You are welcome!

[@aldogentile245]

Thanks again Graham, You never cease to amaze us. I remember your previous video on the topic very well. When I use the AF single area I usually enlarge the area. in order to include surrounding elements of the image. Generally I get good results.

[@bookedsam]

Great time for this to come out as I'm considering a Panasonic bridge camera

[@GrahamHoughton12]

FZ300 or FZ1000?

[@bookedsam]

@@GrahamHoughton12 fz300

[@gazzar67]

I just set up both my TZ110 and GX85 and did some sitting-at-the-desk tests - the behaviour seems totally reliable, just as you've demonstrated. I think I'll be defaulting to this setting from now on! Brilliant! Thank you Graham!

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Thanks for your comment and confirmation of the results.

[@AllenReinecke]

Superb advice! I wondered why my autofocusing was hit and miss with the spot and center focus. Tried your technique on the FZ300 and it works much better, and faster. I often use manual focus, with peaking, for static subjects, pressing the autofocus button on the side to get my focus (since the manual focus wheel is not that easy to use, though I'm getting better at it) but I see the single area focus technique doesn't apply in that manual mode. The focus area is the manual focus mode rectangle that you yourself can indeed resize with the wheel, though, at the smallest area, it seems larger than the custom single area, and the actual focus area is again slightly, but only slightly, outside the upper and lower edges of that rectangle and definitely further outside of the sides. All worth understanding for those better shots and all thanks to your research.

[@DavidLee-jq9lf]

A very helpful video. I've had trouble with my FZ200 where I've accidently altered the focus position by touching the touch sensitive screen. I've then found the focus didn't work where I expected it. Your method has solved my problem.

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Glad it helped and thanks for giving your feedback.

[@johnbrus1780]

Thanks Graham. Great tip and immaginative innovation on using focus modes. I love this tips you provide regarding Lumix bridge cameras.

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Glad you enjoyed it! More ideas to follow.

[@tonyrickard2769]

Great focusing tip Graham, I have tried it on my FZ1000 II and FZ300 and a bonus is the custom focus disables the 4 way buttons so you can’t accidentally move the focus point when you set it in the centre. Only negative is when I tried to change it on my G9 you loose the Human/Animal detection option in the custom mode. Good improvement when used with my back button focus setup. Many thanks.😊

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Thanks for sharing, I cannot test on m4/3 cameras like the G9 so thanks for the update

[@JoeAnshien]

Thanks for the videos and newsletters. I learned how to use my Panasonic bridge cameras from you. Then I went to the ZS25, GH1, FZ200, OMD E1, S21 ultra, and now Sony RX100 VI. There have been a few reasons for my migration but one of the main ones is auto-focus. You can fix many things in post but not focus. I think Sony has nailed it. For me a casual and vacation photographer I like the 1" sensor, 20X zoom, and size for travel. I compared it to the Panasonic but the auto-focus on the Panasonic just does not seem to compare to Sony's phase detection system.

[@tollbar5468]

You surprise me that you think Sony have nailed the auto focus. I jacked in my 100's and camcorders specifically because of the poor performance of the focus.

[@JoeAnshien]

@@tollbar5468 I now have the Sony RX10 IV. Just finished editing our trip to Albania and the pictures really astounded me by how sharp they are. The pictures are the best ones that have ever come out of any of my previous cameras. Even the crops on the 1" sensor look good, not that I need to do much with the 600mm zoom on it.

[@arteguhsetiawan_0000]

watching from Indonesia

[@judgesteve6798]

Thanks Graham. This is quite fascinating. I can't help but wonder how many 'not quite crisp' shots were as a result of this 'flaw' in the autofocus. I've only watched the video once as an overview; need to go get the FZ1000 and get it set up. Seattle too has turned wet wet wet, although it might be clear - just right at freezing temp - for a couple days. If I can't get outside I'm thinking my local car museum (I especially love shooting the emblems or small engine details) will prove a worthy target area. Looking forward to trying this out!! THANKS Steve

[@GrahamHoughton12]

please let me know how you get on with the FZ1000 in this mode.

[@judgesteve6798]

@@GrahamHoughton12 Sorry - my typo, I have the FZ300, but will let you know.

[@rocknationac7332]

Tried it out at both a wedding (FZ300) and a rock show (FZ80) over the weekend. To make a long story short, only a handful of the wedding pics were TOO blurry, and a closeup I took of a guitarist's hand while he was soloing has been added to his Facebook page!

[@nmecredy]

Thanks Graham, this is fascinating. With my FZ10002 I normally resort to manual focus to set the precise focus point. I will try this method and see if I get better results.

[@GrahamHoughton12]

would be interesting to see your results using the single area custom mode.

[@EKS49]

Graham,, if I make a mistake while following your instructions can they be undone and if so how? This one didn't work for me.

[@timmerdude]

Thanks Graham for your great video contributions of Panasonic FZ camera's. I can't find the custom option on my FZ300 unfortunately. What could be the solution?

[@timmerdude]

I found it. Used buttons for focus point. When disabled it works

[@johnrenton3463]

Excellent advice as usual Graham, many thanks!

[@GrahamHoughton12]

My pleasure!, glad it was useful.

[@DaveAMcLaughlin]

Great technique, Graham! Worked a treat on my FZ82!

[@michellewalpole4355]

Just finished watching this. I was all set to go buy the FZ1000 Mark 2, for, as a beginner, it sounded quite the thing. so the AF is shite? As a beginner AF was one of the points I liked.

[@alfonsovelasco9627]

Bravo Graham !!! Will test it ASAP !! Gracias !

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Hope you like it! please report on your success.

[@stonkr]

Been using 1-area focus on the subject then reframing with my FZ1000 II with almost no problems. My Canon 70D, however, is about 25% out of focus. If the shot is critical, I'll always choose the Panasonic.

[@maryrowe506]

Very helpful. Thank you!

[@videoguyla]

Dear Graham, Thank you for all your work. I have a question when you choose the custom mode with the line across the screen either one or two blocks in height what is really going on? Is the camera trying to focus from left to right or right to left? I am often called upon to do event photography and folks tend to line up across the screen. I have used this method with a fair amount of success of course aperture is important not to go to wide open

[@Cmyth]

Just recently bought an FZ300 as a beginner first camera. I’ve noticed that when recording in 4K, there’s this ghosting effect that doesn’t happen in 1080p mode. Anyone else notice this? I’m considering swapping it for a different model

[@NikolasPrivitera24]

Hello, my fz1000 after a drop won’t turn on, if i charge the battery has the red charging led, but won’t turn on, i changed the battery but even in this situation won’t turn on. please help

[@BRazquin]

Brilliant! Thank you!

[@GrahamHoughton12]

You're very welcome!

[@friendlygarfield]

well thank you very much Graham :-) this will help me . Cape Town thanks you ;-)

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Happy to help! Please let me know how you get on with the method.

[@JohnNeilPark]

Thanks for this Graham. Is the same procedure applicable using the back button focus when filming video?

[@GrahamHoughton12]

I believe so, though I haven't tested it out in video but I will do.

[@JohnNeilPark]

@@GrahamHoughton12 Thanks.

[@BluestarCK]

Great Info. Unfortunately my FZ1000 lens is stuck and I think I'm going to have to replace the lens or get a new camera. Any suggestions on whether it's worth fixing or not?

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Have you tried to gently push the lens back with the power off. It might just be the lens frame binding at one point.

[@BluestarCK]

@@GrahamHoughton12 Thank you, I will try that.

[@BluestarCK]

@@GrahamHoughton12 Thanks so much Graham. I tried your technique and pulled on the lens and now it works again. You just saved me about $300 in repair cost. Cheers.

[@swiftdetecting]

will this be got panasonic gx8 m43 too ? and also work on on all Panasonic Lumix Bridge Cameras ?

[@GrahamHoughton12]

I haven't tested M4/3 AF points but it is now on my to do list.

[@mlytle0]

So what you're really saying with this method, that leaving the camera in the focus method normally used for moving subjects actually works better for static subjects as long as you have programmed that custom center focus area. Interesting.

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Yes, exactly. The only thing that I would suggest is using AFF rather than AFC as the focus method works better on subjects which can alter direction, quickly.

[@650thunderbird]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@1Cupcake_]

Does this count for the fz82 aswell ?

[@dennismurray703]

Yes it does. Have used this method on my FZ82. Basically follow same steps Graham outlined.

[@rocknationac7332]

It sure does -- a closeup I took with my FZ80 of a guitarists' hand strumming is sitting on top of his Facebook page even as we speak!

[@alisaadat4474]

Sorry, Graham this didnt make any sense.