Getting focus with FZ50


Status
Not open for further replies.

cjl

Member
Aug 8, 2002
388
0
16
The Guilin of Spore
Visit site
Hello guys (again)

As a newbie in photography...I do have a lot of doubts on my experience with FZ50..

One thing is the zooming/focusing.

Trying to take macro, I switched to "AF Macro" and try to zoom in to the max. I pressed the shutter halfway to get a auto focus. However, it seems my FZ50 always prompt unable to focus.

1) Is my way above a wrong example of macro shot? (in fact, I do get my share of focusing problems with even normal shots)

2) Or I should adapt manual focus instead? Zoom in and then do my own manual focusing?

3) other correct procedure?

Thanks!

PS : I noticed a lot of us are holding a FZ50 and quite a number of CS-ers like Jack50N are trying things out and asking opinions also..

Perhaps a single mega official thread on FZ50?
 

May I know how far you are from the object itself in terms of distance? If you are too close to the object, you might experience difficulty in focussing. Personal experience, although with a FZ30 :)
 

From my experience with my FZ30, you can't zoom in max and focus. You have to zoom out. The lens does not have a fixed minimum focusing distance. Try zooming out and taking close shots. I have been able to take shots as close as 1-2cm away from the lens in macro mode.
Get to know the capabilities and limitations of your camera. Play around more with your camera, and keep shooting.
 

i did the same thing as you the day before... when using micro-focus, do not zoom to the max, it would not forcus at all, zoom to 10X first, let it focus and then turn the ring to 12X.

this is the same as placing a cloth infront of your eyes suddenly, you would not able to focus well lookinh at it too.
 

i dont use the FZ-50 but i'm sure macro shooting rules applies to most cameras:
- turn the zoom to it's widest
- get close to subject (how close depends on your camera's minimum focusing distance)

if you need to get closer to the subject than your camera's minimum focusing distance, use MF.
 

erm, not very sure for fz50, but for fz5/7/8... etc all of them are able to focus at 12x zoom, but minimum distance is 1m not the 5cm like @ 1x zoom.
 

i did the same thing as you the day before... when using micro-focus, do not zoom to the max, it would not forcus at all, zoom to 10X first, let it focus and then turn the ring to 12X.

this is the same as placing a cloth infront of your eyes suddenly, you would not able to focus well lookinh at it too.


I did wat u mentioned. But isnt that going to end up with a blur pic?

In fact, most of the times I cant even get a "approved" focus from the cam at 10x zoom...it keep saying unfocused
 

From most of your posts, can I say for macro shot:

1) Dont sit far and use ur zoom all the way to take the shot. Instead, go as near to the obj (eg 1 cm) and zoom at 1x (widest)

2) For macro, its alrite to trust the AF, not a must to manual focus....

Pls correct me if I am wrong abt the above...

thanks a lot!
 

Wish to add that, MF using EVF is crappy
I only use it if I'm forced to. AF is the way to go.
 

May I know how far you are from the object itself in terms of distance? If you are too close to the object, you might experience difficulty in focussing. Personal experience, although with a FZ30 :)

I tried to take a shot with my Logitech mouse..focusing on the logo. Dist is around 8 to 10 cm i think, cant really recall.

Beside doing marco, I am also trying to have a shallow DoF (blur bkground). But seems if i am successful with a clear focus, I ended up with a wide DoF, or the whole shot is blur all the way...
 

Sorry but why is this so?

LCD provides a bigger view?

LCD is worse. I think MF is only practical with optical viewfinders.
 

1)
a. Check your focusing distance
Read the FZ50 specification, at widest ( no zoom ), the focusing distance for macro is 5cm
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz50/
however at widest angle, your background perspective is very wide and covers a lot of distracting things

b. what is the object ? plain color ?

2) You can try manual focus but you still need to stick to its specification rule, not closer than 5cm focus distance

3) Try closeup filter like Nikon 4/5/6T, Canon 250D/500D, Raynox (Japan) DCR-250/ CM3500A or Hoya Closeup +2/+3/+4 (cheapest)
Please take note when you use the above filter, do not turn on the macro mode, use 10x to 12x zoom depend on magnification, use small aperture like f8 to f11. Move your camera setup to the object to a fixed distance like 250D, from front lens element to object is about 20cm to 25cm.
 

From most of your posts, can I say for macro shot:

1) Dont sit far and use ur zoom all the way to take the shot. Instead, go as near to the obj (eg 1 cm) and zoom at 1x (widest)

2) For macro, its alrite to trust the AF, not a must to manual focus....

Pls correct me if I am wrong abt the above...

thanks a lot!

i am not a panasonic user, but i had a fuji 9500 and this is my experience.

yes u are right, if u want to shoot macro, dun zoom in. use the wide angle and go close to the subject. i am sure ur manual did mention this, so RTFM ;)

there is a way to shoot macro shots, yet still be able to use ur zoom. get a close up filter, and put it on ur lens. i cant be sure of fz50, but im quite sure it works similarly to my cam. i was able to focus at close distance (about 20cm) even at max zoom, giving u very good magnification of the subject. of cos, the amount of image quality degrading will depend on what brand of close up filter u use :)

for fz50 with EVF, i advise u to try to use AF as much as possible. reason being, u cant really tell from the EVF if the subject is focused or not. so, trust ur AF.

hope it helps :)
 

I tried to take a shot with my Logitech mouse..focusing on the logo. Dist is around 8 to 10 cm i think, cant really recall.

Beside doing marco, I am also trying to have a shallow DoF (blur bkground). But seems if i am successful with a clear focus, I ended up with a wide DoF, or the whole shot is blur all the way...
eh at 12x zoom minimum focusing sld be ard 1m mark...
 

I did wat u mentioned. But isnt that going to end up with a blur pic?

In fact, most of the times I cant even get a "approved" focus from the cam at 10x zoom...it keep saying unfocused
wow then that mayb seriously wrong:think: . since you are taking your mouse's logo, i suggest u go as near as possible, try Apreture mode if need, it is about playing around and find something that suits you;) what about the lightings? very dark or bright?
 

From most of your posts, can I say for macro shot:

1) Dont sit far and use ur zoom all the way to take the shot. Instead, go as near to the obj (eg 1 cm) and zoom at 1x (widest)

2) For macro, its alrite to trust the AF, not a must to manual focus....

Pls correct me if I am wrong abt the above...

thanks a lot!
Try Av or M mode. Use settings like f8 to f11 with min. shutter speed of 1/125sec or faster,low ISO, flash on, Zoom 1x ( widest ) , move your camera to object at 5cm. Focus on object with contrast like logo outline. Post your test photo here.
 

Status
Not open for further replies.