GF1 Pre-focussing

[kully]

I like my GF1.

However, there is one thing about it that I do not. I can't seem to set it up so that I can lock focus without it also locking the exposure at the same time.

What I would like to do is focus on the ground at a distance I guess will be the same as me to the subject when I fire the shutter. I want it to meter until I press the shutter. However, it always locks the meter when I lock the focus...

I've read through the manual and tried different settings but can't get it to work. Suprising as I would have thought this would be a standard thing.

My workaround at the moment is to pop it on MF and press the focus button when I want to focus.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

I think you've defeated the designers because they either didn't anticipate or didn't believe anyone would try to do what you're attempting. I guess it's manual focus or automatic, and then you're out of options!

 

[gekopaca]

You should use a manual focus lens…
Let's choose an alternative lens : What's your favorite focal lenght?

 

[kully]

🙂 I don't want acquire something else to overcome this problem, I was just wondering whether there was some setting I had missed.

I could use my CV 21/4 or just the M8 if I wanted to zone-focus.

 

[gekopaca]

I could use my CV 21/4 or just the M8 if I wanted to zone-focus.

Did you try the 21/4 on the GF1?
I tried my Voigtlander 12mm and 15mm on my GH1 but I didn't like the results.

 

[kully]

Hey Gekopaca,

No, as I have the 20/1.7 I didn't see the point.

 

[JoeV]

The only way I know of to lock focus on any of the G-series of micro-4/3 cameras is to use the MF knob setting atop the camera.

So, for your purposes, you can have it initially set to AF, then focus at your desired distance and then turn the knob to MF. Your focus will then be set to that proscribed distance. I can't remember on my G1 what happens after the camera goes into power save mode in this setting, whether after powering back up it still has the lens' focus manually locked to the same distance. You'll have to try this and find out for yourself.

There's a menu setting for "AF+AEL", but all that does is lock both the focus and exposure when the shutter button is half-pressed. Not what you were desiring to do.

In my experience with the G1, locking the focus to a predetermined distance with the manual focus knob is a practical method. Just think for a moment, if Panasonic had decided not to have a manual knob but embedded that feature with a software menu, many people would be criticizing them for that. 🙂

~Joe

 

[kully]

Hey Joe,

Thinking about it, the way I have it set up now is not a huge problem:

MF and the AE/AF lock button to focus when required.

 

[bronney]

this should help:

http://www.lawrencephotographic.com/Articles/Downsizing/gf1_menu.htm

AF/AE Button - set to 'toggle' auto exposure lock on and off when pressed (see custom menu above)

Half press of shutter - holds focus point (plus auto exposure if AF/AE Exposure Lock Button is not used first)

 

[Quinn Porter]

Press menu. Go to the custom menu. Set AF/AE LOCK to AF. Set AF/AE LOCK HOLD to ON.

This is my standard set-up. Pressing the AF/AE Lock button will cause the camera to focus and it will hold that focus until you press the AF/AE Lock button again. Metering will only lock if you press the shutter button half way. This is a great set-up.

 

[Darshan]

Press menu. Go to the custom menu. Set AF/AE LOCK to AF. Set AF/AE LOCK HOLD to ON.

This is my standard set-up. Pressing the AF/AE Lock button will cause the camera to focus and it will hold that focus until you press the AF/AE Lock button again. Metering will only lock if you press the shutter button half way. This is a great set-up.

+1. That's what I do.

One (and the only) gripe that I have with the 20 1.7 is that it's focus by wire, I wish it was mechanical focus (like M lenses) with distance scales.