Great video! Still, I keep my GH5 on Manual focus at all time. I just use the [AF] button on the custom front button for fast autofocus in Manual, simple and accurate!
Hey great video - try this - AFS, 225-Area autofocus and maximise the area then set, AF/AE Lock - AF-On Far - I found this to be the most continuous autofocus with little to no pulsating.
I think so yes- it’s a very similar camera with only some feature’s differing. If you try the course and don’t like it, Udemy has a very good refunds policy :) Enjoy your camera!
Thanks! I bought the GH5 two years ago presuming I would never be able or even want to use autofocus on it. You have saved me wasting valuable time testing to see if it is viable to use today due to my curiosity being peaked by so many reviewers on TH-cam saying that it had improved tremendously since its launch. You have confirmed for me twice now that it is still unusable for my needs!🙏🏾
Hi! (I do not own a GH5) but there seems to be a hack, that makes the AF 50% better. GH5 menu - SS Gain Operation (change to ANGLE/ISO). Next change the Synchro Scan to ON, and use the dial to get 179 (degrees) not 180 as original. There it is... the AF will now be much more responsive. Test that plz!
Those were early methods of experiments to try to improve the focus on the GH5. Gerald Undone rose to fame with his work on the problem. However Panasonic have released a couple of firmware updates since then that for some seem to have helped the problem but even today the autofocus is unusable for many of us that want reliability in its function. If you are thinking of buying the GH5 try it out first and see if it works for you!🙏🏾
I use a medium/slow speed for auto focus!Focus hunting/pulsing gets distractive especially if you slow your footage to 50%!I use my gh5 for weddings since the gh5 came!It also didn't hunt that much with the first firmware out of the box!I don't know why nοone talks about it! Nice video btw!
Great Video !!! I spent almost a week trying to get rid of the pulsing and kept thinking that there was something wrong with my native Lumix lens. Even sent the lens in for servicing and was told there was nothing wrong with it after 2 weeks. Went through dozens of youtube videos showing how well the setup focussed on different objects (and faces) without the pulsing. I feel so much better now having seen your tests. Remarkable effort on your part. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.
You, sir, are an absolute gem. I'm astounded at the quality of this video and how well you teach and talk on camera. I was expecting 300k subscribers! Honestly one of the best, keep going!
Fantastic video man, packed with knowledge bombs! Definitely my favourite autofocus test for Gh5 so far! Will follow your guidance and try a large square with 0 sensitivity for my talking head shots!
Thank you for taking the countless hours to make this... and my conclusion is... I will continue to not use auto focus on my GH5. I'm just worried if I ever move away to another brand, I'll be so scarred from the crap auto focus on the GH5 that I will never trust auto focus again regardless of camera...
Thanks Saul, completely agree! I was quite happy with how the talking head parts came out but I’d be too scared to use it in a critical situation :) We need some AF therapy to trust it ever again haha
You nailed it! I bought one recently and it ruined my catwalk footage because of focus pulsing and not attaining focus quickly. My stage was more complicated though, having more than one subjects at times, zooming was required, and the light was uneven and somewhat low. The camera failed to keep the focus even after attaining it, and suffered focus pulsing caused by a slight face movement by the subject despite having focus attained on the face a second ago, the subject kept looking at the cam and just moved the head 10-20 degree. Thanks for pointing out that it's not recommended for a wedding type of event. Will try your recommendations, thank you!
Oh man that sounds like a nightmare scenario for autofocus on this camera!! It just can’t be relied upon 🙃 I have a wedding shooter friend who got extremely good with manual focusing though and honestly that’s a life skill worth developing for video people… good luck!
True, that’s how I use it, it’s just missing the ability to magnify to check focus while recording. Although I was starting to trust AF for my own TH-cam talking head stuff!
I bumped into a video a few years ago demonstrating how autofocus speed and accuracy was improved by setting your exposure priority to shutter angle, and fixing it to a figure below 180deg. I do all my shoots with shutter angle at 170deg and I'm happy with it.
If I’m thinking of the same fix then it was quite high profile at the time and actually highlighted a problem that Panasonic addressed in a firmware update… so it’s my understanding shutter angle now doesn’t make a difference so maybe worth a try if you’re on latest firmware!
Had some great results with the sigma 16 1.4 native. Its a bit slow to move focus - which is great because it seems to avoid pulsing while having a nice rate of ""pull" Used for some gimbals moves into talents heads (from 1o ft moving in to 4 ft away) and the results were great. Its an absolutely brilliant lens and a must have for the gh5. Works beautifully using focus transitions too.
Great test. In my opinion the gh5 autofocus is heavily designed for stills not video. Contrast based just isn't going to make it in the video world. That is why GH5 is basically a dream for us manual shooters only.
Fully agree! I’ve heard about the ‘line of sight’ focus Panasonic are apparently working on which sounds interesting, but anything has to be better than contrast-based!
I know this video is old but mybe you can answer my question. I shoot Boudoir videos with my gh5 so its all about the model and she does not move very fast. I just follow her with the camera. What af settings would you suggest for this scenario? Aff, afc , sensitivity and such things
Hey, for video I’d probably start with one area AFC with a larger square and middle speed / sensitivity. Honestly manual focus would be my biggest recommendation tbh, I’d imagine some focus pulls looking quite natural and complement the shoot. All the best!
Thanks Matt! Completely agree, there's a lot of value to be had by learning how to pull focus manually, but at the end of the day if you film yourself, or use a gimbal, awesome AF can be super helpful IMO! I've switched to the Canon C70 and R6, but I can tell you the GH5 stands up well considering the age and price difference
Amateur here...a silly question, when filming yourself and nobody to focus you in do you still stick to manual focus or autofocus? In my case, in a gym environment filming my workouts with only me working the camera on a tripod, can I still use manual focus or would I stick to autofocus? I have a GH5 with a Sigma 30mm 1.4 lens.
Honestly I’d set the camera up in manual focus and make sure the f stop is high enough (maybe f2.8 or higher depending on how far away the camera is) to give you a depth of field large enough to keep you in focus throughout your exercise, does that make sense? In autofocus it could get confused and miss the whole thing badly, I wouldn’t trust a Sigma lens personally unless you couldn’t get manual focus to work and you can monitor the focus somehow… Good luck!
Hi sir, I really appreciate your tutorial, just a quick question, if Im shooting sports photography via the extraction from 6k footages, what sens would you recommend or what focus would you suggest thanks in advance !
Thank you! That sounds difficult, have you done it before and were you happy with the result? Video footage will not give the quality and flexibility of a RAW photograph, but if you have to do it this way I would make sure your shutter speed it quite high to give you chance of getting sharp frames from the video footage. For focusing, it really depends on the lens and composition you’re going for, I strongly recommend to test before the shoot, and I’d try one of the ‘one area’ modes and face detect. Face detect might struggle but worth experimenting! Good luck
Hi! (I do not own a GH5) but there seems to be a hack, that makes the AF 50% better. GH5 menu - SS Gain Operation (change to ANGLE/ISO). Next change the Synchro Scan to ON, and use the dial to get 179 (degrees) not 180 as original. There it is... the AF will now be much more responsive.
Thanle Myles, i just find this video, i didnt watch all because a already seen it two year ago, i just want to thank you beacause i did’nt do it last time (surelely watching it on phone at that time ^^).
Any idea how to get the “focus peaking while AFS on” working? It came with the 2.6 firmware update but I can’t seem to get it working on my GH5 and can’t find any info on it anywhere?!
I have AFS set to the back AF ON button, and with the ‘peaking while AF’ option set to on, I see the peaking while I’m holding down that AFS button, but it doesn’t work continuously with AFS. I don’t know if that helps you, but if you’re asking where in the menus that option is I’m afraid I don’t remember and I’m not with the camera!
Great job, well done, for my needs the auto focus is fine, but I do find myself helping it out with touch screen focus, it’s a bit like bump starting a motorbike just to get it going. I’ve also found the near/far focus option useful, again it just helps out, to keep it in the right zone. I’ve just done a 1.5 hour conversation video between 5 people, going back through the footage the GH5 lost focus 6 times whilst changing subjects, not such a bad trade off, as I had a couple of other angles covered it was easy to edit over those out of focus moments.
That’s interesting to hear, and good thinking about multi-angles, that would seem a good workaround! Honestly I was quite surprised with my talking head footage which I shot on autofocus, once I got the mode that worked for me I was quite happy with what I got. Which mode do you use?
Shot by Myles I use shutter speed priority mode using shutter degrees rather than speed, I set it at 179 degrees mainly because of the video by YodaYeo explaining the way the GH5 processes the auto focus and the timing issue, to me it made sense and ‘seemed’ to work, but then as with any auto focus situation with the GH5 its subject to outside forces! I also have it on continuous auto focus with focus speed plus 1 and sensitivity minus 2, seems to slow down the hunting but gives a smooth focus transition. When using your small ‘ focus box’ instead try custom multi setting but as small a box as you think you can get away with, I find it more accurate as long as you have some contrast especially for long focus pulls, say from a flower 2 feet away to a tree 100 yards away, much quicker to find focus and finds it more times than using the normal small green square.
Hi! (I do not own a GH5) but there seems to be a hack, that makes the AF 50% better. GH5 menu - SS Gain Operation (change to ANGLE/ISO). Next change the Synchro Scan to ON, and use the dial to get 179 (degrees) not 180 as original. There it is... the AF will now be much more responsive.
In the Snap Video function where it does a predetermined focus pull, is it true that it can do it only in 1080p mode and this SNAP MOVIE mode isnt available in 4k ?
The focus pull mode where you set two points of focus works in 4K too! I don't think it works in VFR mode (so the super slow motion modes) if I remember correctly. Also it's not reliable at all when using a speed booster, which is worth mentioning!
@@ShotByMyles > Thanks for replying. Your sure the A-B automatic focus pull mode works in 4K. Because on my Lumix G7 it doesnt and only works 1080p mode. Also it has only 2 speed modes (approx) 4 sec and 8 sec for the transition of the focus pull. Is it the same with the GH5 too ?
I think we might be talking about different functions, because I’m pretty sure the G7 doesn’t have the GH5’s focus transition! The G80 and even G9 ones don’t have the same feature. The one I’m talking about certainly works in 4K!
@@ShotByMyles > The G7 has such a function. Its called SNAP MOVIE mode. And you can focus on one part of your composition and then drage the focus box to another area and it will mark a 2nd focus box. Then it will ask you if you want 4-8 secs of ramp speed choice. Then hit set and it records the video with a focus ramp. Only thing it does it only in 1080p. Ive used it.
Great video and supports what I've seen on my GH5 using the MB speedbooster and a Sigma 150-600 to capture birds in flight. The thing just WON'T lock on to the subject and stay there. Very hard with the weight of this setup to use manual focus but that is what I'm left with.
This is so frustrating. I have a GH4 now, I wish I could still buy a GH5 today in late 2021, and I would if the AF was decent. I'm afraid I'm going to move to Sony. I rented the A7C and I found the color decents, the DR amazing and the autofocus out of this world. Somebody is actually going to shoot a movie using the A7C and nobody will notice. Sure, the GH5 is 10 bit 422 while the A7C is 8 bit 420, but guess what, the size of the sensor and the amazing dynamic range allows you to expose perfectly in 95% of the cases, and you don't have any major recovery to do in post. Sure color grading is better with 10 bit and is even better with RAW, but I feel that at the price range we're talking, too much is compromised. I'm mainly alone with a sound guy and these days the fact that a camera can focus for me is just amazing.
GH5 is definitely not the camera for people that want to rely on AF, but I think it is still a better camera for shooting movies than a lot of the competition... but I do agree that the casual viewer might not appreciate that difference and whatever suits you better is the best tool for you and your job :) Good luck with the A7C, interesting camera for sure!
I just moved from a GH5s (IS lens) to an A7c (non IS lens) solely for Sony's AF, and for my last video I didn't have to half press the shutter once to bring the shot into focus. Thoughhhhhh, the A7c lacks BIG TIME in the in-body stabilization game. I had to run all of my footage through Sony's stabilization software, Catalyst, which took up around 5 hours because the free version doesn't allow you to batch. Catalyst also glitched a few of my files, forcing me to then stabilize in post. This workflow is so time consuming, you almost have to buy into their $150/yr program to get any stabilized footage, but I will say it does look great afterwards. I really do miss the colors from the GH5s, which I'm currently trying to match with my A7c, but to be honest, I've also spent time watching YT videos such as this one from to see if I can sneak my GH5s back as my main rig. I know the Sony is a new camera to me and I have to learn it's quirks, but don't any TH-camr fool you when it comes to using an A7c for run and gun type shooting. It's a royal PITA in post, though, my next test is trying out an IS lens to see if the stabilization can be fixed.
@@ScottGerke that sounds rough, thanks for sharing! If you want really smooth footage you might be better off with a gimbal or monopod? I know that adds to the gear pack to take around but I'm sure an IS lens will help!
Hi I am looking to shoot video of fish, in variable light from a distance of up to 30ft, I would not be using a gimbal, instead I would be shooting zoomed in & hand held, the subjects don't tend to move very far so tracking them won't be a huge issue, but would be great if it did as well, would also be looking at some form of polarised lens attachment. Would the GH5 or the M2 be a viable option for this fairly niche use case? TIA
I honestly never tried underwater, but for me if you’re looking to use AF at all I can’t recommend the GH5, Sony and Canon do it SO much better, even if they lack in other areas (Canon R6 doesn’t have waveforms and has limited recording etc)
@@ShotByMyles Thanks for the reply, so with manual focus and zoomed in from a distance of let's say 20ft, you think there would be a lot of focus issues, even with the inbuilt stabilisation? I'm not too hung up on AF if you reckon it'd be doable manually. Thanks
@@Karkawry1970 honestly that’s not something I can really advise on, is there any way to borrow or rent one to try first? Manual focus is decent on the GH5, the focus peaking is good and you can magnify the image before you start rolling to check focus, but you can’t magnify while rolling. You have to be able to use the EVF to check focus though as the screen isn’t massive or bright in direct sunlight.
@@ShotByMyles Thanks for the reply, could you switch to AF whilst rolling to overcome this, I am not looking for a long continuous shot most of the time, more a snapshot of the animal in it's natural habitat, maybe at most shooting 2 mins top of activity/behaviour, and that's about it. Thanks, realise this isn't your usual use case!
@@Karkawry1970 that’s a good question, I think if the lens has the physical AF switch then you should be able to, but I’m afraid now I’ve got rid of my GH5 I can’t test!
Thanks for going through all that again for us Myles. I used AF for about a week and it didn't work for me. The main gripe I have with Manual is weak Peaking: I have to adjust aperture one way or another to find it and then trust that it's still there when resetting aperture to optimal. Would I change to Sony or Canon? Nah, got to work with what I got.
Thanks Alan! I also wouldn't rely on it when it matters, which is a shame! Have you tried changing the sensitivity and colour of the peaking to see if that helps? I think you're right to stick though, people that hop systems end up spending a lot of money for a negligible difference... and with that said I'm renting a Canon next month to try out haha
Is there a possibility to assign to the AF/AE Lock button a continous autofocus in video mode? So, while pressing it autofocusses moving objects and zooming? Right now it focusses only one time (single).
I’m not sure that’s possible Markus, but I think if you leave ‘Continuous AF’ [On] then you can switch the dial around the AF-On between MF for one touch focus and AFC for continuous, I think that’d do what you want?
@@ShotByMyles Thank you for your rapid answer. Thatt´s exactly what I do as a workaround, but it has the backdraft of adding significantly more force to the camera body while recording which results in a unsteady video. I mean my fingers add more camera shake while turning that dial than just pressing a button. Anyways, it looks it´s the only solution. Have a nice day my friend!
Hey Myles! I'm starting up TH-cam channel again and want to use my GH5 to primarily shooting talking heads and b-roll of myself (music videos and moving/walking b-roll). My primary lens is the Sigma 18-35mm, but I know you said this is the one that is the absolute worst. What lens(es) would you recommend for shooting videos of yourself? Hope you see this!
Hey Dan! The Sigma is the worst for AF but it is a good lens! No AF experience will be great on the camera but if manual focus is definitely a no-no, I think the 12-35mm f2.8 is going to be about the best IMO. Good luck with the channel!
When you click the AF mode button and you see the modes you can choose from, click over to highlight one area and then click down on the back scroll wheel to edit the size and place of the wheel 👍🏻
Btw, have you gotten a workaround to navigate through playing back a video through the GH5? Al it has is fast forward etc. I have yet figured out how to do this. This was so easy to do with Canon cameras etc.
I think that's all there is unfortunately! I'm more grateful for it now that I have a BMPCC4K though- on playback you can't zoom out to see all the clips and you can't even delete individual clips in the camera!
I just got the 15mm f1.7 and I immediately noticed how bad the autofocus is. I had some old olympus kit lens before and it was so much better. Any tips? To make it better
Honestly this video is my best advice, other than that I’d recommend manual focus! At that focal length manual focus isn’t too difficult unless you can’t get to the focus ring, in which case what I used to do with this lens is stop down and keep the distance to the subject the same. It’s a nice lens, hope you enjoy it!
@@ShotByMyles yeah I noticed at 2.8 it's good but I mainly got it for the 1.7 and making videos like vlogs so manual focusing won't be ideal but sometimes I will for sure. But yeah I realized manual focus is much easier on wide lenses, as my only manual focus lens before was 70mm eqv
@@davidvictory9764 the truth is that GH cameras just aren’t great for AF, your kit lens might have appeared to focus better because it couldn’t open as wide as f1.7? But for vlogging I’d definitely be trying to use face detect (unless you could set the focus manually and keep the same distance away)
@LuBi Bochum Hi! (I do not own a GH5) but there seems to be a hack, that makes the AF 50% better. GH5 menu - SS Gain Operation (change to ANGLE/ISO). Next change the Synchro Scan to ON, and use the dial to get 179 (degrees) not 180 as original. There it is... the AF will now be much more responsive.
PjotrII I think that worked some time ago but that Panasonic heard about it and incorporated the fix in to the following firmware update to apply that improvement at all shutter speeds. That’s what I understand but I couldn’t be 1000% sure!
@@ShotByMyles ok, that´s possible... I just got happy when I read about it as GH5 has been one camera that I might buy, but the AF (tests seen) scared me away (while it has great features for the price otherwise).
@@PjotrII No worries, I should test that at some point to see if the fix / hack still makes a difference, but honestly I would still consider it carefully if AF is really important to you as the other options may be better on that front (but worse on codecs / IBIS generally!)
I think Panasonic has a problem with AF in video recording at all. I just bought G90 with 12-60 and AF is exactly the same = not correct. When I start recording with all AUTO - AF was wobbling, skipping from object to object - terrible, nothing was in focus more than 1-2 sec. Now I use only one-area AF which works fine but not as I expect. AF is much slower in 4k than in FHD. It is so hard to use MF in some "action shoots" even with peeking. I cant imagine it :(. Great video , thank you.
Agreed, I think they must realise it's the biggest thing they need to address for the next generation! For action shots I would personally try and shoot on a wider lens and stop down the aperture to give me a better chance of keeping it in focus :)
Hello Myles, I've become a fan of your channel. I am thinking about taking your GH5 course. I wanted to ask........ What version of GH5 software does the course use. I took the Photo Joseph course and had to return it because his course was from 2017 or 2018 and it did not match up well with my 2020 GH5 software well. Also if I have questions while taking the course... Do you answer them? thanks and please let me know. Looking forward.
Hi, the biggest changes in the firmware have been to the autofocus, and my course's AF guidance is based on the latest firmware that changed it (which was released Nov 2019, retested here this year in 2020). The latest firmware only really dealt with a few niche bugs / compatibility with the new 10-25mm lens which doesn't impact the validity of the course. I'm quite proud that my course has been kept current, there won't be many GH5 courses out there that have been updated this year whereas mine has. And yes I respond to questions on there too. Thanks for looking and good luck either way!
I’ve never used it but I’ve heard good things! I’d just make sure that it’s not too distorted at 8mm if possible. It’s a good focal range but f4 at 18mm won’t give much subject separation for shooting with people as the subject.
Didn't Panasonic just put out a firmware update to address the focus? How does the focus fair now? Will it work better with the sigma and speedbooster now? What about the GH5s? Does it focus better, as it can use a Panasonic (stabilizing) lens? I was thinking of getting a GH5, or a GH5s. I plan to use the camera more for video than for photography, and I will be out in the field shooting tourism style video, so often I will be using it handheld. I know the GH5 has stabilization, but the GH5s does not. The GH5s works better in low light, comes with V-log, and some better specs on video. If I get a lens that has stabilization, will it make the GH5s good enough in regard to stabilization? If so, what lens do you recommend for that purpose? Someday I may get a Ronin gimbal... but not in the near future. Or... Should I get the GH5 and then a sigma lens with a viltrox speed booster? Will that handle the low light issues of the GH5 and thus make it the better choice? It seems a lot of the video features and profiles cannot be used on the GH5, when shooting in low light. Seems to me that sort of negates the camera as an all-around useful video camera... UNLESS - you tell me that the sigma lens with speedbooster will make it possible to use all those features... Will it? P.s If I get a GH5s, and a stabilizing lens, will it still benefit me somehow to have a speedbooster, or will I no longer need that item? Sorry for all the questions. Thank you for your help. I am new to all this and want to get the best tool that will support my needs now, and a few years into the future.
Hello, the last autofocus update was Nov 2019, so this is the latest performance. I also did a video in November about that update specifically. It's really difficult for me to tell you whether the lens IS is enough on GH5S because it depends on what you're doing and what you expect. It'll be better than not having IS at all but it won't be as good as the GH5. The Sigma and speed booster combination does well in low light for my needs, but again that depends on what you want and expect. It's also a heavy setup which isn't ideal for travelling. It's true you'll get a bit more noise in low light using slow motion on the GH5 compared to the regular shooting modes, and the same is true for using the 1.4x ex tele converter mode to get more reach, but that's going to be true for a lot of cameras. The GH5S has a noise issue anyway in slow motion, and the Sony A7iii slow motion looked to be quite noisy from my limited experience with it. If you really need clean night-time footage where you are working with minimal lights, the GH5S might be the best choice. With the Panasonic 12-35mm you will get lens IS but it's only f2.8, so a faster prime lens might still be needed for low light work. A speed booster on a GH5S will benefit in terms of allowing you to get more light and a wider field of view than you'd get from the same lens without a speed booster, but for me it's not AS vital compared to the GH5 which is more in need of help in low light situations.
hello and congratulations on your video. I write from Italy, I am inexperienced and I am forced to use AF for my video clips. I have a GH5 and I fell in love with this Sigma 30mm f1.4 lens. but since the GH5 uses contrast focus, which seems to be not compatible with this lens, I would like to ask you for advice: is it really not recommended to use this lens for videos if you intend to use AF only? The focus is really much slower and more complicated than a normal 25mm 1.7 Panasonic? Thanks for your suggestions
Hi! I have never tried the Sigma 30mm f1.4 but I imagine the AF will be quite bad... if you have to use that lens, I would recommend using it at a higher f stop (f4 and above) to give it the best chance of keeping focus. Learning manual focus and peaking is probably the best bet with that lens! The best performing lenses for AF will be Panasonic’s such as the 12-35mm f2.8.
dear friend, in the meantime, thank you for your availability. Since you are an expert, I ask you a trivial question for you but as you will have understood I am not an expert and I can not find the solution: when you are in AFF video mode how do you enable the lens ring in order to move the focus from one point to another? Practically as it is set, if I turn the ring does not change the focus I have to go and click on the touch screen ... Instead I would like to do it with the lens ring, also because on my Ronin SC combo I have the focus motor. I state that on the menu I have already activated AF + MF but it does not work. what else do i need to adjust? Thanks for your help
Though it may be considered to be similar to your sitting in one place interview test. I am really more interested in whether the AF can be used in a situation where a gimbal is being used to track a walk and talk, one or two subjects whos sizing may change marginally due to inconsistencies of the cameraman and the subject speed. I don't see many occasions that we need to se a subject approach from far away to a full face while the camera holds still. (though it is educational) The tracking shot is much more prevalent and useful, also movement will tend to cover the microbuzzes. But is the GH5 autofocus even good enough for that? Also putting the firmware version you are testing in the info would be helpful.
Hi, it’s the latest firmware as of publishing date of the video (I think that’s the last one they’ve done to be fair). Nothing has changed for AF in firmware since Nov 2019 for the GH5. If in your use case you’re trying to maintain the same distance between camera and subject, then yes that’s probably closest to the sit down interview as I tested each setting by leaving the plane of focus to see how well it adjusted. I’d argue the catwalk test I did is also a good indicator for your use case- and you obviously don’t shoot weddings as that is a perfect test for a bride walking down the aisle :) I also shoot music videos and dance videos where the camera is moving in / out with the distance to the subject distance changing similarly to this test. The answer to your question on whether the Gh5 is good enough depends on your lens FOV, f stop and expectations. If you need focus to be hit nearly all of the time I think it’s out of the question. If you’re willing to use a wide Lumix lens stopped down, it should perform better than this test.
@@ShotByMyles Thank you for your considered reply. In narrative or commercial work, or even industrials, the gimbal/steadycam walk and talk is used quite a bit as I'm sure you are aware of. I like something around a 16-20mm for m4/3 depending, and was hoping to create some depth. I can live with less and maintain same distance if I have to. Tomorrow I will close down and lose a lot of character and go manual/locked zone focus because of your observations. I have a brisk schedule and cannot afford too many takes. I had hoped that the camera could handle that . oh well. I forgot to think outside my own metier and laughed at myself with your observation, and yes walking down the aisle is a perfect example of that far to near need! thank you.
All the best with your shoot! That is how I’d do it personally given the importance- I’d get a depth of field large enough to swallow their faces and any mismatched speeds between you and them (I wouldn’t want to be trying to pull focus manually myself in that scenario unless you had a follow focus and the skill to use it, which I don’t!) If you ever get chance to test out the AF in that use case then it might be good just to confirm whether it’s useable or not for you with your lens / f stop etc.
Great video. I love the GH5, but the AF is frustrating. I shot a feature film with the GH5 last year. In the meantime, I just ordered the Sony a6400 for the AF. With the kit lens, it gives me a camera I can rely on for good AF for some scenarios while coming in under $1,000. Since, I'll be using these cameras for narrative film making, I think I'll be in good shape.
Thank you! I actually use a bunch of different modes these days to be honest, the Cine-D stuff I'll keep at -5 for NR and sharpness, but when I use Natural now I tend to leave both at 0. I prefer Natural for quick turnaround jobs and Cine-D for stuff I want to grade heavily (when I can't use log, such as 8 bit slow motion).
@@ShotByMyles I have a queation about the digital sharpness setting, if I set it to -5, does it digitally dull the image? or is 0 the default where there is no dulling, or sharping? Because if 0 has nothing applied to it, and is, the natural sharpness of the lens, I'd prefer to set it that way.
@@ShotByMyles Understandable, I see that now a days, you don't tend to tweak your settings to much. Been using -2 for noise red& sharpness, and I really like it especially shooting in 1080p.
I do yes, although I’ll shoot my own talking head in AF for youtube where the odd bit of hunting wouldn’t ruin my day! But that’s only on native glass :)
@@morsydesign8290 yes at f10 almost everything would be in focus! I don't think that would be a good test of the autofocus, and I would almost never shoot at f10
Well this is a 2017 camera, but yeah I agree! If they master this 'line of sight' focus tech for the GH6 then it should be a huge leap forward for them. That's if they make the GH6 :)
Huge fan of the Sigma 18-35, so manual focus is the name of the game for me. Absolutely, I agree don't use auto focus with this lens. However you can use the backbutton reliably between recordings to catch focus. (Like you mentioned at the end) Now on to the firmware. I found that my Panasonic 12-35 has become quite a reliable vlogging lens. Haven't vlogged in forever so I was pleasantly surprised going out and just "point n shooting". It was a novel experience aha. And since vlogs are improvised and imperfect by nature, the af face detection was good for f2.8 Awesome video Miles! Cheers
Thanks a lot Jon! Great to hear you’re getting some use from it, honestly I was pretty happy with the talking head stuff here and it’d only be better on a lens like that I’m sure! Which mode do you use out of interest?
@@ShotByMyles Thanks a lot Miles! I shoot AFS, face detection. In the menu I also turned off Quick AF. Some people say it ruins the auto focus. WIth my limited experimentation, when Quick AF is off, the camera takes longer to focus, but the transition is smoother and when it ghosts, it will refocus better. As for the rest of the settings, this is the the preset I saved as "vloggers dream": Whitebalance auto. ISO auto, but limit set to 3200. Then keep framerate constant at 24, and shutter angle at constant 180. This works because I use an ND filter, so when I am outdoors I put it all the way to ND32, and indoors I drop it to ND2. ISO manages to adjust smoothly to it and the result is just stunning. I would never do this on a shoot, but for vlogging it's great. I also think 180 degree shutter angle is important since there is a lot of movement in a vlog and it just looks so buttery.
I’m not sure about that, but it was terrible on the old firmware for the speedboosted Sigma anyway! It’s best to consider that setup as AFS only, no continuous IMO
Hi! (I do not own a GH5) but there seems to be a hack, that makes the AF 50% better. GH5 menu - SS Gain Operation (change to ANGLE/ISO). Next change the Synchro Scan to ON, and use the dial to get 179 (degrees) not 180 as original. There it is... the AF will now be much more responsive.
Thanks, I thought the catwalk test was relevant for gimbal use because the distance to the subject is changing, so I would personally go with those settings in a gimbal situation (although to tend to use manual focus!)
Wearing the wrong clothes? Really? Have you tried it in a tutu with reindeer antlers and fluffy bunny slippers to see if that makes a difference? Don't know about the camera but everyone else will be tracking you. Great video thanks for all the work you put into it.
@@sixpackbiz I can't recommend the GH5 to people that need really good autofocus I'm afraid, but bear in mind this test was 25mm fairly open aperture on the cheapest lens you can buy, so it's not supposed to be the best GH5 performance possible, it's supposed to stretch it and show the risks. I've never used that lens but it's going to be fairly similar to Panasonic AF performance given it's a native lens, but it's worth noting you don't get any autofocus at all for frame rates larger than 60 (so your 180P won't have any AF). I'm fine breaking the 180 rule especially for sports! I don't think most average viewers would notice one bit, but I still personally stick to it most of the time, and I also wouldn't personally shoot 60P for stuff unless I think there's a good chance I will want it to slowed down in post.
@@ShotByMyles I don't agree with you regarding AF performance on native lenses. The 25mm is pure crap, it is sooo slow and AF motor is loud, will be recorded. On the other hand, 12-60 f2,8-4 is much more faster and beat the 25mm easily. The same goes to Sigma 16mm f1.4 which is a very good lens too. I am shooting runners with GH5 and it is doable, but yes, I would appreciate faster AF. Some examples with 12-60 at FHD50p: th-cam.com/video/VGgc8ubub_c/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/rcSHcGrdF9M/w-d-xo.html
Roman Mihalik by native lenses I mean lenses made for the MFT mount, as opposed to lenses adapted to the system such as the Sigma 18-35mm via speedbooster. I think all those lenses you mentioned are what I would call native, and as such are going to perform better than adapted lenses.
When I bought my GH5 I'm always using the autofocus but when I, found out this focus pulsing I stopped using it. Iol now I'm always using manual focus😊
@@ShotByMyles but still waiting for a proper update on this autofocus. It makes our lives easier especially if we're using a gimbal😊 Anyway, nice video. Thank you fir this. Cheers mate👌
@@FilmGradeIII Hi! (I do not own a GH5) but there seems to be a hack, that makes the AF 50% better. GH5 menu - SS Gain Operation (change to ANGLE/ISO). Next change the Synchro Scan to ON, and use the dial to get 179 (degrees) not 180 as original. There it is... the AF will now be much more responsive.
gh5 autofocus still sucks all on its own so not sure how anyone can make it look bad haha and the settings are hit in miss, what works one moment will not work the next. it still just sucks.
If AF is your main concern, I agree the Sonys or Canons will be better! But the A7Siii is about triple the price. The R6 is also great for AF, but it can’t do things the GH5 can and even with the superior AF system it doesn’t work for everything flawlessly
@@ShotByMyles Sure. If you're behind the camera and don't need to be pulling focus all the time, the GH5 is unbeatable. i have a GH5 and the a7r4 (hi res). With the price of the a7sIII one can consider the next level up with the Canon C70 which is excellent.... oh that built in ND.
Agreed! I’ve actually got a C70 on order! if I love it then the R6 will be B cam to that, if not then the Sony system is calling... I love the GH5 but I’ve got the itch and money to invest. I still believe the GH5 is the best value of the lot but internal ND and AF for solo shoot interviews and gimbal work is more and more appealing. Seen some great stuff from that Sony of yours though!
@@ShotByMyles LOL. Dump the R6 and use the money to get a 2nd GH5! lol. Yea the a7r4 is a nice camera.... the super high res for stills and video that is on par with the a7III with eye tracking in video. Still I prefer the GH5 for handling when I'm not needing to AF.
I had a G9 until recently as a B cam for the GH5 and that was a great little camera for the money, I’m just not sure about the future of MFT in all honesty. Panasonic themselves have released like 3 full frame cameras since the GH5? I also wanted at least 1 good AF cam in my setup! There’s no doubt you can do a lot of damage with two GH5’s IF you’re comfortable manual focusing!
just not a big fan of the GH5, it struggles way too much, i prefer the S1R, same price range, 0 issues, only reason vloggers worships it, is because of affiliate links they profit from
The S1R is about double the cost of the GH5, and that’s before you’ve looked at lenses. I bet the 50mm f1.4 they make is nice, but it’s just under £2,000 in the UK, which is three times more expensive than the Leica 25mm f1.4. I’ve never tried one but I understood the AF was still poor and behind Sony / Canon? If a vlogger has an affiliate link for a GH5 they’ll also have one for the S1!
A lot of effort has been spent by owners to try and fix this, and considering how much the camera cost Panasonic should have offered refunds to disgruntled users. It was never going to work properly.
sorry :( I really only ever had joy using manual focus on the GH5 for gimbal work, it is harder for sure, but I would recommend it: - shoot with a wider lens (i.e. 15mm or less maybe) - use a bigger f stop to get a deeper depth of field - use focus peaking and be aware of the difference in how it looks between nailed on focus, and just out of focus (when it can trick you in to thinking it's in focus) - work out how big your depth of field is so that you keep your subject in focus (i.e. within that distance) throughout the clip - I know it's simple, but remember the closer your subject, the less focus depth you have so you have to be very consistent with how close you are. Good luck!
Wow I can't imagine how long this took. Thank you so much for doing this so we don't have to, I appreciate the time and effort you put in
Thanks Maxim, much appreciated!
Great video! Still, I keep my GH5 on Manual focus at all time. I just use the [AF] button on the custom front button for fast autofocus in Manual, simple and accurate!
Ditto!
Rught. I do the same with the back focus button.
Hey great video - try this - AFS, 225-Area autofocus and maximise the area then set, AF/AE Lock - AF-On Far - I found this to be the most continuous autofocus with little to no pulsating.
May that all gods bless you! Thank you
Hi Myles, I have a GH5 ii - would your course still be relevant? I'm finding it hard to find good, beginner set-up videos for this camera. Thanks!
I think so yes- it’s a very similar camera with only some feature’s differing.
If you try the course and don’t like it, Udemy has a very good refunds policy :)
Enjoy your camera!
Thanks! I bought the GH5 two years ago presuming I would never be able or even want to use autofocus on it. You have saved me wasting valuable time testing to see if it is viable to use today due to my curiosity being peaked by so many reviewers on TH-cam saying that it had improved tremendously since its launch. You have confirmed for me twice now that it is still unusable for my needs!🙏🏾
Thanks Eugene, glad it helped! Some people do use it but I just can’t bring myself to trust it when it counts!
@@ShotByMyles I agree. I'd only use AF for personal videos, not professional jobs.
Hi! (I do not own a GH5) but there seems to be a hack, that makes the AF 50% better. GH5 menu - SS Gain Operation (change to ANGLE/ISO). Next change the Synchro Scan to ON, and use the dial to get 179 (degrees) not 180 as original. There it is... the AF will now be much more responsive. Test that plz!
Those were early methods of experiments to try to improve the focus on the GH5. Gerald Undone rose to fame with his work on the problem. However Panasonic have released a couple of firmware updates since then that for some seem to have helped the problem but even today the autofocus is unusable for many of us that want reliability in its function. If you are thinking of buying the GH5 try it out first and see if it works for you!🙏🏾
AMAZING video thankyou!
Very thorough, thanks for sharing your results!
I use a medium/slow speed for auto focus!Focus hunting/pulsing gets distractive especially if you slow your footage to 50%!I use my gh5 for weddings since the gh5 came!It also didn't hunt that much with the first firmware out of the box!I don't know why nοone talks about it!
Nice video btw!
Thanks so much for redoing the test with a more capable lens for af than the Nocticron! Appreciate your work on this for us to see
I really want to thank you for all the work that you did here. You answered a lot of questions that would have taken me many hours to figure out.
Thanks Gerald that’s great to hear!
Great Video !!! I spent almost a week trying to get rid of the pulsing and kept thinking that there was something wrong with my native Lumix lens. Even sent the lens in for servicing and was told there was nothing wrong with it after 2 weeks. Went through dozens of youtube videos showing how well the setup focussed on different objects (and faces) without the pulsing. I feel so much better now having seen your tests. Remarkable effort on your part. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.
Thank you Jeffrey! Yes unfortunately it’s a bit of a ‘feature’ as far as I can tell!
I could watch you walk back and forth all day, talking about auto-focus :D
Thank you for making this video!
Haha thanks, I'm gonna have to hire a model next time!!
You, sir, are an absolute gem.
I'm astounded at the quality of this video and how well you teach and talk on camera. I was expecting 300k subscribers!
Honestly one of the best, keep going!
Insanely generous of you, thanks for leaving such a great comment!
Fantastic video man, packed with knowledge bombs! Definitely my favourite autofocus test for Gh5 so far! Will follow your guidance and try a large square with 0 sensitivity for my talking head shots!
That's high praise, thank you!
Thanks Myles - I just got a used GH5 this week and have this the 25mm 1.7 lens. Great info, thank you. I shall check out your other GH5 videos. 👍🏼
Hope you love it!
Hey man great work thanks for the video! Keep making videos they're great!
Thank you for taking the countless hours to make this... and my conclusion is... I will continue to not use auto focus on my GH5. I'm just worried if I ever move away to another brand, I'll be so scarred from the crap auto focus on the GH5 that I will never trust auto focus again regardless of camera...
Thanks Saul, completely agree! I was quite happy with how the talking head parts came out but I’d be too scared to use it in a critical situation :)
We need some AF therapy to trust it ever again haha
You nailed it! I bought one recently and it ruined my catwalk footage because of focus pulsing and not attaining focus quickly. My stage was more complicated though, having more than one subjects at times, zooming was required, and the light was uneven and somewhat low. The camera failed to keep the focus even after attaining it, and suffered focus pulsing caused by a slight face movement by the subject despite having focus attained on the face a second ago, the subject kept looking at the cam and just moved the head 10-20 degree. Thanks for pointing out that it's not recommended for a wedding type of event. Will try your recommendations, thank you!
Oh man that sounds like a nightmare scenario for autofocus on this camera!!
It just can’t be relied upon 🙃 I have a wedding shooter friend who got extremely good with manual focusing though and honestly that’s a life skill worth developing for video people… good luck!
Myles your content and you are missed and appreciated! Thank you always!
Thanks very much for the kind words, brightened my day! Take it easy
@@ShotByMyles glad it did! thank you! ☺️
I got a GH5 back in May of 2020. The GH5 has so many aides to make manual focus easy that I just use manual all the time.
Works great.
True, that’s how I use it, it’s just missing the ability to magnify to check focus while recording. Although I was starting to trust AF for my own TH-cam talking head stuff!
I bumped into a video a few years ago demonstrating how autofocus speed and accuracy was improved by setting your exposure priority to shutter angle, and fixing it to a figure below 180deg. I do all my shoots with shutter angle at 170deg and I'm happy with it.
If I’m thinking of the same fix then it was quite high profile at the time and actually highlighted a problem that Panasonic addressed in a firmware update… so it’s my understanding shutter angle now doesn’t make a difference so maybe worth a try if you’re on latest firmware!
...the first indication that this was going to be a professional and thorough tutorial was that there was no elevator music in the background. Thanks.
Best video about gh5 AF settings at all TH-cam!
I appreciate that, thank you!
Fantastic, in depth video...much appreciated!!
Thanks a lot!
Had some great results with the sigma 16 1.4 native. Its a bit slow to move focus - which is great because it seems to avoid pulsing while having a nice rate of ""pull" Used for some gimbals moves into talents heads (from 1o ft moving in to 4 ft away) and the results were great. Its an absolutely brilliant lens and a must have for the gh5. Works beautifully using focus transitions too.
imagine going through all these test scenarios god damn applause
Haha thank you thank you
Thank You very much! I'm beginner and this is tutorial for me :-)
Glad it was helpful!
Great test. In my opinion the gh5 autofocus is heavily designed for stills not video. Contrast based just isn't going to make it in the video world. That is why GH5 is basically a dream for us manual shooters only.
Fully agree! I’ve heard about the ‘line of sight’ focus Panasonic are apparently working on which sounds interesting, but anything has to be better than contrast-based!
nice content, thank you! very useful!
I know this video is old but mybe you can answer my question. I shoot Boudoir videos with my gh5 so its all about the model and she does not move very fast. I just follow her with the camera. What af settings would you suggest for this scenario? Aff, afc , sensitivity and such things
Hey, for video I’d probably start with one area AFC with a larger square and middle speed / sensitivity. Honestly manual focus would be my biggest recommendation tbh, I’d imagine some focus pulls looking quite natural and complement the shoot.
All the best!
Well done Myles! I have such a love/hate for this camera due to the AF issues
Thanks Matt! Completely agree, there's a lot of value to be had by learning how to pull focus manually, but at the end of the day if you film yourself, or use a gimbal, awesome AF can be super helpful IMO! I've switched to the Canon C70 and R6, but I can tell you the GH5 stands up well considering the age and price difference
Amateur here...a silly question, when filming yourself and nobody to focus you in do you still stick to manual focus or autofocus? In my case, in a gym environment filming my workouts with only me working the camera on a tripod, can I still use manual focus or would I stick to autofocus? I have a GH5 with a Sigma 30mm 1.4 lens.
Honestly I’d set the camera up in manual focus and make sure the f stop is high enough (maybe f2.8 or higher depending on how far away the camera is) to give you a depth of field large enough to keep you in focus throughout your exercise, does that make sense?
In autofocus it could get confused and miss the whole thing badly, I wouldn’t trust a Sigma lens personally unless you couldn’t get manual focus to work and you can monitor the focus somehow…
Good luck!
@@ShotByMyles Thank you Myles! Just purchased your GH5 course to learn more about my camera ☺
@@ALEXMFITNESS thank you! Hope it works out well for you :)
Hi sir, I really appreciate your tutorial, just a quick question,
if Im shooting sports photography via the extraction from 6k footages, what sens would you recommend or what focus would you suggest
thanks in advance !
Thank you!
That sounds difficult, have you done it before and were you happy with the result?
Video footage will not give the quality and flexibility of a RAW photograph, but if you have to do it this way I would make sure your shutter speed it quite high to give you chance of getting sharp frames from the video footage.
For focusing, it really depends on the lens and composition you’re going for, I strongly recommend to test before the shoot, and I’d try one of the ‘one area’ modes and face detect.
Face detect might struggle but worth experimenting! Good luck
Great review. And agreed. The auto focus is unreliable for professional use.
Hi! (I do not own a GH5) but there seems to be a hack, that makes the AF 50% better. GH5 menu - SS Gain Operation (change to ANGLE/ISO). Next change the Synchro Scan to ON, and use the dial to get 179 (degrees) not 180 as original. There it is... the AF will now be much more responsive.
Thanle Myles, i just find this video, i didnt watch all because a already seen it two year ago, i just want to thank you beacause i did’nt do it last time (surelely watching it on phone at that time ^^).
The double back, extremely rare 😁 thank you very much! Hope it helped!
@@ShotByMyles yeah it does for my personnal stuff/familly with the 12-35 2.8.
But for non native lens, no way i have lost this case ^^ full manual
I can't get the AF to work at all with the camera set to C1 where I have set up for 4K 60fps. Can you help?
Remember AF doesn’t work if you are in VFR mode in case that helps?
@@ShotByMyles ah that's right. Thx
Any idea how to get the “focus peaking while AFS on” working? It came with the 2.6 firmware update but I can’t seem to get it working on my GH5 and can’t find any info on it anywhere?!
I have AFS set to the back AF ON button, and with the ‘peaking while AF’ option set to on, I see the peaking while I’m holding down that AFS button, but it doesn’t work continuously with AFS.
I don’t know if that helps you, but if you’re asking where in the menus that option is I’m afraid I don’t remember and I’m not with the camera!
Great job, well done, for my needs the auto focus is fine, but I do find myself helping it out with touch screen focus, it’s a bit like bump starting a motorbike just to get it going. I’ve also found the near/far focus option useful, again it just helps out, to keep it in the right zone. I’ve just done a 1.5 hour conversation video between 5 people, going back through the footage the GH5 lost focus 6 times whilst changing subjects, not such a bad trade off, as I had a couple of other angles covered it was easy to edit over those out of focus moments.
That’s interesting to hear, and good thinking about multi-angles, that would seem a good workaround!
Honestly I was quite surprised with my talking head footage which I shot on autofocus, once I got the mode that worked for me I was quite happy with what I got.
Which mode do you use?
Shot by Myles I use shutter speed priority mode using shutter degrees rather than speed, I set it at 179 degrees mainly because of the video by YodaYeo explaining the way the GH5 processes the auto focus and the timing issue, to me it made sense and ‘seemed’ to work, but then as with any auto focus situation with the GH5 its subject to outside forces! I also have it on continuous auto focus with focus speed plus 1 and sensitivity minus 2, seems to slow down the hunting but gives a smooth focus transition.
When using your small ‘ focus box’ instead try custom multi setting but as small a box as you think you can get away with, I find it more accurate as long as you have some contrast especially for long focus pulls, say from a flower 2 feet away to a tree 100 yards away, much quicker to find focus and finds it more times than using the normal small green square.
Hi! (I do not own a GH5) but there seems to be a hack, that makes the AF 50% better. GH5 menu - SS Gain Operation (change to ANGLE/ISO). Next change the Synchro Scan to ON, and use the dial to get 179 (degrees) not 180 as original. There it is... the AF will now be much more responsive.
In the Snap Video function where it does a predetermined focus pull, is it true that it can do it only in 1080p mode and this SNAP MOVIE mode isnt available in 4k ?
The focus pull mode where you set two points of focus works in 4K too! I don't think it works in VFR mode (so the super slow motion modes) if I remember correctly. Also it's not reliable at all when using a speed booster, which is worth mentioning!
@@ShotByMyles > Thanks for replying. Your sure the A-B automatic focus pull mode works in 4K. Because on my Lumix G7 it doesnt and only works 1080p mode.
Also it has only 2 speed modes (approx) 4 sec and 8 sec for the transition of the focus pull. Is it the same with the GH5 too ?
I think we might be talking about different functions, because I’m pretty sure the G7 doesn’t have the GH5’s focus transition! The G80 and even G9 ones don’t have the same feature. The one I’m talking about certainly works in 4K!
@@ShotByMyles > The G7 has such a function. Its called SNAP MOVIE mode. And you can focus on one part of your composition and then drage the focus box to another area and it will mark a 2nd focus box. Then it will ask you if you want 4-8 secs of ramp speed choice. Then hit set and it records the video with a focus ramp. Only thing it does it only in 1080p. Ive used it.
Interesting! So weird how it doesn’t work in 4K though
Great video and supports what I've seen on my GH5 using the MB speedbooster and a Sigma 150-600 to capture birds in flight. The thing just WON'T lock on to the subject and stay there. Very hard with the weight of this setup to use manual focus but that is what I'm left with.
I feel your pain, that’s got to be tough!
Super helpful . Thanks
This is so frustrating. I have a GH4 now, I wish I could still buy a GH5 today in late 2021, and I would if the AF was decent. I'm afraid I'm going to move to Sony. I rented the A7C and I found the color decents, the DR amazing and the autofocus out of this world. Somebody is actually going to shoot a movie using the A7C and nobody will notice. Sure, the GH5 is 10 bit 422 while the A7C is 8 bit 420, but guess what, the size of the sensor and the amazing dynamic range allows you to expose perfectly in 95% of the cases, and you don't have any major recovery to do in post. Sure color grading is better with 10 bit and is even better with RAW, but I feel that at the price range we're talking, too much is compromised. I'm mainly alone with a sound guy and these days the fact that a camera can focus for me is just amazing.
GH5 is definitely not the camera for people that want to rely on AF, but I think it is still a better camera for shooting movies than a lot of the competition... but I do agree that the casual viewer might not appreciate that difference and whatever suits you better is the best tool for you and your job :)
Good luck with the A7C, interesting camera for sure!
I just moved from a GH5s (IS lens) to an A7c (non IS lens) solely for Sony's AF, and for my last video I didn't have to half press the shutter once to bring the shot into focus. Thoughhhhhh, the A7c lacks BIG TIME in the in-body stabilization game. I had to run all of my footage through Sony's stabilization software, Catalyst, which took up around 5 hours because the free version doesn't allow you to batch. Catalyst also glitched a few of my files, forcing me to then stabilize in post. This workflow is so time consuming, you almost have to buy into their $150/yr program to get any stabilized footage, but I will say it does look great afterwards. I really do miss the colors from the GH5s, which I'm currently trying to match with my A7c, but to be honest, I've also spent time watching YT videos such as this one from to see if I can sneak my GH5s back as my main rig. I know the Sony is a new camera to me and I have to learn it's quirks, but don't any TH-camr fool you when it comes to using an A7c for run and gun type shooting. It's a royal PITA in post, though, my next test is trying out an IS lens to see if the stabilization can be fixed.
@@ScottGerke that sounds rough, thanks for sharing! If you want really smooth footage you might be better off with a gimbal or monopod? I know that adds to the gear pack to take around but I'm sure an IS lens will help!
@@ShotByMyles ohhh yea, just a little
Hi I am looking to shoot video of fish, in variable light from a distance of up to 30ft, I would not be using a gimbal, instead I would be shooting zoomed in & hand held, the subjects don't tend to move very far so tracking them won't be a huge issue, but would be great if it did as well, would also be looking at some form of polarised lens attachment. Would the GH5 or the M2 be a viable option for this fairly niche use case? TIA
I honestly never tried underwater, but for me if you’re looking to use AF at all I can’t recommend the GH5, Sony and Canon do it SO much better, even if they lack in other areas (Canon R6 doesn’t have waveforms and has limited recording etc)
@@ShotByMyles Thanks for the reply, so with manual focus and zoomed in from a distance of let's say 20ft, you think there would be a lot of focus issues, even with the inbuilt stabilisation? I'm not too hung up on AF if you reckon it'd be doable manually. Thanks
@@Karkawry1970 honestly that’s not something I can really advise on, is there any way to borrow or rent one to try first?
Manual focus is decent on the GH5, the focus peaking is good and you can magnify the image before you start rolling to check focus, but you can’t magnify while rolling.
You have to be able to use the EVF to check focus though as the screen isn’t massive or bright in direct sunlight.
@@ShotByMyles Thanks for the reply, could you switch to AF whilst rolling to overcome this, I am not looking for a long continuous shot most of the time, more a snapshot of the animal in it's natural habitat, maybe at most shooting 2 mins top of activity/behaviour, and that's about it. Thanks, realise this isn't your usual use case!
@@Karkawry1970 that’s a good question, I think if the lens has the physical AF switch then you should be able to, but I’m afraid now I’ve got rid of my GH5 I can’t test!
Thanks for going through all that again for us Myles. I used AF for about a week and it didn't work for me. The main gripe I have with Manual is weak Peaking: I have to adjust aperture one way or another to find it and then trust that it's still there when resetting aperture to optimal. Would I change to Sony or Canon? Nah, got to work with what I got.
Thanks Alan! I also wouldn't rely on it when it matters, which is a shame! Have you tried changing the sensitivity and colour of the peaking to see if that helps?
I think you're right to stick though, people that hop systems end up spending a lot of money for a negligible difference... and with that said I'm renting a Canon next month to try out haha
but how to set this one area fokus mode? I can't find it
Is there a possibility to assign to the AF/AE Lock button a continous autofocus in video mode? So, while pressing it autofocusses moving objects and zooming? Right now it focusses only one time (single).
I’m not sure that’s possible Markus, but I think if you leave ‘Continuous AF’ [On] then you can switch the dial around the AF-On between MF for one touch focus and AFC for continuous, I think that’d do what you want?
@@ShotByMyles Thank you for your rapid answer. Thatt´s exactly what I do as a workaround, but it has the backdraft of adding significantly more force to the camera body while recording which results in a unsteady video. I mean my fingers add more camera shake while turning that dial than just pressing a button. Anyways, it looks it´s the only solution. Have a nice day my friend!
Markus ah I see why you asked now! It is a stiff dial, sorry I couldn’t help!
@@ShotByMyles Thanks you anyways :-)
Nice video and congratulations. I didn't understand a thing. I use + 3 / -1, but what selection of areas should I use for approaching people?
Thanks for this Myles! By the way, what is the highest ISO on the GH5 you would call "okay" on 4k and 1080?
1600 max
Hey Myles! I'm starting up TH-cam channel again and want to use my GH5 to primarily shooting talking heads and b-roll of myself (music videos and moving/walking b-roll). My primary lens is the Sigma 18-35mm, but I know you said this is the one that is the absolute worst. What lens(es) would you recommend for shooting videos of yourself? Hope you see this!
Hey Dan! The Sigma is the worst for AF but it is a good lens! No AF experience will be great on the camera but if manual focus is definitely a no-no, I think the 12-35mm f2.8 is going to be about the best IMO.
Good luck with the channel!
How do you change the one area square size?
When you click the AF mode button and you see the modes you can choose from, click over to highlight one area and then click down on the back scroll wheel to edit the size and place of the wheel 👍🏻
Btw, have you gotten a workaround to navigate through playing back a video through the GH5? Al it has is fast forward etc. I have yet figured out how to do this. This was so easy to do with Canon cameras etc.
I think that's all there is unfortunately! I'm more grateful for it now that I have a BMPCC4K though- on playback you can't zoom out to see all the clips and you can't even delete individual clips in the camera!
Brilliant - thank you !
Much appreciated!
great video. for sure a hard job
Nice mate. Thanks.
Thanks for watching!
I just got the 15mm f1.7 and I immediately noticed how bad the autofocus is. I had some old olympus kit lens before and it was so much better. Any tips? To make it better
Honestly this video is my best advice, other than that I’d recommend manual focus! At that focal length manual focus isn’t too difficult unless you can’t get to the focus ring, in which case what I used to do with this lens is stop down and keep the distance to the subject the same.
It’s a nice lens, hope you enjoy it!
@@ShotByMyles yeah I noticed at 2.8 it's good but I mainly got it for the 1.7 and making videos like vlogs so manual focusing won't be ideal but sometimes I will for sure. But yeah I realized manual focus is much easier on wide lenses, as my only manual focus lens before was 70mm eqv
@@davidvictory9764 the truth is that GH cameras just aren’t great for AF, your kit lens might have appeared to focus better because it couldn’t open as wide as f1.7? But for vlogging I’d definitely be trying to use face detect (unless you could set the focus manually and keep the same distance away)
great video! Thanks a lot!
Thanks, I appreciate the comment!
Great review. I have the same problems with the gh5...but I love it :-)
Same, it’s still a beast!
@LuBi Bochum Hi! (I do not own a GH5) but there seems to be a hack, that makes the AF 50% better. GH5 menu - SS Gain Operation (change to ANGLE/ISO). Next change the Synchro Scan to ON, and use the dial to get 179 (degrees) not 180 as original. There it is... the AF will now be much more responsive.
PjotrII I think that worked some time ago but that Panasonic heard about it and incorporated the fix in to the following firmware update to apply that improvement at all shutter speeds. That’s what I understand but I couldn’t be 1000% sure!
@@ShotByMyles ok, that´s possible... I just got happy when I read about it as GH5 has been one camera that I might buy, but the AF (tests seen) scared me away (while it has great features for the price otherwise).
@@PjotrII No worries, I should test that at some point to see if the fix / hack still makes a difference, but honestly I would still consider it carefully if AF is really important to you as the other options may be better on that front (but worse on codecs / IBIS generally!)
I think Panasonic has a problem with AF in video recording at all. I just bought G90 with 12-60 and AF is exactly the same = not correct. When I start recording with all AUTO - AF was wobbling, skipping from object to object - terrible, nothing was in focus more than 1-2 sec. Now I use only one-area AF which works fine but not as I expect. AF is much slower in 4k than in FHD. It is so hard to use MF in some "action shoots" even with peeking. I cant imagine it :(. Great video , thank you.
Agreed, I think they must realise it's the biggest thing they need to address for the next generation! For action shots I would personally try and shoot on a wider lens and stop down the aperture to give me a better chance of keeping it in focus :)
Hello Myles, I've become a fan of your channel. I am thinking about taking your GH5 course. I wanted to ask........ What version of GH5 software does the course use. I took the Photo Joseph course and had to return it because his course was from 2017 or 2018 and it did not match up well with my 2020 GH5 software well. Also if I have questions while taking the course... Do you answer them? thanks and please let me know. Looking forward.
Hi, the biggest changes in the firmware have been to the autofocus, and my course's AF guidance is based on the latest firmware that changed it (which was released Nov 2019, retested here this year in 2020). The latest firmware only really dealt with a few niche bugs / compatibility with the new 10-25mm lens which doesn't impact the validity of the course.
I'm quite proud that my course has been kept current, there won't be many GH5 courses out there that have been updated this year whereas mine has. And yes I respond to questions on there too.
Thanks for looking and good luck either way!
Hi Miles, pls your opinion on the 5mk2 in regard to AF. Thanks Frans
Correction Myles, sorry Frans
Hi Frans, I’m afraid I’ve got no experience of the AF on that camera!
I actually moved to the Canon ecosystem shortly after making this video
Nice review! How about with a 8-18mm lens for shooting cityscapes while walking would the small box be ideal for shooting in those kind of situations?
I’ve never used it but I’ve heard good things! I’d just make sure that it’s not too distorted at 8mm if possible. It’s a good focal range but f4 at 18mm won’t give much subject separation for shooting with people as the subject.
NIce. Thorough!
dope video bro !!!!
Doesnt shutter speed at 179 solve the problem?
I think that ‘hack’ was incorporated in to the actual firmware for all shutter speeds some time ago, that’s my understanding!
Didn't Panasonic just put out a firmware update to address the focus? How does the focus fair now? Will it work better with the sigma and speedbooster now?
What about the GH5s? Does it focus better, as it can use a Panasonic (stabilizing) lens?
I was thinking of getting a GH5, or a GH5s. I plan to use the camera more for video than for photography, and I will be out in the field shooting tourism style video, so often I will be using it handheld. I know the GH5 has stabilization, but the GH5s does not. The GH5s works better in low light, comes with V-log, and some better specs on video. If I get a lens that has stabilization, will it make the GH5s good enough in regard to stabilization? If so, what lens do you recommend for that purpose?
Someday I may get a Ronin gimbal... but not in the near future.
Or...
Should I get the GH5 and then a sigma lens with a viltrox speed booster? Will that handle the low light issues of the GH5 and thus make it the better choice?
It seems a lot of the video features and profiles cannot be used on the GH5, when shooting in low light. Seems to me that sort of negates the camera as an all-around useful video camera... UNLESS - you tell me that the sigma lens with speedbooster will make it possible to use all those features... Will it?
P.s If I get a GH5s, and a stabilizing lens, will it still benefit me somehow to have a speedbooster, or will I no longer need that item?
Sorry for all the questions. Thank you for your help. I am new to all this and want to get the best tool that will support my needs now, and a few years into the future.
Hello, the last autofocus update was Nov 2019, so this is the latest performance. I also did a video in November about that update specifically.
It's really difficult for me to tell you whether the lens IS is enough on GH5S because it depends on what you're doing and what you expect. It'll be better than not having IS at all but it won't be as good as the GH5.
The Sigma and speed booster combination does well in low light for my needs, but again that depends on what you want and expect. It's also a heavy setup which isn't ideal for travelling. It's true you'll get a bit more noise in low light using slow motion on the GH5 compared to the regular shooting modes, and the same is true for using the 1.4x ex tele converter mode to get more reach, but that's going to be true for a lot of cameras. The GH5S has a noise issue anyway in slow motion, and the Sony A7iii slow motion looked to be quite noisy from my limited experience with it.
If you really need clean night-time footage where you are working with minimal lights, the GH5S might be the best choice. With the Panasonic 12-35mm you will get lens IS but it's only f2.8, so a faster prime lens might still be needed for low light work.
A speed booster on a GH5S will benefit in terms of allowing you to get more light and a wider field of view than you'd get from the same lens without a speed booster, but for me it's not AS vital compared to the GH5 which is more in need of help in low light situations.
hello and congratulations on your video. I write from Italy, I am inexperienced and I am forced to use AF for my video clips. I have a GH5 and I fell in love with this Sigma 30mm f1.4 lens. but since the GH5 uses contrast focus, which seems to be not compatible with this lens, I would like to ask you for advice: is it really not recommended to use this lens for videos if you intend to use AF only? The focus is really much slower and more complicated than a normal 25mm 1.7 Panasonic? Thanks for your suggestions
Hi! I have never tried the Sigma 30mm f1.4 but I imagine the AF will be quite bad...
if you have to use that lens, I would recommend using it at a higher f stop (f4 and above) to give it the best chance of keeping focus.
Learning manual focus and peaking is probably the best bet with that lens!
The best performing lenses for AF will be Panasonic’s such as the 12-35mm f2.8.
@@ShotByMyles ok tks my friend 🙏
dear friend, in the meantime, thank you for your availability. Since you are an expert, I ask you a trivial question for you but as you will have understood I am not an expert and I can not find the solution:
when you are in AFF video mode how do you enable the lens ring in order to move the focus from one point to another? Practically as it is set, if I turn the ring does not change the focus I have to go and click on the touch screen ... Instead I would like to do it with the lens ring, also because on my Ronin SC combo I have the focus motor. I state that on the menu I have already activated AF + MF but it does not work. what else do i need to adjust? Thanks for your help
Though it may be considered to be similar to your sitting in one place interview test. I am really more interested in whether the AF can be used in a situation where a gimbal is being used to track a walk and talk, one or two subjects whos sizing may change marginally due to inconsistencies of the cameraman and the subject speed. I don't see many occasions that we need to se a subject approach from far away to a full face while the camera holds still. (though it is educational) The tracking shot is much more prevalent and useful, also movement will tend to cover the microbuzzes. But is the GH5 autofocus even good enough for that? Also putting the firmware version you are testing in the info would be helpful.
Hi, it’s the latest firmware as of publishing date of the video (I think that’s the last one they’ve done to be fair). Nothing has changed for AF in firmware since Nov 2019 for the GH5.
If in your use case you’re trying to maintain the same distance between camera and subject, then yes that’s probably closest to the sit down interview as I tested each setting by leaving the plane of focus to see how well it adjusted.
I’d argue the catwalk test I did is also a good indicator for your use case- and you obviously don’t shoot weddings as that is a perfect test for a bride walking down the aisle :) I also shoot music videos and dance videos where the camera is moving in / out with the distance to the subject distance changing similarly to this test.
The answer to your question on whether the Gh5 is good enough depends on your lens FOV, f stop and expectations. If you need focus to be hit nearly all of the time I think it’s out of the question. If you’re willing to use a wide Lumix lens stopped down, it should perform better than this test.
@@ShotByMyles Thank you for your considered reply. In narrative or commercial work, or even industrials, the gimbal/steadycam walk and talk is used quite a bit as I'm sure you are aware of. I like something around a 16-20mm for m4/3 depending, and was hoping to create some depth. I can live with less and maintain same distance if I have to. Tomorrow I will close down and lose a lot of character and go manual/locked zone focus because of your observations. I have a brisk schedule and cannot afford too many takes. I had hoped that the camera could handle that . oh well. I forgot to think outside my own metier and laughed at myself with your observation, and yes walking down the aisle is a perfect example of that far to near need! thank you.
All the best with your shoot! That is how I’d do it personally given the importance- I’d get a depth of field large enough to swallow their faces and any mismatched speeds between you and them (I wouldn’t want to be trying to pull focus manually myself in that scenario unless you had a follow focus and the skill to use it, which I don’t!)
If you ever get chance to test out the AF in that use case then it might be good just to confirm whether it’s useable or not for you with your lens / f stop etc.
Great video. I love the GH5, but the AF is frustrating. I shot a feature film with the GH5 last year. In the meantime, I just ordered the Sony a6400 for the AF. With the kit lens, it gives me a camera I can rely on for good AF for some scenarios while coming in under $1,000. Since, I'll be using these cameras for narrative film making, I think I'll be in good shape.
Good shout, I’ve thought of getting an AF beast myself for gimbal work, all the best!
Shot by Myles For gimbal work is exactly why I chose the a6400.
Even though I don't use autofocus, this was nice too know. Your footage looks really nice. Do you still keep noise reduction at 0 and sharpness at -5
Thank you! I actually use a bunch of different modes these days to be honest, the Cine-D stuff I'll keep at -5 for NR and sharpness, but when I use Natural now I tend to leave both at 0. I prefer Natural for quick turnaround jobs and Cine-D for stuff I want to grade heavily (when I can't use log, such as 8 bit slow motion).
@@ShotByMyles I have a queation about the digital sharpness setting, if I set it to -5, does it digitally dull the image? or is 0 the default where there is no dulling, or sharping? Because if 0 has nothing applied to it, and is, the natural sharpness of the lens, I'd prefer to set it that way.
@@ShotByMyles Understandable, I see that now a days, you don't tend to tweak your settings to much. Been using -2 for noise red& sharpness, and I really like it especially shooting in 1080p.
@@ShotByMyles gh5 native setting is 0 or -5? Native - i mean no any program changing, maximum raw and "as it" picture
So in other words, Just use manual focus with this camera?
I do yes, although I’ll shoot my own talking head in AF for youtube where the odd bit of hunting wouldn’t ruin my day! But that’s only on native glass :)
5:50 why u testing autofucus in pan focus? All in focuse...
Sorry I don’t understand your question, what do you mean by pan focus?
@@ShotByMyles i mean u have to testing aufofucus in open aperture (f2.2.5)
but i thing u close to 10+ and all image became in focus
@@morsydesign8290 yes at f10 almost everything would be in focus! I don't think that would be a good test of the autofocus, and I would almost never shoot at f10
@@ShotByMyles but what apeture on 5:50?
Will it get the new S5 AF update
I couldn’t say 100% but I doubt it!
unbelievable that panasonic cannot build a camera with focus in 2020
Well this is a 2017 camera, but yeah I agree! If they master this 'line of sight' focus tech for the GH6 then it should be a huge leap forward for them. That's if they make the GH6 :)
Huge fan of the Sigma 18-35, so manual focus is the name of the game for me. Absolutely, I agree don't use auto focus with this lens. However you can use the backbutton reliably between recordings to catch focus. (Like you mentioned at the end)
Now on to the firmware. I found that my Panasonic 12-35 has become quite a reliable vlogging lens. Haven't vlogged in forever so I was pleasantly surprised going out and just "point n shooting". It was a novel experience aha. And since vlogs are improvised and imperfect by nature, the af face detection was good for f2.8
Awesome video Miles! Cheers
Thanks a lot Jon!
Great to hear you’re getting some use from it, honestly I was pretty happy with the talking head stuff here and it’d only be better on a lens like that I’m sure!
Which mode do you use out of interest?
@@ShotByMyles Thanks a lot Miles!
I shoot AFS, face detection. In the menu I also turned off Quick AF. Some people say it ruins the auto focus. WIth my limited experimentation, when Quick AF is off, the camera takes longer to focus, but the transition is smoother and when it ghosts, it will refocus better.
As for the rest of the settings, this is the the preset I saved as "vloggers dream":
Whitebalance auto. ISO auto, but limit set to 3200. Then keep framerate constant at 24, and shutter angle at constant 180. This works because I use an ND filter, so when I am outdoors I put it all the way to ND32, and indoors I drop it to ND2. ISO manages to adjust smoothly to it and the result is just stunning. I would never do this on a shoot, but for vlogging it's great. I also think 180 degree shutter angle is important since there is a lot of movement in a vlog and it just looks so buttery.
Saw somewhere that the older firmware (metabones) was better than the new one, regarding Af w sigma 18-35
I’m not sure about that, but it was terrible on the old firmware for the speedboosted Sigma anyway! It’s best to consider that setup as AFS only, no continuous IMO
Hi! (I do not own a GH5) but there seems to be a hack, that makes the AF 50% better. GH5 menu - SS Gain Operation (change to ANGLE/ISO). Next change the Synchro Scan to ON, and use the dial to get 179 (degrees) not 180 as original. There it is... the AF will now be much more responsive.
Like!
Hi very interesting. Did tou tried out any autofocus best settings with a gimbal? Thanks
Thanks, I thought the catwalk test was relevant for gimbal use because the distance to the subject is changing, so I would personally go with those settings in a gimbal situation (although to tend to use manual focus!)
Wearing the wrong clothes? Really? Have you tried it in a tutu with reindeer antlers and fluffy bunny slippers to see if that makes a difference? Don't know about the camera but everyone else will be tracking you.
Great video thanks for all the work you put into it.
Haha thanks a lot!!
Dude, you nailed it!
It is not impossible to use the autofoxus at the gh5, but it's not easy too.
Regards and thank you!
No, thank you! Appreciate your words 👊🏻
Great video. My autofocus is better(ish) at 60fps.. I love this camera and all it’s quirks.
Thanks! That’s a good shout, I stopped short of testing the frame rates to be honest but might give it a go :)
@@sixpackbiz I can't recommend the GH5 to people that need really good autofocus I'm afraid, but bear in mind this test was 25mm fairly open aperture on the cheapest lens you can buy, so it's not supposed to be the best GH5 performance possible, it's supposed to stretch it and show the risks.
I've never used that lens but it's going to be fairly similar to Panasonic AF performance given it's a native lens, but it's worth noting you don't get any autofocus at all for frame rates larger than 60 (so your 180P won't have any AF).
I'm fine breaking the 180 rule especially for sports! I don't think most average viewers would notice one bit, but I still personally stick to it most of the time, and I also wouldn't personally shoot 60P for stuff unless I think there's a good chance I will want it to slowed down in post.
@@sixpackbiz I definitely advise you test for yourself so you understand what you're getting :)
@@ShotByMyles I don't agree with you regarding AF performance on native lenses. The 25mm is pure crap, it is sooo slow and AF motor is loud, will be recorded.
On the other hand, 12-60 f2,8-4 is much more faster and beat the 25mm easily.
The same goes to Sigma 16mm f1.4 which is a very good lens too.
I am shooting runners with GH5 and it is doable, but yes, I would appreciate faster AF.
Some examples with 12-60 at FHD50p:
th-cam.com/video/VGgc8ubub_c/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/rcSHcGrdF9M/w-d-xo.html
Roman Mihalik by native lenses I mean lenses made for the MFT mount, as opposed to lenses adapted to the system such as the Sigma 18-35mm via speedbooster.
I think all those lenses you mentioned are what I would call native, and as such are going to perform better than adapted lenses.
So I found out something the GH5 auto focus works really good in auto mode lol but who the heck wants to shoot in auto mode
Wow really? I would never have found that out, like you say I can’t imagine many people are in auto!
When I bought my GH5 I'm always using the autofocus but when I, found out this focus pulsing I stopped using it. Iol now I'm always using manual focus😊
Agreed, it's just a flawed system unfortunately! I think you learn so much more by sticking to manual focus anyway :)
@@ShotByMyles but still waiting for a proper update on this autofocus. It makes our lives easier especially if we're using a gimbal😊
Anyway, nice video. Thank you fir this. Cheers mate👌
When you do use it, make sure you put it on f3.5 or higher. You won't suffer from pulsing (most times)
@@RicoResolves oh. I'll try this. Thanks.
@@FilmGradeIII Hi! (I do not own a GH5) but there seems to be a hack, that makes the AF 50% better. GH5 menu - SS Gain Operation (change to ANGLE/ISO). Next change the Synchro Scan to ON, and use the dial to get 179 (degrees) not 180 as original. There it is... the AF will now be much more responsive.
gh5 autofocus still sucks all on its own so not sure how anyone can make it look bad haha and the settings are hit in miss, what works one moment will not work the next. it still just sucks.
Just tell us how to do it.
The last several minutes of the video aim to do exactly that, but it’s never perfect
You'll be much better off with the a7sIII. The facial recognition and tracking is consistently excellent and it doesn't pulse.
If AF is your main concern, I agree the Sonys or Canons will be better!
But the A7Siii is about triple the price. The R6 is also great for AF, but it can’t do things the GH5 can and even with the superior AF system it doesn’t work for everything flawlessly
@@ShotByMyles Sure. If you're behind the camera and don't need to be pulling focus all the time, the GH5 is unbeatable. i have a GH5 and the a7r4 (hi res). With the price of the a7sIII one can consider the next level up with the Canon C70 which is excellent.... oh that built in ND.
Agreed! I’ve actually got a C70 on order! if I love it then the R6 will be B cam to that, if not then the Sony system is calling... I love the GH5 but I’ve got the itch and money to invest. I still believe the GH5 is the best value of the lot but internal ND and AF for solo shoot interviews and gimbal work is more and more appealing.
Seen some great stuff from that Sony of yours though!
@@ShotByMyles LOL. Dump the R6 and use the money to get a 2nd GH5! lol. Yea the a7r4 is a nice camera.... the super high res for stills and video that is on par with the a7III with eye tracking in video. Still I prefer the GH5 for handling when I'm not needing to AF.
I had a G9 until recently as a B cam for the GH5 and that was a great little camera for the money, I’m just not sure about the future of MFT in all honesty. Panasonic themselves have released like 3 full frame cameras since the GH5?
I also wanted at least 1 good AF cam in my setup!
There’s no doubt you can do a lot of damage with two GH5’s IF you’re comfortable manual focusing!
A lot more work to do in this area
lot of effort !!!
just not a big fan of the GH5, it struggles way too much, i prefer the S1R, same price range, 0 issues, only reason vloggers worships it, is because of affiliate links they profit from
The S1R is about double the cost of the GH5, and that’s before you’ve looked at lenses. I bet the 50mm f1.4 they make is nice, but it’s just under £2,000 in the UK, which is three times more expensive than the Leica 25mm f1.4.
I’ve never tried one but I understood the AF was still poor and behind Sony / Canon?
If a vlogger has an affiliate link for a GH5 they’ll also have one for the S1!
@@ShotByMyles we're not talking about lenses, we're talking about cameras, and both the S1R and the GH5S are both $2100
If you found a new S1R for $2,100 US I think you got a great deal! It’s $3,800 on Adorama and GH5S is $1,800
@@ShotByMyles adoroma is also 30% inflated prices
Who here is waiting for the GH6
Update firmware
This was the latest firmware as noted in the description, or are you thinking there’s been an update to AF since?
@@ShotByMyles all that is stated that you have latest firmware. You don't actually list firmware number.
@@ShotByMyles you haven't respond to my question. But yes based off your date of your video I think you just missed the gh5 new update. 2.7
@@ShotByMyles and yes it greatly fixed the auto focus
I can’t see any AF changes in Panasonic’s release notes for 2.7: av.jpn.support.panasonic.com/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/dl/gh5.html
A lot of effort has been spent by owners to try and fix this, and considering how much the camera cost Panasonic should have offered refunds to disgruntled users. It was never going to work properly.
It's definitely not up to par with Sony / Canon, I'm sure they must realise that so hopefully future cameras improve!
Omg I just bought panasonic leica 12-60 on gh5 for the auto focus gimbal purpose and is it awful! Why I haven’t watched your video before 🥲
sorry :( I really only ever had joy using manual focus on the GH5 for gimbal work, it is harder for sure, but I would recommend it:
- shoot with a wider lens (i.e. 15mm or less maybe)
- use a bigger f stop to get a deeper depth of field
- use focus peaking and be aware of the difference in how it looks between nailed on focus, and just out of focus (when it can trick you in to thinking it's in focus)
- work out how big your depth of field is so that you keep your subject in focus (i.e. within that distance) throughout the clip
- I know it's simple, but remember the closer your subject, the less focus depth you have so you have to be very consistent with how close you are.
Good luck!