GH5 Autofocus Solved - The Best Settings for GH5 Autofocus (4K) 

Test it for yourself. What do you think?

I know this is an old thread Scott, but one thing i noticed the other day when i was doing some testing is that the flatter profiles seemed to have a little more trouble grabbing focus than others. So, i decided to make a high contrast profile, just for grins, and it started grabbing a little faster. I guess it makes sense with contrast detection. In manual mode the higher contrast really brought out more of the focus peaking as well.

I don't know if anyone has told you, but I really enjoy that you do your vlogs are filmed in long takes without alot of cutting in the monolouge. Thumbs up for that.

Great video thanks for sharing!

Hey thanks for the Tutorial ! Question about GH5 - I can't use the auto focus in the VFR mode (196fps) - is there any way to make it work?

Just to be clear: You are using "Continuous AF = ON" in the menu with mode dial at Creative Video Mode?

Good man, I'm liking your content man. Keep up the good work and your subscribers will grow in no time.

Scott, I wish people would refer to the AF you're talking about as "Continuous Auto-Focus" vs. just the word Auto Focus! GH5 has an incredibly fast Auto Focus. Autofocus used to be the term used when focus is acquired after you press the AF button. That's from Photography. AF Servo, or Continuous Auto focus is what's used in video where the camera will decide what needs to remain in focus through time. This loose use of the term AF and saying that GH5 has a bad AF is really doing the camera a disservice. It has an incredible AF. However, it doesn't have the best continuous AF. There's a big difference between test two terms and why people are confused. Still people say it has a great AF and video people say it has a terrible AF. It's because people are not being specific enough when using terminology. Thanks for sharing your settings. I"ve found the same thing, one point AF or one area AF is the way to go for continuous AF.

Very helpful! Thank you, Scott!

My GH5 arrives on monday and my buyer's remorse had been peaking until your reassuring video landed in my lap. Subbed. Some creative thinking and a bit of faith in future firmware updates are just what the doctor ordered.

Hi Extremely good info video. 5 years down the time which camera of Panasonic supprts Auto Focus in slow motion like 120fps and 189fps. Couldn't find this info on RU-vid Regards.

Do you have a video that would show us how to go go into our gh5’s to set this up?

Great practical example of how to use the autofocus system. I have been wondering about whether or not to purchase and you have just made my mind up

Duuude yeah that manual part at the end is a very nice feature! Thanks for sharing 😊

Why is my Quick AF option (Focus section of the menu) is grayed out? Same goes for Eye sensor AF option.... also same with (camera menu section) AF Custom Settings (video) option.... Any hint ???

Thanks for this video

Hey God bless you thank you for all the video , what picture profile you use? Thank

Tell me how I can change the AF sensitivty!

Hell yeah! Works great, I wish I had known this earlier, but good to know. Thanks for the tip!

how is the autofocus on VFR? 60fps?120fps?

Great video! Thank you for sharing! Is there a reason you don't max out focus sensitivity to 2+ for vlogging and instead keep at only +1 ? Also..I don't see in the info but what lenses are you using for vlogging? I have the Olympus 7-14mm f2.8 pro and Panasonic 15mm f1.7.. Thank you!

I set all the settings as you said (1-Area, +5, -1) in my gh5, and I also tried various other combos, all with rear dial set to AFC, yet Continuous AF works with NONE of those combos (yours included), UNLESS Quick AF is enabled (set to ON). HOWEVER, Continuous AF DOES work with ALL combos, including and excluding your settings, EVEN with Face/Eye Detection and Tracking, as long as Quick AF is enabled. From what I’m seeing, Continuous AF works, if, and only if Quick AF is On - regardless of the settings suggested in this video. Furthermore, when Quick AF is on, the Continuous AF seems to work ok to pretty well - but far from the terrible or non-existent AF that exists withOUT Quick AF enabled/On. Anyone have any feedback on this or explain what I’m missing? Thanks!

do you have any interference issues with the Rode video mic pro? I had to sell mine

Great video. Please tell me why you use the M.Zuiko lenses? Why not the Panasonics? Especially the Panasonics with version 2 IS. I ask because because I want to buy this camera and a few lenses. I will start off doing mostly stills and the Olympus M.Zuikos 7-14, 12-40 and 40-150mm have been on my list. Anyway, thanks for doing the video and nice Man Cave Studio.... Maybe never mind... I just started watching your other video about getting all your new gear.

Excellent video About GH5 focusing issue. Thanks for your presentation. I appreciate.

really cool review

Good stuff sir. Ty.

Great video what kind of Mic are using? its amazing

What do you think of the latest GH5, GH5s firmware 2018 update? I shoot in manual focus only but am thinking of auto focus for some applications.

Bought few days ago the GH5, without watching reviews. Disappointed with AF (You really think that AF will improve with firmware later?) Should I get the A6500? Mostly shooting cars, motorcycles in fast motion. Thank You.

very nice video.. I've seen many videos but yours are something different in a better way...

Thank you for sharing. I am looking for my next cámera (¿D5, D6, GH5) and I found this info really helpfull. Thanks!!

This is great! I have had the GH5 since late March and have tried a lot of settings. I will give this a go. Subbed. Cheers!

Thank you Scott McKenna

I have a G85 and I have had no issues with autofocus. I use single area for pretty much everything. The only time I've found facedetect useful is for heavily backlit stills, where it usefully can affect metering.

I want to use this camera for wave videography and filming surfers in a 4k 60 fps. will the autofocus issue be a deal breaker?

Very useful, thank you! :)

Good video Scott! I prefer to use manual focus because the focus peaking feature is AWESOME! I will test out your settings and let you know if they work. I'm currently using the Leica 12-60 but that Olympus 25mm is sounding great.

what do you think of the yoda focus fix ? Would you add it to your tips ?

Hi Scott, thanks for the great video, i make low cost Real Estate Video Walkthrough and we currently use the Lumix G5 that is an old camera. And now in 2017 we want to use a better camera to improve the image quality of our Real Estate Videos and I am undecided between the Panasonic GH5 and the Fujifilm X-T2. Which camera do you think that is better between the new GH5 and the Fuji XT-2 for the type of videos that we do. One important factor to me is that i need to spend the less amount of time possible doing Color Correction, Is true that the video footage from the XT-2 require less time in the computer doing color correction than the GH5 video footage ? Sorry for my english I'm using google translator. Regards,

I need a better mike for my GH5. Which Rhode mike are you using on yours pls?

Hi scott, I've just bought a GH5, loving it so far but I have a question regarding autofocus. I'm using the 12-40 olympus lens with manual clutch. Is there any way to also work with MF+AF like you've showed in this video or not? I guess all autofocus settings stop working when you use the manual clutch?

Hi, Can you post a high-res portrait shoot with 12-60mm kit Lens with the GH5. Planning to buy one!! Also if you could give a Raw file and JPEG for comparisons.

Good video mate. On my FZ200 I've set auto focus to 'flexible' instead of 'continuous'. Don't know if that is an option on the GH5, probably is. Continuous auto focus is too erratic, seems like a Panasonic thing. Same with average low light performance if I can believe the reports. Also like you I use 'area focus' but that is because the only other option is face detection which does not work well for vlogging. You can also adjust the size of the area focus from tiny spot to almost 2/3 of the screen. I snap all my pics using that square. Personally I think it doesn't reflect well on Panasonic that they have the same issues on their 2017 flagship camera as on their 2012 superzoom camera: focus and low light, especially the latter. Other than that it looks like an awesome camera to work with. You just want to love it.

Hello Scott, greetings from Thessaloniki Greece ! I have noticed that when i am in 4k 50 fps mode, the autofocus works way better/faster (but on FHD not). What is your opinion ? (my configuration too : GH5 WITH 7-14 Olympus Zuiko Pro) - When i use my GH5 or my older GH4 with the speedbooster from metabones i have no autofocus at all with my 70-200 2.8 Canon or my Sigma 18-35 . Thank you and keep the good work ! Aris

super nice video

ya they have the firmware for this issue now but not for the g85 :( so sad...

thank you! good info

I have problems with extended tele conv. Could that create difficult AF focus problems.There is a flimmer. Could that be because the camera is refocusing all the time. Is it nessesary to use manual focus with the extended tele conv. function The function becomes really powerful only with 1080 resolution

Great vidéo Scott ! Could you produce another video like this on the picture style settings that you use for shooting wedding videos ? Particularly on their customization. I used to be a Canon EOS 5D Mark III shooter, shooting prolost flat. Would similar settings work with the Panasonic GH5 ?

Hi. Could you please recommend the best or must have lenses (GH5) for wedding video shoot. Thank you.

Thank you for this. It may be the simplest and therefore best discussion of the issue. One thing I would like for Olympus and GH5 is how to lock that one point in the middle and know it is going to stay where you put it and not be too easily and inadvertently moved. Thanks. Bob

Hi Scott enjoy your videos i picked up a A6500 instead and like it heard some good things about the features of this camera .

awesome, i sold my gh4 due to focus breathing... how's the focus breathing with the gh5???

Hi Ryan, I'm in a huge dilemma. I am a filmmaker who is dedicated to making documentaries and short films. I currently have an a6300, and I need a second camera. I would not bother to work a little more to match the colors of my a6300 with a gh5 thinking that it has different features like an excellent slow motion camera or unlimited recording, but perhaps it is a better idea to buy an a6500 to have a complete match. What do you recommend me Since you have both thank you very much (Excuse my English, it is not my native language)

Would you go for the Sony X70, Panasonic UX90 or the Panasonic GH5? Why?

Nice video. I too have had the most success using the 1-Area mode. Another useful feature in this mode is that you can control the position of that focus area on the screen by use of the little joystick on the back, whilst you are shooting. Handy if the bride moves slightly but you don't want to recompose the shot. I'm still struggling with knowing what settings to use for continuous autofocus where the bride and groom are walking towards you.

Nice work. Although, you and most others go quickly to the six types of AF without telling us where to find them in the menu. Um, why? I have found them now and then, hunt and peck.

How do i set the photo style to be cine d in filming mode and natural in photomode? Seems like that wont work. It did work on the GH4.

What aperture did you use for the tracking test?

How big should your box be for 1 area?

Could you make a short video showing your Wedding kit and other lenses. A comparison of the same distance to an object using these primes and zoom lenses. Also showing your distance to your object from the side. Maybe also with an IPhone to compare. That could be nice and show what a 25mm Olympus/Panasonic looks like on a GH4 and GH5 compared to the other lenses like a 45mm. 😊 Compare all your lenses 👍😊

Great video man! Totally agree with everything you said!

Can you explain the difference between the physical BUTTON on the camera at the AFC position and having Continuous Focus set to ON in the camera menu? When do you need to switch between AFF/AFS and AFC modes, or are those more for still photography? The autofocus settings really confuse me on this camera.

Hey Scott...do you have continuous auto focus set to on or off?

7-14mm olympus lens is manual Focus .I have one myself. How can than lens be used in an auto focus test ?

I agree it's a great camera. The autofocus is not that bad and it's only going to get better. I like what you've done here.

what setting would u try if the subject is moving around?

6 years later, and I am still loving the GH5 series. I have the GH5 II and the GH5S and while I am saving up to add the G9 II to the mix, I find the GH5 cameras plenty good enough for my needs. Weight made me give the GH6 a miss, but the G9 II is everything that I wanted. Meanwhile, three cheers to the GH5 super-heroes.

Thanks for this!! You convinced me that I DO NOT want the GH5. What you refer to as grabbing focus pretty quickly is not much different than the slooooow focus I get with my old GX7. Maybe Pana should open their minds to phase detection.

Have you tried empty 225 area as well?

It looks like you were at 24p, yes? Have you tried the new technique using 30p at 179d or 1/60 sec? It's way faster than what you show here.

I wanted to share my GH5 settings. I love it. Speed +5 Sensitivity 0. Dial at AFC instead of AFS/AFF. Set it to tracking focus. Touch your eye or nose. It will blow you away with how good it is.

Are the lenses your using dust and weather proof?

thanks - nice video. agreed that this has to be fixable in firmware upg.

this channel is so underrated

It finds focus but only after a little back and forth 'pump' no good for what I do.

I can't get the "hybrid" focus system to work. When I have it in MF and half press the shutter it does not auto focus. Is there a setting I'm missing?

One of my main uses is for auditions, so I want to be able to leave the auto focus on and I move a little in and out, my feet are typically planted but sometimes I walk into frame. I don't want to have the focus pull in and out in the middle of a performance, it's extremely distracting.

My gh5 wont playback on my aputure vs5 monitor when i hit playback it shows tv ouput in progress

I have the same Polaroid camera AND Brownie on display in my collection too!

Nicely done Scott ;0) I have set my Fn6 button (on the front) to AF ON and this has the same effect as half pressing the shutter or pressing the AF LOCK. I use it all the time (having set the AF AE LOCK to exposure lock ;o) I would imagine that if you were VLOGing, having the button 'in your face' could be handy.

is the gh5 af the same with g85 ?

I think you need to change the title to "Continuous AF" fixed. I have been experimenting with settings, as well as reading other VLOGS about the subject and it is scary how people do not understand their cameras.

No autofocus and audio I'm vfr mode? Is that real?

can u do a Q&A or with DemiLovato or any one btw nice​ video

Nice Thanks

I don't use continuous AF for situations in which the subject is at a constant distance from the camera. I like to use the camera to get focus, and then turn off AF. This way I can reframe the subject without the concern that the camera will decide to focus on something else. A good example is when I am shooting a subject, and then an object or person moves behind my subject. I do not want the camera to change the focus to the object behind. IMO, in most situations you do NOT want the camera to continuously auto focus. If you do, then many times you will be disappointed with the results.

As I noticed even Sony has problems with autofocus as I observed at vlogs from famous Sony using RU-vidrs

I have noticed an improvement actually in the AF since the last firmware update. Check out my video on the GH5 if you can. Since then I've been using 1area AF with +1 speed with -3 responsiveness for locked on subjects and I just increase the responsiveness and speed (only up to +3) when I want it to change to a diff subject faster. It's actually not that bad once I use these settings. +5 speed I've noticed it pulses sometimes. I also change the gate to "release" priority vs focus priority. Believe it or not in talking with an engineer they said despite the fact this is primarily is a stills function, it DOES play a factor in video because these cameras only have 1 autofocus system. There isn't two autofocus systems in these cameras so making sure your camera is set to release vs focus means it will always let the camera shoot without regard to whether or not it's in focus. Meanin the camera doesn't have to "think" whether or not it's in focus before it moves on to the next subject. Now whether this affects real world use I haven't done enough testing yet, but it's def worth trying

How big do you make the 1-area square?

the GH6 has a "one area plus" that works great

custom multi and select the focus area in the centre forming like a shape of a face

I LOVE the features this camera offers - it would be perfect for me but the auto focus still kills it. Even your test from your check to face is deadly slow. Try that with any Sony. When they do get it right, I will get another one.

As long as the autofocus works with the button, that's good enough for me

Well Scott, to me you've just illustrated the issue everyone was having. Not any kind of "solved" to my eyes. But thanks for the video!

I really appreciate this content and I thank you for making this video. I will definitely give this a shot. But don't think think just at face value (no pun intended) it's a little ridiculous to have jump through hoops to find one setting that sorta works if you press a button and don't mind a little hunting? This is NOT directed at you. It's directed at Panny. This aspect of the camera was such a HUGE let down for me especially after Sean whats-his-face (their marketing guy) personally assured me the AF was going to be great...and now we are here just blowing by the whole "face tracking doesn't work for face tracking" as if that alone wasn't a hugely unacceptable thing. It's like having a car that won't go in reverse and the solution is to just always drive forward or hear people gripe about how "real professionals don't drive in reverse anyways." For a brand new camera flagship camera in 2017, it's just hugely disappointing to have to jump through so many hoops (use a setting it's not designed for, reset the AF speed and sensitivity, make sure you keep yourself in that box, press the back button if it's not working, and say a little prayer) just to film yourself... Again, this is not directed at you. I realize you are just sharing what has worked best for you and I appreciate that. I hope you are right about it just being a software thing...but then again, why wasn't that ready?!? Of course, it's my fault. I preordered based on early reviews I did not realize were all Lumix luminaries. In fact, I didn't even know that existed until photo Joseph (whose great) made sure he disclosed it every time he talked about the camera. Oh well, we live, we learn. I'm glad you like the camera.

8:16 a smart cut ? :P

hi, thank you for this review. What do you think about vlog profile, do you agree what he mentionned in his video ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-hnZRSHHRsSY.html ? Did you notice this type of problem?

Am I the only one who thought that the second, hand held camera did a REALLY crappy job of refocussing when it was moved around, from 6:10? It looked like it stayed focussed on his face and didn't change AT ALL.