Panasonic GH5 AF-ON Near & Far Shift | v 2.6 auto focus | autofocus

The Panasonic Lumix GH5 firmware update version 2.6 introduced near and far shift to the auto focus menu. Does it work? And how might it be useful? Is it better for still photos or video? Watch and find out!

Music: "Barney's Breakdown" by Carl Culpepper

[Ulrich.Bierwisch]

My observation is, that it is back button only. You change the behavior of the AF/AE Lock function in the menu. This has no influence on the AF-C or the halve pressed shutter button. From 2:54 it can also be seen, that pressing the back button starts a search for the object. In near, the focus moves to very close and than it goes back until the first object gets into focus. If you press the shutter button halve, the camera refocus the actual focused object much faster without doing this search. I think this function is not meant to be used in a running video because the focus hunts over a wide range each time the function is used.
If you take a picture of a landscape thru trees or an object in front of a contrast rich background it helps to get the focus right. This might be a valuable add on for people who are using back button focus anyway.

[walterblaj]

It's not working in video, because it's meant for photo... As the Panasonic firmware manual suggests...

[forbesdreaming]

I'm so happy the update is finally improved!🙌 great video brotha!

[melissaculpepper]

You’re such a great problem-solver! Love you’re unique sense of humor, too🤣 As always, I always enjoy your music that accompanies your videos!

[Worthfishing]

I just updated my firmware last night going to be trying it out today or tomorrow.Thanks buddy! By the way you deserve a lot more subscribers.

[ChaseTheSummit]

I haven't seen any improvement in the AF with this new update. I suspect the "near shift" AF is only when using AFS and not CAF. Still hunts like crazy! Nice video, well done!

[rudolfabelin]

Thanks! This is the best video on the subject.

[SteveT__]

Useful video thanks, I've not upgraded to 2.6 yet so wasn't aware of this feature, probably useful for Youtube Reviewers as you suggested, not sure about for photo's I have always used spot focus with back button and shutter release focus disabled on my Nikons and have never really used the GH5 for stills. Looking at your channel you have some useful looking videos so I have subscribed.

[MichaelGreen-rcyr]

I am going to a zoo soon and hoping to photograph animals that are behind mesh and wire fencing using the near and far shift functions with my S5.

[minorrhoads]

Hi Carl, I find the near or far mode works great even in video, as long as its the 16mm 1.4 sigma and second best the 14mm 2.5, yes not a6400 hundred level, but still very good for a Panasonic, my worst lens for face tracking in auto focus is the 42.f 1.2, , but that lens is so good at quick acquisition photos to freeze action, and the other still very good near and far mode lens is the 12 to 60 2.8/f4, also, my favorite settings for smooth transition none irritating back ground pulsing is -2 -2, and it still with 2.6 does better than G9 pulsing wise because of those custom settings but the G9 is a great Be Camera and about 4% better in low light than the gh5 would you believe its a more pleasing fine very grain but not quite GH5S lol, which i don;t own but have compared, any way now the light weight S5 is out , I BET MORE WILL GET THAT FOR JUST LOW LIGHT EVEN WITH JUST ITS 20/60 KIT LENS MFT 10/30 EQUIVALENT WILL STILL BE GOOD IN LOW LIGHT AS IT HAS THAT FULL FRAME DUEL ISO ABILITY, .BUT I AM MORE THAN HAPPY WITH GH5 AND BRIGHT LENSES, SO I DOUBT I WILL CHANGE TO FULL FRAME , SUBBED TODAY, CHEERS FOR YOUR GREAT VIDEOS ., STILL LOVE THE GH2 TOO LOL, SO LIGHT AND HANDY, CHOW

[ToddJones]

Great video, I have the exact same setup and have been thinking about switching to shoot my videos in auto focus because manual is too time consuming and I have vision problems which sometimes inhibit my ability to see the monitor clearly anyway – making it tough to know whether I am perfectly in focus or not. I would like to know if you have figured out any setting that you prefer for speeding up the auto focus, you mentioned it being slow and that it was all set to 0 (not adjusted), have you played with that since? Thanks.

[ThiagoRiosDrums]

Did you have any problem after updating the Gh5 is turning on and off? I had this problem and now I need to format my SD Card every time.

[idcGTX]

what mic do you have used in this video?

[AverageatMostThings]

I realize this is slightly off topic but can you tell me the difference between AF Lock and AF-ON?

[daniel]

Looks like Murphy's Law was working overtime on you for a few days.