Soft Focus using XH A1 is driving me nuts!

1. SLyon
   Member

   

   I have just started to work with my new XH A1 and have been shooting some interviews. It is being used along with a GL2 and the GL2 is much sharper than the A1. I am downloading both into Adobe Premier and I have to use an Unsharp mask at 150 to even get them close. Canon support has not been any help. Has anybody experienced the same problem or is there a workflow that is best to get the best out of this camera? Thanks for any help!

   Posted 3 years ago #

2. BarefootMedia
   Member

   

   It's been my experience that focus problems are usually solved by putting the camcorder in manual focus, zooming totally into the subject, using the auto-focus button or focus controls to get a razor sharp focus then zooming out to the desired framing.  Both the eyepiece & the LCD are notorious for looking great when the focus isn't actually right.

   Since both camcorders are three chip models, they should be very close in resolution.  So if the zoom-in focus method doesn't work, you may have your back focus incorrectly adjusted. But give the zoom-in method a shot & let us know what happens.

   Posted 3 years ago #

3. robGRAUERT
   Member

   

    hmm...is your eye pieced focused? I wonder if it's possible to have your eye piece out of focus, and then focus your image when really it's out of focus because your eye piece is out of focus and you're getting a bad reference. 

   Rob Grauert, Jr
   http://www.robgrauert.com
   http://command-r.tumblr.com

   Posted 3 years ago #

4. jburkhart
   

   

    Hi Slyon,

    You generally can't rely on the LCD of any HD camcorder to give you an accurate idea of focus, the resolution is just not there. Canon (and other manufacturers) add a peaking function, that outlines the area of the frame that's in focus with solid colored lines in the LCD. Are you using peaking and still getting soft results?

   John Burkhart
   Editor-in-Chief
   Videomaker

   Posted 3 years ago #

5. SLyon
   Member

   

   Thanks for all of the responses!!

   BarefootMedia; back focus, is that something that has to be ajusted by Canon? I will take a bunch of video this weekend trying your method and let you know how it works.

   Yes I am using peaking to focus and this is not only happening to me but also another phtographer who has a lot more experence although not with this camera (uses a GL2).

   As for the question about the eyepiece, I have somewhat of a challange getting to it. I use a wheelchair and am reliant on the LDC screen.

   Posted 3 years ago #

6. robGRAUERT
   Member

   

    i don't thinkyou have back focus on your camera. that's on a lens that's meant for a camera with interchangeable lenses, so i dont know why he even mentioned it.

   Posted 3 years ago #

7. SLyon
   Member

   

   I found this artical on-line today and wanted to ask if anybody has turned off the Instant AF. If so, what are the pros and cons?

   http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Canon-XH-A1-Camcorder-Review/AutoManual-Controls.htm

   Posted 3 years ago #

8. jburkhart
   

   

   Hmm. I'm wondering if its a focus issue, or its a sharpening issue with the XHA1? Do you have any custom presets set up or are you just using the factory presets? There is a sharpness control that you can dial in using a custom preset. you might try creating a new custom preset and adjust the sharpness to +3 or more, and see if it gives the results you're after.

   (Also if you can upload a still from your video, it may be easier to trouble shoot)

    Keep on it...

    JB

   Posted 3 years ago #

9. visualanthrogirl
   Member

   

   I've had the exact same problem so it's nice to know I'm not the only one.  I'm going to look into some of the advice given here as well and see if that helps.

   Posted 3 years ago #

10. juanparmenides
    Member

    

    Hi all,

    This is my very first time in this forum and so I present myself from Canary Islands.

    Well, the Canon XH A1 has a very luminous lens and it is not desirable to use beyond f4 (the middle of the range) because you could have difraction issues, causing blurring. You had more info about this in the manual.

    In my case, I had the same blur issue with my XH A1 and it was fixed using  the method mentioned above.

    Hope this help.

     Regards.

    Posted 3 years ago #

11. digitalbywater
    Member

    

    I have similar issues when using partial auto mode and my solution has been to

    reduce the amount of light hitting the image sensor, either by using the neutral

    density filter or higher f stops or increase shutter speeds.

    When videoing horizons with high brightness areas, the camera immediately de

    focusses to a "Standard definition look", or as described above a soft focus.

    As soon as I use the internal density filter, the image sharpens. I wonder

    if the image sensor has an inherent fault, or even as mentioned above the

    glass/optics just can't hack the light ? I Just have to remember to use ND filters

    when not in the winter season.

    Posted 1 year ago #

12. digitalbywater
    Member

    

    Soft Focus XH-A1 problem,

    Appending to the end of my last comment, after experimentation the soft focus issue

    appears to be more pronounced when in "Tv" mode, less in "Av" and "M" mode. Hope

    this helps.

    Posted 1 year ago #

13. digitalbywater
    Member

    

    An update on soft focus issues within the XH-A1 when exposed to too much light.

    After realising that the EVF and LCD are virtually useless in detecting these focus issues on the XH-A1, I have now invested in a 668GL hot shoe mounted monitor. This has given me a whole new world of EVF, I can actually see these focus issues now and correct them with the ND filter as and when. 668GL has a component in and gives me 800x480 pixels to display the analogue 1440x1080 signal from the camera

    Posted 1 year ago #

14. XTR-91
    Member

    

    My TM700 has a "focus assist" that shows things up in blue if they are in focus.  If in doubt and you can only shoot it once, open up the aperature.  This will be okay if you have extensive lighting. Then, you can as some sort of "blur" effect to parts of the picture to simulate 'focus'

    Posted 1 year ago #

15. Ryan Creason
    Member

    

    I also am having this exact same problem.  Mine isn't a lighting problem as I'm shooting inside.  I always zoom in to the eye and focus then zoom out, however, the more I zoom out the more the subject becomes out of focus and the focus shifts toward the background.  If any1 has any suggestions, please shoot away.  Thanks in advance.

    Posted 1 year ago #

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