Panasonic NV RZ 15 B Human Eyes, Auto Focus Adjustment, Subjects with weak contrast

Glossary (cont.)

∫Focus

If you look at an object through a magnifying glass and move it closer or further away from your eye, you will reach a point where the object becomes clearly visible. Being focused or in focus means that the subject can be seen with optimum clarity and sharpness.

Human Eyes

Human eyes have lenses as well, and when we look at objects at different distances, the shape of these lenses changes automatically so that we can always see these objects clearly.

Movie Camera

The image of the subject enters the Movie Camera through the lens and is converted into an electric signal (video signal) for recording onto magnetic tape. The focus is adjusted either manually or automatically by moving a focusing lens.

Auto Focus Adjustment

The Auto Focus System automatically moves the internal focusing lens forward or backward and adjusts the focus so that the subject can be seen clearly.

The Auto Focus Adjustment has the following characteristics:

≥It adjusts until the vertical contours of the subject are as sharp and clean as possible.

≥It adjusts the focus on the subjects with strong contrast.

≥It adjusts the focus on the subject in the centre of the °LCD Monitor or Viewfinder. Unlike human eyes, the lens of the Movie Camera cannot instantaneously change the focus from a nearby to a distant subject and vice versa.

°LCD Monitor: NV-VZ14/VZ15 only

For the following subjects and recording situations, the Auto Focus system cannot provide precise adjustment. Use the Manual Focus Mode instead. (p. 46)

1Recording subjects with a part of it near the Movie Camera and another part far away from it

As the Auto Focus adjusts on the centre part of the image, it is often impossible to bring the nearby and distant parts of the subject into focus.

When you want to record a person with a distant mountain in the back, it is not possible to focus on both.

2Recording subjects behind glass covered with dirt or dust

As the focus is adjusted on the dirty glass, the subject behind the glass is out of focus. When recording a subject across a street on which cars are running, the focus may be adjusted on the cars.

3Recording subjects in dark surroundings As the amount of light information entering through the lens is greatly reduced, the Movie Camera cannot adjust the focus precisely.

4Recording subjects surrounded by objects with shiny surfaces or much light reflection As the Movie Camera adjusts the focus on objects with shiny surfaces or much light reflection, the subject may go out of focus. Therefore, when recording at a lake or the sea, evening scenes, fireworks, or under special types of lighting, the subject may be out of focus.

5Recording fast-moving subjects As the internal focusing lens is moved mechanically, it cannot follow fast-moving subjects without delay.

Therefore, subjects like children running back and forth may temporarily go out of focus.

6Subjects with weak contrast

As the Movie Camera adjusts the focus based on vertical contours in the picture, subjects with little contrast such as a white wall may be out of focus.

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