Whereas DFD autofocus is okay for stills, it’s removed from excellent for video, which is an issue when Panasonic needs to nook the videography market.
Panasonic has tried to promote us on their DFD (distinction detect) autofocus for years. Nonetheless, the pulsing impact of DFD autofocus will be extremely off-putting and distracting for many who create movies. Whereas it’d take some time to see it in some clips, you may’t unsee it when you discover it.
The complaints round DFD autofocus have been round for so long as I can bear in mind. Nonetheless, Panasonic has insisted that DFD autofocus is the long run. Nonetheless, they may lastly be realizing that in the event that they wish to dominate on the earth of mirrorless digicam video seize, they may finally must undertake PDAF, which everyone knows as phase-detect autofocus.
A current article on 4/3 Rumors shares an interview that Imaging Assets had with Panasonic a few weeks in the past. Many issues got here to gentle within the dialogue, together with the renewed partnership between Panasonic and Leica, Panasonic’s imaging enterprise, which noticed a double-digit improve in 2021, and naturally, the dialogue about PDAF. This may little doubt delight videographers on the market.
Is DFD autofocus actually that unhealthy?
I’ve used Panasonic cameras for a very long time. In truth, the Panasonic Lumix S5 (learn my evaluation right here) is one in every of my favourite full-frame cameras. I used this digicam extensively for stills and video.
Throughout my quick stint as a YouTube video creator, I had no issues with Panasonic’s DFD autofocus. Admittedly, I attempted each trick within the e book to mitigate the pulsing impact that so many videographers hate. I had fairly good success. Nonetheless, this isn’t to say that the pulsing isn’t a problem as a result of it clearly is; nevertheless, it simply comes right down to how a lot it bugs you as a creator greater than anything.
With regards to stills, Panasonic’s DFD autofocus system is extremely responsive and really correct in all lighting situations. I used the Panasonic Lumix S5 to seize motocross bikes zooming round a dust monitor, soccer gamers, and extra. The contrast-detect autofocus system is A-OK for portraits, landscapes, nature, astrophotography, occasion, road images and some other style of images. This even rings true for cameras just like the GH6 (learn our full evaluation right here), too. You’ll haven’t any issues with it in any respect.
With this in thoughts, I can see why Panasonic needed to stay with its DFD system. Nonetheless, instances have modified. The market has shifted extra towards hybrid content material creators who produce each stills and movies. Truthfully, tens of millions of content material creators now give attention to nothing however video, so it’s a sensible transfer on Panasonic’s half to double-down on the hybrid market extra than simply stills. In the end, the video market is one which Panasonic needs to be a pacesetter in. So, it needs to be no shock that they’re now trying into PDAF.
What did Panasonic say precisely?
Within the interview with Imaging Useful resource, Panasonic said that:
“It’s a indisputable fact that PDAF is likely one of the parts to enhance the AF efficiency of LUMIX for the long run. Nonetheless, PDAF alone doesn’t enhance AF efficiency, and elements apart from PDAF are required to find out ‘which to give attention to.’ With PDAF as an AF detection system in thoughts, we’ll proceed to make each effort to enhance the overall efficiency of AF. We’re positively finding out PDAF for future merchandise. We all know that PDAF will improve the overall AF high quality, in order that’s why we’re actively finding out it. We haven’t determined but although.”
There’s lots to unpack right here. So, sure, Panasonic is certainly trying into PDAF (Part-Detect Autofocus). Nonetheless, they haven’t mentioned they’re committing to it, simply that they’re evaluating all prospects.
What this implies for the way forward for Panasonic cameras is unclear. Nonetheless, provided that so many hybrid content material creators regularly select cameras from Canon, Nikon, Sony, OM SYSTEM and others, regardless of Panasonic having the very best video codecs available on the market, is sort of telling.
I’ll be the primary to let you know that in terms of video, it’s exhausting to beat the standard that Lumix cameras produce. If Panny can eradicate its Achilles’ heel by additional refining DFD (which it received’t because of the nature of the system) or by adopting PDAF, Panasonic can take its cameras to a brand new degree that may actually depart the competitors behind. No matter Panasonic chooses to do, it must do it shortly as a result of many creators are giving up hope that Panasonic will repair the problem that makes the corporate the butt of jokes and memes.
What do you consider Panasonic trying into PDAF as a substitute of DFD? Ought to the corporate persist with its weapons and refine its contrast-detect system, or ought to it be a part of everybody else by using part detect autofocus? Tell us within the remark part under.
