topic Re: weird pulsing focus during video interviews with r6ii in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

weird pulsing focus during video interviews with r6ii

sylentbob3 — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 09:15:32 GMT

I recently puchased the r6ii, and am having focus problems when shooting interviews.

The focus is "pulsing" every minute or so, like its hunting focus.

Im using human detection, with eye focus turned on.

Anyone can guide me to what Im doing wrong? As the footage isnt so useable as is

Ive included samples below

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/secqnts8yt6cn3amm3s5z/focus-problems.mp4?rlkey=whax1ruj21j78olmyy7p52cds&dl=0

Re: weird pulsing focus during video interviews with r6ii

deebatman316 — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 12:32:14 GMT

What lenses are being used. 3rd Party lenses are known to have problems with newer cameras.

Re: weird pulsing focus during video interviews with r6ii

sylentbob3 — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 13:02:24 GMT

Hi, thanks for your reply, im using both the 50mm rf and 85 ef with official canon adapter.

Re: weird pulsing focus during video interviews with r6ii

deebatman316 — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 13:06:36 GMT

Are these Canon lenses or 3rd Party lenses with the EF Mount. Also please list the full names of the lenses.

Re: weird pulsing focus during video interviews with r6ii

sylentbob3 — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 08:52:34 GMT

Hi, the lenses are canon lenses (not third party)

The Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM with official canon adapter, and

Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM

Re: weird pulsing focus during video interviews with r6ii

grahamcopeland — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 13:35:51 GMT

When recording video of a stationary subject, your best bet is to use an external monitor. This allows you to view the overall image on the large external monitor and use the camera’s monitor to check focus in magnified mode. At this point you can turn off the autofocus. Any autofocus is prone to hunting for focus and that’s a sure way to ruin an interview.

Re: weird pulsing focus during video interviews with r6ii

Waddizzle — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 14:28:48 GMT

The issue of focusing pulsing has been a recent topic in social media, particularly on YouTube. I think the issue is 100% operator error.

If you are using a tripod, then make sure Image Stabilization is disabled and turned off. Also, be sure to always be cognizant of MFD, minimum focus distance, for the lens you are using, particularly with longer focal length zooms.

Re: weird pulsing focus during video interviews with r6ii

sylentbob3 — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:09:58 GMT

Thanks guys, unfortunately, neither of these solutions are really practical. I do use a monitor, and ive been monitoring the focus issue, IS is also off.

Its weird because the eos r that i own, has rock solid focus for interviews.

I bought the r6ii (which is much more expenive than the r, as we know) with hopes that the autofocus would be better, not worse.

Im happy to hear any ideas about how this is user error, but not sure what to fix?

Turning off the auto focus seems like a major cop out for a $2500 camera, in 2023.

Anyhow, happy to hear any practical ideas

Re: weird pulsing focus during video interviews with r6ii

grahamcopeland — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:16:26 GMT

I understand the frustration. I have had cameras of all prices with autofocus behaving bad, often at the worst time. This is why turning it off, monitoring it carefully, and making adjustments by hand is the only way to guarantee results 100% of the time.

Re: weird pulsing focus during video interviews with r6ii

Waddizzle — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 18:14:09 GMT

The 6 second video clip appears to have a “jump cut” in the middle of it. Is that the issue?

That issue has the appearance of some type of edit, perhaps a brief loss of signal. This is why it is often referred to as a “jump cut”. The video stream seems to jump forward in time, as if a small piece of the video stream were removed.

Are you recording in the camera? If so, what memory card are you using?

What video configuration are you using? Is your memory card capable of handling the bandwidth?

Re: weird pulsing focus during video interviews with r6ii

sylentbob3 — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 09:41:13 GMT

For anyone reading this thread in the future also looking for a solution, it seems that setting subject detect to "off" seems to have solved this problem for now.

Re: weird pulsing focus during video interviews with r6ii

shadowsports — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 13:46:09 GMT

Thanks for providing the update. I was going to post a few questions for you myself, as I was quite sure your R62 was capable of tracking a subject during an interview and remaining sharp. I don't use manual focus exclusively when shooting video and set correctly, the camera tracks subjects moving back and forth and in or out of the frame completely without hunting. If the wrong settings are used, the camera will hunt until it finds another subject which may or may not be yours.

I still own my EF 85 f1.8 and also had the EF 50 f1.8. I never used them for video however, only still photography. I've watched many videos from others who have had issues with the RF 50 and 85 "L's" on mirrorless bodys when shooting video. Realize this doesn't apply here.

EF wise, The 85 is much older, and although its USM, might not be up to the task, especially on the R62 which has one of Canons most advanced AF algorithms available. For portraiture, at its low price, its bokeh is nearly unbeatable, razor sharp focus with beautiful soft balls that melt away in the background. Consider looking at the RF 35mm too. Its another lower priced lens that delivers in video. Glad you found a solution that works.