Canon HF-G70 nonstop going in and out of focus

[Greggadventure]

I sit in front of a desk, talking to the camera. It goes IN AND OUT of focus, nonstop. Slowly in, Slowly Out. A high percentage of my content, is ruined, because of this. I sit in front of Two GODOX ULC60 Lights. 

ONE: https://youtu.be/71hzgidG0ag?si=x_bsK7Ai32K3vBrV

TWO: https://youtu.be/DqJMFxAeNyU

Three:  Canon Focus.mp4

I have several dozen examples of this, for every single day of shooting.

Does anyone know how to stop this? Manual Focusing, would be very challenging for me, as I'm sitting behind a desk. 

[John_Q]

Hello Greggadventure,

The VIXIA HF G70 does have a Face Detection and Tracking feature. During autofocus, the camcorder automatically detects people’s faces and uses this information to select the optimal focus and exposure settings. In AUTO mode, this is always activated. You can turn that on in the [Camera setup] > [Face Detection & Tracking] menu item. While using autofocus, you can limit the autofocus function only to cases when a subject’s face is detected and use manual focus for all other scenes. You would need to assign a button to [Face Only AF]. Manual focus could be an option based on your video. You can place an object in the vicinity where you will be located behind the desk, focus the camcorder on that subject first, and it will be at the correct focus plane prior to you even getting in the shot. This will certainly keep the camera's AF system from adjusting continuously at the center of the frame which it will do with autofocus enabled.

[Greggadventure]

I can try this, but, there is no way this is normal. I've never seen a camera act like this. I had to Re-shoot a segment FOUR TIMES this week, because of focus issues, and, I have to go do a 5th, because it ruined it again. I'm doing simple stuff, that it should be able to work with. All my other camera's can handle it. Here's another sample. Even a static shot, lit with Daylight, Godox Lanterns.... it goes crazy.  Canon Focus.mp4

[Isac]

Sounds like a real autofocus issue. Have you tried checking the camera's autofocus settings? Maybe it's set to a mode that's too sensitive to small movements.

[Greggadventure]

I've tinkered with all the settings, to no avail. Open to suggestions....  Canon Focus.mp4