Camera Motion Systems

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  • 1.  Manual vs. Auto Focus

    Posted 06-16-2025 15:05

    As much as I THINK I know about video, I still get tripped up on this concept: AUTO vs. MANUAL focus.

    I have 2 PivotCams and 3 PTZ 12G cameras (as well as a Canon XF405) and it seems that all of them behave in the same way. I THOUGHT that if I have a camera on MANUAL focus, no matter what movement (PT) or (Z) I apply to the camera, it will always retain whatever focus it is set at. In addition, if I save a preset and have the 'recall focus' box ticked, it will "remember" that focus setting and when I recall it, the shot should be saved and I'm ready to put it ON AIR.

    I run all of my cameras on MANUAL focus and ALWAYS save the focus settings, yet I constantly fight the cameras trying to refocus shots from time to time and cannot figure out why. Based on previous advice i received from conversations in this forum a while back, since we have a Carbonite, I do have Focus Mode blocked in the Visca Gateway tab on Dashboard for all 5 cameras.



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    Steve Witwicki
    Video Technical Director
    Light of Christ Church
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  • 2.  RE: Manual vs. Auto Focus

    Posted 06-17-2025 09:56

    Hi Steve,

    On the PTZ 12G cameras there is a setting called PTZ assist which may be currently on.  This is a feature that will perform an Auto Focus operation when the camera is repositioned and movement stops.  Check to see if this is enabled and let us know if that helps.



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    Zane Burtnyk
    PV Specialist - Camera Motion Systems
    Ross Video
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    Original Message