Autofocus Lumix FX5, how best?

[hank]

First digital camera, after 50-plus years shooting film; still using a Leica IIIf and a Pentax KX by choice (and a Nikon film scanner to digitize).

Got a Lumix ...
EDIT -- dagnabbit.
It's the FZ5 model I have, I mistyped "FX" earlier.

, second hand, recently -- and I think I don't understand the autofocus, tho' I've read through the manual and gone through the settings.

I've tried the range of choices for autofocus area, usually leave it on the small central autofocus setting, infrared turned off, lowest 'film' speed setting.

Biggest problem seems to be with full telephoto shooting images at the horizon, far off scenery.

Shooting through glass (e.g. through building or airplane windows) is also quite bad.

Often I'll see the viewfinder pass through what seems exactly the right focus and then drift off -- camera on tripod, no motion problem, outdoor sunlight.

I'd think I ought to have plenty of depth of field, but the images are not sharp. I expected much better from this lens. It's usually at f8

Any pointer to advice welcome. Ways of testing, work flow to get me through all the settings.

[Beowulff]

I have to admit, that like you, I had to make the change from 50 years of film shooting to digital, although I must say that all those years with film gives one an extremely in-depth understanding of the photographic processes — in fact, from what I often see now, a much better understanding than someone who's grown up in the digital world.

All too often, particularly younger camera users (and I mean no disrespect to them) lack a basic understanding of the "physics" of photography, and often expect way beyond what their digital cameras can do for them. Anyway.....

I'd just like you to confirm exactly which model Panasonic camera you've got, as I'm a little confused that you mention "infra-red turned off" — as the FX5 doesn't have an infra-red low pass filter.

You also mention an aperture of ƒ8 — but the FX5 has a minimum aperture of ƒ4.9.

Also bear in mind that this camera is fully "automatic" which means you have no manual control over the aperture or shutter speed. As well, the only two choices for auto focus are spot — which can be turned on or off — and normal full FoV.

The other thing you might like to do is post 2 or 3 of your suspect images here for us to offer some critique; it's a bit difficult to make a technical assessment without actually seeing the images.

Hope this helps a bit.

Cheers :)

[hank]

My typo, corrected above (hope that propagates)
It's the FZ5, thanks for catching the mistake.

[hank]

Rats, correcting the first post doesn't correct the subject line.
I'll restart the thread later, after I've compiled the suggestions I've found elsewhere, and title it with the right model of the camera.