G9, Hyper focus and street shooting

[jlipkin]

I've realized that most of the 'shutter lag' on my G9 is in fact focus lag. So, to speed the camera up, I'm going to try manual focus. According to my calculations, with a focal length of 7.4mm, a multiplier of 4.7 for lens length, I should be able to set the aperture at f/4, the focus at 7ft, and have a dof from 7ft to infinity. I used the calculator here:

Focus Pocus: Outsight Photography Depth of Field Calculators

Does this sound correct to you?


OK, that's the fist question. Second question: have any of you used the MF function on the G9? It seems every time I shoot, the manual focus resets to around 4 feet, no matter what I've set it to before. Now, this isn't terrible, as with an aperture of 5.6 i can get 2.5 to infinity in DOF with that focus. But it would be nice to have a bit more control over the focus. I suppose I should just go read the manual...

[Dennis_Vied]

Is there a chance it's trying to set the HyperFocal distance for you? And maybe comes up with a little bit different solution?

Naaah, that's too good to be true.

[jlipkin]

Yes! It did calculate hyperfocal distance. Then it went to make me a sandwich. Bah, I wish. If only there were a way to get it to stick on one MF distance... I'll have to go and bug a canon rep if I can find one.

[Tony_Gamble]

" the focus at 7ft, and have a dof from 7ft to infinity."

That must be wrong. You must also have an area of focus that is nearer than the 7ft you are set at.

Tony

[jlipkin]

Yes, a typo on my part. Should read from 3.6 feet to infinity. Still, that's pretty enormous, no? I guess it's because of the super-short focal length of the lens.

[Tony_Gamble]

Sounds more likely.

A few months ago there was a thread on the Snap mode of the GRD and it came to a similar conclusion.

Tony