Focusing Phantom 4 Camera: Tips For Clearer Shots

The Phantom 4 Pro camera has a manual tap-to-focus feature, which means that the aperture is no longer fixed and the focus is no longer set to infinity. To manually focus the camera, you can tap on the area you want to be in focus on the screen of your device. This will bring up a green square, indicating the focus point, and you will hear a confirmation sound. You can also use the autofocus feature by half-pressing the shutter button. It is important to note that the original Phantom 4 does not have a lens that focuses, as it has a fixed-focus lens.

Tap to focus

The Phantom 4 Pro has a manual tap-to-focus feature. To use this feature, first, tap the AF/MF button to switch from autofocus to manual focus mode. Then, tap the camera settings icon and enable the MF focus assistant.

When shooting distant objects, choose the object and then tap the infinity symbol on the slider to focus to infinity. If you want to focus on a specific object, tap on it and then move the slider to focus manually.

You can also use the tap-to-focus feature to focus on objects that are very close to the camera (a few feet away). In this case, you would tap on the object to bring it into focus, and then when you move away from the object, the camera will automatically focus on the new scene.

It is worth noting that some users have reported issues with the tap-to-focus feature, stating that it can be "kludgy" and that it is easier to just use auto-focus or set the focus to infinity.

Infinity focus

To achieve infinity focus, you can try to manually set the focus to the hyperfocal distance. The hyperfocal distance is the focus distance that results in the maximum depth of field, ensuring that objects at a range of distances are in focus. For the Phantom 4, the hyperfocal distance is 2.2m.

Another way to achieve infinity focus is to use autofocus on an object in the distance (50 feet or more away from the camera). You can also enable "Focus assist" in the camera settings, which will automatically zoom in during focusing, making it easier to review the focus even in low-light conditions.

It is important to note that the infinity mark on the lens is only useful if the lens is properly calibrated. Additionally, the focus range and depth of field will depend on factors such as aperture, sensor size, and focal length.

Manual focus

To manually focus the Phantom 4 camera, you need to switch from autofocus to manual focus mode. This can be done by tapping the AF/MF button, which will bring up the focus slider. From there, you can tap the camera settings and enable the MF focus assistant.

When shooting distant objects, you can choose the object and then tap the infinity symbol on the slider to focus to infinity. Alternatively, you can tap the screen to select where you want to focus and then move the slider to adjust the focus manually.

If you are filming something very close, you can use the tap-to-focus feature to focus on objects a few feet away from the camera. However, if you don't use this feature, the camera will automatically focus on objects that are not a few feet away.

Some users have reported that the tap-to-focus feature can be unreliable, with the camera failing to auto-focus on more distant objects after initially focusing on a close object. Therefore, it may be preferable to keep the camera in manual focus mode and set it to infinity. This will ensure that everything remains in focus, regardless of the distance from the camera.

It is worth noting that the smaller the camera sensor, the more of the image will be in focus. The Phantom 4 Pro has a relatively large sensor, so it is important to adjust the focus to ensure that the desired parts of the image are sharp.

Autofocus

The Phantom 4 camera has an autofocus feature that can be forced by tapping the camera preview window. The focus will then be pulled from the centre of the camera's view. The focus is automatically updated every 10 seconds.

The Phantom 4 Pro has a similar feature, where you can tap to focus on the screen. The aperture is no longer fixed, so the focus is no longer set to infinity. This means that you can adjust the focus to ensure that the desired part of the image is rendered in focus. The smaller the camera sensor, the more of the photograph will be in focus automatically.

The Phantom 4, however, does not have a lens that focuses. It is a fixed-focus lens, so there is no option to adapt and play with the focus in the settings.

Continuous autofocus

The Phantom 4 camera has a continuous autofocus feature, which can be turned on or off. When continuous autofocus is on, the camera will automatically adjust its focus as the drone moves and the distance to the object changes. This can be useful if you want to ensure that the object you are tracking remains in focus at all times. However, some users have reported that the continuous autofocus feature can cause unwanted movement in footage, as the camera may suddenly shift focus to a different object.

To turn off continuous autofocus, go to your camera settings and turn off the AF-C setting. Once this is done, the camera will only focus when you tap the screen to select a focus point. This is known as "tap to focus". It is important to note that the tap to focus feature may not work well if you need to focus on objects that are very close to the camera. In such cases, you may need to use manual focus.

Manual focus can be used to lock the focus at a specific distance. To do this, select manual focus in the camera settings, and then adjust the focus by tapping the screen or using the focus ring on the camera lens. Manual focus can be useful if you want to ensure that the focus remains fixed during a flight, or if you are shooting in situations where the object distances are not changing significantly.

It is worth noting that the Phantom 4 camera has a relatively large sensor, which means that you may need to adjust the focus more frequently compared to a smaller sensor. Additionally, the aperture of the camera lens is adjustable, allowing for a variable depth of field. This gives you greater control over how much of your photograph is rendered in focus.

Overall, the continuous autofocus feature on the Phantom 4 camera can be useful in certain situations, but it may also lead to unwanted focus shifts. Understanding how to turn this feature on and off, as well as how to use tap to focus and manual focus, will give you greater control over your photography and videography with the Phantom 4 drone.

Frequently asked questions