VIAAS Support
I am having trouble getting the camera to focus, what can I do?
The cameras focus assist mode can be REALLY handy. You might have tried focusing without it, and the delay between what you do at the camera and what you see on screen (about 5 seconds) can be maddening.
The focus assist works just like autofocus on point an shoot cameras, except you get to be the focus motor. In focus assist mode, the camera keeps track of the best focus (highest contrast between vertical lines on the center part of the image) it has seen. If the current focus is within 5% of best focus, one LED is on, and if it is within 1% of the best focus, both LEDs are on. It is your job to move the focus portion of the lens (the outer part) through enough range of travel to let the camera see the "in focus" point, and the LEDs will then help you get back there.
To engage focus assist, click on the SETTINGS button on the camera control in the service. On the settings screen, click on the ADJUST FOCUS AND ROTATION tab. The camera is now in focus assist mode, and you should see both LEDs go on (and probably stay on depending on what the camera is pointed at).
First, turn the outer element one direction (we suggest clockwise) till you reach the physical limit. Go relatively slowly (take about 10 seconds to go to the end). Now go the other direction (counter clockwise) slowly until the both LEDs turn on and then off again - you have just passed the "in focus" spot. Go back really slowly till you get them both on, or at least one on and the other blinked on.
The algorithm is not perfect. If it gets confused, you can hold your hand over the lens (you need to make it really dark for the camera) for 2 seconds to reset the algorithm. The LEDs should start blinking rapidly. Remove you hand and wait a few seconds for exposure to recover. You can now start over. It is good practice to reset the focus point after you have gotten the lens focused the first time then move back a forth a little bit to make sure you really are done.
Some pointers - Make sure you have something to focus on at about the point you want the camera to have best focus - have a friend stand there, put a box there etc. Focus assist needs horizontal contrast to focus. If you are pointing at a gray wall, it won't work. It also works much better with good light.
There are some scenes where focus assist just does not work and you will have to use manual focus. To do manual focus it helps to have a friend watching the screen. First go slowly through the focus range till you get close to in focus. To really dial it in, make a change and wait till the change has gone through (you can usually tell because you jiggle the camera a little when you focus, look for this movement as a clue that your latest change has gone through).
Another handy tip for manual focus is to use the mobile client at m.viaas.com. Then you only have to haul your cell phone up the ladder instead of a laptop.
If happen to rotate the lens in the lens mount (typically because you either did not loosen the set screws or you hit the end of range and kept going) you should be able to just tighten it down again and it should be close enough.
