<p>The problem is that cheap lenses (and even some expensive ones) do not know where the focus ring is actually positioned. They only know if they are in focus and which way to run the motor to get more in focus. For focusing, they don't generally need access to this kind of information because they get feedback via the AF sensor about if they need to keep going.</p>

<p>When shooting video, the PDAF sensor is covered and the only way to verify positioning is to continue until contrast decreases. This is why you get the focus hunting issue with contrast based auto focus such as what is used on most LiveView modes (unless the camera has a hybrid sensor that includes PDAF pixels.)</p>

<p>What Magic Lantern is probably doing to get around this is running the motor for a fixed amount of time to approximate the movement, but in cheaper lenses, the motors are particularly imprecise, so it is going to often miss the mark. There might also be an option to have it use CBAF for confirmation, but that will result in at least a minimal amount of focus hunting.</p>

<p>There's still no real software fix for what is really a matter of needing to be able to move from position A to position B exactly unless you have a lens that actually provides exact position information back to the camera (in which case, this information may be able to be used by Magic Lantern for giving an exact follow or rack.)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-25T17:38:23.693Z
Thanks for the great explanation. Is it possible for cheap lenses (like the f/1.8 50mm) to vary a lot in accuracy between each other?

And is there a list of all lenses with focus ring position reporting?
mel
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-25T17:52:52.647Z
@mel - I have no idea about the accuracy between lenses.  I would expect it's probably possible since it is just a timing thing and, particularly as lenses age, the performance of the motor is going to also change.  As far as the type of communication the lenses do, I'm not sure.  STM lenses should be able to communicate bi-directionally, but the exact list I'm not sure about since that might not even be disclosed by the manufacturers in some cases.
AJ Henderson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-25T15:12:13.277Z
2013-10-25T15:12:13.277Z
AJ Henderson
<p>Using Magic Lantern on a 600D. With Follow Focus and Rack Focus, the camera always misses the focus point I set. Sometimes it's just one or two movements too far but it's always too many. And if you focus back and forth a lot it drifts further and further. I've tried various settings and both a Canon 50mm f/1.8 as well as a Canon EFS 18-55mm f/3.5 (maybe slightly better).</p>

<p>Is there something wrong with my lenses? Or camera? Or is this normal?</p>

<focus>
Magic Lantern follow focus
mel
# Magic Lantern follow focus

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-10-25)

Using Magic Lantern on a 600D. With Follow Focus and Rack Focus, the camera always misses the focus point I set. Sometimes it's just one or two movements too far but it's always too many. And if you focus back and forth a lot it drifts further and further. I've tried various settings and both a Canon 50mm f/1.8 as well as a Canon EFS 18-55mm f/3.5 (maybe slightly better).

Is there something wrong with my lenses? Or camera? Or is this normal?

**Tags:** focus


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-10-25. Score: 1

The problem is that cheap lenses (and even some expensive ones) do not know where the focus ring is actually positioned. They only know if they are in focus and which way to run the motor to get more in focus. For focusing, they don't generally need access to this kind of information because they get feedback via the AF sensor about if they need to keep going.

When shooting video, the PDAF sensor is covered and the only way to verify positioning is to continue until contrast decreases. This is why you get the focus hunting issue with contrast based auto focus such as what is used on most LiveView modes (unless the camera has a hybrid sensor that includes PDAF pixels.)

What Magic Lantern is probably doing to get around this is running the motor for a fixed amount of time to approximate the movement, but in cheaper lenses, the motors are particularly imprecise, so it is going to often miss the mark. There might also be an option to have it use CBAF for confirmation, but that will result in at least a minimal amount of focus hunting.

There's still no real software fix for what is really a matter of needing to be able to move from position A to position B exactly unless you have a lens that actually provides exact position information back to the camera (in which case, this information may be able to be used by Magic Lantern for giving an exact follow or rack.)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for the great explanation. Is it possible for cheap lenses (like the f/1.8 50mm) to vary a lot in accuracy between each other?  And is there a list of all lenses with focus ring position reporting?  
> **username_1**: @username_0 - I have no idea about the accuracy between lenses.  I would expect it's probably possible since it is just a timing thing and, particularly as lenses age, the performance of the motor is going to also change.  As far as the type of communication the lenses do, I'm not sure.  STM lenses should be able to communicate bi-directionally, but the exact list I'm not sure about since that might not even be disclosed by the manufacturers in some cases.  

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