G9 + 100-400mm lens: Autofocus Locks on Background

I've had the combination of the G9 and 100-400 lens for over a year now. Currently at the latest firmware update as far as I know (v 1.2). I still run into a problem when photographing birds at close range...If the G9 grabs focus on the background, it is nearly impossible to refocus on the foreground bird. The only thing I can do at this point is point the camera at another nearby object that nearly fills up the framed image, then it will refocus on the foreground and I can then focus on the foreground bird -- if it's still there.

I have tried every focus point setting known to this camera. I have tried every autofocus setting known to man. No matter what setting, if you lose close focus and it grabs the background, good luck in re-establishing foreground focus on subjects that fill up about 40% of the frame or less.

The strange thing is, is that the G9 appears to recognize that a foreground object exists, but never switches focus. I use back button focus and keep pumping it, hoping it will grab the foreground subject.

It's always been a frustration with this camera and the 100-400mm lens. (I wish the lens had a close focus switch so that it would prevent the lens from trying to focus to infinity.)

I'm curious to know if others have this same problem and if there is any setting I am missing (although I think I have tried everything).

Because of this problem I primarily use this camera and lens for wildlife video work only.

 

I'm not talking about BIF settings. I am talking about initial focus of close subjects. They do not need to be in-flight.

For example, a bird perched on a thin, metal fence post 30' away. Behind the fence post, there is a tree line. The camera is focused on the trees. Attempting to refocus on the bird or the thin metal fence post in the foreground is a lesson in futility. The only way to get close focus is to focus on the base of the fence post in which the ground fills the frame, then pan up and hopefully the bird is still there.

BTW, the focal planes of the bird in foreground and trees in background are very far apart. In other words, when the bird is in focus, the background is completely blurred with no definition.

Here's an example:

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

Yes. I actually reduced the size of the one focus point as small as I could make it and it had no effect. Even though the one, small focal point clearly was only on the bird, it would never focus on the foreground bird. Good idea and one that I thought would work.

 

I tried MF + AF as well as AF-S and it make no difference. It still cannot pick out the foreground subject. Thanks.

 

Thanks. Using manual focus is a work-around of sorts and does work as long as I have time to get it close to the foreground bird before it takes off. Still a bit time consuming however. Once the lens has gained near-focus, it does lock-on and hold focus. It's the initial focus that is the problem.

 

I just saw something here that leads me to believe this is a contrast-detect problem and has nothing to do with the 100-400mm lens nor the G9. I was watching a video from Kai W reviewing the Panasonic S1. In his video at the 6:24 mark, he describes almost the exact same problem using the S1. Just as I have seen, the camera seems to recognize there is a foreground subject, but stays stuck on a busy background. It now has me wondering if this is a limitation of contrast-detect autofocus? Or they need to fix their firmware? Even on the S1.

Here is the video. Go to the 6:23 mark.


FYI, I am not trying to pick on Panasonic. I love their cameras but this problem does have me frustrated. Thanks to everyone for their feedback.