Sharp, reliable focus is essential for professional PTZ setups. This chapter covers every focus mode, region and behavior you need to know — including manual focus, autofocus algorithms, sensitivity settings, where to configure focus, depth of field control, and what happens when you recall presets or move the camera.

Where to configure focus

Focus modes

• Manual focus – You set focus yourself. Ideal for fixed-distance shots (podium, desk).
• Continuous AF – Camera continuously refocuses via pixel-contrast.
• One-Push / Trigger AF – Performs one autofocus cycle, then locks.

Iris setting for depth-of-field

Objects or persons over a larger difference in distance won’t all be in focus when the camera is on automatic settings. To maximise depth-of-field:

• Switch to AAE (Aperture Automatic Exposure) so you can set the iris manually while the camera handles shutter and gain.
• Close the iris to a higher F-Stop (e.g. F3.4 – F4.0) to increase DoF and overall sharpness.
• Supported F-Stops on CM70 series: F1.8, F2.0, F2.4, F2.8, F3.4, F4.0, F4.8, F5.6, F6.8, F8.0, F9.6, F11.0 (Doc 1 appendix).
• Why F3.4 – F4.0?
  • Gives a deeper depth-of-field so foreground and background stay sharp.
  • Reduces lens aberrations for a crisper image.
  • Requires more light or longer exposure—compensate with shutter speed or gain.
• Note: each F-stop step halves the light reaching the sensor; adjust shutter time or gain accordingly.

To enable iris control, set Exposure Mode ▶ AAE:

• OSD: MENU ▶ CAMERA ▶ EXPOSURE ▶ Mode ▶ AAE
• Web GUI: VIDEO ▶ Camera Settings ▶ Exposure ▶ Mode ▶ AAE

CM70 series supports F-Stops from F1.8 (shallow DoF) to F11.0 (deep DoF). Avoid going too high: long exposure and high gain can introduce noise and blur.

Autofocus areas & strategies

Table 3-A – Avonic autofocus modes

Mode	Focus area	Strategy
Front Focus	All cells	Prioritises near objects.
Back Focus	All cells	Prioritises distant objects.
Meeting	All cells	Equal priority across frame.
Education Tracking	Primary: cells 5–19; Secondary: top/bottom rows	No refocus on horizontal moves within primary band.
Moving Objects	Model-dependent*	Refocuses whenever subject moves.
Center Focus	Primary: cell 12; Secondary: cells 6–8, 11, 13, 16–18	Centre prioritised; refocuses on movement.

* Check your camera’s firmware for exact “Moving Objects” region.

Focus behavior with presets & movements

Best practices

• Use manual focus for fixed subjects; store in a preset.
• Use AF Meeting for gentle motion; set Sensitivity to Mid/Low.
• Use AF Moving Objects + High Sensitivity for dynamic scenes.
• Combine AAE + F3.4–F4.0 iris to increase depth of field where needed.
• Test focus modes and sensitivity in your venue prior to live events.
  
  
  
• Focus Mode

  Auto    The camera automatically adjusts the focus position based on the contents of the captured object. Manual    The user is able to set a fixed focus position manually. This can be useful when the contents of the filmed object are not clear towards the background and the autofocus has difficulties finding the correct focusing. One-push    The camera will focus once and will keep the focus in that position until another focus command is sent.

  AF-Mode

  This setting defines the area where the autofocus is aimed at and is not visible at manual focus.

  
  

  Front Focus:    Focus close to the camera has priority. In the absence of an object or person nearby, the camera will focus on an object or person at a greater distance. Back Focus:    Focus far from the camera has priority. If there are no objects or persons to focus on from far, the camera will adjust the focus to an object or person that is closer to it. Meeting:    For general meeting scenarios. Focussing straight forward. Camera considers also focussing on the whole room or stage. Moving Objects:    For focussing in the whole room or on stage. Re-focussing is done when the object or person is moving around. Center Focus:    Focus straight forward at the middle of the room or on stage. Re-focussing is done when the object or person moves.

  AF-Sensitivity

  Sets the level of speed with which the autofocus responds. This can be useful if you have people walking through the picture. If the setting is ‘High’, the camera will respond immediately. The camera will remain less responsive

  to sudden and brief changes when the AF-Sensitivity setting is set to 'Low' or 'Medium'. This setting is visible and applicable only when the Focus Mode is set to 'Auto'.

  
  

  In some cases the autofocus will have some difficulties to focus. We are highly recommended you to focus manually in order to avoid autofocus issues. See also Troubleshooting/ Image in this manual.

Focus

Figure 23: WebGUI > VIDEO > Camera Settings > Focus

The Focus settings are explained below.

Autofocus Issues

• Check the autofocus (position, speed etc.) before streaming

• Check Video/Camera Settings in de WebGUI or the OSD menu (for example: if the image is too bright, too dark, or too noisy, the camera will have difficulties to focus

Check environmental conditions and the subject of focussing. The camera will have difficulties to focus in the following situations:

• Light: Strong light, low light/dark areas and backlight conditions

• Moving subjects

• Small objects before a plain or solid background

• Blurry or unsharp subjects: filming through wet glass or dirty objects
  

• Distance: filming two or more different subjects, some near and some far away

• Position in the image: subject positioned in the corners of the picture

• Faces: partly hidden faces, sideways filmed faces, diagonal or up side down

• When the camera itself moves, or when the iris is narrowed down

When you experience one or more of the above mentioned problems check also our Appendix - CMOS

characteristics