Hitachi VM-E55A - Manual (Page 42)

Advanced Techniques
42
Using Auto Focus
The camera/recorder focuses the subject in the center of the viewfinder automatically
unless the manual focus is engaged. With the VM-E55A, if appears in the viewfinder,
manual focus is engaged. Press the FOCUS control (AUTO/MAN) buttons
simultaneously to return to auto focus.
The auto focus will not work under the following conditions and you must focus
manually:
Objects outside the center of the viewfinder
Objects at different distances in the center of the viewfinder
Brightly lit objects such as a neon light, objects lit by spotlight, etc.
Objects behind water dappled or dusty glass