Inaccurate AF

[Andre]

I'm finding that the reason so many of my images are not sharp is not actually me, but is either the camera or the lens.

If I use a tripod and a 2-second delay for a shot, it's still often fuzzy. If I focus with the AF, then while still holding the shutter down half-way, and I turn the focus manually just slightly, I can get a sharper image.

Now I'm wondering....is it my lens or is it the camera? Logic tells me that the lens is only following instructions from the camera, so it must be the camera.

Ideas?? Can this be adjusted?

Thanks

[Tom Nolle]

I have had some problems with some lenses, particularly wide-angle, where the autofocus is messed up by the dynamic setting. I disabled dynamic AF and get better results that way.

There is also a difference in the sensitivity of each of the five focus sensors; the center one seems to be able to focus over a wider area, but with the others it seems like the sweet spot for focusing is fairly small. If you get something as your focus target that's not in the right sensor spot, you may be focusing ahead of or behind the thing you think you're focusing on.

Tom

[Andre]

Thanks for the reply Tom.

I always use single AF - in fact I don't think I've even ever tried the dynamic AF setting. I also always use the center sensor.
I'll try the tests I've been doing again with another sensor.

[Tom Nolle]

As I mentioned, I've seen the problem mostly on wide-angle lenses (actually at the wide-angle end of zooms). The thing is that the little square that's the autofocus target isn't actually exactly where the autofocus target is. It seems to run a bit outside to the left and right of the center one, and also a little above and below. The side ones seem to have less out-of-the-box latitude. If on a WA shot you get a bunch of stuff of various distances in or near the box, it's hard to be sure which of the things the camera is picking on to focus. My problem tended to be situations where the sensor included something very far away (at infinity), which caused the lens to rack out to focus at infinity. That makes most of the normal distances out of focus. What I ended up doing (besides shooting single-area) was to set to the lower sensor (which then picked up the ground area in front of the subject). The focus then tended to be sharp from closer than that point out to infinity with a WA lens.

On telephotos, I find that if the subject you're shooting is centered, using that sensor works because the subject is usually big enough to cover the whole sensor area.

Tom

[Andre]

I'm testing mostly with my Nikkor 24-80mm G lens, and mostly at 80mm.

If I use the center square, and aim at say a bird that fills 30% of the frame, it is almost always slightly out of focus.

I tried the top square, and I get a tack-sharp image every time.

Using the center box, if I focus on something small, the only way it will get even close is if the subject is inside the little box. But it's not completely in focus. If I turn the focus wheel slightly, I can get it in focus.

I think something is wrong. It's extremely frustrating, and is almost putting me off this hobby. I have missed so many shots that would have been nice if only they had been in focus.

BTW, I also have a 70-300mm lens that I have seen the same problem with at 300mm, focusing on something solid like a peice of wood. Unfortunately, that lens doesn't let me make the slight manual adjustment when in AF mode.

I think the only thing I can do is send the camera to Fuji and hope they fix it. If I do that, I'll get them to fix the four stuck pixels too. This camera is not impressing me as much as I suspect it should!

Thanks for your advice Tom.

[Tom Nolle]

It does sound like something is wrong, Andre. Something that fills 30% of the frame should cover the sensor with no problems, and a bird isn't going to present enough of a variation in focus distance to create a major out-of-focus unless you're shooting a 500mm at f4 or something! The only thing I know different about the side sensors and top/bottom ones versus the center is that they cover a smaller area.

Good luck; let us know how Fuju responds

Tom

[puglover]

Andre, I have the exact same problem - and this is my SECOND S2. I already sent my first one back and now the new one is doing the same dang thing - plus it shuts off whenever it feels like it acting like the batteries are dead when they are newly charged. I am calling tomorrow to see what they will do this time. I am so bugged with this camera I could pull my hair out. It has definitely not impressed me and I do this professionally... really difficult to explain all of the soft images to clients. I have just about had it with this camera model. Sorry you are experiencing the same problems.

[Andre]

Originally posted by puglover
Andre, I have the exact same problem - and this is my SECOND S2. I already sent my first one back and now the new one is doing the same dang thing - plus it shuts off whenever it feels like it acting like the batteries are dead when they are newly charged. I am calling tomorrow to see what they will do this time. I am so bugged with this camera I could pull my hair out. It has definitely not impressed me and I do this professionally... really difficult to explain all of the soft images to clients. I have just about had it with this camera model. Sorry you are experiencing the same problems.

It is really annoying after spending so much, isn't it?
I am definitely not a professional, and for a hobby, I spent much more than what I probably should have. That was a great deal of money for me. All I know is that as soon as my vacation is over, I'm sending it in. If they don't fix it, I will be really annoyed.

My sister keeps sending me these beautiful sharp images she gets from a $300 camera. I'm getting embarrassed to send her my pictures.

[puglover]

Let me know what happens with yours... they should replace it - just tell them to be sure they test the one they replace yours with - you don't want another bad one like i got - what a pain in the a--!

[Andre]

Originally posted by puglover
Let me know what happens with yours... they should replace it - just tell them to be sure they test the one they replace yours with - you don't want another bad one like i got - what a pain in the a--!

I read elsewhere on this forum that someone had theirs adjusted/calibrated by Fuji and that they are happy with it now. I would just as soon have mine calibrated than replaced.

I will report back here though, whatever happens.