G6 Question About Auto Focus

[Jasper]

Hi all, I just purchased a G6 and am having some difficulty with it's autofocus. I have the camera set to "auto" on the dial and haven't changed much else from the default settings.

When I try to zoom in on a person's face (indoor, somewhat dim, flourescent lights), I can't get a decent focus. I can see it focusing and see it find the perfect focus, but it keeps trying more and always ends up being a blur when it's finished and the camera beeps (usually one beep, yellow box). Sometimes it even beeps twice with the green box ready but it's still blurry. If I try to do the same thing, same settings and environment, on a bookshelf say, using max zoom, the camera focuses perfectly and locks the focus, pictures come out sharp.

Same thing happens when I try close ups or macro mode, problems locking on the proper focus when trying to get closeups of my dog's paw and nose and my daughter's feet and hands. I had a Sony W1 camera, doing the same type of shots in the same environment but no real focusing problems.

My question is, am I doing something wrong or could there be a problem with the autofocusing? And the reason I ask is because I got a pretty good deal on the camera because it was a return from a previous customer. The sales guy said there wasn't anything wrong with the camera but if anything was, I could exchange it for an unopened box and just pay the difference.

Thanks for any help! :)

[haikai]

When I try to zoom in on a person's face (indoor, somewhat dim, flourescent lights), I can't get a decent focus. I can see it focusing and see it find the perfect focus, but it keeps trying more and always ends up being a blur when it's finished and the camera beeps (usually one beep, yellow box). Sometimes it even beeps twice with the green box ready but it's still blurry. If I try to do the same thing, same settings and environment, on a bookshelf say, using max zoom, the camera focuses perfectly and locks the focus, pictures come out sharp.

have you had difficulty focusing in other lighting conditions too? well, it's reassuring to know that it can at least get the bookshelf right ;) if it is a low-light scenario then i would double check to make sure that the af-assist beam is on and working (maybe the previous customer turned it off).

hai

[Jasper]

No difficulty focusing in other (brighter) lighting conditions. The AF beam is on and should be working. I do see a blue light hitting the subjects I shoot.

The lighting conditions I'm having trouble with are by no means "dark" or anything, I'd describe it as the equivalent of "warm living room lighting at night". Plenty of light to read the newspaper.

[haikai]

No difficulty focusing in other (brighter) lighting conditions. The AF beam is on and should be working. I do see a blue light hitting the subjects I shoot.

The lighting conditions I'm having trouble with are by no means "dark" or anything, I'd describe it as the equivalent of "warm living room lighting at night". Plenty of light to read the newspaper.

dunno what to tell you. i don't seem to have a problem when doing the same kind of situation. i'd hate to recommend trying to adjust the focus yourself because the auto setting really shouldn't give any problems with sufficient light (although the camera may have some problems if you have the actual light source in frame).

maybe the focus isn't the problem... does setting the camera on a tripod or supporting it on a stable base still produce blurred images? i know that's really grasping at straws.

it doesn't sound like there's a mechanical problem with the camera... perhaps the auto settings just aren't suited for this situation.

hai

[Jasper]

Thats what I was wondering, if there was possibly a mechanical problem with the autofocus, because it was an "open box" purchase. More likely, it's a "user problem". ;)

[Rajeev]

I have the exact same problem, and then I tried to focus on objects a little beyond and a little short, of the real object i am trying to shoot. I could get it right but auto not able to focus seems wrong. AF illuminator was on and camera was is auto mode, with flash turned off. My g6 is brand new (not open box) from zipzoomfly.

Infact I am at forum to try and find out whether anyone was facing noise issue (sound when zooming in .. In my G6 I hear a more than norrmal hmmm sort of sound, infact a crackling sound. On zooming out the sound is normal).

Raj

[Alnath]

My G6 is sometimes realy good in low light and other times absolutly pants and could not get a focus lock in a million years.

[sheld]

try single auto-focus instead of continuous autofocus. Its a little bit faster (surprisingly), and the camera doesn't try to focus until you half press or half-press the shutter. Use half-press of the shutter to prefocus, that works best; and then press all the way down to take the picture.

Hope this solves your autofocus problems.

[TenD]

The auto focus system relies on contrast to achieve focus lock. If a particular subject is not very contrasty, especially in a lower light situation, the autofocus system just may not be able to achieve a lock. A bookcase would certainly be more contrasty than a persons skin. Try focusing on a bare wall in artificial light, it is likely that the camera won't be able to achieve focus, now focus on that same wall where a picture is, and the camera will probably achieve focus. As for the sound the other person is hearing from their G6, my G2 has had a kind of grinding noise when the lens is retracting, it has never been a problem. This noise was discussed in length on the introduction of the G series of cameras. I can't say for sure if that is the same noise you are experiencing.

[Rajeev]

Hi TenD,

Thanks for your input, its useful. I was mostly experimenting with the skin tones in low light, against a door, which was not providing the appropriate contrast, could have led to the mixed results. Maybe after reading all reviews about G6 my expectations are too high in regards to low light.

As far as noise goes I guess it would be close to what you already experienced.

I am not sure whether jasper's situation is resolved or not. But would like to hear more on his experiment.

Raj

[Alnath]

try single auto-focus instead of continuous autofocus. Its a little bit faster (surprisingly), and the camera doesn't try to focus until you half press or half-press the shutter. Use half-press of the shutter to prefocus, that works best; and then press all the way down to take the picture.

Hope this solves your autofocus problems.


You have to put up with the TFT "sticking" then. I have tried both modes in the past and neither seem better than the other