Fuzzy focus in DMC FZ8

[annie1931]

(First of all, I can not find out how to post in here except to click the "new thread" button - we're still talking DMC FZ8 so I don't want to start a new thread, do I? I really have read the rules, too. Or is another question considered a New Thread? :confused:)

I had great success with my camera while on vacation, except for one thing.
First, I found that if I opened the zoom up too fast, everything went out of focus as I looked on the window. So, I opened it teeny bit by teeny bit, and that worked just fine.
But now and then when I press the shutter button just enough to focus when NOT using the zoom, the pic goes completely fuzzy. If I turn off the camera, then turn it on again, most of the time things revert to normal, but still occasionally this inability to focus rears its head. Am I doing something wrong? Advice would be appreciated.

[PixelPacker]

Maybe try going into the menu and re-setting all record modes back to factory default and try it again. It may just have a brain fart going on. On another note : Are you happy with the image stabilizer? Mine doesn't seem to stabilize well over 8X magnification.

[annie1931]

Thanks, but I did that when it first started to happen. It's not a regular occurrence, thank goodness.

[genece]

I think you did good with the new thread......now let me state a few of my preferences which may or may not work for you but since your having a problem.....you may do well by trying them.

First it sounds to me like you are trying to use Continuous Auto focus.... I would turn it off ....it does not do what you may expect it to do.

Then I would not use 3 or 9 pt focus (I use one area HS ) if the FZ8 has that mode, try it.

Then at least for the time being, turn on auto ISO.

Use mode 2 IS.

Put the camera in P mode not auto or any scene modes.


And remember if you are zoomed past 3X the minimum focus distance is about 7 ft.

If my suggestions do not help post a photo so we can look at it, perhaps that can help us see the problem.

These cameras focus and stabilize very well.... I am very shakey and I have shot photos handheld at way over 1200mm, somewhere about 30X.
But it does take decent light or raising the ISO to accomplish that.
I have said many times before you try to force the camera to do something.....get familiar with how well it works if you force nothing.

[annie1931]

Ok, got it for the thread thing.
I believe I've read your response elsewhere, to some one having focussing problems. I don't use Cont. focus, and use auto ISO unless I'm taking pics in an arena where the lighting is poor.

What is "mode 2 IS."?

And I usually use P unless I have a reason to use Scene.

This is just an occasional thing - and it's not my jiggling the camera, either. This happens when I've got it on P or Scene, the light's ok, everything simple as can be. I aim, squeeze the shutter, and it focusses, then a nanosecond later it goes blurry, so I don't complete the action as the pic will just be a blur.

I'm getting pretty familiar with this camera now, as I've had it and used it a lot since August this year.

Maybe it is focussing on something I don't notice - something that is close and is caught by the camera and not by me. I just thought of this, so maybe next it happens time I'll scrutinize the area and see if that's what might cause this.

This camera is useless for taking pics through a window unless you're standing about 2 feet away from the window as it focusses on the glass and things I can't even see when I'm up close.

Thanks very much for your response.

[genece]

Ok, got it for the thread thing.
I believe I've read your response elsewhere, to some one having focussing problems. I don't use Cont. focus, and use auto ISO unless I'm taking pics in an arena where the lighting is poor.
I am confused here you seemed to say, when zooming you expect the focus to follow, you need to have C-AF on for that to happen......But I still do not like C-AF

What is "mode 2 IS."?
Image stabilization there are 2 modes one and two...I like two

And I usually use P unless I have a reason to use Scene.
Scene modes chagge how the camera focuses and meters....I do not like that.

This is just an occasional thing - and it's not my jiggling the camera, either. This happens when I've got it on P or Scene, the light's ok, everything simple as can be. I aim, squeeze the shutter, and it focusses, then a nanosecond later it goes blurry, so I don't complete the action as the pic will just be a blur.
a few possibliities, either you are too close or you are using 3 or 9 pt focus areas and the camera decided to use another area.....which is why I prefer one area focus

I'm getting pretty familiar with this camera now, as I've had it and used it a lot since August this year.

Maybe it is focussing on something I don't notice - something that is close and is caught by the camera and not by me. I just thought of this, so maybe next it happens time I'll scrutinize the area and see if that's what might cause this.

This camera is useless for taking pics through a window unless you're standing about 2 feet away from the window as it focusses on the glass and things I can't even see when I'm up close.
That should never happen....I take photos thru a dirty kitchen window all the time. again check your focus areas.


Thanks very much for your response.

Also my wife takes photos thru the car windows quite a bit and at zoos , museums and such we take lots of photos thru glass......examine your focus style....
One other possibility, perhaps....if you are using a filter remove it for a while to see if that helps, and if you are not using the hood ....use it for a while to see if that has any effect.

[Mike63]

A problem my wife was having was not allowing the camera to lock, not waiting for the green light to come on on the screen. She would also not use spot focus so the birds would not be in focus but the surrounding trees would.

The IS mode 2 Gene mentioned is the anti shake. It has mode 1, mode 2, and off. Mode 2 is far better unless using a tripod then turn it to off.

I have had bad luck with my camera shooting through glass so I use manual focus for that.

Good luck

[PixelPacker]

Genece
What part of the menu do you find ISO settings? I haven't seen that anywhere.......................................... ............OK, never mind, I found it. Thanks

[annie1931]

To everyone who posted a reply re the fuzzy focus thing - thank you - I will check out the things y'all recommend, especially the focus aspect - I have to really scrutinize the manual to figure some of it out - and I very much appreciate the help. annie

[David Metsky]

Do you accidentally put the camera in Macro mode? On some cameras it is easy to hit the wrong button. In macro mode the camera won't be able to focus normally; turning the camera on and off may reset things.

[annie1931]

No, I haven't done that - but it's a good thing to remember to check. Thanks.

[snappy001]

This camera is useless for taking pics through a window unless you're standing about 2 feet away from the window as it focusses on the glass and things I can't even see when I'm up close.

I have also bought me this camera recently and I also picked up this problem when the camera is trying to focus through a window and then actually focusses on a spot on the glass (especially dust or dirt). This is really annoying, so I try to take as few pics as possible through a window, but sometimes you have to take through a window, especially when you are on a tour and driving in a bus/car.

What I have done to prevent this issue, is to set the focus mode to focus only on a very tiny little spot. (I think this is called spot-focussing or something like that:confused:) This has helped me a lot because the chance of there being a little dirtyness in that little focussing spot, is very slim, and it will usually focus outside the window.

At first I got some shots where the whole photo was blur with this technique, but as soon as I made the aperture smaller (+- f5-8) the photo's depth of field increased and all my photos are now usually in focus when I take through a glass.

I hope this helps.:)

[annie1931]

Ah, now I understand - your letter makes it clearer to me what has been suggested. And am I ever glad someone else has found the same difficulty!
I'm going to copy your response and then have it before me while I play around trying to figure out this focussing thing.

Sometimes the manual is a bit hard to read because it says "select item to set" and trying to find the 'item' is a puzzle.

I am very grateful for your response. Would it be possible to keep in touch with you, as a Lumix DMC-FZ8 user who seems to be a few steps ahead of me on the path to learning about it all? Thanks again.

[genece]

Please try to believe me, if you are not in macro mode and using more than 3 power zoom......the camera can not focus under 6 foot.....So you must have the camera in Macro focus........now I do not have a FZ8 so I can not tell you how to get out of that focus......but it does seem to me thats the problem.

The camera can not focus on the window at 2 ft at full zoom unless you are in macro mode........now if you are at 6 ft away or more it can focus on the window but more likely you are using the 3 or 9 pt focus and the camera focused on the window frame and not the window.
Please believe me with the FZs I do have, we take photos thru dirty windows all the time.

This is one other possibility....say there is a bird setting 4 foot from your window.....you would then need to be 3 ft from the window to get a focus lock.......two meters minimum focus distance at over 3X zoom.
But if the bird were 7 ft from the window you could stand any distance from the window.
Perhaps there is a fault with your camera, but shooting thru a window should be no problem.

[annie1931]

genece: I don't have the camera in Macro mode - it's nearly always in P (or sometimes in Scenery mode), and I understand what you say about using the zoom - though the nearest bird will be a hawk away across the way from me some time this winter.

My 'through the window' photos are of sunrises and sunsets, no zoom, P mode generally. I can NOT stand back to photograph the sunrise because of the reflection of the camera in the window. The camera must be against the glass in order to avoid this reflection.

However, this 'through the window' problem has nothing to do with the fuzzy focus I was on about earlier. The fuzzy focus can happen at any time for what appears to be no reason. Nine times out of ten, it is corrected when I close the camera and re-open...similar to rebooting one's computer, I think. Plus, I do think it has something to do with the camera's focussing on some point unnoticed by me. I have yet to investigate that aspect.

I do appreciate your response, and will keep in mind what you have told me. All suggestions are very important to me, and are filed away for referral.

[genece]

I can understand what you are saying about the landscape shots.....but I have never had the problem you are describing about focusing on the window.....althoug with no zoom used the camera can focus at 1 cm. so its very possible......but as I said I have never had that happen with any of my FZs and I just tried with new FZ18 and there is no problem with it either.
I am not sure about the FZ8 but with the other FZs it is possible to be in program mode and still be using macro focus. , on the FZ18 there is a focus button on the top of the camera on the FZ30 there is a switch on the lens....but I do not know about the FZ8.
I am sorry I have tried to duplicate your problem and I can not.......as I said my wife takes lots of photos thru the windshield when we are traveling.....and I have never seen the problem you are having.
But the FZ8 has MF, I think....why not set the lens to focus on a distant point and you should be good to go.

[annie1931]

Genece: I do indeed have that little button on the top. And for closeups, I can figure it out.

<I think....why not set the lens to focus on a distant point and you should be good to go.>

I don't seem to be able to figure out how to "set the lens to focus on a distant point"...

[I'm reading the various instructions right now - and at one point the manual says that if there is dirt or something on the glass between the lens and the subject, the focus may be incorrect....hah - I think that's maybe what happens.]

I forgot to say that I have taken some neat pics through the car window, too, but again, I wasn't jammed up against the window like I have to be for morning sunrises here.

[genece]

I don't seem to be able to figure out how to "set the lens to focus on a distant point"...

I do not know how to do this on the FZ8 but the manual should explain how to set the camera to MF and I think its with that top button but I am not sure............then I think you use the toggle switch on the back to focus....but again I am not possitive......point the camera at something 100 yds away or so and using the toggle switch bring that into focus.....now until you put the camera on AF or turn it off or it goes to sleep, the focus should be fine for the sunrise.

I have read that part about the dirt on the window with every camera I have, but I never saw it occur. and at times I put the camera right against the glass at the zoo or such to avoid glare. Perhaps this is something unique to the FZ8, again I do not know.

I really felt you were making some sort of mistake but now it seems you have tried quite a few things with no change in the results.

[annie1931]

Genece: You are really a big help - I hadn't messed much with that top button, so I'm filing your response mentioning the toggle switch. (Have to file, else I'd never remember tomorrow morning!) You've pointed me in another right direction...thanks so very much.

Thanks to all of you for your help - maybe I can get it right now! Annie

[snappy001]

But now and then when I press the shutter button just enough to focus when NOT using the zoom, the pic goes completely fuzzy. If I turn off the camera, then turn it on again, most of the time things revert to normal, but still occasionally this inability to focus rears its head. Am I doing something wrong? Advice would be appreciated.

I understand this problem, and I know how irritating it can be, since I also have a Lumix FZ8. The one time i tried to focus on something rather close by, but the camera couldn't focus on it at all, so I decided to use the Macro mode although the objects was not close enough to actually qualify for being a macro pic... You can maybe try switching to macro mode, although I cannot explain why the camera seems to focus better in this mode, although the object is far away. :confused: Note that when in macro mode, the object doesn't have to be very close by, and the camera is still able to focus on subjects that are infinitely far away, as stated in the FZ 8's manual on page 55. Due to this ability to focus close by or far away when in macro, I sometimes keep my camera on macro mode for long periods and everything remains in focus, whether it is close by or far away.

Another problem I had the other day with my camera was that it couldn't focus on the moon with the zoom set to 14.4x (with the 5MP mode). I thought that this was quite strange, since the moon is far away and it was full-moon, so the moon filled the little white focusing square. After reading up on this, people suggested that I set the focus mode to spot focusing and that worked fabulously! As you can see in the attached pic the moon was perfectly in focus and the photo turned out very nice according to me.

I know that a lot of people on this forum suggest that we should use the manual focus mode, and I understand that, but I cannot focus manually and if the camera can't focus on a pic, I will just have to leave the photo, since I find having to focus manually way too much trouble...:o

BTW annie1931, we can certainly stay in touch. I would also appreciate it to have someone to chat to about the camera, and discuss problems and/or solutions we might experience. If you have any question, feel free to send me a personal message on the site and I will answer it as soon as possible.

Hope this helps...



The picture of the moon I was talking about earlier: (I know that this is not the best of pics, but I had to resize it to post it here. The idea is just to show that the moon is in focus)

[annie1931]

Well now, that's a great help - and all the talk about that Macro button on the top is a help too - and when I figure out how to put messages in the private message sector, I can continue! too funny - I just get reduced to helpless giggles when I try and find things in here, though it's very user friendly after one has figured it all out. Fabulous moon picture, just gorgeous.

And spot focussing needs to be clarified for me, too - I've read the manual over and over but still feel quite stupid.