How Many Have Had S85 manual focus problems

[Perry]

I returned the S85 that I had because it would not focus consistantly at fixed infinity. I was wondering who besides me had this problem and is it common to all S85's. I have been thinking of getting another one and don't want to have the same problems with a new one.

Perry

 

[David J. Littleboy]

I returned the S85 that I had because it would not focus
consistantly at fixed infinity. I was wondering who besides me had
this problem and is it common to all S85's. I have been thinking of
getting another one and don't want to have the same problems with a
new one.

I found that at any f-stop other than f/8.0, my S85 was a bit soft (unsharp) at manual infinity focus. I attributed it to lens performance, although it could have been funky focussing. The F707 is much better, giving sharp images down to (at least) f/4.0 in the same test.

David J. Littleboy
Tokyo, Japan

 

[HelenPB]

Hey Perry,

Well, you know I've had problems with S85 infinity focusing, but nothing like you experienced towards the end of your adventure with your S85.

Helen

I returned the S85 that I had because it would not focus
consistantly at fixed infinity. I was wondering who besides me had
this problem and is it common to all S85's. I have been thinking of
getting another one and don't want to have the same problems with a
new one.

Perry

 

[Perry]

Well my problem seemed to get worse over time. I got some really nice sharp photos at f:4 and even some at f:2. It was true that I got more out of focus pictures at the lower F stops but I also got some sharp ones. It was random and getting worse so that 70-80% were what I would call out of focus. I never had enough light to be able to shoot at f:8. THe lens has the resolution but not very good mechanical repeatability. Is there a way around this other than using f:8. My S85 did not seem to do a good job of autofocusing out at infinity. Probably because it was too hard to make a shape high contrast image at infinity.

The main complaint against the F707 assuming I can find one that does not have the EVF/LCD calibration problems is the POOR wide angle performance. I was out shooting with my 35mm today and I had a 28-70mm zoom. I stayed at or near 28mm all day. It was nice being able to get the whole tree in the shot instead of part of it. The S85 is better at wide angle than the F707. THe few F707 photos I have seem with wide angle adapters does not tell me much since none are of buildings etc. So I am sceptical that wide angle attachments will help the distortion problems.

Perry

I returned the S85 that I had because it would not focus
consistantly at fixed infinity. I was wondering who besides me had
this problem and is it common to all S85's. I have been thinking of
getting another one and don't want to have the same problems with a
new one.

I found that at any f-stop other than f/8.0, my S85 was a bit soft
(unsharp) at manual infinity focus. I attributed it to lens
performance, although it could have been funky focussing. The F707
is much better, giving sharp images down to (at least) f/4.0 in the
same test.

David J. Littleboy
Tokyo, Japan

 

[Perry]

What I would like to know is do all the S85's have this problem or are our S85's atypical.

Perry

Well, you know I've had problems with S85 infinity focusing, but
nothing like you experienced towards the end of your adventure with
your S85.

Helen

I returned the S85 that I had because it would not focus
consistantly at fixed infinity. I was wondering who besides me had
this problem and is it common to all S85's. I have been thinking of
getting another one and don't want to have the same problems with a
new one.

Perry

 

[KarlS]

What I would like to know is do all the S85's have this problem or
are our S85's atypical.

Well, I can't account for "all", but mine sure has the same problem.

...Karl

 

[Solomon]

Perry:

While I don't doubt for a second that there was something wrong with your S85. I have not experienced it, knock on wood.
I love the camera and it's everything that I want it to be.
The two things I would like to add:
1. Standard hot shoe
2. Adjustable color saturation

Count me as one of the happy campers.
-EL

I returned the S85 that I had because it would not focus
consistantly at fixed infinity. I was wondering who besides me had
this problem and is it common to all S85's. I have been thinking of
getting another one and don't want to have the same problems with a
new one.

Perry

 

[Rich_1]

I returned the S85 that I had because it would not focus
consistantly at fixed infinity. I was wondering who besides me had
this problem and is it common to all S85's. I have been thinking of
getting another one and don't want to have the same problems with a
new one.

Perry

Do a search on "S85 focus" and stand by. This has been an extensive topic on this forum. Personally, with a little care, I found it to be very effective if you take your time. The shots cna not be rushed. You just need to pay attention to all of the advice, and take your time. Some members did have inifinity focus problems regardless. In fact, it was suggested that you lock the manual focus on infinity for landscape shots, or use the landcape " scene setting.

Rich

 

[gould]

I returned the S85 that I had because it would not focus
consistantly at fixed infinity. I was wondering who besides me had
this problem and is it common to all S85's. I have been thinking of
getting another one and don't want to have the same problems with a
new one.

Perry

the S85 is my first digital camera, I have taken over 1500 shots of all kinds, including many focused at infinity and I've had 6 out of focus shots all together.

Gould

 

[Perry]

Rich that was exactly what I was doing. The focus was fixed at infinity and still there were many out of focus. In fact most were out of focus before I took it back.

Perry

I returned the S85 that I had because it would not focus
consistantly at fixed infinity. I was wondering who besides me had
this problem and is it common to all S85's. I have been thinking of
getting another one and don't want to have the same problems with a
new one.

Perry

Do a search on "S85 focus" and stand by. This has been an
extensive topic on this forum. Personally, with a little care, I
found it to be very effective if you take your time. The shots cna
not be rushed. You just need to pay attention to all of the
advice, and take your time. Some members did have inifinity focus
problems regardless. In fact, it was suggested that you lock the
manual focus on infinity for landscape shots, or use the landcape "
scene setting.

Rich

 

[Perry]

When I first got my camera it seemed focus better. It seems there are some others having this problem enough to make me think that sooner or later a new one would develope this problem. I have a feeling the mechanism in the lens gets slop in it the more it is used causing the random focus problems. I think everytime that lens retracts in wears the mechanism.

Perry

I returned the S85 that I had because it would not focus
consistantly at fixed infinity. I was wondering who besides me had
this problem and is it common to all S85's. I have been thinking of
getting another one and don't want to have the same problems with a
new one.

Perry

the S85 is my first digital camera, I have taken over 1500 shots of
all kinds, including many focused at infinity and I've had 6 out of
focus shots all together.

Gould

 

[Rich_1]

Rich that was exactly what I was doing. The focus was fixed at
infinity and still there were many out of focus. In fact most were
out of focus before I took it back.

Perry,

You aren't the first to report this type of experience witht the S85.
Many have returned them after experiencing similar frustrations.

Good luck on your hunt for the right DC.

Rich

 

[Solomon]

You have nothing to base either your increasing OOF over time theory or your mechanical wear theory on, Perry.

The larger question here is, if you no longer have a S85 why is it still an issue for you?
-EL

When I first got my camera it seemed focus better. It seems there
are some others having this problem enough to make me think that
sooner or later a new one would develope this problem. I have a
feeling the mechanism in the lens gets slop in it the more it is
used causing the random focus problems. I think everytime that lens
retracts in wears the mechanism.

 

[Egill Masson]

Perry,

I have had the S85 since beginning of july and I have definitely not experienced anything like the problems you report in http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&page=1&message=1647388 .

It must have been a defective unit.

I returned the S85 that I had because it would not focus
consistantly at fixed infinity. I was wondering who besides me had
this problem and is it common to all S85's. I have been thinking of
getting another one and don't want to have the same problems with a
new one.

Perry

 

[Perry]

Well Ed I have a bunch of unfocused pictures that were all taken at infinity. The number of out of focus images seemed to increase over time. I was theorizing why this would be. As an engineer I made a SWAG as to what the cause of the problem was. I was thinking of getting another S85 that is the reason for this thread and not to dog the camera.

Perry

When I first got my camera it seemed focus better. It seems there
are some others having this problem enough to make me think that
sooner or later a new one would develope this problem. I have a
feeling the mechanism in the lens gets slop in it the more it is
used causing the random focus problems. I think everytime that lens
retracts in wears the mechanism.

 

[Solomon]

Perry:

You've got to admit, especially as a engineer, you've got precious little to base your theories on. For example, here is another hypothesis, your S85 focusing problem really heated up the week after your wife found out that Bacardi made a great margarita mix.

Either theory could account for your focusing problem and would be as scientific in my mind, but then I am not an engineer (BFA, Painting).
-EL

Well Ed I have a bunch of unfocused pictures that were all taken at
infinity. The number of out of focus images seemed to increase over
time. I was theorizing why this would be. As an engineer I made a
SWAG as to what the cause of the problem was. I was thinking of
getting another S85 that is the reason for this thread and not to
dog the camera.

 

[Perry]

Well Ed if the problem gets worse over time it only stands to reason it would have to do with the lens mechanism. Either the part that extends it or the part that focuses it. These mechanisms like all mechanisms are subject to wear. There is also a certain amount of slop in all mechanisms and it usually gets bigger with time. Sometimes you can overcome this mechanical slop or backlash with softwear but I bet the problem is mechanicalyl based since it is getting worse over time. YEs there is evidence to support this theory since it is getting worse over time instead of being totally random. If it were just random and did not get worse over time then it could be software or hardware that is causing the problem. Wether its a wear problem or not it is still in the lens mechanism. Ed I am not the only one having this problem. I put a lot of use on the lens mechanism cause I would take a shot put it away then take another shot put it away etc. There are probably a lot of folks that take several shots before turning the camera off. These folks would most likely have less problems.

Perry

Well Ed I have a bunch of unfocused pictures that were all taken at
infinity. The number of out of focus images seemed to increase over
time. I was theorizing why this would be. As an engineer I made a
SWAG as to what the cause of the problem was. I was thinking of
getting another S85 that is the reason for this thread and not to
dog the camera.

 

[Solomon]

So the problem did get worse once your wife discovered that Bacardi makes a damn good margarita mix.
-EL

Well Ed if the problem gets worse over time it only stands to
reason it would have to do with the lens mechanism. Either the part
that extends it or the part that focuses it. These mechanisms like
all mechanisms are subject to wear. There is also a certain amount
of slop in all mechanisms and it usually gets bigger with time.
Sometimes you can overcome this mechanical slop or backlash with
softwear but I bet the problem is mechanicalyl based since it is
getting worse over time. YEs there is evidence to support this
theory since it is getting worse over time instead of being totally
random. If it were just random and did not get worse over time then
it could be software or hardware that is causing the problem.
Wether its a wear problem or not it is still in the lens mechanism.
Ed I am not the only one having this problem. I put a lot of use on
the lens mechanism cause I would take a shot put it away then take
another shot put it away etc. There are probably a lot of folks
that take several shots before turning the camera off. These folks
would most likely have less problems.

Perry

 

[Solomon]

Your reply is certainly worth a better effort than my initial lighthearted reply, Perry.
I am impressed, you have thought this thing out much more than I realized.

I think where I fall off the boat is coincidentally the first line:
"Well Ed if the problem gets worse over time"

I haven't seen that established. Some folks haven't observed a problem in their camera, others have observed a problem that has not gotten better or worse, and to my knowledge you are the only one who observed a focus problem that got worse over time.

I guess that is what this thread is about, research to find more people who have experienced a problem that gets worse over time.

On to the rest of your theory, it seems to be based on mechanical failure. Which does seem unlikely. I would think that the components in these things would be rated to last much longer than to fail in the first 3% of life span. The camera may have been designed for 5 years of usage. Mechanical culprits I would expect to crop up year 3 or 4 if they used really cheap components, but never in the first couple of months of usage. If they used components this cheap, we would be hearing more, I would expect.

I apologize for being flippant. I understand the information you seek and I think it is going to be hard to find it. Personally, I don't think you should return to a S85, you will always have in the back of your mind that is may be defective. I don't think you are capable of giving it a fair shot, given your bad experience with your first purchase. Start fresh with a new camera. I think advances in these things will have a cycle like computers. Once every 3 years we'll be buying a new one anyway.
-EL

Well Ed if the problem gets worse over time it only stands to
reason it would have to do with the lens mechanism. Either the part
that extends it or the part that focuses it. These mechanisms like
all mechanisms are subject to wear. There is also a certain amount
of slop in all mechanisms and it usually gets bigger with time.
Sometimes you can overcome this mechanical slop or backlash with
softwear but I bet the problem is mechanicalyl based since it is
getting worse over time. YEs there is evidence to support this
theory since it is getting worse over time instead of being totally
random. If it were just random and did not get worse over time then
it could be software or hardware that is causing the problem.
Wether its a wear problem or not it is still in the lens mechanism.
Ed I am not the only one having this problem. I put a lot of use on
the lens mechanism cause I would take a shot put it away then take
another shot put it away etc. There are probably a lot of folks
that take several shots before turning the camera off. These folks
would most likely have less problems.

Perry

 

[Perry]

I have not wife Ed. Maybe you getting my life confused with yours.

Perry

Well Ed if the problem gets worse over time it only stands to
reason it would have to do with the lens mechanism. Either the part
that extends it or the part that focuses it. These mechanisms like
all mechanisms are subject to wear. There is also a certain amount
of slop in all mechanisms and it usually gets bigger with time.
Sometimes you can overcome this mechanical slop or backlash with
softwear but I bet the problem is mechanicalyl based since it is
getting worse over time. YEs there is evidence to support this
theory since it is getting worse over time instead of being totally
random. If it were just random and did not get worse over time then
it could be software or hardware that is causing the problem.
Wether its a wear problem or not it is still in the lens mechanism.
Ed I am not the only one having this problem. I put a lot of use on
the lens mechanism cause I would take a shot put it away then take
another shot put it away etc. There are probably a lot of folks
that take several shots before turning the camera off. These folks
would most likely have less problems.

Perry