Work-arounds

As an owner of an S-75/85, I been faced with the widely discussed problem of using the cameras' autofocus (especially: pics focused on background despite using focus lock and aiming the focusing brackets squarely and fully on someone's face.) I have not been able to find a good collection of successful work-arounds, despite reading through numerous threads on the topic. Could someone point me in the right direction? Thanks.

Charlie said:

As an owner of an S-75/85, I been faced with the widely discussed
problem of using the cameras' autofocus (especially: pics focused
on background despite using focus lock and aiming the focusing
brackets squarely and fully on someone's face.) I have not been
able to find a good collection of successful work-arounds, despite
reading through numerous threads on the topic. Could someone point
me in the right direction? Thanks.

Click to expand...

one simple workaround I've come up with:

cut holes of various sizes in unlined index cards.

hold the index card a few inches away from the lens as you focus on the subject. If done right, the subject you're view through the hole in the index card will be the only object with contrast within the focusing distance of the lens. Lock your focus, remove the index card and release the shutter. the white card under strong light forces me to manually adjust aperture and shutter speed. Perhaps a black non reflective card would solve that problem. I generally only do this as a last resort when I'm trying to focus on an object that is very low contrast compared to it's surroundings.

I can't read where the S85 has a focus lock. Yes, you can lock the focus with a half press and recompose, but your post seems to be saying that focus button on the back of the camera will lock the focus. I thought it just put it into manual mode and then you had to set the distance with the thumb wheel.

Somebody on this forum (cant remember who) has claimed that since the S85 is always trying to focus you can simply aim at the subject, wait two secs and then press the manual focus button.

I always meant to test this - and maybe I will do it now.

Wendell said:

I can't read where the S85 has a focus lock. Yes, you can lock the
focus with a half press and recompose, but your post seems to be
saying that focus button on the back of the camera will lock the
focus. I thought it just put it into manual mode and then you had
to set the distance with the thumb wheel.

Click to expand...

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&page=1&message=1317467

Egill said:

I always meant to test this - and maybe I will do it now.

Wendell said:

I can't read where the S85 has a focus lock. Yes, you can lock the
focus with a half press and recompose, but your post seems to be
saying that focus button on the back of the camera will lock the
focus. I thought it just put it into manual mode and then you had
to set the distance with the thumb wheel.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Not a grand test, but I made some shots at 6 feet and 12 feet and the camera locked in the focus. I was reading the posts as a one push focus button much like white balance. I didn't realize the S85 focuses continually. Many thanks.

Hi Charlie,

As I have posted MANY times, probably out of frustration and "venting", the 505v has a similar problem. This characteristic of focusing on backgrounds especially on portrait type photos has caused me an amazing amount of "grief". I find it pretty incredible that after obviously hearing from owners of 505vs etc. that Sony apparently didn't address this focusing problem at all in the S75/S85 cameras. Although many partially successful "workarounds" have been posted, the concept of needing a "workaround" for such an important and basic photographic function has left me somewhat awestruck at times, given the apparent continued loyalty to Sony digicams, even by those "hurt" by the autofocus problems. Despite numerous rationalizations and excuses posted here for the poor performances in this area ("all digicams have this problem" etc. etc.) it seems that some most certainly do not.

Hopefully Sony has addressed this problem in the new 707. I would hope that a lot of really fine folks here who appear very excited about the 707, will take their time to see how this focusing issue unfolds, before they part with their hard earned $$$$. Continuing to willingly pay for relatively pricey cameras that can't even consistently focus gives Sony no reason to address and fix this deficeit. At this point, as I look forward to a new digicam purchase during the next several months, the 707 or any other Sony ranks much lower for me than those offered by other competeing manufacturers, almost exclusively the result of my many lost photo opportunities due to Sony focusing characteristics.
Curt A.

Charlie said:

As an owner of an S-75/85, I been faced with the widely discussed
problem of using the cameras' autofocus (especially: pics focused
on background despite using focus lock and aiming the focusing
brackets squarely and fully on someone's face.) I have not been
able to find a good collection of successful work-arounds, despite
reading through numerous threads on the topic. Could someone point
me in the right direction? Thanks.

Click to expand...

For my part, the only problems I've had when focusing with the F505v were in low-light conditions (bad enough). I don't know how much worse it is with the S75/S85, but although it is a real nuisance it appears that Sony have made a real effort to address this question with the F707. Let's wait and hope...

Curt A. said:

Charlie said:

As an owner of an S-75/85, I been faced with the widely discussed
problem of using the cameras' autofocus (especially: pics focused
on background despite using focus lock and aiming the focusing
brackets squarely and fully on someone's face.) I have not been
able to find a good collection of successful work-arounds, despite
reading through numerous threads on the topic. Could someone point
me in the right direction? Thanks.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...