P850 Focusing

It's a question especially for Mike, but all opinions are welcome...

I noticed very strange for me behavior of my P850 (I got it from

KODAK service, but I'm afraid it is not repeired! Everything is the same like before service. Sytuation described below is something new I noticed during not ended tests... :-( ).

When I'm trying to take a photo of some object inside my room

using AUTO mode, it can adjust focus (not immedietely but can). When I change mode to (P)ROGRAM it CANNOT!!! I tried to set all modes the same like it set automatically by camera and nothing! Cam cannot set
focus correctly.

What do you think?
Regards!
Ada$

Adam,
I could use some more specific information -
How far away is the object you're trying to focus on;
What is the object like - is it dark or light, even colored or complex;
How bright is the room - how many lights or windows - can you post a pic?
What zoom, if any, are you using ?

Have you tried the cam outdoors in the daytime and is there any problem with that?
--
Mike O'Brien
Eastman Kodak Company

OK! I must admit, it wasn't really bright light around,
but it wasn't completely dark as well (when I noticed
it first time), although cam used the flash. The distance
was about (but more than) 1 meter (1,2 m maybe).
Two photos - one by one - first as AUTO, second (P)ROGRAM.

I don't have opportunity to embed photo (I could send
it to you on e-mail if you like...

But... I tried it many times later but really always inside
room but ...in different light conditions, and I tried to set
all the parameters in P mode like in AUTO and NOTHING!

By the way - as I mentioned in previous message I got
my cam back from service - they wrote "Cam within' specyfication".
...but during last weekend (longer in Poland because of
national holiday) I made really lot of photos and most of them
were taken (in AUTO and P mode) blurry by cam (or cam couldn't
set focus and they also were blurry (of course ). I sent samples to
KODAK service and I'm waiting for answer now.

BUT you know... I'd like to start taking beautyfull photos as others
on this forum and don't making continuous tryouts. My first baby is going
to born soon and I'll have to use my EOS 300... It's a great camera but
it's quite expensive in using.
Regards...

Hi Adam,

You seem to have similar problem as Chris (pcchris) on this forum. He got replaced his P850 with the newer one. And he is very happy with the results now.

Do you have newer firmware installed on camera? It will improve auto-focus in lowlight conditions.
Atindra

Adam,

I've just been on with Kodak tech support in Europe. They sent me some of your image samples and we agreed that your camera needs repair.

They will be contacting you, probably today, to arrange full service on your camera.
--
Mike O'Brien
Eastman Kodak Company

Yes, I upgraded firmware already.

I sent few photos to Kodak service, and today I got mail
to prepare my cam to sending to service.
It's second time during few weeks...
How to convince Kodak to replace the cam? That is the question... ;-)

Mike!

I'm really impressed! Thank you very much!
I believe it will be done (with Your help) as it should be...

Kodak Service phoned me few minutes ago
and gave me additional info about the issue.

I don't know what to say (write ?!
You know - I live in Poland! It's a little bit
different country than others ;-)))

Best regards!
Ada$

Uhh, very sad to hear, that somebody must repair his camera several times...

Kodak, is it better to built correctly in first time ? ... or repair afterwards... i dont belive, that many people want to buy P850 (and maybe also another model) anymore after reading some stuff here ... sad. Like I had said before, biggest mistake with P850 is its built quality (all other things are not so important and not so weak also, ok maybe high ISO, but to fix this we need revolution :--)).

--
P850 + OLY 1.7 TCon, CX7430