S602 Focusing Question

Bob Reed said:

I have noticed that I cannot manually focus an image as sharp as
the auto focus on my S602. I tried a number of time in different
lighting situations to manually focus the camera (on the assumption
that I would get superior results to auto focusing) and auto
focusing is sharper every time.

I have used the focus check button and have even tried zooming in
on the subject, focusing then zooming back out to the desired focal
length. I get ok results doing this, but auto focusing almost
always results in tack sharp focus.

It's great that the auto focus works so well, but I wonder why I
can't at least do as well (or even a little better) when focusing
manually.

The one thing I've noticed is that instead of having one precise
focus point where the subject is razor sharp, there is a fairly
wide range of focus. This, I suspect, is due to the low-res EVF.

Has anyone else noticed this and, if so, what tricks do you use to
get very sharp manually focused subjects?

Bob Reed

Click to expand...

Bob Reed said:

I have noticed that I cannot manually focus an image as sharp as
the auto focus on my S602. I tried a number of time in different
lighting situations to manually focus the camera (on the assumption
that I would get superior results to auto focusing) and auto
focusing is sharper every time.

I have used the focus check button and have even tried zooming in
on the subject, focusing then zooming back out to the desired focal
length. I get ok results doing this, but auto focusing almost
always results in tack sharp focus.

It's great that the auto focus works so well, but I wonder why I
can't at least do as well (or even a little better) when focusing
manually.

The one thing I've noticed is that instead of having one precise
focus point where the subject is razor sharp, there is a fairly
wide range of focus. This, I suspect, is due to the low-res EVF.

Has anyone else noticed this and, if so, what tricks do you use to
get very sharp manually focused subjects?

Bob Reed

Click to expand...

Bob Reed said:

I have noticed that I cannot manually focus an image as sharp as
the auto focus on my S602. I tried a number of time in different
lighting situations to manually focus the camera (on the assumption
that I would get superior results to auto focusing) and auto
focusing is sharper every time.

I have used the focus check button and have even tried zooming in
on the subject, focusing then zooming back out to the desired focal
length. I get ok results doing this, but auto focusing almost
always results in tack sharp focus.

It's great that the auto focus works so well, but I wonder why I
can't at least do as well (or even a little better) when focusing
manually.

The one thing I've noticed is that instead of having one precise
focus point where the subject is razor sharp, there is a fairly
wide range of focus. This, I suspect, is due to the low-res EVF.

Has anyone else noticed this and, if so, what tricks do you use to
get very sharp manually focused subjects?

Bob Reed

Click to expand...

Bob Reed said:

I have noticed that I cannot manually focus an image as sharp as
the auto focus on my S602. I tried a number of time in different
lighting situations to manually focus the camera (on the assumption
that I would get superior results to auto focusing) and auto
focusing is sharper every time.

I have used the focus check button and have even tried zooming in
on the subject, focusing then zooming back out to the desired focal
length. I get ok results doing this, but auto focusing almost
always results in tack sharp focus.

It's great that the auto focus works so well, but I wonder why I
can't at least do as well (or even a little better) when focusing
manually.

The one thing I've noticed is that instead of having one precise
focus point where the subject is razor sharp, there is a fairly
wide range of focus. This, I suspect, is due to the low-res EVF.

Has anyone else noticed this and, if so, what tricks do you use to
get very sharp manually focused subjects?

Bob Reed

Click to expand...

Chrasher said:

Bob, I always set the cam to manual focus, but that doesn't mean
you only can use the focus-ring. Just hit the quickfocus-button and
let the S602 do the hard work. Only in very low light (ISO200,
F2.8, 1/5s or lower) my cam is beginning to have some trouble to
focus correctly. But that also depends on the object.
With autofocus on you will always lose valuable time with
action-shots.

--
Chris H.

Click to expand...

ktj said:

Chrasher said:

Bob, I always set the cam to manual focus, but that doesn't mean
you only can use the focus-ring. Just hit the quickfocus-button and
let the S602 do the hard work. Only in very low light (ISO200,
F2.8, 1/5s or lower) my cam is beginning to have some trouble to
focus correctly. But that also depends on the object.
With autofocus on you will always lose valuable time with
action-shots.

--
Chris H.

Click to expand...

I agree with Chris on this. I too had a lot of trouble trying to
manually focus on various objects. While taking portraits of my
daughter I realized that I wasn't always able to get manual focus
indicators to display so began using the quick-focus button and
found the results were fantastic. In very difficult situations I
also utilize the focus check button and this seems to help when
attempting manual focus.

Does anyone else have trouble getting manual focus indicators to
display? Is it low light situations which causes this? Also, does
anyone have a tip for knowing when your cameras focus is set to
infinety. It would sure be nice if there was a indication on
screen.

Thanks,

ktj

Click to expand...

xx573V3xx said:

this isnt the best answer but...

turn the ring clockwise until it stops making noise (its only
changing the focus when you hear that noise, its not a true focus
ring, its 'forcus by wire' or something like that)

then turn the ring back counter clockwise a tiny bit, and look to
see if things are in focus

this is as good an answer i can come up with, and unfortunately i
dont think there are any perfect and definite solutions to this
problem

--
http://www.pbase.com/xx573v3xx
Fuji Finepix S602 zoom

Click to expand...

xx573V3xx said:

this isnt the best answer but...

turn the ring clockwise until it stops making noise (its only
changing the focus when you hear that noise, its not a true focus
ring, its 'forcus by wire' or something like that)

then turn the ring back counter clockwise a tiny bit, and look to
see if things are in focus

this is as good an answer i can come up with, and unfortunately i
dont think there are any perfect and definite solutions to this
problem

--
http://www.pbase.com/xx573v3xx
Fuji Finepix S602 zoom

Click to expand...

marius said:

-marius

xx573V3xx said:

this isnt the best answer but...

turn the ring clockwise until it stops making noise (its only
changing the focus when you hear that noise, its not a true focus
ring, its 'forcus by wire' or something like that)

then turn the ring back counter clockwise a tiny bit, and look to
see if things are in focus

this is as good an answer i can come up with, and unfortunately i
dont think there are any perfect and definite solutions to this
problem

--
http://www.pbase.com/xx573v3xx
Fuji Finepix S602 zoom

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Chrasher said:

Bob Reed said:

I have noticed that I cannot manually focus an image as sharp as
the auto focus on my S602. I tried a number of time in different
lighting situations to manually focus the camera (on the assumption
that I would get superior results to auto focusing) and auto
focusing is sharper every time.

I have used the focus check button and have even tried zooming in
on the subject, focusing then zooming back out to the desired focal
length. I get ok results doing this, but auto focusing almost
always results in tack sharp focus.

It's great that the auto focus works so well, but I wonder why I
can't at least do as well (or even a little better) when focusing
manually.

The one thing I've noticed is that instead of having one precise
focus point where the subject is razor sharp, there is a fairly
wide range of focus. This, I suspect, is due to the low-res EVF.

Has anyone else noticed this and, if so, what tricks do you use to
get very sharp manually focused subjects?

Bob Reed

Click to expand...

Bob, I always set the cam to manual focus, but that doesn't mean
you only can use the focus-ring. Just hit the quickfocus-button and
let the S602 do the hard work. Only in very low light (ISO200,
F2.8, 1/5s or lower) my cam is beginning to have some trouble to
focus correctly. But that also depends on the object.
With autofocus on you will always lose valuable time with
action-shots.

--
Chris H.

Fuji Finepix 4900,6900(had a great time with both) and now a S602 +
B300, Metz 28-C2.

Click to expand...

Bob Reed said:

...and have even tried zooming in
on the subject, focusing then zooming back out to the desired focal
length.

Click to expand...

Heinz said:

Bob Reed said:

...and have even tried zooming in
on the subject, focusing then zooming back out to the desired focal
length.

Click to expand...

With this method you won't get the correct focus for sure. The
lenses of digicams don't hold the focus point while zooming like
the zoom lenses of film slr's. Every time you change the focal
length, you have to refocus.
Heinz

Click to expand...

Bob Reed said:

I have noticed that I cannot manually focus an image as sharp as
the auto focus on my S602

Click to expand...