g11 focus problem

It seems like G11 has a lot of trouble focusing, I keep getting the "!" icon while it tries to focus in on something, is anyone else having problem with the focusing and is there a way to minimize that problem? I get the problem under normal light but under low light it has even more problem, sometimes it just gives up, I will be standing there for over a minute trying to get the G11 to even take a picture but it wont take the picture because it was too dark. It uses the AF lamp and still no help, it happened while I was trying to take picture of my friends at night out on a fairly brightly lit street at night.
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San
http://www.sanweng.com

What modes are you using other then Auto Mode?

I don't use auto, I only use at priorities and manual, I set the focus area to small and center.
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San
http://www.sanweng.com

Try seting a bigger focus aria, I am seting it to small and it takes longer to focus.

I noticed that as well.

I did some testing outside in low lighting,and I think what is happening is the camera does not accept the lighting conditions your trying,using your cameras settings.

When I get real close I got the same thing you describe. I backup getting more light in shown in total picture, and I get the green box.

Anyway this worked for me.

Don't know if your subject has contrast in it... A good line of contrast across the focus area is often necessary to get a digicam to focus in any light...

Are you using viewfinder or LCD for composing?

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Don Erway
http://picasaweb.google.com/onederway
http://www.pbase.com/derway/kona_underwater_g2

Be sure to target an area where there's contrast.

eg: A mountain range against the sky... aim for the ridge against the clouds.

When targeting an object indoors, a blank wall etc is hard for the camera to properly target.

Always aim for where you can see details - preferably a contrasting one. Recompose your shot and take the pic. Works every time.
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Regards,

Marco Nero.
http://www.pbase.com/nero_design/powershot_pro1

At first I thought it was because there was no contrast, so I move the focus box to where there is contrast and same thing, I just enlarge the focus box and it's a bit better now, my concern with the bigger focus box is that it wont be as accurate, but I guess it's good enough for now.
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San
http://www.sanweng.com