calling all nx200 users to test severe autofocus failures and report back

Hi ,

note : this occurs across all firmwares 1.00 through to 1.04. Also note that all of these tests were additionally performed on a cheap 2.5 year old 300.00 dollar point and shoot (canon power-shot sx200 IS) and it passes all the tests, and even better without AF assist lamp use.

I have been reviewing the nx200 and various lenses and have been very disappointed with the cameras failure rate to not be able to focus on subject targets when autofocus is enabled, even when lighting conditions are good to excellent. So I have done some tests, and this is what I have found recorded on the videos below.

What I am trying to determine is if my camera is simply a lemon or is this more wide spread across the nx200, nx210 line. If this is the complete line , these videos show a severe weaknesses in the approach used to determine focus in this camera.

So if you could find the time to try these tests and report back in this thread it would be greatly appreciated. Remember to include your camera series , lens, and firmware. Also sorry for the focus issues in my videos as I have to hold 2 cameras in hand, one filming the other , but you can still see quite clearly what tests are being performed,and how they are done, it is important to watch the videos in order, and please post video results if you can.

Prerequisites for the tests are:
0-Set camera in manual mode, and set aperture , ISO to appropriate level.
1-Set AF area to "Selection auto-focus".
2-Set AF assist lamp on or off, off will fail more.
3-Set the AF area size to either the smallest or second smallest,and center it.

4-Use any lens really , but is you use the 85mm due to the shallow FOV will fail more.
5-You can use a tripod if you like it makes no difference.

6- In horizontal tests you have a +10 ,-10 degree of tilt from center of horizontal target.

7- In cloth tests no patterns, or extreme surface roughness should be present only folds, ripples, and seems ...etc, in the cloth.
8- I have not done outdoor tests, only indoor.

These videos are in flv format, and will load the flv player , they have been tested and found to work in firefox.

TEST 1- NX200 cannot focus on horizontal subject targets, Yes basically the camera cannot auto-focus on horizontal lines no matter how extreme in contrast those lines/edges are, even when the subject is stark black on white.

video part1: horizontal subject target test failures.
http://www.arconovum.com/images/movies/video1.html

video part2: re-shot clothing test, also shows a glitch that locks up the nx200.
http://www.arconovum.com/images/movies/video2.html

TEST 2- NX200 cannot focus on shadow side of focus target of faces, furniture, cloth anything really that has no extreme bumpy surface texture , nor pick up shadows , even with AF assist focus lamp on. In fact the autofocus will fail 100% of the time with AF lamp is off.

video part3: facial , clothing, furniture , and shadow failure tests.
http://www.arconovum.com/images/movies/video3.html