Some A2 Shots.......Some A2 Issues!

EXX wrote:

Set your focus to single point only, and then use focus and recompose method. I have used the camera like this 99% of the time. Other modes of focus are less reliable and you never really knows where it applies focus.

This is pretty much the only way I shoot. I find it easy and consistent.

If you are on a tripod, you can always move the focus point anywhere in the screen using the controller on the back.

Then your other "issue": it is normal that the EVF/LCD switches to black and white in dim lighting conditions. This is done to improve vision: just boosting the colour image would end up in a blurry coloured mess. By using black and white, the noise becomes less of a problem and you can still use the EVF/LCD for framing. The photo will of course still be in colour.

After I posted the original post I thought that might could be the case. It is a nice idea.

BTW, a red focus dot means the camera cannot focus; a white dot means it achieved focus. Problematic focus sometimes happens, the focus system in the A2/A200 is not as great as current cameras. Even in their time, the focus system of the A2/A200 was average and prone to missing focus.

I will have to be more aware of this. I tried using Manual focus but I could see no difference at all.

I looked at the EXIF of the photos and saw it uses f/7.1 in two of them. Did you by any chance use P-mode? For some reason the camera tries to stick to f/7.1 in P-mode as much as it can. The lens however is already at its best at f/4.5, which gives you a faster shutter speed. See also this thread: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/9110032

Yes, the camera was in Program mode. I should have known better because the A200 does the same thing, right? I know my old X-700 was programmed that way. I will keep a note in the case to stay out of Program.

And a big THANKS for your input!