A2 - P mode f/7.1 issue: Update info.

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Are we saying here there is a noticeable improvement if left in C..ontinuous autofocus mode?
If so.. what happens to half-press focus setting?

If leaving in C mode a) does not stop half-press functionality b) [almost] cures focussing issue... this sounds like maybe a workable cludge until full resolution?

Or am I misreading this?

LesP

OK,

camera selects a shutter speed that is unholdable in P mode,so...
In my experience, even in shutter, or aperture, priority, one can end up with
a shutter speed that requires flash, or camera support. That is why some
people buy tripods, bean bags, external flash units..., that is also reason
why there is a built in flash on A2, and why there are different ISO settings
to select from.
I would never spend my time to test if this "problem" exists in different
combinations of camera controls or firmware versions.
If you consider this to be an issue why don't you return your A2 and
look for some camera that does not have any, and will make you
happy when taking pictures?

V1.12e. Zooming in or out seems to adjust focus. Note that it is not 'refocussing'; if you point to an object further or closer while zooming, the focus distance is not adjusted. But I think I can hear the focus mechanism (I suppose a little motor moving a part of the lens system) while turning the zoom ring.

It seems logical that they let the processor adjust the focus based on the actual zoom length and a table that tells it how to adjust the focussing system. A 'blind' system that would work in total darkness just as well. Makes life easier for us. Some zoom lenses are mechanically designed to maintain focus, but doing it is software is probably cheaper and takes away one constraint during lens design. In the future we will see more and more of this: vigneting, color abbaration, distortion can all be corrected by in-camera software (except for RAW of course).

Ernst

Ilia said:

May be here?
http://www.minoltafoto.it/italiano/contatti.htm

Click to expand...

It could, but that is a shop, in addition to be hte KM italian importer, and since I've not bought my A2 from them, I don't think they will spend a lot of time with my problems...

samir_m said:

OK,

camera selects a shutter speed that is unholdable in P mode,so...
In my experience, even in shutter, or aperture, priority, one can
end up with
a shutter speed that requires flash, or camera support. That is why
some
people buy tripods, bean bags, external flash units..., that is
also reason
why there is a built in flash on A2, and why there are different
ISO settings
to select from.
I would never spend my time to test if this "problem" exists in
different
combinations of camera controls or firmware versions.
If you consider this to be an issue why don't you return your A2 and
look for some camera that does not have any, and will make you
happy when taking pictures?

Click to expand...

samir,

It is a problem because it makes the P mode ineffective for it's intended purpose.

The P mode exists to....

1) automatically select a suitable shutter speed/ aperture combination for correct exposure, and....

2) to automatically select a combination which does NOT induce camera shake, or increase the risk of it.

However, under certain circumstances the A2 does exactly the opposite to what would be expected.....and it is the second part which it gets wrong.

In BRIGHT light, when there happens to be the LEAST restrictive choice of shutter speed and aperture, the camera changes from a shutter speed that WOULD prevent camera shake, to one which would likely CAUSE it.

What's more, it does this ONLY at the focal length of the lens which is most likely to produce camera shake.

So it makes the mistake when it has least reason to do so, and it makes the mistake when the consequences are at their most destructive.

This programming of a perverse and foolish kind, and was NOT a fault of the earlier D7 camera range, which many of us graduated from.

Yes, to be sure, there ARE workarounds and interventions to overcome the problem. But that is hardly the point.....

The P mode itself is supposed to be the "workaround". The facility is there solely to make user intervention unnecessary, for those occasions when that is what is needed..

I hope you can now see why many of us feel that KM should be encouraged to provide an effective fix for the fault.

Regards,
Baz

Barrie Davis said:

I hope you can now see why many of us feel that KM should be
encouraged to provide an effective fix for the fault.

Click to expand...

No, I can not, but never mind, just forget what I said.

I do not know if many of us feel that way, but it is not
a problem for me, perhaps, since I am not looking for
workarounds that camera should provide, and never use
"P" mode in the first place. If it was effectively using f7.1
when set to f3.5 it would be an issue, yes, but in "P" mode
you have already said "I do not care, do what you want".

As with any software there are certainly bugs in A2 firmware,
but there are different kinds of bugs, and this one, if it really
exists, is not a serious one IMHO.

Best regards,
Samir

Hi!

I got an answer from KM.

The anser is...

they don't think it is a problem ... since there is anti-shake system.

And there was something more...

It is impossible to resolve this issue with firmware upgrade...

Well, nothing to say more.

But it is pity that it is not highlighted in Manual so you would the what behavior to expect from A2.

The Manual actually should handle more about functionality than about "how to take better pic of you friend/pet/...