Reading mode: Light Dark

P880 autofocus woes

Go to last post
J

John Lovaas

Member
Messages
13
Reaction score
0
Location
Woodstock, IL, US
Just wondering about some trouble I'm having with the "Normal Autofocus" setting on my P880. No matter what I do, images shot with the "Normal Autofocus" setting are consistently unsharp.

The two images here were shot at ISO 100, 1/60 of a second, Normal Autofocus, Single AF Control, Center AF Zone, using the AF Assist Light and the on-camera flash. These images arethe "best" out of the series I shot this evening.





I should also mention that the camera just came back from Kodak servicing today(via Precision Camera in Enfield, CT). I sent it in because of the inability to produce sharp images in Normal mode(the Macro Autofocus generally is producing sharp images).

I sent it in for the focus issue, and the only repairs that are noted on the repair ticket are "Flash Lamp Assembly" and "Firmware Operation". Oh well.

Has anyone else had trouble withthe "Normal Autofocus setting?

jl
 
I was about 4 feet away from the subject. There was pretty good lighting in the store, and I used the fill flash option.

I just decided to play with the autofocus options, and noted two things-

For a subject that is around 10 feet away, the center zone and multi zone yields the same lack of sharpness with the Normal AF setting.

BUT-

When I switched to Macro AF, the same subject is now razor sharp. I'm shooting a wall that is around 10 feet away with the Macro AF setting and it is razor sharp.

This is totally counterintuitive, but illustrates the issue I'd been having with the camera for about a week . Normal AF yields junk, Macro AF yields razor sharp images, even at some distance. I guess I'll leave it in Macro AF mode?

I'll mount the camera on a tripod and shoot some test shots; I'll post them here shortly.

jl
 
Here are my test pictures that show the dramatic difference between the Normal and Macro AF settings. The camera is 10 feet from the subject.

For both images:

ISO 50
1/30 sec., f2.8
Auto Flash
camera on tripod, 2 second shutter delay enabled
AF assist light enabled
AF Multi Zone
focal length 24mm equiv.

The sharper of the two images was shot with the Macro AF setting:



and the unsharp image was shot with the Normal AF setting-



Very curious. The Macro AF setting isn't just for Macro, apparently- but the fact that the Normal AF doesn't work is annoying. Especially since the camera was returned and serviced(in theory) for that very issue. Sadly, Precision Camera does not provide a phone number or email address.

jl
 
John, I'm going to see if we can handle this directly. I'll try to see if our Customer Care people can call you so don't do anything your self yet.
--
Mike O'Brien
Eastman Kodak Company
 
John,

You should be getting a call from Kodak tech support this week, hopefully either today or tomorrow, to arrange replacing your camera.

I'm sorry you had to go through all this with your cam - shouldn't have happened at all - and we'll make it right as quickly as we can.
We'll test the replacement out before we send it to you.
--
Mike O'Brien
Eastman Kodak Company
 
Mike,

This is an example of tremendous customer support! It's exactly the kind of thing that sets an great company apart from a mediocre one.

Thanks for renewing our trust in American companies in general, and in Eastman Kodak in particular.

Roger Wright
Largo, FL
 
First of all we should thank Kodak for employing people like Mike...it makes a hell of a difference to Kodaks reputation. And that is what Kodak should Thank Mike for.

Well..anyway..I know I have benefitted from Mike's customer service, and for that I am grateful... I like the P880, I ***** about the build...but it wasn't enough to put me off buying a second body once the price dropped...here's hoping for a replacement soon... doh! No money left now!! DOH!!

Anyway, one of my experiences with has shown....and this does not directly relate to this problem...but with the longer focal length manual zooms, its all too easy to be so far at the telephoto length, that the closest point of focus point is further away that you expect, a bit like trying to focus high magnification binoculars at about 3 ft....usually you just can't do it.

Sometimes it is worth checking what the closest focus at the two extremes of the zoom range that the camera can achieve in NORMAL focus settings. Then check what it can do in MACRO mode. When using my Samsung 815 at full telephoto, I always find the closest focus point quite a distance further that I expected.
 
John,

Just in case you see this at work - the Customer Care group called your house and left a message with the pertinent info for DHL and the address to ship to us and confirmed your address to send you the replacement unit.
--
Mike O'Brien
Eastman Kodak Company
 
Hi Mike-

My girlfriend got all the pertinent information from the Kodak rep that called, and I'll be calling DHL first thing tomorrow morning.

Just too cool. And not only that, but the camera is being shipped to Rochester, New York. Talk amongst yourselves- I'm verklempt! ;-)

jl
 
Again, thanks.

The camera went out to Rochester via DHL yesterday- if you want the tracking info(or know who does), contact me via my profile email info.

Thanks! jl
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top