Weird X-Pro1 Macro AF problem

[liquid stereo]

I do a fair amount of food photography using the X100 and XPro-1 (w/ 35/1.4). With the XPro-1 on many occasions the camera's AF sensor lights green to tell me the image is in focus when it is definitely not in focus. The only fix is to focus on something far away then move the camera back towards the subject.

In all situations I've used the central sensor (smallest box possible) in macro mode. The funny thing is that some part of the image is in focus. But its nowhere near the actual sensor.

In summary the problem is false focus confirmation. This happens in good light.

Here are two images where it worked. After re-aiming the camera... Again, these are examples where AF was indicated and was accurate. The problem is that it took some 5 minutes to get each of these.

 

[BobsYourUncle]

I can imagine there may be some difficulty with the first because of multiple reflective surfaces but the second is perplexing. I assume you did not want much DOF in the second?

What I have done at times w/macro is get an initial AF, then use manual focus (as long as the subject is not moving) for the final "fine" focus (w/tripod).

Bob

 

[PJInTheUSA]

Can you show the samples where it did not work?

I do a fair amount of food photography using the X100 and XPro-1 (w/ 35/1.4). With the XPro-1 on many occasions the camera's AF sensor lights green to tell me the image is in focus when it is definitely not in focus. The only fix is to focus on something far away then move the camera back towards the subject.

In all situations I've used the central sensor (smallest box possible) in macro mode. The funny thing is that some part of the image is in focus. But its nowhere near the actual sensor.

In summary the problem is false focus confirmation. This happens in good light.

Here are two images where it worked. After re-aiming the camera... Again, these are examples where AF was indicated and was accurate. The problem is that it took some 5 minutes to get each of these.

 

[liquid stereo]

Again, I'm using the central sensor.

Here is an example where the AF/indicator told me everything is fine/okay/in-focus.



This is what I got after I slow refocussed on successively nearer/closer objects. Ie. point camera across the room, focus on stereo, focus on something closer than stereo but further than food, then something closer to the food, etc. until it finally got the food in focus.

I do a fair amount of food photography using the X100 and XPro-1 (w/ 35/1.4). With the XPro-1 on many occasions the camera's AF sensor lights green to tell me the image is in focus when it is definitely not in focus. The only fix is to focus on something far away then move the camera back towards the subject.

In all situations I've used the central sensor (smallest box possible) in macro mode. The funny thing is that some part of the image is in focus. But its nowhere near the actual sensor.

In summary the problem is false focus confirmation. This happens in good light.

Here are two images where it worked. After re-aiming the camera... Again, these are examples where AF was indicated and was accurate. The problem is that it took some 5 minutes to get each of these.

 

[liquid stereo]

I've tried the latter and it sometimes helps but sometimes it doesn't. At some point I'll try it with subjects that aren't as "reflective" and see if it makes a difference.

I can imagine there may be some difficulty with the first because of multiple reflective surfaces but the second is perplexing. I assume you did not want much DOF in the second?

What I have done at times w/macro is get an initial AF, then use manual focus (as long as the subject is not moving) for the final "fine" focus (w/tripod).

Bob

 

[fordfanjpn]

I have the same problem. The camera "focuses", the focus box turns green, but the focus is nowhere near where it should have been. I also sometimes have the focus box turn green and stay that way, no matter what I do. The only way to get back to normal is to turn the camera off and on. Also weird.

 

[Francis Osmund]

Every lens has its min focusing distance. Perhaps u can try checking this before taking marco shots.

 

[Fabio Amodeo]

Autofocus in macro still life? You don't want to control your image (focus areas, out of foucs looks, depth of field etc.). Any old manual macro 50 with enlarged LV will work much better. And it is not slower, once the set up and the lights are in the proper place.

 

[liquid stereo]

I've done that before. Hopefully this is fixed in a FW upgrade.

I have the same problem. The camera "focuses", the focus box turns green, but the focus is nowhere near where it should have been. I also sometimes have the focus box turn green and stay that way, no matter what I do. The only way to get back to normal is to turn the camera off and on. Also weird.

 

[baobob]

There is nothing surprising here, brillaint parts of any object, artificial or sun light will unable the AF Although it's not explicitly addressed in the manual IMHO it's easy ti understand, the camera bever finding contarst differences to adjust focus

This issue is adressed in the manual of my EOS 5D although it's phase detection system AF

I have the same experience tha you the idea being with the minimum size for AF sensor to find a non brillinat area to focus, increasinf the DOF to be sure to be sharp
--
Good judgment comes from experience
Experience comes from bad judgment

 

[liquid stereo]

I don't believe this is the cause. As mentioned by another poster, turning the camera on and off, sometimes fixes the issue.

Its not a matter of whether focus is possible or not. It simply reports that focus is achieved when the subject matter is clearly not.

See the examples - http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1020&message=41986131

Cheers!

There is nothing surprising here, brillaint parts of any object, artificial or sun light will unable the AF Although it's not explicitly addressed in the manual IMHO it's easy ti understand, the camera bever finding contarst differences to adjust focus

This issue is adressed in the manual of my EOS 5D although it's phase detection system AF

I have the same experience tha you the idea being with the minimum size for AF sensor to find a non brillinat area to focus, increasinf the DOF to be sure to be sharp
--
Good judgment comes from experience
Experience comes from bad judgment

 

[baobob]

Yes I have watched carefully the examples and I experienced very similar situation with flowers and some minuscule rain drops inside, sometimes it focuses tack sharp sometimes it focises green and it's all blurr
Moving slightly the camera to catch some solid contarst usely cures the issue

So i stay IMHO on my position the brillinat particles just unable correct AF Since it's also descrbed in the Canon manual, I think that is the reason
I take many macros of flowers and apart rain drop I get nearly 100% keepers

To go furter try other brilliant surfaces/objects and let see what we get

Cheers

Robert
--
Good judgment comes from experience
Experience comes from bad judgment

 

[liquid stereo]

Moving the camera does nothing. I've stood there moving the camera, turning the sensor 45 degrees, stepping forward, backward, switching to manual focus and using the AE/AF button, feeling like a mental patient, as the result is the same - nada. Green box saying focus and no focus.

• Turning the camera on and off sometimes works.
• Acquiring focus on something far away and successively focusing on something closer works.
• It is very frustrating

Yes I have watched carefully the examples and I experienced very similar situation with flowers and some minuscule rain drops inside, sometimes it focuses tack sharp sometimes it focises green and it's all blurr
Moving slightly the camera to catch some solid contarst usely cures the issue

So i stay IMHO on my position the brillinat particles just unable correct AF Since it's also descrbed in the Canon manual, I think that is the reason
I take many macros of flowers and apart rain drop I get nearly 100% keepers

To go furter try other brilliant surfaces/objects and let see what we get

Cheers

Robert
--
Good judgment comes from experience
Experience comes from bad judgment

 

[baobob]

Coming back to my other post and another issue : no magnetic field around ? no possible radiation (wifi, bluetooth..)

As a reminder, I showed without ambiguity that the AF of the 18mm and the 35mm is sometimes unabled directly in the axis of the ADSL attachment box and that movinf the camera by 30° solves the issue ...

Robert
--
Good judgment comes from experience
Experience comes from bad judgment