XL1 / XL1S focus hunting backfocus problems

[Robert R Gallegos]

XL1S Focus "Hunting"

My new XL1S appears to hunt Between the subject and background even in good lighting.

Anyone else experience issues with the auto-focus or should I venture to send it back or send to Canon for evaluation.

[Chris Hurd]

Robert, which program mode are you shooting in when this happens?
And please tell me it doesn't happen when you switch the AF off... thanks,

[Robert R Gallegos]

I've tried all of the modes outside of the "green" mode. Basically, the autofocus appears to keep shifting between the subject and background regardless of lighting conditions and subject matter (i.e., people, flowers, and other objects..)

I haven't experienced the problem in manual mode. (I will verify today as I'm shooting my son's soccer game....)

[Chris Hurd]

Robert,

If you have this recorded to tape, it's a big help. There's someone I'll call at Canon tomorrow (Monday) to check and see if your camera should go in to Service.

I'm leaving for Amsterdam for about 10 days on Tuesday, so I'll definitely be out of the loop but maybe we can get you started in the process of getting this solved.

[Robert R Gallegos]

Chris,

I appreciate your extra effort. I went and shot my son's soccer game today. I used the manual focus w/ the auto-focus button. This worked rather well (need practice). I still beleive that there may be an issue with the auto-focus in the Auto-focus Mode. I would think that a camera at this level would perform better. Where do you wish for me to send the tape? I could also make a Quicktime Movie/RealMedia Movie and post it on our site.

Robert

[Chris Hurd]

Robert,

If you have a tape showing the autofocus hunting in various, well-lit situations, then you may have a case. Let me me a call tomorrow and I'll get back to you...

I have the following focus problem with the XL1s.

If I put it on "M" setting and I have a book spine 7 inches from the
lens and another book spine 10 feet behind that and I want the
book spine ten feet behind to be in focus I focus on that manually but
then within a few seconds the camera refocuses -- even though I have
it on "M" setting -- to the book spine 7 inches away and the one 10 feet behind
is blurred. Why can't it hold its focus? Did I get a defective camera?

Thanks!

I just noticed I was not using the AF/M switch on the lens. If
I switch it to M the Manual focus works fine. I was just setting the
dial to M but not the AF/M switch.

[Chris Hurd]

Hi John,

Yeah, I was wondering what you meant when you said you "had it switched to M" -- the camera or the lens.

This is not a slam against you, not at all, but in my experience, most of those who encounter focus problems usually get them as a result of pilot error.

For instance, here's a common one: the lens is switched to manual focus, but somehow the autofocus is still on. Can you think of a very simple, often overlooked answer as to why this would happen?

;-)

[Dan Uneken]

In answer to Chris' quizz: If the camera is switched to Green Square Mode?
Can we have a contest "XL-1" knowledge ?

[Chris Hurd]

Quite correct, Dan -- that is the answer I had in mind.

A contest would be fun, but I have no idea what can be awarded for prizes... thank you for playing,

;-)

I'm having problems with the picture going in and out of focus during low light shoots. Is there a way to stop it? Please help meeeeeeeeeeee.

[Adrian Douglas]

Switch to Manual. The auto focus needs something like 50lux(measurement of available light) to work. In less than that it hunts as you have found. So switch the lens to manual focus and the camera to something other than Green Box mode for low light shooting.

Nothing in here.

[Chris Hurd]

Once you switch to manual focus, zoom all the way in on the farthest object from you. Press the "Push AF" button the side of the lens to set focus (you need *some* light for this). This is called "setting critical focus."

Zoom back out, and everything should stay in focus from here.