Possible Problem with Canon A40 Digicam?

[DCool]

Hi all,

This is my first post. I've got a question about my Canon A40 Digicam I got (thanks to Anandtech deals) that I'd like someone else with an A40 to confirm or deny.

If I hold the camera about 10 inches away from my face, I can see that the optical viewfinder seems to be cut in half horizontally by a thin line (almost as if two half circles of glass are joined together horizontally).

I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it, but I find that using the optical viewfinder is difficult becuase it seems like everything is slightly out of focus...I have to hold the camera about an inch or two away from my eye to get it to seem in focus.

It takes great pics, and the LCD viewfinder works great...I'm just concerned with that optical viewfinder. And since I didn't see anyone else mention it, I thought I should post this and see if its how all A40s are or if mine is broken.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[Moffat Cafe]

Most digicams in this price range have a control near the eyepiece that will allow you to adjust the eyepiece focus to your eye.
I would say that the line in your eypiece is not a defect. Checkout both your manual and this site: http//www.dpreview.com, look for forums and then look for canon (the one for general Canon cameras, not the one for Canon single lens reflex).

 

[DCool]

Ok, I'll look at that DP Review site...and the A40 doesn't have a manual adjustment for the optical viewfinder.

I just wanted someone from AnandTech who got in on one of the A40 deals to check it with their A40. I just want to make sure its not broken before the 15 or 30 days are up (whatever Dell Software and Peripherals gives).

DCool

 

[deluis]

Hello,

I have Canon A40, but i'm not really sure what the problem might be with your camera. But check your Canon camera user guide on page 37 and it say's some things about the viewfinder not being accurate.

- Deluis -

 

[DCool]

deluis,

Thanks for the reply. Page 37 talks about parallax, when the camera actually captures more than what you see with the optical viewfinder. I'm not talking about that (I knew about that from my other cameras).

However, since you say you have an A40 I'd like you to do me a favor if you can: hold the camera about arms-lenght away from you (bring it up close like you were going to use the optical viewfinder, then just extend your arm). Now, hold the camera up to a light source (an open window or computer monitor will work...imagine you were going to take a picture out the window or of your monitor, just keep the camera at arms length). Now, slightly rotate your wrist (like you were going to take a picture of a plane flying overhead, or a dog walking under you). Move just your wrist, so you can still see out your optical viewfinder as you move it (all from arms length).

Did you see a thin line dividing the upper half and the lower half of the circular optical viewfinder? Almost like to semi-circles were joined together to make one circle of glass?

DCool

 

[deluis]

Hey DCool,

Well I tried what you told me to do with my camera, and yes I did see the line that you mentioned that separates the glass on the optical view finder. Up close I couldn't see the line, but once I had it an arms length I could see the line, I didn't even have to tilt it to see the line. I think it must be something that is common with all other A40's and is not really a problem. Unless of course you think there is a problem, you could probably call customer service and ask them.

Another way you could probably find the answer is by asking your question at the Canon Powershot Message boards:

Canon PowerShot A-Series Usesr Group

They'll probably be a much better help then me.

- Deluis -

 

[DCool]

Deluis,

Thanks! I'm just glad its not me (thought for a while there my camera may have gotten damaged in shipping and that line was actually a fracture in the glass). I'll check out those boards you mentioned (I couldn't register at the DPReview boards, so I'll try here).

Thanks again,
DCool