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Problems with Canon Powershot S1 IS

D

dsd17

Senior member
I just purchased this camera as an upgrade to my Canon A70. I thought I needed the 10x optical rather than 3x optical.

I'm having three problems with this camera:

1. Will not focus at all if the item is within 2-3 feet of the camera. Every shot comes out blurry. With the A70, I could take a photo with it 6 inches away and it would turn out fine.
2. If it is dark at all, the camera will not focus whatsoever. I take the exact same photo with my A70 (Auto setting & default zoom) and it turns out perfect.
3. Takes FOREVER to focus in on just about anything no matter what zoom I have it set to.

I do not have digital zoom turned on at all. The settings are on Auto typically with AF and Red Eye turned on.

What am I doing wrong? I've looked through the manual, but haven't found much to help with these problems. I'm pretty much a newbie when it comes to photography, so please try to explain in general terms.
 
Originally posted by: dsd17
I just purchased this camera as an upgrade to my Canon A70. I thought I needed the 10x optical rather than 3x optical.

I'm having three problems with this camera:

1. Will not focus at all if the item is within 2-3 feet of the camera. Every shot comes out blurry. With the A70, I could take a photo with it 6 inches away and it would turn out fine.
2. If it is dark at all, the camera will not focus whatsoever. I take the exact same photo with my A70 (Auto setting & default zoom) and it turns out perfect.
3. Takes FOREVER to focus in on just about anything no matter what zoom I have it set to.

I do not have digital zoom turned on at all. The settings are on Auto typically with AF and Red Eye turned on.

What am I doing wrong? I've looked through the manual, but haven't found much to help with these problems. I'm pretty much a newbie when it comes to photography, so please try to explain in general terms.
Click to expand...


#1 turn on macro mode

#2 Does one have an AF assist lamp and the other doesn't?

#3 Thats just the nature of large zoom cameras.
 
Originally posted by: rleemhui

#1 turn on macro mode

#2 Does one have an AF assist lamp and the other doesn't?

#3 Thats just the nature of large zoom cameras.
Click to expand...

1. I can't seem to find any way to turn on macro mode, nor do I see anything online stating that his has this built-in.

2. again, I can't find anything on this, nor can I find anything online...
 
Originally posted by: dsd17
Originally posted by: rleemhui

#1 turn on macro mode

#2 Does one have an AF assist lamp and the other doesn't?

#3 Thats just the nature of large zoom cameras.
Click to expand...

1. I can't seem to find any way to turn on macro mode, nor do I see anything online stating that his has this built-in.

2. again, I can't find anything on this, nor can I find anything online...
Click to expand...

Do you have the manual or did you steal the camera dsd17? 😛
 
Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
Originally posted by: dsd17
Originally posted by: rleemhui

#1 turn on macro mode

#2 Does one have an AF assist lamp and the other doesn't?

#3 Thats just the nature of large zoom cameras.
Click to expand...

1. I can't seem to find any way to turn on macro mode, nor do I see anything online stating that his has this built-in.

2. again, I can't find anything on this, nor can I find anything online...
Click to expand...

Do you have the manual or did you steal the camera dsd17? 😛
Click to expand...


I have the manual in front of me! well, Canon calls it the 'Camera User Guide'. 😱
 
Originally posted by: dsd17
Originally posted by: rleemhui

#1 turn on macro mode

#2 Does one have an AF assist lamp and the other doesn't?

#3 Thats just the nature of large zoom cameras.
Click to expand...

1. I can't seem to find any way to turn on macro mode, nor do I see anything online stating that his has this built-in.

2. again, I can't find anything on this, nor can I find anything online...
Click to expand...




Focus Range Normal: 1.6' - infinity (wide), 3' - infinity (telephoto); macro: 3.9" - 1.6'; super macro: 0" - 3.9"

From Best buy's website
 
Originally posted by: tami
1. macro mode is the flower picture on your little dial.
Click to expand...


yeah, I dont have a flower picture on my dial...I have C, M, Av, Tv, P, Auto, silhoutte of a person, mountain with cloud, person with star behind it, running man, slow shutter, panorama, and video
 
no af assist lamp.....that's make quite a big differene. If some of the things you're tryin to focus on are kind of blended with their colors, the it's harder for the sensor to figure it out....like trying to focus on a white wall.
 
Originally posted by: rleemhui
Originally posted by: dsd17
I just purchased this camera as an upgrade to my Canon A70. I thought I needed the 10x optical rather than 3x optical.

I'm having three problems with this camera:

1. Will not focus at all if the item is within 2-3 feet of the camera. Every shot comes out blurry. With the A70, I could take a photo with it 6 inches away and it would turn out fine.
2. If it is dark at all, the camera will not focus whatsoever. I take the exact same photo with my A70 (Auto setting & default zoom) and it turns out perfect.
3. Takes FOREVER to focus in on just about anything no matter what zoom I have it set to.

I do not have digital zoom turned on at all. The settings are on Auto typically with AF and Red Eye turned on.

What am I doing wrong? I've looked through the manual, but haven't found much to help with these problems. I'm pretty much a newbie when it comes to photography, so please try to explain in general terms.
Click to expand...


#1 turn on macro mode

#2 Does one have an AF assist lamp and the other doesn't?

#3 Thats just the nature of large zoom cameras.
Click to expand...


About #3. No, that ain't the nature of large zoom cameras. Try it with other large zoom cameras, including S1's big bother: S2 IS, the focus is instant.

To OP, S1 IS does have slow focus/low light focus problems but it shouldn't be as bad as what you described. Take a picture and upload a pic so we can see what the problem is based on the EXIF data.
 
Any camera, is going to be different and take time to learn. It's taken me next to forever to learn to do things on the S2 IS that I did easily on my Olympus D40. Every camera has it's limitations and you have to work around them. I can just about guarantee the camera will piss you off a few times before you get used to it.
 
Originally posted by: Deadtrees
Originally posted by: rleemhui
Originally posted by: dsd17
I just purchased this camera as an upgrade to my Canon A70. I thought I needed the 10x optical rather than 3x optical.

I'm having three problems with this camera:

1. Will not focus at all if the item is within 2-3 feet of the camera. Every shot comes out blurry. With the A70, I could take a photo with it 6 inches away and it would turn out fine.
2. If it is dark at all, the camera will not focus whatsoever. I take the exact same photo with my A70 (Auto setting & default zoom) and it turns out perfect.
3. Takes FOREVER to focus in on just about anything no matter what zoom I have it set to.

I do not have digital zoom turned on at all. The settings are on Auto typically with AF and Red Eye turned on.

What am I doing wrong? I've looked through the manual, but haven't found much to help with these problems. I'm pretty much a newbie when it comes to photography, so please try to explain in general terms.
Click to expand...


#1 turn on macro mode

#2 Does one have an AF assist lamp and the other doesn't?

#3 Thats just the nature of large zoom cameras.
Click to expand...


About #3. No, that ain't the nature of large zoom cameras. Try it with other large zoom cameras, including S1's big bother: S2 IS, the focus is instant.

To OP, S1 IS does have slow focus/low light focus problems but it shouldn't be as bad as what you described. Take a picture and upload a pic so we can see what the problem is based on the EXIF data.
Click to expand...


Here are three images taken on Auto with this camera.

default zoom
5x zoom
10x zoom
 
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