Low light AF Problem Canon A80

[sudden]

I recently bought a Canon A80. I discovered that the camera has a HUGE problem locking focus in dim light.

The problem is intensified when zooming in.

I've talked to Canons support, and they told me that the camera i broken....Is that soo, or is this a weak spot in Canons digital cameras?

Before this camera, i owned a Sony Cybershot DSC-P51. With that camera i could get a perfect autofocus lock in complete darkness.

Dissapointed Camera owner

Sudden

[stopbath]

The camera requires contrast to focus. Use a stark pattern to focus on. In low light, there is less information for the camera to work with to find a positive "got focus" signal.

To help with this, there is an AF assist beam, but it generally won't help too much in really dark situations. When it's too dark, just take a guess, and manually focus. Or Carry a flash light, and manually lock focus, then expose for the scene without the light. Or focus on something the same distance away that has a good contrast. (I believe focus is better on horizontal lines, not verticle, but I might be wrong on this... It might be better on verticle?)

The reason zooming aggrevates the focus, is that only a fraction of the light is getting though to the sensor comparied to the wide angle setting. Focus in wide, lock focus (while you have the green focus box displayed, tap the macro/manual focus button until manual focus comes on) then zoom in.

[stduc]

sudden,
Can you enlarge on what you mean by low light? I have no problems with autofocus on my A80 down to about 1 sec+ f2.8 ISO 50 - when it gets a bit hit and miss - but hey - we are talking about the typical lighting in a posh restaurant here! Of course it helps if the subject has lots of contrast. But faces are no problem. I certainly have no problems at home.
Your Sony had a system whereby it produces a grid pattern in near infrared in front of the camera using a laser and a scanning mirror.
IMHO from what you say - you have a bust camera.

[sudden]

With low light i mean a room (15 squaremeters)lit up with one or two lightbulbs approx. 40W each.

I cant notice any difference with my AF-assist on or off.


My Sony did have a orange LED similiar to that one in my A80, with the difference that the Sony-LED whas bigger and MUCH brighter. It could lit up a wall 5-6 meter away. It didn't have the laser grid AF system some Sony's have.

In normal(day) light conditions there are no problems at all.

[stduc]

sudden wrote:
With low light i mean a room (15 squaremeters)lit up with one or two lightbulbs approx. 40W each.

I cant notice any difference with my AF-assist on or off.

In normal(day) light conditions there are no problems at all.


I think you have a problem with your camera. I have taken 'perfectly' focussed shots in the conditions your describing.
You are quite correct about the AF lamp (for all the A series cameras). It's about as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike!