S3 Zoom questions

[PThomas]

I have a new S3, the videos and still shots I have taken so far on, or close to, maximum zoom seem to be out of focus. (Even on auto)

Taking stills whilst recording a video at max zoom are very out of focus.

Any ideas/suggestions?

Paul

[SaNdMaN82]

hi there... any sample picture ?

i think there might be 2 differents aproach on this... are those "out of focus" related to motion, or it's blurry everywhere ?. To see if it's the first one, you can try using a tripod, or something that'll keep steady your cam... Take a snap at 12x using the 2 sec timmer, and check the results. If even with the camera steady, it's blurry, i'd read this other thread: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=216416

but be sure first if it's out of focus, or it's just blurry (a sample pic would be great)

[283CID]

If you are running in Continous auto focus.. it is 'slow' to focus on a zoomed target. I prefer Single.. and whenever I zoom on something, I then go through the Button-Half-Down focus routine. AND... I must do that also, if I am going to shoot .AVI of the target subject...

[PThomas]

I will try and get some test shots in the next couple of days.

I assume that as soon as I am zooming in on something over say 10m then the manual focus could be set to infinite as long as I don't want to focus on anything closer(would this get arouind the auto focus issue?)

I am practicing with the new camera because my eldest Son is due to Pass Out after completing hes Army Training. We will be attending the ceremony in November and this is one of the reasons I purchased this camera. I am hoping to be able to get a good video of the ceremony as well as capture some high quality stills.

With this in mind, any advice? (I already have a tripod)

[283CID]

I have only used the Manual Focus once... And I have only had one Auto-Focus problem, so I opt for Auto-Focus...Single... all the time. Should work fine for you...

[DanteCaspian]

I have not replicated that problem on mine. I find I rarely use a tripod in zoom and can get great shots.
-Don't use digital zoom if you can avoid it.

[sonedays]

I keep hearing ver and over about the problem with zoom and focas ion the s3 is. Its the camera!! Just took mine back to the store and tried it out before I left and it works great in op and dig zoom.