G2 autofocus problem

[walter]

Hi!

I'm experiencing serious problems using the autofocus
of the G2 under bad light conditions.
For instance, if the light is low, the autofocus
works only for a distance of 1-2 meters.
If the target object exceeds this distance, the
yellow LED blinks (indicating an
autofocus problem according to my manual) and
the resulting pictures are out of focus.

I brought my G2 to the Canon support who told me my
G2 was working well and suggested me to get a
420EX flash.

Today I got that flash, which has an extra
autofocus light (which should work for about
7 meters according to the manual), but it does not improve anything.
The autofocus light of the flash is always off and
the G2 continues to use its own poor autofocus light.

Has anyone experienced a similar problem? Or do you
think I have a faulty G2 or 420EX?


Thank you very much for your help!
Walter

[21farms]

unfortunately, the focus assist light on the 420EX is not enabled when used with the G2. this is my #1 gripe as i paid for it but it doesn't get used. seems silly.

[walter]

Thanks for the information!

Is it inherently technically impossible for the G2
to use the 420EX AF assist light, or is it rather
a bug that will be fixed in a future firmware release?


Thanks a lot!
Walter

[Carl31]

I rather hope it is fixed. The 420 asist light is much much better.

Carl
_______
UK G2'er

[steelduck]

It is not a bug. G2 is not able to use the light the 420EX provides...

[Tim CAPPLEMAN]

Until I read this item, I was seriously considering the purchase of a Speedlite 420EX. Nobody at Canon or any store I contacted mentioned that the Focus Assist light on this expensive flash WILL NOT operate when used on a PowerShot G2.
I agree with 21farms, it does seem silly that Canon provide a function to aid poor light focusing that can’t be used with our camera. To be fair to Canon, the G2 User Manual does say “Certain functions noted in the manuals for Canon Speedlite 220EX, 380EX, 420EX, 550EX & Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX cannot be performed when mounted on this camera.” Does the G2 User Manual also state what these certain functions might be, not that I could find.
I do sometimes wonder why we are expected to pay for technology that we can't actually make use of…Does anyone know of a flash that IS fully functional with the G2?

[Jerry Burns]

I just bought my G2 3 weeks ago.

From this forum it sounds like the 420EX is not useful

Can anyone suggest a flash unit that is fully operational with the G2?

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated as this is my first digital camera.

Regards,

Jerry

[mjmcgarry]

Jerry Burns wrote:
I just bought my G2 3 weeks ago.

From this forum it sounds like the 420EX is not useful


Actually, I have found the 420EX to be very usefull for taking indoor photographs. Bouncing the flash off the ceiling and using a simple white index card attached to the flash [with either velcro if you have some or a rubber band] to reflect a bit of the flash forward works out great. See snapshot: http://community.webshots.com/photo/36639286/48429916NjgMoZ Notice there is no red-eye. This is an un-enhanced pic.

As far as the autofocus problem, I have not experienced it that much. Maybe one in twenty shots will the autofocus focus on the wrong item. When taking pics I will, ninety-eight percent of the time, get a lock [by depressing the shutter button half-way down] before I actually take the picture.

- Michael

[bnpndxtr]

I think low light will always be a problem for an auto focus camera. I’ve taken photographs of outdoor events at night, and it seems easier to just set the manual focus in these cases. I can usually just set the focus to infinity and shoot.

[Mark Bennett]

Bugger!!

Now I find out. I just ordered the flash from B&H specifically so that I can shoot better in low light club environments.

Looks like I'm going to have to start using hyperfocal distances and a small F-stop.

M