Canon Ixus 860 IS focus problem

[gertsolo]

Hi,

I have bought the Canon Ixus 860 IS and have the following problem:
when shooting completely zoomed out pictures they are always out of focus. When I zoom in one 'nudge' they are fine.
No matter what settings I use, it's always is the case.
Any suggestions?

thx

[Jon]

Sample photos?

[gertsolo]

Sample photos?
here you go

[gertsolo]

and this

[gertsolo]

Nobody:cry:?

[greenlight]

I sort of see what you're experiencing. What are the settings in your setup? There are different focus settings. It's possible that they aren't set for the conditions you are experiencing.

Or your camera could be bad. Are all of the other focus settings clear, or are others blurry like that?

[gertsolo]

I sort of see what you're experiencing. What are the settings in your setup? There are different focus settings. It's possible that they aren't set for the conditions you are experiencing.

Or your camera could be bad. Are all of the other focus settings clear, or are others blurry like that?

I tried all the other focus settings, doesn't help.

[griptape]

That looks defective to me. I would exchange it for a new one.

[greenlight]

I tried all the other focus settings, doesn't help.
Have you set the 'AF assist lamp' to on in the menu? I was experimenting with this feature, and I find that it can fail to focus properly if it is off.

[ozzybren]

I'm getting a problem that's similar. It seems that my distance shots are always blurry. Close ups tend to be better. What did you end up doinig about it? I'm planning on sending mine back to the manufacturer as the photos are really terrible. See attached.

[Jon]

Can you post a larger version? it's a little hard to see where, if anywhere, it's focusing, or if there might be camera motion.

[greenlight]

I did some experimenting and found that choosing center weighted avg plus center autofocus gives me better focusing results overall.

BTW, that pic is really blurry. I would be upset, too.

[Tbirder]

Hi

I also purchased a 860 IS last week, after destroying my S60 (which I preferred with its aperture and shutter priority modes). It too is extremely blurry down the right-hand side of the image, but only when the lens is set at its widest zoom (4.6mm). Have spoken with the retailer and they will take it back and test it against another example. I'll let you know what happens.

Attached pic is manual mode, f8.0, 1/160, 100asa

Cheers

[Tbirder]

Hi

Have spoken with the retailer and they will take it back and test it against another example. I'll let you know what happens.

Update: Canon NZ has confirmed that the camera had a fault, I think it was the image processor (?), anyway my retailer replaced with a new 860 and this one's excellent.

[lum]

hi, i find that my camera's focus is really bad as well, not only for close range pictures, but it's absolutely atrocious for far away pictures such as scenery of mountains, etc. also, it feels to me there's quite a bit of noise? AF is on and focus is set to centre.
currently using auto mode for test pictures, 200iso with flash. the first picture was zoomed out and the 2nd one one zoom in.
i think the focus is particularly bad on the right side of the picture, however even the left border is quite blurry.
http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo41/jlummm/IMG_2036.jpg
http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo41/jlummm/IMG_2037.jpg
notice how blurry the letters on the clock are especially

http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo41/jlummm/IMG_2040.jpg
http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo41/jlummm/IMG_2041.jpg
both photoes are pretty blurry, even with the 2nd one zoomed in one notch.

i was wondering if there was a way of checking whether there's a problem with my camera? (as in what pictures should i take for you guys to see? i don't know much about cameras)

from these pictures, what should i report to canon as the problem for them to fix it under warranty?

thanks!

ps. also my camera has one green bright pixel, is that enough for an exchange?

[Tbirder]

What model camera? Something looks wrong for sure. If it's still in warranty do what I did, take the canmera back to where you got it and get the retailer to do a test shot wih your camera, then the same shot with a new camera ex stock, that should highlight the problem. The retailer you bought it off should then send it back to the distributor. Good luck.

[alan_potter]

I had focus problems with an Ixus 860. To demonstrate the problem, I photographed a brick wall, in full manual mode, and it was very easy to see that parts of the wall were in focus and part badly out of focus. I then emailed the picture to a local Canon authorised repair centre, who had no hesitation in getting me to send the picture in to them for repair.

You might want to do something similar - better to have the evidence in your hand before you start. Makes the shop more convinced you know what you're talking about.

regards,
/alan

[lum]

yeah i might go directly to the canon care centre, i'm not sure yet, but if i don't have any luck in them repairing it or giving me a new one then i'll ask for more tips
thanks for the advice so far.

[ungern]

I have exactly the same problem with my Ixus 870 (SD880)! Many times completely out of focus pictures when at widest zoom.
Canon has asked me, if this happens only at the widest setting, but hey, I WANT to use that angle, that's why I bought this camera :P

So now I have to send it in for "repair". Wonder what they will do, the support guy has already tested an 870 without getting soft pictures, and this is my SECOND(!) 870 with this issue.

[Tbirder]

Good luck, my retailer replaced mine so no problem. But now, it now has a fault in the viewing screen, looks like a bunch of dead pixels or whatever they are, so it too is going back.

[ungern]

Ahh, but did you also have the out-of-focus issue with that one?

[Tbirder]

Yep, I posted the same problem with mine, and some sample photos, a few threads back in this post. As soon as it zoomed in to any degree the entire right-hand 1/3 of the image was soft, looked out of focus (post #13)

I'd only had the camera a few days, and it showed up in the first batch of images I processed.

It was replaced (inconvenient, but good customer service), then within a couple of hundred images later there's now a screen issue.

I'm really disappointed with incamera. I also have a 'classic' D60 that's taken literally thousands upon thousands of images as a work tool and it's never missed a beat. This new compact Canon (I know it's a different beastie) doesn't seem to have the same level of quality.

i still love my D60 though (:

[ungern]

This new compact Canon (I know it's a different beastie) doesn't seem to have the same level of quality.

That's the sad part for me, my 850 was superb, a little soft pictures, but consistent focus. The 870 just messes is up from time to time.

[ungern]

So, I got my camera back from the shop. It took a round trip to Germany, got the optics replaced, got the adjustments(?), and sadly, it still makes out of focus pictures at times.

So now I'm waiting for support to let me know, can I get a new 870, or my money back. But what to but instead?!

[griptape]

So, I got my camera back from the shop. It took a round trip to Germany, got the optics replaced, got the adjustments(?), and sadly, it still makes out of focus pictures at times.

So now I'm waiting for support to let me know, can I get a new 870, or my money back. But what to but instead?!
I can tell you with 100% certainty that they won't give you your money back. They might offer to upgrade you to another Canon at a discount (or at least agree to it if that's what you request), but they will certainly not give you your money back. If you wanted that, you should have gotten it from the retailer that sold it to you when it was still within the return period.

[ungern]

I was thinking of going to the retailer with it, but figured they would send it to service anyway.
Actually, I already(!) got a new 870 from the retailer, as the first one had the same issue, but more often. Here in Sweden, you only have 14 days to return something for a refund, and then it should be unused. :/

Worst part is, I can't seem to find more people with 870's with this out-of-focus issue. :rolleyes:

[coolie21]

I have had the same problem with blurry pictures on the right side on my 860IS, bought last April. I took it back to the shop within a week and they exchanged it. Now I have the same problem with the replacement. Warranty runs out in a week or two so it is going back.

Not happy.

[ungern]

Got my third (!) 870 now, and this time it's perfect. Have made over 300 shots both in- and outdoors, and I'm very pleased. If you feel that you want that camera, give it one more chance.

[Etiene.ramos]

My IXUS 870 also has the same focus problem. It has been consistently showing focus problems since I bought. I sent it to canon repair service but they can not find the problem (with sample pictures to show how bad the focus is). I asked them to try one more time to find the issue....let's see what happen.

Let's see
I do not understand how this camera won so may awards.

[ungern]

Hope it works out this time. As I said, mine is fine now, but come on.... Canon has major problems with this one.

Oh, got myself a D40 too, what a difference! =)

[Tbirder]

Hi, I posted earlier in this thread when I had the same problem with a brand new 870. It was replaced, and I've taken over a thousand images with no problems. However, there's a problem with the display on the screen, looks like it might have dead pixelly things - so it's going back again. I'm not that pleased with this camera

[greenmanyyz]

I have an SD870 IS which was a replacement for my old trusty S230 (dead CCD chip issue). The 870 was a (refurbished) replacement and worked fine up until a month or so ago when I started noticing the right hand side of every shot taken at full wide (4.60mm) was very soft. It seems more noticeable in landscape mode but is still there in portrait mode as well. At other focal lengths it may be blurring but no where near as obvious.

I've attached some samples (if I manage to get the attachments to work) :-)

I have contacted Canon here in Toronto and they advised me to send it in for the service department to check which I will do that after I've run a proper series of tests.

Hmmmm this seems like a misalignment of a lens element...

Hope it works out this time. As I said, mine is fine now, but come on.... Canon has major problems with this one.

Oh, got myself a D40 too, what a difference! =)

[greenmanyyz]

Just to update... I sent the camera in for repair and it was repaired and returned within 2 weeks.

Repair notes indicated a 'loose connection' but they didn't elaborate.

Cheers!

[dukof]

I have the same issue with my new 870 IS. It was fine and sharp for about one week. Then suddenly, for no reason, the pictures were all out of focus. It's most noticeable on full wide angle, for some reason, and macro shots are also terribly out of focus. Sending it back now and will see what happens..